Rural Missouri - May 2013 - (Page 23)

Left: Jerry uses a gouge to slowly remove material around the scroll on a piece of wood that will become the back of a custom-made mandolin. Rosa String Works mandolins are known for their tone and volume. Below: Liz Hoffner of St. James listens as Jerry describes how best to play a new song they’ve been practicing. Liz has been taking mandolin lessons from Jerry for the past year. Jerry says he enjoys passing on his knowledge of bluegrass to the next generation of pickers. GRASS GROWS workshop, Jerry Rosa breathes bluegrass was a 10-string mandolin built for Grammy-winning musician Carmine D’Amico, who died in 2011. Jerry’s mandolins are unique works of art. His most recent creation, which he built for himself, features gold-plated tuning keys with real pearl knobs. a gig in Doolittle in early April. The other members of the Renee Caudill, upright bass; and Gary Heavin, guitar. The back is crafted from a sycamore tree he cut from his own farm and includes a hand-carved rose, an emblem that can be found on each Rosa instrument. His starting price for custom mandolins is $5,500. As musicians began taking note of Jerry’s craftsmanship, they soon began asking him to repair their instruments. “I tell people I can ﬁx anything with strings on it — smaller than a piano, that is,” he says with a laugh. “I work on both acoustic and electric instruments, though it’s mostly acoustic stuff.” When it comes to ways to damage an instrument, Jerry has seen it all through the years. Whether it’s a violin with a hole chewed in its top by a mouse or a guitar damaged by an unfortunate mix of alcohol and ﬁreworks, he’s ﬁxed them all. Jerry says there are three main reasons why instruments get broke. “People will leave them in a hot car, that’s the ﬁrst reason,” he explains. “The glue loosens up, and the tension on the strings will pull the neck off or warp the top. They’ll also get leaned against a wall and then knocked over. Or, they get sat on.” Not all instruments that get sent to Rosa Strings Works are broken, however. Musicians around the country send their guitars, mandolins and ﬁddles to Jerry for routine upkeep and ﬁne-tuning necessary for optimum performance. “Why, if you have instrument trouble, take it to Jerry,” says J.D. Fritchey of Dixon, who plays mandolin with the group, Clifty Creek. “He’s a good guy to have to take care of us pickers.” With regular play, musicians like J.D. wear small grooves into their frets, which eventually can cause their instruments to buzz. To ﬁx this, Jerry gives the instrument a fret job. He’ll level and crown the frets, or replace them altogether, if necessary. For the past 20 years, J.D. has entrusted his mandolin to Jerry for such work, along with a regular “set up,” which refers to adjusting an instrument to MAY 2013 sound and play the best. “There’s lots of instruments that could be sounding better if they were set up right,” J.D. says. “If Jerry sets one up, it’s set up right, the way it should be. Second best isn’t good enough for him.” When he’s not playing, building or repairing instruments, Jerry also enjoys teaching others to play and sing. He says that his unusual style makes learning easier. “I can play any song in any key because of the way I play,” explains the 58-year-old. “I don’t play any open notes, so it’s just really easy to transfer it anywhere on the neck. It’s probably the easiest way you can learn to play the mandolin.” Some of Jerry’s former students have gone on to have careers in music, including Joe Dean, who now plays banjo in the award-winning group, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. “I just think he’s a great teacher,” says Liz Hoffner of St. James who has been taking mandolin lessons from Jerry for the past year. “He thinks I can do it, even if I don’t. He’s conﬁdent in me and tries to make me conﬁdent in myself.” Liz says her skills have improved greatly under Jerry’s tutelage, so much so that she got asked to play with a local band called Jerusalem Ridge. “If you really want a good mandolin teacher, go ﬁnd Mr. Rosa. He’s the best.” The Rosa String Works facility also features a full recording studio where Jerry has produced albums for dozens of artists including The Rowden Review, Midnight Flight and Beverly’s Hillbillies. Despite playing with and building beautiful instruments for famous musicians, Jerry says one of his greatest joys comes from returning life to a faded instrument, especially those that come into the shop with a story. “Instruments are a little different than most things that people own,” he says. “They almost always have a sentiment attached to them, some kind of memory. So, you get a good feeling that you’re ﬁxing an old friend.” Learn more about Rosa String Works by calling 314550-6171 or by visiting www.rosastringworks.com. 23 http://www.rosastringworks.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - May 2013

Rural Missouri - May 2013
Table of Contents
Comments
Columns
Chronicle of the corncob pipe
Missouri Snapshots contest
The family that drills together
Out of the Way Eats
Where bluegrass grows
Outdoors
Hearth and Home
Veggies and vision
Vertical gardening
Around Missouri
Marketplace
Neighbors
Just4Kids

Rural Missouri - May 2013