February 02, 2003


Texan builds guitar of choice for cowboy musicians


By MARIANNE KOBAK, Free Press Staff Writer

ELKO - The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering would not be the same without the sounds of the guitar, and a few of this year's poets used custom-built guitars designed by Chris Jenkins.

" I'm a real conventional, conservative guy. I don't think I understood the true nature of art until I started making guitars," Jenkins said. "I'm not saying they're perfect, but art is about having a passion. It fills a void. It's such a rewarding thing hearing people here create music with them and hear them create music for others' enjoyment."

He started making guitars in 1996 when his son wanted a bass guitar. He has built about 30 guitars and most of them are used by professional musicians, he said.

Milner performed at the Gathering with the saddle pal guitar Jenkins built for him.

" I like the saddle pal because it's like an old parlor-style guitar," Milner said. The old cowboy songs sound better on old-style guitars, so I love it. I have other guitars, but I love it."

Burson likes the wood Jenkins uses because it affects the sound of the instrument. " I like the size, the wood, the sound, the playability and it sounds wonderful plugged in," Burson said.

Withnell, of Cowboy Celtic, said she loves the feel of the Jenkins' guitar.

" It's just the right size for me so I'm actually improving," she said. "I'm getting compliments on its sound. I know some guitar collectors who flipped over these. Chris must be a perfectionist."

Each guitar takes 300 to 400 hours to build, Jenkins said. All his guitars have his logo - a wood cutout of Texas - and a Zuni Indian good luck fetish inside. The Zuni fetishes are small, carved animals such as a frog or badger.

" I have three or four woods that I like," he said. "My favorite is probably the Southeast Asian rosewood but I also like the Koa from Hawaii."

The sides and bottoms of his guitars can be made with the exotic woods but the tops are always made from spruce, cedar or redwood." Spruce can be made very, very thin," Jenkins said. "The thinner and lighter the top the better the sound."

Despite building guitars, Jenkins does not play the instrument. " I always wanted to play," he said. "But I've always been a rotten player. I'm a good builder."