Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Tatoyian.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Chris. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
About 20 years ago I (like a lot of people) was working a job I didn’t like and was sick of the daily grind. I decided at that time to make a change and I wanting to find something that I would be happy doing. I wasn’t exactly sure what but I knew I wanted to do something creative and artistic. I was already playing guitar at this point and in a band but playing music never really paid the bills… Haha!
Around this time I had dropped off one of my guitars at the local music store to be re-fretted. It was an old Les Paul Custom that I loved and when I went to pick it up I remember being so impressed by the job he did. It was still my old guitar but played like new! So, I started talking to the store owner and asking who did the work. He told me the local luthiers name and said the word “luthier” which I had never heard before.
I immediately went home and started doing research on how I could get into this field. I had always been good with my hands and really felt like this was something I would be good at. Much to my surprise, there were some trade schools scattered across the US that do teach building and repair so… I saved up the cash, drove my car out to northern Michigan and the rest is history!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I feel like one of the lucky ones. My road was pretty smooth. I decided what I wanted to do and just made it happen. This was one of those times in life when I knew I was doing something right because everything just seemed to fall into place.
Please tell us about Black Cat Guitar.
I do repairs, restorations and wind my own pickups. I did some guitar building when I first started out but quickly realize my love for vintage instruments and doing repair/restoration work was more my calling.
I specialize in guitars but do repair a variety of stringed instruments. I’m very proud of my handmade pickups.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I wouldn’t change a thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: blackcatguitar.com
- Phone: 617-599-3694
- Email: blackcatguitar@mail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackcatguitar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackcatguitar/
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
