Meet the Makers: David and Rob Rodgers

by Cyndy Burton with Jeffrey R. Elliott¸

Originally published in American Lutherie #109, 2012



About thirty-five years ago, a very successful design engineer discovered that the best tuners found on classical guitars did not work very well. He had previously designed and made large equipment like precision grinding machines and saws for cutting metal joists. While still working at his day job, he experimented in his home workshop and figured out how to make precision tuning machines that not only work very well, but are beautiful.

In May of 2010, Jeff Elliott and I met David Rodgers and his wife/partner Muriel in the Leicester train station (about 75 miles north of London), where they greeted us like old friends, though we knew each other only through our business correspondence. (Full disclosure: Yes, we’ve been Rodgers’ customers for over thirty years.) They drove us to their home in nearby Kirby Muxloe, where we spent a delightful few days in their home and shop, and visited as well with their son and business partner Rob in his shop just across the road. After sitting down with our requisite tea, we began our conversation.