About J. T. Hargreaves Basses & Guitars

About Us
Jay Hargreaves has been constructing bass guitars since 1974. His education in instrument making began with informal studies with violin maker Arthur Lockhart of Port Angeles, WA, in 1972 and ’73. Formal studies have included; Two years (1978-79) at Northwest School of Instrument Design, Seattle, WA, instructor Anthony Huvard. Kasha Design Seminar, Lost Mountain Center for the Guitar (Aug. 1987), Sequim, WA, instructor Richard Schneider. Hargreaves was an apprentice and assistant of Richard Schneider's from 1987 to 1997.

Here I am on Lost Mountain
with the Bluejay bass near completion.

Testing the Bluejay bass
in Dr. Kasha's anechoic chamber.

Jay and Dr. Michael Kasha.
August 1991

The Bluejay bass is finished!
With Richard Schneider on Lost Mountain.

Jay and George Majkowski.

First concert with the Bluejay bass.

Education in Instrument Making:

1972-73 Informal studies in basic techniques of violin making with violin maker
Arthur Lockhart of Port Angeles, WA.
1978-79 Use of hand tools and basic guitar construction, instructor Anthony Huvard.
Northwest School of Instrument Design, Seattle, WA.
1987 Kasha design seminar, instructor Richard Schneider. Lost Mountain Center
for the Guitar, Sequim WA.
1996 Archtop guitar construction. Ribbecke Guitars, Healdsburg, CA.

Work Experience:

1979 Teaching assistant at Northwest School of Instrument Design, Seattle, WA.
1980 Builder at Boogie Body Guitars, Puyallup, WA.
1993-96 Assistant to instructor Richard Schneider for Kasha Design Seminar,
Sequim, WA. and Healdsburg, CA.

Exhibitions:

Aug. 1979 “Bumbershoot ’79” with NSID, Seattle, WA..
July 18-20, 1980 “Guild of American Luthier Convention”, San Francisco, CA.
Mar. 20-28, 1981 “3rd Annual Musical Instrument Exhibit”, Bennet’s Music,
Redmond, WA.
Aug. 1-3, 1986 “Guild of American Luthiers Convention”, Tacoma, WA.
Jan. 9- Feb. 20, 1987 “Musical Art”, The Hands Workshop, Richmond, VA.
July 19-22, 1990 “Guild of American Luthiers Convention”, Tacoma, WA.
July 20-23, 1995 “Guild of American Luthiers Convention”, Tacoma, WA.
Mar. 23-24, 1996 “Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit”, Portland, OR.
Aug. 21-23, 1996 “Healdsburg Guitar Makers Festival”, Healdsburg, CA.
Mar. 22-23, 1997 “Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit”, Portland, OR.
Aug. 11-16, 1997 “Healdsburg Guitar Makers Festival”, Healdsburg, CA.
Mar. 28-29, 1998 “Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit”, Portland, OR.
Mar. 20-21, 1999 “Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit”, Portland, OR.
May 29-31, 1999 “Northwest Folklife Festival”, Seattle, WA.
Aug. 13-15, 1999 “Healdsburg Guitar Makers Festival”, Healdsburg, CA.
Mar. 22-26, 2000 “ASIA Symposium 2000”, Nashville, Tennessee.
Oct. 19-20, 2002 “Seattle Luthiers' first annual Puget Sound Stringed Instrument Exhibit”, Renton, WA
Oct. 4-5, 2003 “Seattle Luthiers' second annual Puget Sound Stringed Instrument Exhibit”, Renton, WA
Apr. 24-25, 2004 “Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit”, Portland, OR.
July 7-11, 2004 “Guild of American Luthiers Convention”, Tacoma, WA.
Apr. 23-24, 2005 “Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit”, Portland, OR.
June 21-25, 2006 “Guild of American Luthiers Convention”, Tacoma, WA.

Publications Citing Reference -Print:

The Rocket Magazine, Lip Service, Ricky Cresiendo. February 1981.
Guinness Book of World Records, Norris McWhirter. 1982-86.
The Richmond News Leader, Musical Art, Harriet McLeod. January 7,1987.
Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Bass Instincts, Harry Fleishman. April 1996.
American Lutherie, Kasha Collaboration, Jonathon Peterson. #58 & 59,Summer &
Fall 1999.
Guitarmaker, The Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans, Fall 1999, back cover photo.
American Lutherie, Meet the Maker, Todd Rose. #83, Fall 2005

Published Articles -Print:

Plexiglas Sanding Blocks, American Lutherie, # 12, 1987.
Ken Warmoth Interview, American Lutherie, # 26, Summer 1991.
Lynn Ellsworth Interview, American Lutherie, # 26, Summer 1991.
The Chainsaw Lutherie of Tom Ribbecke, American Lutherie, # 56, 57, 58,
Winter 1998, Spring & Summer 1999.
My Life's Adventure with Richard Schneider, Guitarmaker magazine, # 40, Winter 2000
Schneider Glue-Clearing Chisel, Guitarmaker magazine, #43, Summer 2001

Published Articles -Online:

Healdsburg Guitar Festival 1996 Review by Jay Hargreaves, Famous Guitarmaker
Internet World Headquarters, Educational Features,
http://www.cybozone.com/fg/festival96.html
Healdsburg Guitar Festival 1997 Review by Jay Hargreaves, Famous Guitarmaker
Internet World Headquarters, Educational Features,
http://www.cybozone.com/fg/festival97.html

Personal Achievements and Accomplishments:

Designing and building my own style of electric guitars and basses since 1974.
Co-building the Worlds Largest Electric Guitar for the Guild of American Luthiers
1980 Convention in San Francisco, CA.
Designing and building the first Kasha acoustic bass guitar with Dr. Michael Kasha and
Richard Schneider, 1995.

One of the most asked questions I get is: "How do I build my own bass guitar?"

While I enjoy sharing tips and information, my time is valuable to me and it is very difficult to teach someone how to build an instrument through emails! On my Links page you will find a list of sites and reference materials I recommend.

Two of the most helpful organizations that I strongly recommend that you join are
Guild of American Luthiers http://www.luth.org/
and
The Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans http://www.guitarmaker.org/