Philosophy

My approach to guitars is simple: make a guitar that sounds great, feels great, looks great, and even smells great, satisfying customers who have great taste! This is what I strive to provide, even when it means investing more time. I do not build guitars for mass production, but I build unique guitars that are inspiring to play, inspiring to see, and inspiring to hold. It is more important to me to take the time to put my heart into ten fine guitars a year.
 
Creating a guitar to get the best tonal characteristics requires adding more intricate bracing patterns, such as the lattice bracing, and individually voicing each guitar top to maximize its potential. Also, there are many details such as a Brazilian rosewood bridge, a bone nut and saddle, and careful set up, that provide an important and noticeable difference.
 
Comfort in every regard is very important to me. As with all my guitars, the bindings are beveled to take the edge off of every contact point of the guitar. I also strive to build a lighter guitar, which provides a more connected feeling when being played due to its liveliness in your lap. Playability is one of the most important aspects of Doerr guitars. If not set up correctly, it does not matter how good a guitar sounds or looks; you will not want to play it. Set up and playability are key elements for a pleasurable guitar!
 
A guitar that is aesthetically pleasing is a very important aspect, as it is the first thing people notice. My approach to the aesthetics is to give a lot of attention to the details. Here are a few design elements that tie all the visual elements together. Each guitar has Brazilian rosewood top trim around the soundboard that matches the laminates on the neck. Details such as the many mitered purfling joints add to the beauty of the instrument. The fine multi-line purflings on the neck are mitered at the beveled heel cap, as well as at the top of the headstock. The beveled theme on the guitar also adds to the overall aesthetic beauty.
 
Finally, there is nothing like a great smelling guitar. Remember, no detail goes unnoticed on a Doerr guitar! I make sure to get the most aromatic smelling Spanish cedar for the linings on the inside of my guitars. As soon as you open the case, you get that wonderful aroma.
 
A treasured guitar is created in the details. From bottom to top, every aspect must be well executed. My commitment is to provide you a beautiful guitar that is inspiring to play. With Doerr guitars, you get detail that endures!