OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
Strumming Along
Teaching the craft of guitar making in the heart of Winters
STORY AND PHOTOS BY Steve Martarano
Al Calderone , owner of ARC Guitar in Winters , works on the design of a guitar . He has built 64 acoustic guitars .
Al Calderone has held a variety
of jobs in his life — courier , glazier , landscaper and minister of a church in Williams that has been closed since the coronavirus pandemic hit in March .
Now , in the heart of historic downtown Winters , from a 600-square-foot store on Railroad Avenue , Calderone , 63 , builds guitars , teaches the craft of guitar and ukulele making , and gives lessons at ARC Guitar . His business is a rarity — a brick-and-mortar shop devoted to building musical instruments .
Lutherie is a calling he found late in life , fulfilling a dream he had since he was a child in New Jersey . Calderone , who has played guitar since he was 9 years old , moved to California when he was 28 . He always dreamed of owning a guitar-building business , but a lack of confidence sidetracked him . “ It seemed like such a daunting endeavor ,” he says . When he was in his 40s , he taught himself how to build and repair guitars , studying books he bought when he was in his teens . “ The craftsmanship and workmanship ability ( I had ) ended up being a surprise in my life ,” he says . “ I didn ’ t realize I had it in me . My only regret is that I didn ’ t act on it sooner .”
In 2009 , Caldorone used a $ 20,000 state redevelopment grant to move his business , which he had been operating out of his garage , into the centuryold building where ARC Guitar has
26 comstocksmag . com | February 2021