".....the finest cigar box guitars that we've seen. 
J. Stoltz is a well respected folk artist and his cigar box designs are a natural extension of his phenomenal talent."

-Illinois Art Studio

Each Delta Blues, cigar box guitar is constructed one-at-a-time with great attention to detail.  You won’t find a mass production assembly line in my barn, just me, my tools, and a little background music.  Each guitar is assembled almost entirely without the use of power tools, with the lone exception being a drill. 

I’m not opposed to technology or anything, it’s just I’ve found that the only way for me to achieve consistent quality is by the use of hand tools.  Besides, I actually enjoy the creative process. 

I first became hooked on the delta blues sound and eventually began seeking ways to capture that authentic vintage blues vibe.  The music led me to constructing my own guitars and amplifiers in an effort to find the right “tone”.  I have always felt blessed with an artistic vision of sorts and I truly enjoy building things with my own two hands.  I get a great deal of satisfaction out of seeing a project come together, but when it’s done, I’m ready for the next one.  It definitely seems the journey is just as important as the destination for me.

At first, I just kept building guitars because I really enjoyed the challenge of refining the craftsmanship of each successive guitar.  I found and still find it very interesting how subtle differences in construction can have an enormous impact on the sound and overall playability of the guitar.  I genuinely believe that if I’m going to invest such a great deal of time into constructing an instrument, then I shouldn’t accept anything less than superior quality.

For more information regarding the craftsmanship of my guitars, see Craftsmanship - Part II.