My name is Rory Dowling and in 2007 I set up Taran Guitars after falling in love with building stringed instruments. Prior to making instruments, I studied furniture design and craftsmanship which gave me the woodworking foundations for my life as a luthier.
The move from furniture to guitars was a fairly natural one, however the learning curve was nearly vertical. I am essentially self-taught in the art of instrument making beyond the wood working. I had no preconceived ideas about what the limits of a guitar was. Over the thirteen years of my career I have constantly asked questions, tested ideas and sought to understand the limits within these. Through this questioning and experimental approach I have gained a vast understanding of the elements that make up an instrument’s complex sound and its requirements over its long life. It is because of this understanding that I am able to offer instruments that are unique to their owners taste and desires.