#WeAreLBguitar

The “#WeAreLBguitar”

Dear old Liberty Benton High School…

7-8 years ago I started learning how to build electric guitars. I slowly gathered the skills that I needed to build them from scratch, but I didn’t want to spend a lot on exotic materials. I found I was able to build from reclaimed lumber. I had grown to appreciate the history behind the wood that I used to build guitars with. Some from local farms, local churches, and most recently a school that had been taken down. My pitch behind building guitars from reclaimed lumber is:

Think of the stories that a 100 year old barn could tell.....

Now, think of the sounds that its wood could make if it was a handmade guitar ....

Consider its history.

Be a part of its story.

Trusted Tried And True…

Long before ground was broken for our new school building, I realized that the old building was going to be torn down. I raised a question to our Superintendent at the time Mark Kowalski. I asked if I could claim some of the wood from the MS gym floor.

Don we now our bright apparel….

I have a personal connection to LB as do all the students who call it their school. I thought it would be interesting to make something from the wood that was a part of so many historical memories. Perhaps some that many of us had in that gym.

About a year ago I was fortunate enough to receive some of the wood from the old MS gym floor. Since then, I researched some specifications from 1950s era Fender Telecasters. Similar to guitars that perhaps LB students at the time may have been hearing or playing when the gym was built. I based this project on those specifications. The wood from the floor was used in the top of the guitar and its fretboard. Although the finish had to be stripped and milled away, I re-stained the wood to match the original finish as best as I could.

Singing praise to you…

There are a few things around campus that were brought from the original school building. Those items are a part of the LB traditions and history. I want to donate this musical instrument to the LB School District. Specifically to be on display in the LB Auditorium as a tribute to the heritage and historical part of our school.

Lift our hearts and Lift our voices singing praise fully

This instrument will make its debut performance in Liberty Benton’s 2025 Production of All Shook Up as a dedication to its new life here on LB campus. Here in our auditorium it will lift our hearts while our students lift their voices. It will bear witness to amazing stories, songs, and performances for years to come.

Hail Oh Hail to thee

I truly hope that our community remembers the stories that the wood from this guitar could tell, that they consider its history, and enjoy being part of its story.

Mr. Holben

PS. For more pictures of the guitar and progress shots of the build, search #WeAreLBguitar on Instagram!!!!