DAVID MATHIS

DAVID MATHIS

Co-Owner

David was born in Murfreesboro and has lived most of his life in Tennessee.  He grew up close to Wartrace in nearby Manchester.  His first guitar chords were taught on a Gallagher G-50. In college he played in a bluegrass-folk band.  Life took him in a different direction but guitar was always part of his life. “I (half) jokingly say that James Taylor taught me to play guitar because I fell in love with his style and spent countless hours learning many of his songs.  That’s the guitar playing my kids remember from their childhood.”  

In my new role as co-owner of Gallagher Guitar Co., I will be working to ensure that Gallagher is around long after I’m gone – and I plan to be around a long, long time.  I am committed to ensuring that our guitars are consistently of the highest quality. I also understand that relationships are at the heart of our endeavors. My role will be to support the shop as we build high-quality, custom guitars that are true to the Gallagher family and legacy.

 

REINA MATHIS

REINA MATHIS

Co-Owner

Reina was born and raised in San Francisco, CA, ended up in Minnesota for high school and college, with a focus on photography and photofinishing, and moved to Tennessee in 1982. Early management skills were obtained in the one hour photo boom of the 80’s. In the early ‘90s she returned to school to become a paralegal and began a career in the legal field, which has been fitting for her organizational skill-set. Reina started out going to the Bluebird Café in Nashville in the ‘80s, and loves live music, especially singer-songwriter events.

As a co-owner of Gallagher Guitar Co., Reina joins the team and brings her organization talents, photographic eye and management skills to the company. She will provide oversight and administrative support to ensure that the company and its artistic craftsmen can continue the highest level of quality guitar making, and carry on the tradition of Gallagher Guitars.

 

AUSTIN DERRYBERRY

AUSTIN DERRYBERRY

Shop Manager

Austin is an awarded multi-instrumentalist, specializing in the fiddle, guitar, and claw-hammer banjo. He has been featured at the Country Music Hall of Fame and has performed at festivals and workshops throughout the United States and Europe. In addition to being a highly accomplished musician, Austin is also a skilled luthier who often performs with instruments of his own design and making. Austin was part of the inaugural class of the 2017 Tennessee Arts Commission Apprenticeship program, where he studied violin making under Charles Horner. Austin is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University where he majored in audio production and minored in American music studies. He is a Bedford County native and enjoys preserving the history of the region through his music and craftsmanship.

Hunter Petty

Hunter Petty

Assistant Shop Manager

Hunter received training at Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery.  He was an early employee at the new shop and has become a versatile and steady hand.  His primary focus is overseeing the post-finish process.

 

 

Garrett Case

Garrett Case

Garrett came to use from Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery.

Noah Lindeman

Noah Lindeman

Noah has long had a love for all things guitar.  He has gained advanced skills at our shop and is a key to the neck department.

Jake Pelton

Jake Pelton

Jake came to use from Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery.

Benjamin Brannan

Benjamin Brannan

Ben reached out to us about a possible apprenticeship.  He is our first apprentice and completed training in all areas of acoustic guitar building.  This culminated in the construction of his own Gallagher guitar.  He is now helping in preparation for finish and then final set up.

Jake Moor

Jake Moor

Jake is a wonderful addition to our team.  He enjoys playing electric guitar and his interest in guitar took him to the Guitar Craft Academy in Nashville.  This was after obtaining his bachelors in architecture.  His background using computer aided design has helped him to step into the role of working in our CNC area with Swavic.  Jake is instrumental in the building of the Gallacaster electric guitars.

Swavic Waclawik, "Rybski"

Swavic Waclawik, "Rybski"

Swavic Waclawik, better known in the luthier community and by musicians as Rybski.

Rybski was born in Poland, where the entire instrument making culture insists there be no compromise in craftsmanship. Rybski learned his craft by repairing historic upright basses, some made as early as the 19th century. He then started building custom bass guitars for some of Poland’s finest jazz and fusion bassists. In 1988, Rybski moved to the US, where he worked for several years doing whatever was necessary during the day to pay the bills, while designing and building basses evenings and weekends. His craftsmanship, tasteful design, and innovative electronics demonstrate beyond any question his experience and ability.

Swavic brings his skills and knowledge about instrument building as well as his attention to exactly that he is using with his inlay and other CNC work for us.  We are fortunate to have Swavic as part of our Gallagher team.

Mark Maisano

Mark Maisano

Mark Maisano joins our team to focus on repairs.  Keeping older Gallaghers in great form is an important part of what we do.  Mark has had a passion for guitars throughout his life.  He received formal training in guitar repair through John Levan’s courses.  We appreciate his careful attention to detail with each repair that comes before him.  Mark is also a retired Connecticut Highway Patrolman so nothing throws him off.  If your guitar is needing some attention, we would be happy to take a look at it for you.

Jonah Gillespie-Sickmen

Jonah Gillespie-Sickmen

Jonah comes from an artist family.  His father is in the Hackensaw Boys and his own artistry as well as part of Iguanahead.

ZEB TURRENTINE

ZEB TURRENTINE

Zebulon Turrentine is the son of a timber framer and visual artist, born in the first log cabin his father ever built and was raised as the 4th generation on that family farm. His grandmother, a Julliard trained pianist, exposed him to classical music at a young age, and he later came to study classical guitar performance at Shenandoah Conservatory. During and after conservatory studies, he built guitars for Gallagher Guitar Company in Wartrace, TN. He later worked in the Peace Corps and ran a non-profit organization. These experiences coalesced into the creation of his own workshop where he works classical guitars near Cookeville, TN. We are delighted that Zeb is sharing his experience with us as a consultant as well as a luthier.  You can learn more about Zeb’s abilities and work through his website.