the process...

After all this time, I find that MY COMMITMENT is to build instruments still just one at a time and to the highest possible standards. After all this time, I find that the most satisfying part of the work is still to bring out each guitar's individual voice. Building this way takes a tremendous amount of time, but the results are worth it.

The beautiful things said by my customers and others who have enjoyed my guitars, confirm that for me, this is the only way to build. I continue to be in love with my job, and I hope that in my instruments you will find something extraordinary to fall in love with.

A standard Kathy Wingert Guitar is built with fine materials individually selected for tone, structure, and beauty. These rich materials are then worked into instruments of quality that reflect their beginnings, whether that reflection is traditional or more contemporary.

Each fine top is braced with the finest spruce, and each top is individually carved and voiced. This process takes extra time but is the key to finding each instrument's personal voice.

For strength and structure, Kathy Wingert guitars are built with necks of choice mahogany or cedar which are laminated with fine veneers for rigidity. Hardwood or graphite reinforcements in addition to a double-acting truss rod are also used for additional stiffness and adjustability. The body and neck are joined with a traditional dovetail and hide glue joint. It is important to note that there is NO standard Kathy Wingert neck size or shape. Each instrument is custom ordered and fit to your request.

A Wingert guitar trimmed with simple purfling and binding is absolutely beautiful, but sometimes a client may want a beautiful guitar to express more, perhaps a life-long dream. I have worked with several fine inlay artists, but I am most proud to work with one of my favorite people, my talented daughter, Jimmi Wingert.

Starting with construction and continuing through the set-up process, Kathy Wingert guitars are built for unsurpassed PLAYABILITY. From hard driving bluegrass picking to fingerstyle in open tunings, these guitars respond beautifully and play comfortably.

Communication, an indispensable tool in the process of building a truly individual guitar, is a very enjoyable part of the journey for me. To begin, all that is required is a phone call or an email. From there each detail will be discussed, at length if needed.

My COMMITMENT to my customers is to provide instruments of unsurpassed quality, tailored to YOUR individual needs.