become a familiar fixture on the city ’ s main drag . The shop , just around the corner from The Palms Playhouse music venue , is a great fit for the eclectic area , says Sue Moualim , executive director of the Winters District Chamber of Commerce . “ Businesses like ARC Guitar are important to the historic downtown district in Winters ,” says Moualim . “ The downtown has a great relaxed and authentic vibe , so a handmade guitar shop such as ARC Guitar is right at home in a community whose residents and businesses are no strangers to artistic talent .”
Since he started the business , Calderone has built 64 acoustic guitars ; the price for a custom guitar starts at $ 2,800 . He has also fine-tuned his business operations , becoming more environmentally friendly over the years to improve his ecological footprint , using water-based materials instead of toxic solvents and finishes , and sustainable woods , like California walnut , instead of many of the heavily restricted tropical woods .
Calderone has taught more than 100 students how to build a guitar or ukulele , with about 90 percent ending up with a finished instrument . Before the pandemic , a student could take up to three years to finish the course and a guitar . But due to new restrictions , Calderone has instituted an intensive three-week , one-on-one , socially distanced course in his back student area . He continues to teach guitar , bass and ukulele lessons two days a week and repair instruments .
A student pays a minimum of $ 4,000 to start the guitar- and ukulelemaking class , with costs increasing depending on the type of wood and materials and the number of classes required to finish the piece . Students choose between four guitar models , beginning with the smaller sized parlor , up to concert , dreadnought and jumbo .
While not inexpensive , the result is a finished instrument with a student involved in every facet of choosing the wood and materials , design , and implementation . “ When it ’ s done , it ’ s basically a piece of themselves that ’ s been breathed into that instrument ,” Calderone says . “ It ’ s personalized , an artistic expression . You don ’ t get that when you go into a store and pick one off the shelf .”
When his course is completed , he says , students have learned more than just instrument building . “ They ’ re learning other things too — learning about life and philosophy . I guess you might say I ’ m an old sage or wannabe sage .”
Steve Martarano was a reporter at the Sacramento Union for 10 years before working in public affairs for both state and federal agencies in Sacramento . On Twitter @ MartArchives .
“ When it ’ s done , it ’ s basically a piece of themselves that ’ s been breathed into that instrument . It ’ s personalized , an artistic expression .”
Al Calderone , owner , ARC Guitar
A concert guitar is one of several types made by Al Calderone at his ARC Guitar store in downtown Winters .
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