Guitar Maker at Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi

Do you ever watch something, or hear a story that makes you feel like sh*t because how fortunate you really are? Maybe you complain about how difficult something you do is – could even be how you play guitar, etc.. and find out someone does WAY more than you with WAY less than you. I like these experiences. It lights a fire under me. Inspires me. Toughens me up. I should NEVER whine or moan about anything I do. I should always be appreciative and take advantage of my opportunities, and work hard.

I recently watched this video of a guitar maker in a refugee camp building guitars. I had an opportunity to build a guitar (Fender Bass VI copy) from scratch via Rukavina Guitars. When I say from ‘scratch’, I mean everything was built from a couple of chunks of wood. No pre-shaped necks/bodies, etc. I know how hard that was for me. I know how long it took and the skill and training involved. It was difficult with tools specifically used to help the process. It was build with tools that were powered! This video shows a person building guitars with practically nothing. Bad wood. Bad tools. And he makes it happen.

For more information, I was able to find a site for LPG (Local Production Guitar) – you can find out more here.

How hard is your day in the shop? Let me know what you think about this video!