Meet Chris Bell
An interview with guitarist, guitar builder, and Bouldin Creek Resident
Interview by Desirae Pierce
Photo by Melissa Glen
1. What’s your favorite part of the hood?
Great question! I love the trees, the quiet streets, the little pier and beam houses, the peacocks.. too much to list here.
2. How long have you lived in Bouldin?
23 years
3. What inspired your guitar building?
The main thing is that I have been a player for nearly 40 years, and I have taught guitar for 25. So, it’s my experience playing and teaching the music I love that is the main driving force behind my designs. My guitars are meant to be played. I actually got into it because one of the premier luthiers here in town told me I was too good a player to have other people set up my guitars. He showed me the basics and I caught the fever. I then worked for Tom Ellis at Ellis Mandolins for over two years. That experience gave me the foundation in instrument building. The final piece was a local luthier named Ed Schaefer. He taught me how to use what I learned at Ellis and make guitars by hand.. which is what I do. No computers!
4. How does the neighborhood inspire your work?
We are dog owners and I have spent years walking them through the hood and it’s during those walks that I kind of meditate about designs or how to solve certain obstacles in my building process.
5. Who is your favorite band? Favorite player?
Wow! That’s impossible to answer.. Locally, I really love the playing of Chuck Anastasiou, Josh Fulero, and David Hamburger. These guys are all amazing local guitar players. I love a lot of American roots music, so the jazz guys from the 50’s and 60’s like Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell and Grant Green. I love the blues guys from that era as well- BB King and Albert Collins.. I love Ry Cooder and the stuff he did in the 70’s, The music of New Orleans, the list goes on and on.
6. What’s my superpower?
Well,... My superpower is connected to my teaching. I was self-taught, and became a professional guitarist before I studied formally, so I can relate to all kinds of students and meet them wherever they are in their musical/ guitar journey.
7. What ages do I teach?
I teach students in High school and up.. I have had several students that have come to me in their 60’s saying they always wanted to learn to play. If they want to do it, I am happy to share whatever knowledge/ advice I can give.
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