Herb David (12 April 1931 - Present) is the owner of the Herb David Guitar Studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan which opened on April 1962. Over the years, Herb has worked on hundreds of instruments, including the instruments of Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Bob Seger and many more [1]. In addition, he is also well respected for his craftsmanship of guitars, banjos, mandolins and other stringed instruments. Outside of the studio, he enjoys physical fitness, playing music, art, traveling to distant lands and learning about how music contributes to the mysteries of life [2]. He currently resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his wife and dogs.
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Early Years
Herb David was born and raised on Chicago’s southwest side – on Kedzie/Maxwell Street – in 1931. His family was poor, but close. The neighborhood was mixed in every way. It was there where he learned to respect all people and what skills were needed to put food on the table [3]. His mother sold yard goods at a Goldblatt's Department Store. He never saw or knew of his father.
At the age of nine, Herb David's interest in music took off after visiting his cousin who played the trumpet. He was so mesmerized by what he was hearing. Music was everywhere during that time on Maxwell Street, but Herb's family could not afford to buy an instrument of his own. Therefore, Herb earned money to help support his family by delivering magazines while saving any extra money to purchase a trumpet. During junior high and high school, he played in school bands and in a jazz combo. He eventually got into gymnastics which resulted in a gymnastic scholarship to Michigan State University[4].
Military Years
Herb David was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. While serving, he played trumpet in the Army Band at Fort Gordon, Georgia. He transferred to Ft. Knox when the band was sent overseas. The Army discovered he had been a grad student doing research on topics of space exploration [5]. He was then assigned to the Army Medical Research Lab as a research psychologist where he was allowed to live off post in Louisville, Kentucky. While there, he played trumpet and French horn with the Louisville Philharmonic (first chair), learned about the guitar and took guitar lessons [6].
Post-Military
After the Army, Herb moved to Ann Arbor, MI, and went back to school to work on his PhD at the University of Michigan and Wayne State University[7]. During this time, he took guitar lessons with Glendon Hilge who owned a guitar store and made guitars in the 1930’s. His interests eventually transferred toward playing the lute. In his search for one, he met a shoemaker by the name of Sarkus Varjebedian. Sarkus made instruments and did marquetry in wood and pearl in the back of his shoe repair shop in Detroit, Michigan in the tradition of many hundreds of years passed down to him through his family [8]. Sarkus shared his wealth of knowledge with Herb and taught him how to build and repair instruments.
The Origin
Herb's business took flight teaching guitar out of his home. Realizing he needed a larger space to teach all of his students, he decided to rent a small room in the basement of what was a bookstore on South State Street [9]. In April 1962, this small room became the first home of Herb David Guitar Studio. Following the advice of a great friend, Herb left the research lab at Ford Hospital and pursued the Herb David Guitar Studio full-time [10].
Today
The Herb David Guitar Studio has become a musical landmark in southeastern Michigan [11]. The studio provides retail services for Fender, Martin, Taylor, Seagull, Vox and many more. What’s more, the studio provides repair services for all stringed instruments, electronics, as well as the warranty center for all instruments sold. The studio also provides one-on-one music lessons for guitar (electric, acoustic, classical, flamenco and bass), banjo, piano, voice, mandolin, harmonica, ukulele, and percussion [12]. As of 2008, the studio expanded its business operation by developing a website http://www.herbdavidguitarstudio.com where customers can purchase retail items, get information about lessons, repairs and upcoming events and learn more about the studio.