E31 Blending Music and Working With Your Hands with Cory Reynolds

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Blending Music and Working With Your Hands

As a guitar player myself, I was pretty excited to delve into the world of guitar building with the incredibly talented Cory Reynolds, the founder and owner of CRC Guitars. As a woodworker and custom guitar builder, Cory shares his inspiring journey, from his humble beginnings being homeschooled to giving one of his favorite bands a custom guitar he built.

A poignant theme that emerges from our discussion is the importance of human connection in building his business. Cory candidly emphasizes the significance of in-person interactions over online presence, shedding light on the power of genuine, personal connections in nurturing his craft and business aspirations.

The episode unravels Cory’s unwavering commitment to his purpose, with insights into his journey through homeschooling and early entry into the workforce. Against the backdrop of a recession, Cory’s transition from construction to guitar building not only exemplifies his adaptability but also underscores his determination to forge his own path in pursuing his passion for music and woodworking.

The conversation touches upon the challenges that come with balancing a full-time job, family responsibilities, and the relentless pursuit of creativity. Cory’s vision to invest in a CNC machine to enhance efficiency and expand his craftsmanship symbolizes his unwavering dedication to constantly push the boundaries of his art.

We talked about Cory’s approach to custom guitar designs and the intricacies involved in creating unique yet comfortable instruments demonstrate his acute attention to detail. His passion and precision come through vividly as he recounts the joy of witnessing a customer’s reaction to their personalized guitar for the first time, a moment he humbly admits to finding nerve-wracking.

We discuss how profound the role of music has played in Cory’s life, tracing back to his formative years of playing guitar with his brother. His authenticity in translating his deep connection with music into his purpose underscores the transformative power of following one’s passion and harnessing creativity to shape a meaningful path.

Cory Reynolds’ journey is not just a testament to his perseverance and resolve, but also a source of inspiration for anyone on the path of crafting their purpose. As he plans to transition his passion into one day a full-time business, it’s evident that his commitment to excellence, positive attitude, and unwavering belief in himself lay the foundation for his future success.

 

To listen to the full episode and discover more stories of purpose and fulfillment, you can subscribe to “Working Towards Our Purpose” on your favorite podcast platform.

"Yeah. That's that's my favorite part of building, actually, is, it's not necessarily the build process. It's it's like seeing customer's face, like, when they they get to see it for the first time.”
Cory Reynolds
Topics in this episode:
  • Being homeschooled 
  • Working with your hands
  • Transitioning from construction to guitar building
  • Self taught guitar builder
  • Doing anything you out your mind to
  • The future of CRC guitars
  • Giving a guitar to his favorite band

Bio: Cory Reynolds

Cory Reynolds spent years working in construction before finding himself in a job of a different industry he didn’t enjoy very much.  This pushed him to search for something more.  After thinking about his two passions, music and working with his hands, he decided to teach himself how to build a guitar.  After the first failed guitar, he had a friend buy the parts so he could build his second, and he’s been building guitars for people ever since.  Cory has blended his passion for working with his hands and his love for music with his business CRC Guitars.   

Connect with Cory