The purpose of making an instrument is to be inspirational and transparent and a component of that is building what people expect.  A guitar should guide players to new songs while also getting out of the way.   A three...

One of the benefits of building resonators from the "make a living" sense is that the pool of competition is much smaller. The group of builders in the world doing metal bodied resonators is small indeed, I can count them on...

The most intense joy of making instruments-seeing someone use what you’ve made to do something you could never do yourself. Perhaps play something that would not have been had it not been for the combination of two people’s...

I coach JV football. Last night I put in a third string running back, his first game ever, and he scores on his first play....

I'm looking for a youthful enthusiast who has graduated from a lutherie school who is looking to take the next step in their journey. I want to help you do that. E-mail me at muleresonators@gmail.com and convince...

If you want a clean house first clean each room.  I've had a few conversations recently that made me realize that we are too far sighted and, perhaps, act a bit entitled. We know what we want so that's what we look for.  The...

Mistaking affinity as knowledge. Rationalizing instead of testing. Reacting instead of contemplating. Thinking instead of trying. Comfort is not confirmation. Inclination is not experience. Habit is not practice. Inaction...

I wear a shirt with these words when football coaching season rolls back around. Sometimes new players trick themselves into trying “an easier way” - something that seems more clever. It doesn’t work. For those of us who...

When you see a resonator do you think, “Oh that’s cool. But I don’t really play slide.” I did too. High action, slide to the fifth fret then then 12th. We don’t “set up for slide”. 9/10 of my customers say “I play with my...

Charlie Parr is an American treasure. To see him doing his thing on the Mule - a privilege and so very inspiring. -Matt   https://youtu.be/X74nBiFcMoI  ...

https://vimeo.com/237489274   If ever there was a favorite moment of mine it was driving down to the Ark to meet Jeffrey Foucault. I brought a whiskey made in Detroit that tasted like it was made in Japan.  He's from...

  How much is too much? Too much work, too much leisure... too much talk, too much doing?   Sometimes finding the questions is the hardest part.   Are you working too hard? Are you working hard enough?   Are you enjoying...

https://www.mulestuff.com/product/mule-charity-beanie-Matt...

those are some snazzy looking f holes you got there ...

https://youtu.be/YleLKXaKqww...

If you are guitar maker, resonator guitar enthusiast, or are just looking for a good book- Guitar Lesson by Bob Taylor and  The Way of the Seal by Mark Divine are two of the most helpful I've read this year. The hard part of...

I was listening to the radio a while back and they had a scientist on to talk. She studied ants. First I was stunned that there was such a thing, second that she most likely was not the only ant researcher. She spent all her...

A bit of a tangent but it still applies. We tend to think of alternatives in aggregate. "If I didn't work this job I could start that business, go back to school and still have more free time." We take the best parts of all...

I never wanted to be a business person.  It still makes me feel awkward just to write it.  I just wanted to make things and support myself doing it.  I had attached (have attached) a lot of misconceptions about what it means...