Palen Music Center
is proud to present
The Date
Tuesdaythe tenth of November
The Venue
Wonders of WildlifeSpringfield, Missouri
Admission
Reservation Onlylimited attendance
The Evening
Founders, Builders, Icons, and Artists.
Meet the people shaping the future of the guitar industry.
Go behind the curtain of guitar making. Examine rare custom-shop woods, hear the stories behind your favorite instruments, and join the conversation on where guitars and amplifiers are headed next.
Guests of Honor
C. F. Martin & Co. · Est. 1833
President & Chief Executive Officer
In 2021, Thomas became the first chief executive in Martin’s history from outside the Martin family, after more than twenty-five years guiding companies through growth and change. He picked up an acoustic guitar at thirteen and never put it down.
He now leads the company behind some of the most celebrated acoustic guitars ever made, and he is bringing that perspective to Springfield for one night.
PRS Guitars · Private Stock
Director of Private Stock
Paul has been building PRS Private Stock guitars since 2002 and now leads the program, where every instrument is one of one. Woods, finish and inlay are chosen for a single player, and each guitar is played and signed by Paul Reed Smith before it leaves the shop.
He has spent more than two decades turning players’ dream specifications into real instruments. On this evening, he can help with yours.
Gibson Custom Acoustic
Inside the Gibson Acoustic Custom Shop, every legendary flat-top is carved by hand to unleash projection, warmth, and pure acoustic soul. Driving that passion is Don Ruffatto, Senior Product Manager for Gibson and a primary architect of Gibson’s acoustic revival.
He can help you design your own custom guitar on the night.
Two-Rock Amps
Eli’s story started on a stage and behind a workbench. Before he was the owner and CEO of Two-Rock, he was an artist using the gear on stages around the world. He loved working on and tweaking amplifiers, personalizing them for friends and fellow guitar players. When the opportunity came for him to take the reins of the company he loved, he jumped at the chance.
You'll get the chance to speak with Eli about how he crafts this incredible boutique amps.
Taylor Guitars
As Taylor’s Service Network Manager and premier technical authority, Rob has spent decades examining the direct relationship between tonewood, climate, playability, and structural design. He is the master craftsman who ensures that every Taylor guitar not only sounds extraordinary on day one, but continues to perform effortlessly for a lifetime.
For Rob, guitar design isn't just about crafting an instrument, it’s about protecting a player's lifelong creative companion.
Santa Cruz Guitar Company
Driven by an obsession with acoustic physics, Richard founded Santa Cruz Guitars in 1976 to bring back the lost art of individual voicing. While others measured wood in fractions of an inch, Richard tuned it by ear, tapping soundboards, hand-carving braces, and sculpting every top until the tonewood resonated at its absolute peak before ever touching a string.
On November 10, you get to sit down with him and design your own heirloom guitar.
The Setting
The evening unfolds inside the aquarium, with the reef itself as the backdrop. The room is intimate by design and holds only a small gathering, which is exactly the point.
Also This Evening
Most players spend a lifetime choosing from what hangs on the wall. This evening, you get to design the guitar of your dreams.
Handle rare, hand-selected custom-shop tonewoods, then sit with the builders and work through every decision that makes an instrument yours, from the top and back to the neck, inlay, and the finish.
Build Sheet
No. ______
Player
Builder
Reservations
This evening is extended to the guitar players of the Palen Music family. Because the room is intimate, attendance is strictly limited, so get your tickets before they're gone.
We look forward to welcoming you.
