Meeting Ben Padgett with Allegheny Luthierie and Padgett Guitars

[@caseyreneeguitar]

This guy is awesome!! I met him at Galloup Guitar Building School when I was a student there he was one of the teachers. Wow good for him!!!!

[@candicestevens2389]

I'm really rooting for him to be a legendary maker,and I want one of his for myself!

[@paulboden7850]

Ben knows his stuff. Hope we get to hear them when they're finished. Thx GH

[@markcummings2344]

He is pretty young. He could be making guitars for a very long time - all the best to him and I hope he succeeds.

[@oldmanofcotati]

Clapton was great at age 20.

[@cironicholas526]

So, buy 'em now, they're only going up in value!

[@oldmanofcotati]

Picasso was once 'pretty young'.

[@oldmanofcotati]

@@cironicholas526 Since this video hit, his prices have doubled for all White buyers. Biden's "equity" orders.

[@azcharlie2009]

Unless he loses a good amount of weight, he might not be around long. I'm surprise that he's worried about sustainability and carcinogens when he doesn't care about his own body. I hope he can manage this problem.

[@scottfishkind5335]

What an incredibly knowledgeable, talented, and articulate luthier who also seems like a really nice guy!! I appreciate him speaking about the back and sides versus top and other factors as related to what actually contributes to most of the tone!

[@suspence25]

I am in a guitar building class in Louisville Kentucky. It’s really one of a kind. We have been taking now about a year and a half to build a single guitar. This guy knows his stuff. Really nothing like building your own acoustic guitar. The teacher isn’t much on the socials but I wish you could check it out. I’ve learned so much, I don’t even know if I can do it again. It’s almost overload. So much skill involved. He is right what he says about the 90% of the stuff you think matters, doesn’t. He really gets it. Thank you for sharing this. I always love your videos. Keep it up.

[@georgealvarez8967]

Well done ! Thanks for bringing us along. Ben we wish you a string of successes (see what I did there).

[@darionieves550]

Yes,this guy love details,perfection,dedication.congratulation!!!

[@tacob69]

Love videos like this and checking out new guitar makers.I so agree bolt on is fine on acoustic guitars.

[@SMarcey]

I live in the Shenandoah Valley, and its so cool to see people and places around me with the same passion for music as I have. This is amazing.

[@JeremySheppard]

Hey neighbor! Go meet Ben sometime.

[@G60syncro]

As a drummer, I can agree 100%!!! I have a number of wooden snares and my Ludwig Classic maple with 6 ply maple shell is a very stiff and clean sounding snare where you get mostly head tone... I also own a '60 Ludwig Pioneer with a 3 ply mahogany/poplar/maple shell and it has it's own voice of more shell resonance and a squishier dirtier tone to it. No knocking any one of them but for guitar I see you would want something more resonant and better projection! Also, as a machine designer I also like the pragmatic design choices Ben makes... They look like nice solid instruments!!

[@guitarz]

your editing of your videos is #1 totally enjoy your work... loving the garage studio build also!

[@BradleyMcTaggart]

Really fantastic video Jeremy. I’m highly anticipating the follow up! Ben is really intelligent and seems like a super nice guy. Best of luck to him!

[@junkmonkey4686]

I would love to have one of these guitars! The sound from these seems like it would be quite loud and very clear. I love his honest opinion on tone also. I can honestly say that even though I've never met Ben, I really like Ben

[@TheMoneyMakingMentor]

Ben is very knowledgeable. Good luck with your guitar business

[@johnnymartines2118]

Following his passion! Very cool!

[@Southernguitar74]

This was great. Thanks for introducing us to Ben, Jeremy. I am very grateful for luthiers. I am a fairly handy person with all sorts of tools, but I honestly can't even begin to understand how luthiers do what they do. I could not build a guitar if my life depended on it. I love to play, though!

[@aldenwilkins]

Hope he does well. Cool dude.

[@paulrich6307]

great interview and discussion!

[@michaeld9731]

Excellent video! Ben seems like a great guy. Good luck to him.

[@jamesjams5085]

This is my new favorite channel thanks Jeremy

[@guitarlusteuphoria4507]

Cool episode. His philosophies are the same as Richard Hoover of Santa Cruz Guitars in regards to matching the freq's of back and top.

[@kBrah36]

Yesss Ben!! You rock.

[@JodyBaldwin]

Great video and I'm looking forward to the follow-up when those guitars are ready!

[@JeremySheppard]

Me too! A few weeks!

[@stewmac]

Great video.

[@JeremySheppard]

That is such a compliment! Thank you. Ben is wonderful and I can't wait to see what comes next.

[@DonlonWard]

Very informative- thanks so much for introducing us to these knowledgeable & gifted luthiers. You forgot to credit the music in this video.

[@edfulginiti8798]

Very interesting...enjoyed!...I wish this young man well...we truly need businesses like his👍!

[@chrishinkelmann1293]

Ben was one of my last teachers at Galloup Lutherie School and he was awesome. He actually wanted to trade one of his guitars for the acoustic that I made while there

[@gijsbertuslaurensvandevooren]

Sorry did you?

[@ShannonPaul]

Enjoyed this, thanks!

[@redram5150]

0:39. No joke, this looks like a real life Springfield. I looked closely to see if the statue in front of the courthouse was a headless Jebediah Springfield

[@ShineDawg]

Wish I could volunteer a day and work there, super cool shop! All the best fam

[@joemcgraw5529]

wow Im looking for a boutique luthier who makes acoustics I may check him out ,and I live in Virginia and really want to visit that area anyways its awesome!!!!

[@magicdaveable]

I have built a few Martin style kits with bolt on necks. All were finished with French Polish. In my opinion nothing compares to Shellac for wooden stringed instruments. I use super blonde flakes and ethanol based tints. I have recently refinished a D-18 with pure tung oil thinned with ethanol.

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

16:32 ... it's a style of bowed zither... there is probably at least one in every antique store, they show up on the Antiques Roadshow every so often with people hoping they're valuable or unique, but they're not and not worth restoring... there's a reason people don't play them anymore, they're a pain in the ass!

[@roscoep.soultrain5775]

Epic video. Doing VA right. Love from Norfolk.

[@kellygrant3074]

Porter-Cable baby bench-top planer is a really good tool.! Great video guys. Really enjoyed this interview.

[@blinknlites1493]

Love the videos thank you!!!

[@kdrake777]

Nice drone action for that next level content! Great episode!

[@JeremySheppard]

Thank! It's so fun!

[@joemcgraw5529]

Thanks so much for doing this Jeremy Im looking for a Luthier like Him ,its either that or im saving for a Boucher guitar which are a little pricey but im really liking his guitars!!

[@JeremySheppard]

I'm going to have a few Boucher's in the next few weeks.

[@chuckcaldwell474]

@@JeremySheppard qq

[@rsn2012]

I played a gig with Ben and his band in Richmond about 9 years ago. We stayed at their house. Great guy, great musician. He was a drummer at that time like me. Of course, we stayed up all night shooting the s**t and playing guitar. I'm pretty sure his band's name was Roma. Congrats man...if I'm ever shopping in that price range I'll be sure to look you up.

[@Super_Nope_13]

Whattup Russ? How yah been? Abd yeah, I totally remember that night.

[@dingalsbe88]

I can’t wait to hear one

[@JeremySheppard]

Me too! Just a few weeks!

[@jasonbone5121]

Wow! This was such a great video!

[@JeremySheppard]

Thanks Jason!

[@bubbaluvv]

I was very surprised by this guy...wasnt sure how i felt about him until he started talking his tone opinions...dude knows his shit...great 🎥 so for that ill sub

[@oldmanofcotati]

America the beautiful. Thank you for this video.

[@jaybirdgenetics]

Would love to hang out with him!!! Great vid!!

[@JeremySheppard]

Do it! Let me know when you're headed over.

[@robbw27]

Wow. Thanks for introducing us to Ben and Padgett Guitars. Jeremy - Do you shoot your own drone shots? Love the intro to this one!

[@JeremySheppard]

Just got a drone around Thanksgiving. Shot this myself.

[@customgtrs]

My shop is in the foothills of the blue ridge. Must be something in the water. There are some good builders in the area..

[@Life-of-Bluegrass_Music]

He is from PA.

[@walshy2116]

I think I want to move there just because of this! Seriously

[@edspageusa1yesloveyes937]

Thank 💜 You LOVE

[@blinknlites1493]

Waiting list? What’s the price range?

[@JeremySheppard]

Well get back together and talk pricing and models.

[@williamcatalano1762]

I never realized how beautiful Virginia was. Might need to visit there sometime.

[@Southernguitar74]

You won't be disappointed. The Shenandoah valley is breathtaking, especially in the fall.

[@SteveEdinger]

killer episode ! half tempted to have a guitar made there... not too far away from me.

[@JeremySheppard]

Do it! They're not going to be at the price they are now for long.

[@johncrann6557]

fascinating. Does Ben have a completed guitar to show us?

[@JeremySheppard]

In a few weeks!

[@williamcatalano1762]

Hopefully someone or some people have an answer for my question here which I've never heard anyone really ask before or try to explain. I would of asked this guy straight away... He mentions that the back and side wood used for a guitar doesn't make the sound of a guitar as much as the top wood or the bracing style and wood used for the bracing. That being said I know that an all satin guitar sounds more woody and has a different tone than a guitar that has a gloss finish on it. There are also different finishes that make them sound different and ect. So would a guitar that has a satin finish on back and sides but has a gloss finish top have a different sound than a guitar of that of same that has a full gloss finish?

[@Super_Nope_13]

I think it has more to do with finish thickness rather than the kind of finish. High gloss finishes can be very thick with idea being you have to build up so much finish to sand it flat or to a high gloss sheen. Poly can sound great if its thin. French polished shellac typically sounds awesome because it's typically a fraction of the thickness of other finishes. As a builder, you always gave to mindful of where you are adding mass.

[@williamcatalano1762]

@@Super_Nope_13 Thanks for the info!!! So in your opinion would a guitar that just has a satin finish on back and sides and a gloss finish on top sound much different than if it had a gloss finish on the whole guitar?

[@Super_Nope_13]

@@williamcatalano1762 I don't believe there would be a noticeable difference in tone. It's all finish thickness. That's why shellac sounds the best... it's thin and doesn't dampen as much.

[@williamcatalano1762]

@@Super_Nope_13 Thanks again for your insight!!

[@dejadejayoutube]

,best episode yet👍

[@grantcarter7924]

Love your videos

[@JeremySheppard]

Thanks, grant!

[@dylanthomas7443]

What you have at 21:52 is something called "Bulbul Tarang". It is from Punjab.

[@johnnymcdonald4541]

great luthier mr ben

[@Ibaneddie76]

It's funny I build custom electric guitars but watch primarily videos on Acoustic guitar builders. I would love to get into acoustics but I'd have to redo my shop layout and it's taken 10 years to get my small 2 1/2 car garage shop set up the way I like it so It's not in the cards any time soon.

[@ibexwarrior3838]

The legendary Skeddy himelf.

[@markgillespie7591]

Was waiting to hear one..

[@JeremySheppard]

We all are! haha. It'll be a few weeks. I'll head back over.

[@markgillespie7591]

@@JeremySheppard I live 25 miles east of Roanoke,looks like a nice drive! Awesome that there’s some great guitar builders in Va. like Huss & Dalton,would love to go to some places like this and look around & soak up some knowledge

[@paulyguitary7651]

I love learning about local cats. Even this channel which I just found. Edit: wait I did see the Why did my guitar shop close video a bit ago. So I didn’t just find it but returned to it.

[@JeremySheppard]

Glad you're here Pauly!

[@paulyguitary7651]

@@JeremySheppard thank you sir.

[@Mike-kl1qc]

The best sound is absolutely in front of us. The modern luthiers are destroying traditional design, jaw dropping tone. Problem is they start at 8k and go over 20k. Another problem is the best known tone wood is basically gone. I’d love to hear a Padgett

[@bigcase4449]

I've been looking for someone to rebuild my 40's Gibson and I grew up along the Allegheny mountains. Might contact this guy

[@JeremySheppard]

Do it! He would be excellent.

[@johnnymcdonald4541]

actually my previous comment didn't do Mr Ben justice. I believe that he is one of the best guitar builders that i am aware of.

[@ericoswood1856]

You should check out Rose Creek Guitars in Cumming Georgia. Fantastic guitars and a very interesting luthier, Rick Gunn.

[@Southernguitar74]

I've never heard of them. I will definitely check them out. I have been looking for a legit local luthier. Thanks

[@FrankLafone]

You should head a couple hours north of there to Morgantown WV and check out Andrew White Guitars.

[@cabgtar7]

Anyone know the song at the beginning ?

[@davidrosenzweig1380]

Good video nice guy nice guitars

[@tomdalia5284]

I spy the General Skedward Award

[@WesTheMarketer]

The VA tourism board should hire you for a KZbin show.

[@JeremySheppard]

I'll do it. There are so many guitar builders in Virginia, I guess I forgot. Easily 30 or 40.

[@tomdalia5284]

#LoveTheSkeddy

[@VaPHpk]

Did you get some maple syrup while you were in town?

[@JeremySheppard]

I didn't but we talked about it! They cancelled the maple festival this year.

[@VaPHpk]

@@JeremySheppard I miss the sausage, buckwheat pancakes, and maple syrup at the Bolar community center. I have a favorite sugar shack, Duff’s. They’re old school. They cook down the sap in tin trays over a fire, and they finish the syrup in a large cast iron cauldron that’s over 100 years old.

[@scottrill17]

I am so impressed with Ben’s knowledge and skill level. Would love to take a building class from him. I don’t want to sound snarky but when he said , “nitro is cancer,” his weight is much more of a cancer risk than breathing some fumes.

[@scottrill17]

If he believes the top is so important then why isn’t he using Adirondack instead of Englemann or Sitka? Since he’s Allegheny, he should use a spruce from the area. Not my opinion.

[@JeremySheppard]

We've got some tricks up our sleeves to get some red spruce.

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

From what I've read Adirondack spruce is in short supply. Old growth Sitka spruce could become unavailable as a very small percentage is actually used for guitars while the bulk is being cut and shipped to Japan for building homes.

[@scottrill17]

@@hurdygurdyguy1 Wayne Henderson, another SW VA luthier, built a OOO for Eric Clayton back in the early 2000’s. A friend brought him a log of Adirondack that was from a tree on federal forest land that fell across the road. I’m sure Adirondack is still available. It may not be as plentiful commercially though.

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

@@scottrill17 yep, I've read the book about Wayne Henderson by Allen St. John, a terrific book! I probably should have amended my comment by saying, yes, Adirondack spruce could probably be had piecemeal (salvaged or from private hands) but commercially it's becoming in shorter supply...

[@danieldenson9437]

Engelmann spruce is less dense than red spruce and better suited for some guitar styles. It is generally more expensive than Sitka.

[@bigmac51290]

Small shop luthiers are so amazing. I'd love to have an acoustic built to my specs, but since most builders start at $4k+ it's practically unobtainable. Sad times.

[@darrellblanchard2362]

Make your own from a kit from stewart mcdonald.

[@bigmac51290]

@@darrellblanchard2362 That isn't even close to the same thing.

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

🤣 Yeah, sad times indeed that these luthiers want to make a living. Make your own from scratch and then you'll (matybe) get why bespoke guitars are $4k..

[@bigmac51290]

​@@hurdygurdyguy1 I know exactly what goes into it. At no point did I say they were priced unfairly. There are boutique guitars that are inlaid from the tip of the headstock all the way down the neck and rosette and cost more than $20k, they obviously put painstaking hours upon hours of master quality work to justify the pricing, but they are unobtainable none the less.

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

@@bigmac51290sorry, my bad ... it just sounded whiney to me (the bane of perception in social media).. 😉

[@trailtrs1]

Old Pianos have tons of good wood to reclaim.

[@coltknight3945]

I've tried to reclaim 3 old pianos. They are mostly laminated woods with pretty veneer.

[@trailtrs1]

@@coltknight3945 True. They often have a good wood (non lam) attached to the sound board.

[@jacobmiller3427]

Anyone think the young big guy looks like the son of one of the people from the show moonshiners?

[@ponchlove2393]

Contact info???

[@JeremySheppard]

Links in description.

[@danielhorsley2259]

Very cool! But it would have been nice to hear a guitar

[@JeremySheppard]

In a few weeks! He's JUUUST getting started and didn't have any done yet and had sold the others.

[@theariesexperiment4642]

Just cant see paying $3,000-$4,000 for scarf-joined necks. Just my personal opinion. I'm a quarter sawn man myself.

[@jerry-st7rc]

Wenge is hard for any luthier

[@azcharlie2009]

This part of America is what America used to look like most places. Not anymore.

[@recoilrob4765]

Wow, looks like they swept the town streets for you...

[@JacobNNorton1982]

I’m so sick of face diapers

[@andrewbowen8122]

Guess being obese they feel at risk? Doesn’t make sense if they’ve had the vaccine though.

[@audimaster5000]

Someone who works with wood generally doesn’t have some fantastic over dramatic issue wearing a particulate filter face covering. Most informed individuals similarly can comprehend or understand the purpose of current protocols especially by now. It’s not tricky to see this is a temporary good idea and not necessarily for personal protection reasons but more because we don’t live in a third world country free for all. Thanks Many luthiers wear aprons. Some use gloves for glue-ups. Wild

[@JacobNNorton1982]

@@audimaster5000 you sound ridiculous talking so condescending to a complete stranger. I run a business requiring wearing a respirator. I’m overwhelmingly informed on what they can and cannot do. This includes mask. I’m here for the music not politics or lectures.

[@torontolarrivee7965]

Gah...gorgeous guitar, but, bolt on? Why

[@JeremySheppard]

We talk a lot about it. My Huss and Dalton is a bolt on and sounds amazing.

[@kft590]

He may make a name for himself if he doesn't die young. I hope he can get healthy, it would be a shame if can't keep making guitars for a long time.

[@Nightshade1881]

What a Stupid ass comment

[@lkj974]

This young man has learned a difficult, complicated skill well enough to be asked to teach it. He has acquired tools and materials and set himself up for business. What he weighs is none of our business. I wish him every success. I have built a few guitars too and I agree with his building philosophys. I have never tuned a top plate but I guess I may give it a try next time.

[@kft590]

@@lkj974 I said nothing about his weight, only wishing that he could get healthy so he can have a long career, you interpreted that to mean his weight.

[@JimWalkerMusic]

Masks?? Really??? Smh

[@lkj974]

You do you. Let other people make their own decisions.

[@sciencesaves]

go vegan

[@BADBONESDAD]

Take off your masks for God's sakes wtf