MEET THE LUTHIER
RICK FARIS
Rick Faris is both a talented award-winning musician and a skilled luthier. He and his company, Faris Guitar, will serve as the primary tenants of Kentucky Guitar Works at the Center for Lutherie.
Born into a musical legacy and learning from his touring-musician dad, he grew up immersed in Bluegrass and fiddle tunes. He was part of the award-winning Faris Family Bluegrass Band, touring for 12 years. Joining the Bluegrass band Special Consensus, he transitioned to mandolin and thrived, winning awards and respect. Singing with Dark Shadow Recording as a solo artist for three albums, he crafted his unique Bluegrass sound with hits like "Breaking in Lonesome" hitting #1. His album The Next Mountain also climbed the charts, earning him "New Artist of the Year" at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards (IBMA) in 2022. His most recent Dark Shadow Recording album, Uncommon Sky, features a cover of Huey Lewis and the News and their song “Power of Love” from the movie Back to the Future that was nominated for the "2023 Song of the Year" by IBMA.
Rick Faris has been building handmade guitars since 2001. He has developed his own sound influenced by the 30's Pre-War traditions. Rick is a very rare builder in that he can play at a professional level, giving him the pro's perspective. He understands how a superior guitar is supposed to feel and sound. He came to guitar building as a picker who was searching for a new level of instrument rather than from a woodworker’s background.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS | |
Who is Rick Faris? | Rick Faris is both a talented award-winning musician and a skilled luthier. He and his company,
Faris Guitar, serves as the primary tenants of Kentucky Guitar Works at the Center for
Lutherie. |
What role will Rick Faris play at Kentucky Guitar Works? | Rick Faris serves as the primary full-time Luthier in Residence at Kentucky Guitar Works.
In addition to his focus on custom guitar crafting, he will also assist with workshops and educational sessions, artist and luthier meet and greets, guided scheduled tours, guest artists and guided jam sessions, future apprenticeship programs and repair and restoration.
|
Does Rick Faris and the Faris Family reside in Owensboro/Daviess County? | While doing the initial shop set-up away from his family in Topeka, KS, Rick is now joined
in Owensboro/Daviess County with his wife Nicole and their two sons, Parker and Kent.
Rick has provided technical and programming assistance throughout the Kentucky Guitar Works project and will assist with start-up operations and initial program decisions over the coming months. |
What is a Faris Guitar? | Faris Guitar is the custom guitar company founded by award-winning Bluegrass music artist Rick Faris. Faris guitars are built by hand in very small batches. Each guitar is made of hide glue construction, built with top-grade materials handpicked by Rick himself and finished with either nitro-cellulose lacquer or hand applied shellac. Because each guitar is built to a customer's order, there has been a wait for one of Rick's guitars. Production will be expanded. |
Can I order a Faris Guitar? | Please contact Rick Faris directly if you'd like to discuss the pricing of a specific build. He can be reached at https://rickfaris.com/contact or farisguitarco@gmail.com. |
How much does a Faris Guitar cost? | Pricing varies depending on the project, materials, custom inlay, and other such specifications. The more work required, the higher the cost. In general, these are high-end guitars custom handcrafted for professional musicians and collectors. Plans under consideration call for a more widely produced guitar available to other players, pickers, collectors, and enthusiasts. |
Where will Faris Guitars be made? | All future Faris guitars will be handcrafted at the Faris Guitar location at Kentucky Guitar Works at the Center for Lutherie in Owensboro/Daviess County, Kentucky, the Bluegrass Music Capital of the World. Faris Guitars are currently sold around the world. |
What types of instruments will be made by Faris Guitar? | Faris Guitar will predominately provide high-end bluegrass style guitars with a focus on Pre-War
traditions. There is planned expansion into a more attainable ready to buy model guitar in the
future as well as some experimental designs. |
Are there other local and regional luthiers that will be involved with Kentucky Guitar Works? | KGW is planned to be a gathering place for luthiers from around the region as well as pulling from Nashville and other places across the nation. Centrally located near the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum in the Bluegrass Music Capital of the World, many local and regional luthiers practice their craft across the region. The center regards luthiers at its core serving as guest lecturers, volunteers, participants, and numerous other ways suggested by the group. |