Instrument Repair
Bristol, VA
After working on the road as a sound engineer for the bluegrass fiddler Michael Cleveland, KT Vandyke found himself back in Southwest Virginia, doing instrument repair and setup at Front Row Music in Abingdon. It’s there where he met Walter “Skip” Herman of the nearby Frog Level Guitar Shop. Herman had learned the luthier trade from “Uncle” Dave Sturgill in Piney Creek, North Carolina, and decided to pursue repair full-time once he saw the reliable demand for, and importance of, the work. As Herman explains, “You can make the very best instrument in the world and if there is no one out there to repair it, it’s like having a Ferrari where there’s no mechanic in the world who can fix it.”
Herman and Vandyke became friends and soon Vandyke was working in Herman’s backyard workshop learning the ropes. In 2021-2022, the two received support through the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program. Because of Herman’s generosity and dedication towards ensuring his skills continue, Vandyke is prepared to launch a full-time instrument repair career. He is now building his own backyard shop in Bristol, and Herman will give him much of his workshop equipment, empowering Vandyke to continue his legacy of excellent repair. Born and raised in Buchanan County, Vandyke is also a talented singer-songwriter. His latest single, “Texas (Walking on Ashes)” was released earlier this year. Vandyke will be sharing his luthier work in the Virginia Folklife Area and performing in the Instrument Maker’s Jam on the Center for Cultural Vibrancy Virginia Folklife stage on Sunday.