About Us
Who the Heck are We?
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RJ Colton, Master Luthier
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RJ is the founder of LRC Guitars. He loves guitars , all guitars, regardless of brand or condition. As a matter of fact his own collection is often referred to as the Land of Misfit Toys. If it sparkles like a bass boat - he is hypnotized by it. RJ has been building and repairing instruments for over 30 years. As a builder, RJ specializes in acoustic and jazz box builds.
RJ is from Virginia where he began learning the luthier trade in his early teenage years working under M. Boykins. By college he was creating heirloom quality instruments. While he never stopped building and repairing after college and his years in the corporate world, he finally returned to what he loved full time in 2014 establishing LRC Guitars. RJ still continues his passion for improving his technique and skills and considers LRC Member Ken Blount a mentor as opposed to a colleague.
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RJ has been featured in Vintage Guitar, Classical Guitar, and Acoustic Guitar Magazines. RJ works with many national recording artists, studio musicians and touring guitarists.
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That is RJ with Mike McCready's guitars of Pearl Jam.
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Ken Andrews, Master Technician
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This is Ken. In February 2018 we asked extraordinary guitar player and tech Ken Andrews to join LRC. Ken has over 30 years of experience as well, but is much more well known than RJ. Ken is the lead guitarist of Obituary as well as the guitar tech for Matt Heafy of Trivium. He has worked in the past with Matchbox 20, Rob Zombie, Andrew WK. Sister Hazel and more. Ken has been featured in Decibel and Guitar Magazine.
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Ken mostly works on our shredder and alternate tuning guitars. Floyds, 7 Strings, and 8 Strings are his thing.
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Ken is a motorcycle enthusiast and is endorsed by ESP Guitars. Yeah, he's one of those people that are good enough to get free guitars.
Ken Blount, Master Luthier
Ken has been building and repairing guitars for over 40 years and has probably forgotten more than RJ, Stacy & Ken (the other one) have ever learned. Ken is an authorized Martin and Ovation Service Provider. His custom guitars are highly sought after and have been sold around the world.
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Ken works with LRC offsite in his Seabring workshop.
Ken has been the featured subject of articles in Frets, Vintage Guitar, Bluegrass Unlimited, Southern Bluegrass and more.
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LRC Guitars is happy to have such a highly respected luthier onboard.
Stacy Adams, Master Luthier
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It was never easy for Stacy. He was born a poor white child. His love of music came as natural as the smoggy morning dew. His earliest memories are of sitting on the front porch with his family, singing and dancing in the foothills of the San Fernando Valley, down in ol' South Californey. He worked his way up from the bottom of many kitchens until one day he had an epiphany, "WTF am I doing?!" And just like that, Stacy headed to the Arizona desert where he traded his knives and toque for chisels and sawdust. Jump down, turn around . . . .
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Stacy graduated from Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery. Stacy worked at Lyrical Lumber for many years and is Taylor Guitars Silver Certified.
RJ asked Stacy to join LRC Guitars after working with Stacy on many repair projects. RJ will tell anyone Stacy has the best fretwork he has ever seen. He is a human Plek.
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Nick Scout, Luthier & Technician
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Nick is probably one of the most talented younger luthiers around . . . anywhere. Plus he is one heck of a musician. Did I mention funny? Really . . . really funny.
Nick is the owner of Scout Guitars. He got his start at the Gold Tone factory in Titusville before moving onto Starr Guitars in Winter Park and then ultimately starting Scout Guitars in Gainesville, Florida. While we love having Nick in the shop when he is around, we hope he goes back to restart Scout Guitars at some point. There is enough room for 2 quality shops in Orlando and we have no where to send goldfish currently.
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Nick has been the guitar tech for The Blue Man Group, Less than Jake and currently Steve Vai. How about that for a resume?
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Shawn Corbett, Builder - Technician
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You've probably seen Shawn onstage at Will's or the Social. His band Howlin' Midnight has quite the following and sounds live like The Black Keys got beat up by Motorhead.
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Most of the instruments you see Shawn play, he built. They are some crazy bass/guitar hybrids and man do they bring the noise.
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Shawn is a gifted songwriter, player, builder and tech. Most of the Saturday setups are completed by Shawn.
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RJ and Shawn are not brothers, but are they? Mom?!!!
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Dan Berry, Finish & Paint
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All of the LRC & Colton Guitars paint & finish work is sprayed by Dan. Dan has over 40 years of experience painting custom cars & motorcycles and that is why we chose him. If people have you painting their 50K custom motorcycle - you know what you are doing. He is master of all finishes and his work is second to none.
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Dan is the best custom painter we have ever seen. He's also a damn cool person. Dan is a Mopar enthusiast and always has some badass trucks on his property. ​
Kristen MacLaughlin, Shop Manager & Support
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Kristen comes to Florida from Taum, Ireland via Maine. She is a classical violinist and avid reader of anything she can get her hands on. As the shop gets busier and busier, Kristen will be answering your emails and calls. She is helping us order your parts, run social media and so much more.
Owen
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This is Owen. Owen is the shop mascot as well as RJ's right hand man. Chances are you will be greeted by him before anyone else when stopping by. RJ is normally asleep and Ken is off doing what rock stars do.
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There are two banned words in the shop: Duck & Frisbee. Please do not say either within an earshot of the black dog. Don't worry about him running out the door. He won't go anywhere without RJ.
Unfortunately as Owen gets older he doesn't want to come to the shop as often. Consider yourself lucky if he's there the day you come in.
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What You Can Expect From Us
No Attitudes. Easy to work with and we love your instruments as much as you do. For over 30 years we have been setting up guitars to our customer's desires, not the way we want them to be. Afterall, you are the player of your instrument, not us.
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We value quality over time. Our prices are reasonable and our services are stellar. We don't play games and will evaluate your instrument for free. If it simply is not worth fixing, we will let you know, not waste your time and money trying. Some guitars are just better broken.
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