Maker of a full line of instruments including Mountain Dulcimers, Irish Bouzoukis, Citterns, Mandolins and Guitars.

Spending much of my life in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina, it was a matter of time before being introduced to the Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer. By 1977 I began playing and building them. This was quite a change from the past 12 years of playing and hauling a huge drum set around. Quiet, soothing and very portable, the dulcimer went everywhere with me for many years. The response to my dulcimers was so positive, it inspired me to continue building.

The influence of Irish music in the dulcimer circles introduced me to an instrument that was largely unknown, the Irish Bouzouki. I had to have one. Due to a lack of finances, building my own was the only option. The Lutherie Bug had bitten hard. This began a wonderful life of building and playing stringed instruments.

Largely self-taught in the beginning, I did a lot of experimentation. I am now a member of several guilds, and also immerse myself in any and all information on the subject of lutherie.

Related Links:

www.EverythingDulcimer.com One of the most popular dulcimer sites on the web. Post your events or join a discussion.

www.fairewood.com/al.html Al Petteway, a great Celtic finger-style guitarist , uses a Gernandt Bouzouki on some of his recordings. My Bouzouki is featured on Al Petteway and Amy White's CD "Racing Hearts. He and his wife, Amy White, are outstanding musicians. You can't go wrong with any of their CDs....worth a listen.

www.cottenmusic.com COTTEN MUSIC CENTER, NASHVILLE,TNN. A great store, run by some great people. A source for Gernandt Stringed Instruments.

www.darrellscott.com Excellent Nashville-based singer-songwriter. Records using a Gernandt Bouzouki on some of his songs: listen to his "Family Tree" CD. Also uses it in many studio sessions: Trisha Yearwood's newest CD, "Real Live Woman"; Suzi Ragsdale's CD, "Future Past", to name a couple of many. Great musician and songwriter; heck of a great guy.

www.luth.org This is the Guild of American Luthiers site, of which I am a member. There is an article on me in American Luthiery (AL), The Quarterly Journal of American Luthiers, #60, in their column called "Meet the Maker."

www.guitarmaker.org This is the page of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans, of which I am a member. Luthiery info and fun.

home.hccnet.nl/h.speek/bouzouki/ Great Bouzouki and Cittern technical info and links on Hans Speek's page. I am listed as a luthier.

www.greenmanhumming.com/ Great Cittern info.

www.silverandgems.com Allyson Gernandt's Silversmith Jewelry

www.homespuntapes.com Great instructional videos, including Irish Bouzouki taught by Zan Mcleod.