Creating a beautiful instrument is no simple feat; it requires expert knowledge and careful craftsmanship. But building a fine instrument that’s durable and stands the test of time through every practice and performance necessitates a practiced hand and the use of top-notch finishing products.
FinishWorks customer Ken Hooper of Hooper Guitars is a seasoned luthier who relies on our premium wood finishers, including Mohawk lacquers, to deliver the highest quality instruments to his customers. Get to know Ken and witness his passion for his craft by reading through the exclusive interview with him below.
Q&A with Luthier Ken Hooper
1. Tell us how you first became interested in crafting instruments. What inspired you to become a luthier?
Hooper: I became really interested in building and instruments during my college days when a group of us were getting together and jamming. I was playing a cheap starter mandolin and started wanting a better instrument. I had always been able to make things with my hands and I thought it shouldn't be too complicated to build a mandolin. Needless to say, I underestimated the learning curve required before being able to produce a quality instrument. I build primarily guitars now, but the F5 Mandolin was definitely my first instrument love.
2. Can you tell us about the finishing products you use in your craft? What are some of your favorites and why?
Hooper: The primary clear coat finish I use is Mohawk string instrument lacquer. I have experimented with other finishes over the years, but have pretty much settled on this. I like nitro lacquer for several reasons. It’s a traditional finish used on the old Martins and Gibsons so my customers appreciate it. It's also very easy to use, as it sprays out so nicely and cures fairly quickly, but most importantly, I think it's superior from an acoustic standpoint as it’s durable but also flexible.
3. What specific characteristics do you look for in finishing products for your
instruments?
Hooper: Clarity, ease of use, flexibility are the primary characteristics I look for.
4. Do you have any signature finishes, techniques, or preferences you’d be willing to share?
Hooper: I don't have any signature techniques necessarily. If anything, it would probably be sunbursts—I spray a lot of sunbursts. I do always strive to have the final finish be as thin as possible without actually looking like it's thin, if that makes sense.
5. Do you believe the choice of finishing products has an impact on the aesthetics of the instrument? How do you ensure a visually appealing finish?
Hooper: Yes, I believe it makes a difference for sure. I have experimented with some non-nitro finishes over the years that end up having a cloudy appearance as they cure and age. It's very important to me for the finish to be absolutely clear as this allows the beauty of the wood itself to show through and actually be enhanced. There again, "less is more" is the key to a nice-looking and acoustically superior instrument finish.
6. How do you stay updated on new advancements or products in the field of instrument finishing?
Hooper: I'm always on the lookout for improved methods and products. The luthier community is a very giving group and everyone in my circle pretty much shares freely. If I see something that looks really nice that someone else has done, I don't mind reaching out to ask. Social media is a great place for this—Facebook, Instagram, etc.
7. What advice would you give to aspiring luthiers?
Hooper: There is a ton of information out there these days on how to do anything—building instruments is no different. I would say take advantage of all that info and understand at the end of the day that there is no substitute for actual hands-on experience. Depending on how deep you want to go into it and what your goals are, it's a long learning curve. It really helps if you are able to get to the point where you love the journey. If someone wants to speed the process up, there are several schools around now that give someone the opportunity to acquire the knowledge faster.
8. Could you share a memorable experience or project from your career as a luthier?
Hooper: A couple of my most memorable experiences have to be when I surprised my daughters with instruments. Several years ago I surprised my oldest daughter, Ellie, with a Koa OM18, and a couple of years later I surprised my youngest daughter, Mary-Claire, with an Old tyme Banjo that I had built. Both of these were Christmas presents.
9. How do the finishing products you use contribute to the overall performance and sound quality of the instruments you craft?
Hooper: I have come to realize over the years that it's hard to overstate how important the finish is to the final performance of an instrument. The goal is to put as little finish on the instrument as possible or vibrations are dampened. The only way to do this, however, is by using a quality product. To me, the Mohawk instrument lacquer is the best I have found for this purpose. After curing out, it sands and polishes beautifully.
10. How do you continue to hone your skills and expand your knowledge in the craft?
Hooper: As I said earlier, there is a ton of information online for someone willing to search it out. I like to scan the forums and chat rooms to see what is being talked about and if there is any information I can use. The best way, however, is chatting and interacting with other luthiers. I never want to have the mindset of being satisfied with where I am, and I want to go into every conversation with other luthiers looking for ways to learn and improve. There is always someone out there with a method or trick that maybe makes a little more sense than what I may be doing. It’s a constant learning cycle, and that's what makes it fun for me.
11. What do you enjoy most about being a luthier?
Hooper: I really enjoy the simple act of making something with my hands and giving it to someone to enjoy. It's extremely fulfilling and humbling for me to hear someone make beautiful music with something I have made and in turn, make someone else happy by hearing it.
12. Finally, is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about your work or your approach to crafting instruments?
Hooper: I guess the thing I would share is that I try to go at it from a standpoint of never taking what I do for granted. I try to always remember how blessed I am to be able to get up every day and do something that I truly love to do. I realized a long time ago that the only way that I could make instruments at the level that I wanted was to do it full-time, but the great thing about this business is that you don't have to do it full-time to get a great deal of satisfaction and enjoyment from it. I know a lot of guys who bought a kit and built one guitar and that's okay.
Find Your New Favorite Wood Finisher
A quality topcoat for fine instruments means a smooth, durable finish that enhances the wood’s appearance without suppressing sound quality. Like Ken, put your trust in only the finest wood finishing solutions to achieve superior results.
Explore some of the products that valued customers like Hooper Guitars can’t go without:
