CHARLIE HOFFMAN: I built my first guitar in 1970 while I was a Ph.D. candidate in American History at the U of M.  When I realized that I didn't really want to teach (what else can you do with a Ph.D. in American Constitutional history),  I opened a repair shop (in 1971) with Rod Bellville. Within a few years I was devoting most of my time to building, and left repairs to others in my shop. To date my "body count" is in excess of 650 guitars,  including one which is now in the collection of the Minnesota Historical Society (Apparently, unbeknownst to me, I had become an icon of the folk music boom in the 70's in Minnesota and they were doing an exhibit of various decades in Minnesota History).   In 1983, a combination of financial and other issues led me to go to law school. I graduated in 1986 and immediately joined a fine medium size law firm (70+ lawyers - but who is counting) here in town.  Some years later I became  a partner, and specialized in litigation and, particularly, state level telecommunications regulation.  Despite this "mid-life crisis" I kept the shop open (never had any other thought.).  More recently, in May of 2002, I became "Of Counsel" with the Maslon firm, a title that really means semi-retired.  In 2008 when I turned 65 I officially left the Maslon firm.  I am  again actively  building guitars, and am continually attempting to upgrade my production process and the quality of my instruments. Since 2014 my son Gabriel has been actively involved in my guitars as well as his own.  I am married to Susan and have two children: Rachael and Gabriel, a son-in-law David and three grandchildren:  Sari, Raafael, and Rowan.   In addition to the above, I read incessantly, and am a bone fide tool junkie.  I have never met a tool I didn't want to own.

 Well, this photo is about 40 years old, and what it proves, other than that I was young once,  is that I was also young and a bit foolish.  Or at least, foolish looking.  Actually looking at old photos like this gives me a kick, and a big belly laugh.  

  Another -shows that the above photo is not a fluke.

A photo of me when I was an attorney -there is a scary photo!!

  This is a more contemporary photo, gray hair and all.

 This photo appeared in an article about Minnesota Guitar Builders which was in Fretboard Journal. 

    That's probably as many photos of me as you can stand!!

   Here I am with C.F. Martin #1,000,000

I use strapping tape when I am gluing binding in place.  Over the years when I remove the tape I have collected the used tape in a big ball.  The one seen here is the second I have made and will soon be retired since it no longer fits under my bench.

  This is my lovely wife, SUSAN.  We have been married for 43 years.

Gabriel Hoffman:  I have been working in the shop for nearly 30 years, on and off.  I built my first guitar when I was 13 (with a lot of help from dad!), and my first acoustic when I was 19.  I have spent the last few years helping dad with his guitars, and learning to manage the shop, and look forward to building guitars for the rest of my life, and to continuing my father's legacy of fine instruments.  Recently I have spent most of my time repairing instruments as well as building. 

On July 22, 2011 the newest member of our family came into the world.  His name is Nicholas Degana Sambo, better known as Nikki.  Here is his photo:

  Nikki is, as should be obvious, a Standard Poodle (the 4th one owned by Susan and I) and he is turning out to be a very fine fellow.  Nikki is six years old now and weighs 65 pounds.  He sits in my lap when I read the paper in the morning sometimes and is indeed a very fine fellow.

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