We Caught up with owner of Sydney based boutique guitar repairer 'Salt Mine Guitars ' - Matt Bullus. His instrument repair with is beautiful and his attention to detail is unlike any other.
What got you into the idea of starting your business?
I started the business after the retail guitar store I was working at closed down in response to the global financial crisis in 2011. I had already shifted to repair and service work exclusively at the store, so the transition to working for myself was a matter of finding suitable premises and letting my existing clients know I would be going out on my own. To be honest, I’d been planning my own guitar repair/building business in my head since I was a teenager, so when the opportunity came along I had to give it a shot.
How do you come up with the ideas for your designs and How long does it take to make one on average from start to scratch?
Most of the time I’ll be doing work for clients that have specific tonal or performance needs. The design of the instrument is established, but the execution isn’t right for the owner. My job is to fine tune, set up and modify the instrument so that the owner gets the sound, feel and performance they need.
Three songs you are listening to and loving now?
What am I listening to right now? “Keep Yourself Alive” from the self-titled Queen album (1973), “Virginia Plain” from the self-titled Roxy Music album (1972), and “If Only” from the self-titled Queens of the Stone Age album (1998).
Favorite guitar that isn’t yours and favorite that you have worked on?
Favourite guitar that isn’t mine would be a late model Collings OM2 acoustic that was just about perfect (smelled like cinnamon too!). Favourite I have worked on was a Wal Mark I bass from the 80’s. I could pull bass tones from Motown to Fleetwood Mac to Tool from that instrument.
Where in the world do you think your favorite music comes from?
My favourite music comes from the world of the 1970’s.