Hank Mauel built his first guitar in 1972. Continuing for the next twenty-three years as a self-taught hobbyist luthier, he finally set up a professional shop in 1995. Located in the Sierra foothill town of Auburn, California, the shop currently offers five standard steel-string models with a long list of options and alternative tonewoods. Customers are encouraged to visit the shop to choose the woods and trimmings for their special guitar.