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Are custom options available?

Not generally, but it never hurts to ask. Some things like pickguards, plating, fret sizes, etc can be accommodated, while other features such as pickups, custom wiring or hardware are more laborious and harder to work in.

Could I visit your workshop?

I typically don't bring customers downstairs to my workshop unless we’re seriously talking about building a guitar. Charters/Kal-Tone guitars are upstairs available to play and discuss with staff.

What’s up with the Charters/Kal-Tone back and forth?

I closed Kal-Tone in December of 2022 after 8 years. Despite most of the business coming from repairs and restorations, I was (after 25 years) ready to shift my efforts from fixing problems, to creating and wanted to rebrand. The old Charters name and logo from 2008 were dusted off in 2024 to distinguish the “by appointment” guitarmaking studio apart from an open to the public repair shop. Kal-Tone came back in 2026 as Lachlan MacQuarrie came back to repair and keep the shop open regular business hours. After two years of solitude, it became more apparent to me that a guitar shop that the local musicians can’t some into, isn’t really much of a guitar shop. I also just needed a break and time to raise some little kids up. Now it’s back.

So, Charters and Kal-Tone both exist in the same building, and are owned by me. I’ve changed workshops, employers, and DBAs often over the years. Now middle aged and working in the city center, my restlessness is fading as my desire to build up a touchstone shop for the music lovers of Kalamazoo takes over.

How do I try out a guitar if there is no dealer in my area?

Buying a guitar without playing it is often problematic, but seems to be the way the world works today with fewer and fewer guitar shops around. If for any reason you don’t love a guitar, there is an easy return/refund process.

Artist endorsements / business to business…

Discounts are offered to a limited number of professional musicians and businesses that I collaborate with. Please contact me with your ideas and I’ll see if it’s something that can be done.

Did you work for Gibson and Heritage?

Gibson left town when I was 5. At 19 I began learning lutherie from Abe Wechter, the former acoustic “Research and Design” guy at Gibson. I spent a lot of time later with Chuck Burge who was the electric R&D counterpart there. In 2001 I worked for Heritage Guitars and the 4 original owners for about a year until leaving to open my first business. I grew up 20 min away from Kzoo in Paw Paw and have spent most of my adult life in Kalamazoo working professionally on guitars. As one can imagine, I’ve met most of the guitar people in the area and have been lucky to learn at least a little something from everyone.