I’m Ed Hume, and I design, build, and repair stringed instruments – primarily acoustic mandolins and guitars in La Verne, California, in eastern Los Angeles county.
Born in Monroe, Virginia, I’ve lived in Los Angeles for the last forty-odd years since graduating from James Madison University – a state college in Harrisonburg Virginia. I’ve made a living as an illustrator, graphic designer, video game artist, Art Director, and Creative Services Manager.
About twenty years ago my wife gave me a Chinese-made A-style mandolin as a Christmas gift, and as luck would have it, I worked in the same department with a great bluegrass mandolin player by the name of Ross Landry. Ross gave me lessons for awhile, and before long I started lusting after his F model, built by Bob Givens back in the 80’s. Bob is generally considered to be the “Stradavarius” of mandolin makers, crafting 800 or so by hand in his career. I researched similar models and, being hopelessly naive and incredibly cheap, decided to build my own. I had never built any stringed instruments before, let alone any woodworking project as complex as a F-style mandolin, but I am nothing if not persistent and optimistic. No one told me I couldn’t, so that was how it started.
If you need an instrument repaired, or if you are interested in a custom instrument, give me a call or an email.
Woodsong Strings 