Western Australia
THE AUSTRALIAN - Wednesday August 25, p5
Meticulous: Mr Hawkes works on the body of a guitar at his studio in Woodbridge and, inset, the instrument's distinctively marked headstop.
Picture: Andy Tyndall Story: Linda Back
Picture: Andy Tyndall Story: Linda Back
Time doesn't call tune in search for his Holy Grail
AS the song lyrics tell us, all Australian boys need a shed, and this is true of Perth classical-guitar maker Graham Hawkes.
A visit to his "shed" reveals a mellow, calm, meticulous attention to detail and a sense of timelessness.
By the door is a quantity of silky oak planks drying, stacked in a way that can only be described as an artwork in itself.
"I could have had these planks dried in a kiln," he said.
"Time is not important, but the result is."
And quite simply, this is Graham Hawkes's philosophy.
One of four classical-guitar makers in Perth, Hawkes began crafting.guitars in 1994. His first instrument taught him a critical lesson.
"It was beautiful to the eye but the sound was loud, harsh, uneven", he said.
Achieving the sound has become Mr Hawkes's Holy Grail.
AS the song lyrics tell us, all Australian boys need a shed, and this is true of Perth classical-guitar maker Graham Hawkes.
A visit to his "shed" reveals a mellow, calm, meticulous attention to detail and a sense of timelessness.
By the door is a quantity of silky oak planks drying, stacked in a way that can only be described as an artwork in itself.
"I could have had these planks dried in a kiln," he said.
"Time is not important, but the result is."
And quite simply, this is Graham Hawkes's philosophy.
One of four classical-guitar makers in Perth, Hawkes began crafting.guitars in 1994. His first instrument taught him a critical lesson.
"It was beautiful to the eye but the sound was loud, harsh, uneven", he said.
Achieving the sound has become Mr Hawkes's Holy Grail.
"I have always loved guitar music, but I didn't know how to listen properly.
"I really had to sharpen my listening skills. It is something that grows and deepens with practice and is critical to the success of my instruments," he said.
One problem Mr Hawkes faces is that his listening skills are becoming so fine it is getting harder and harder to produce guitars that please his ear.
"Guitar making is an integral mix of science and art," he said.
"Each piece of wood is individual and the human input also varies."
Mr Hawkes beIieves West Australian timbers such as fiddlewood jarrah, sheoak, and myall are ideal for crafting top quality guitars. He has a waiting list and clients are content to wait for 18 months or more for a well-crafted instrument, knowing it will be worth it.
"Each of my guitars has its own voice. Out there amongst the musicians they sell themselves," he said.
Mr Hawkes admits he is a very poor player of the guitar and would love to play one of his instruments well. "If someone said to me I could trade one of my legs to become a great guitar player, I would go straight out and get the chainsaw," he said.
"Realistically, I will never play well, so in some ways that heightens my pleasure in creating a fine guitar."
"I really had to sharpen my listening skills. It is something that grows and deepens with practice and is critical to the success of my instruments," he said.
One problem Mr Hawkes faces is that his listening skills are becoming so fine it is getting harder and harder to produce guitars that please his ear.
"Guitar making is an integral mix of science and art," he said.
"Each piece of wood is individual and the human input also varies."
Mr Hawkes beIieves West Australian timbers such as fiddlewood jarrah, sheoak, and myall are ideal for crafting top quality guitars. He has a waiting list and clients are content to wait for 18 months or more for a well-crafted instrument, knowing it will be worth it.
"Each of my guitars has its own voice. Out there amongst the musicians they sell themselves," he said.
Mr Hawkes admits he is a very poor player of the guitar and would love to play one of his instruments well. "If someone said to me I could trade one of my legs to become a great guitar player, I would go straight out and get the chainsaw," he said.
"Realistically, I will never play well, so in some ways that heightens my pleasure in creating a fine guitar."