When walking through the front doors of 190 Main Street, one is greeted at the intersection of two worlds: A wall display of shiny guitars in varied sizes and styles and a workbench with tools that mend and build guitars.
This is the studio of R. Jeff Young, known as RJ, who is a certified Luthier (maker of string instruments, particularly guitars) as well as a teacher and performer.
His music workshop contains a wealth of information and experience.
After a tour of his studio, we got to ask a few questions about his career of guitar playing, repair and building. Growing up in New Jersey, Young had an older brother who influenced his interest in learning to play.
Young graduated to formal lessons followed by excursions to Spain where he became enamored with flamenco music that he still favors this day. His musical interest has taken him around the world to study and play along well-known musicians.
Young is a student disciple of Mario Escudero, a Spanish flamenco guitar virtuoso recognized among the best in his era with lauded performances at New York’s Carnegie Hall and even a performance at the White House for President John F. Kennedy.
Young has been settled on Malden for a few years now. His studio workshop is on Main Street close to public transportation and our close-knit, small community. He teaches a wide range of students. Among his students, currently, you can find a father and seven-year-old son duo working on their strings.
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