“Tone Woods, Tracked and True.” — Riverbend Luthiery
I’m Kai, the builder behind Riverbend Luthiery. I make small‑batch electric and acoustic
guitars. A guitar is a machine for turning touch into sound; tiny changes matter. Before
Woodshop Master, I tracked top sets, moisture, and brace variations in a stack of notebooks
and a spreadsheet that only made sense to me.
Where sound met friction
Wood set fog. I could describe a set’s tap tone from memory, but not always find its sibling when a client ordered a matched pair.
Finish drift. Nitro schedules varied by season, and I’d occasionally polish too early chasing a deadline.
Serial chaos. Wiring diagrams, pickguard routs, and setup notes didn’t consistently follow the instrument through final setup.
How Woodshop Master tuned the shop
Set tracking that sings. Each top/back/neck set gets a card with species, density, moisture, tap‑tone notes, and photos. Reservations lock sets when a customer picks their wood—no accidental “oops, we used that top.”
Build cards with serials. From rough carve to fret dress, every step (and jig) is linked to the instrument’s serial. A pickup swap or shim change is documented forever.
Finish schedules as recipes. Grain fill, sealer, nitro coats, cure times—tied to local humidity. The system won’t let me buff early.
Dealer packages. Spec sheets, certificates, and care instructions print with the final check.
What changed in the music
Warranty claims down ~40%—setup and finish issues are rare and traceable.
Lead time promises I can keep; fewer “hurry up and wait” stalls.
Clients feel part of the process—photos and notes hit their portal at milestones.
Why it matters
I still chase resonance by ear and hand.
Woodshop Master just carries the details that used to leak out of my head when the clamps were on.