Images by Eric Heidle for the Montana Arts Council

For more than 30 years luthier Bruce Weber has been making and repairing folk string instruments, first in the Bozeman area for Gibson Guitar before forming his own label. Having sold his larger scale business and relocated to a cherry orchard overlooking Flathead Lake, Bruce now has just one employee—himself—and handcrafts a limited number of new mandolins each year while restoring many more to top playing condition.

Luthier Bruce Weber discusses making and repairing traditional stringed instruments such as the mandolin, mandola, and octave.

Ebony fingerboards await use in new or repaired instruments.

 Bruce Weber taps an archtop mandolin blank to examine its tonal qualities.

Patients awaiting care.

Each instrument's materials and finish determine its final appearance, and ultimately its sound.

Mobile advertising adorns the wall of Bruce Weber's workshop.

The workbench of luthier Bruce Weber, overlooking Flathead Lake, with a Montana-made Flatiron mandolin awaiting repair.

A mandolin headstock with weathered tuning pegs and winding posts being inspected for wear.

Bruce Weber at his workbench.

Bruce Weber pauses for some fresh air at the border of his cherry orchard, just steps away from his workshop.