Classical Guitars, custom guitars, acoustic guitars, guitar crafting, luthier, fine custom guitars

Steve Porter Luthier and Crafter
of Fine Furniture & Cabinetry

Steve began woodworking at age seventeen in his parent’s garage in Orange, CA. He later apprenticed with traditional English cabinetmaker John Ellison and eventually became his partner in Foxwood Cabinets.

In 1984 Steve moved to Mendocino on the rugged North Coast of California. There, he discovered a new aspect of woodworking when he studied under master-cabinetmaker Jim Krenov at the Fine Woodworking program at College of the Redwoods in Fort Bragg. Under this tutelage, Steve was able to take his woodworking to a new level, incorporating the hand-plane and elegant joinery techniques into the pieces he created.

Steve began studying classical guitar in 1994 and his interest in the instrument’s construction was piqued almost immediately. He attended the American School of Lutherie in 1996, where he started construction of his first classical guitar.  As his craft progressed, he honed his skills with instruction in technique and French polishing with Jeff Elliott and Cindy Burton.

Steve divides his time between creating beautiful classical guitars and finely crafted furniture and cabinets in his Mendocino studio.