Robert Singer, founder/CEO
rjs@waterstoneguitars.com

With an impressive line of electric, acoustic and bass guitars offering artist-level performance, and arena-stage playability, Waterstone Guitars has quickly established itself as a unique company with high-quality instruments borne of dedication and precision. And the man behind the design of the instruments is one who has applied that same dedication and precision to his other line of work. Dr. Robert Singer, the founder of Waterstone Guitars, is a Nashville, Tennessee-based neurosurgeon who has, in his words, "been into instruments far longer than being a doctor or a neurosurgeon." Growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, he played guitar in jazz and rock bands, and soon started collecting and building the instruments for fun. In 2002, with much of the rigorous medical training and tests behind him, he took his passion for guitars to an entirely different level.

"I had just taken my oral boards in neurosurgery, which you don't take until you're five years out of your residency," says Singer."I finished that test and thought, 'Great, I've got some time to pursue other interests and explore my fascination with guitars.' I'm proud of what I've done academically and love my neurosurgical job, but for me this began as an exploration of a part of my life that had been put on hold for a while.

Singer says that following In line with his personality, he started to study the construction, electronics and the types of wood on various guitars, and what makes each instrument different. Encouraged by his friend, Dr. Matt Eichen, a Philadelphia-based oral surgeon who also designs guitars, Singer put pencil to paper and drafted 12 guitar designs in an eight-month period. He then had prototypes of them built in the U.S. and overseas.

"I got out my straight-edges, French curves and butcher paper, looked at the diagrams for the collection I already had, and went through and put together what I thought would be an interesting instrument, using certain constraints of construction and design to make something a little bit different that had a nuance that would make it unique to a player."

Singer worked late into the night, discussing his designs with instrument makers at Korean, Chinese and Japanese factories, which, due to the time difference, were operational during the overnight hours in which he worked on the designs. "I'd stay up and try to build relationships with them, trying to convince them to use my blueprints to make prototypes for my up-and-coming company," he says. After securing the factories in which to have the guitars built, he arranged to have them shipped to the Waterstone shop in Nashville, where they are then professionally "set up" by a luthier, who implements a number of after-production modifications, in order to ensure that the guitars can be played on any stage whether it be a bar or arena.

"The market for guitars is expanding every year," says Singer. "What Waterstone offers - number one - is a dedication to high quality and performance not only of the instrument but also of our artist support."

One aspect of increasing the recognition of the Waterstone name is artist endorsements. Among the players who've embraced Waterstone products are Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson, who even has his own 12-string bass (the Waterstone TP-12) which he helped design, and which Bass Guitar magazine declared, "has it all."

Singer admits that guitars have become something of a fashion industry, in much the same way aspiring athletes (and the casual sports fan) want to wear the same shoes Michael Jordan would wear. "A lot of sales in the guitar world are based on fashion," he says. "Purists don't care who's playing them, but to have a big roster of artists makes a big difference in branding and exposure. We are trying to use performance expertise to build instruments. Tom Petersson doesn't just play the 12-string bass, he invented it. Our work together has been both educational and extremely enjoyable."

Other artists now endorsing Waterstone instruments include members of familiar bands, many of whom Singer admits he has idolized, including the Jam, and Cocteau Twins. Georg Holm, bassist for the ethereal Icelandic band, Sigur Rós, uses a Waterstone bass during the band's live performances.

As for the company name: A waterstone is a type of Japanese sharpening stone, lubricated with water and used to grind and hone the edges of steel tools and implements. And while that would certainly seem an appropriate inspiration for a company name, Singer laughingly admits the name actually came about quite differently:
"I got to the end of all the initial drafting of the instruments, and thought, 'Well, I guess I probably have something here. What can I name it? I thought of a lot of different things. Then I looked out the window and my street is named Waterstone. I thought, 'That'll work.' So that's what I named it. There was nothing smart about it at all!"

The inspiration for the colorful company logo, which incorporates a version of the Royal Air Force's roundel (target) emblem, was, however, even more personal for Singer, who was inspired by (and admittedly obsessed with) the British "mod" scene of the '60s -- and the 1980s revival of that scene. The music -- and fashion -- that captured his attention included the Who's classic album (and film) Quadrophenia, and bands such as The Jam. "I always thought the focus and imagery of the mods was really interesting. The movement always struck me as very dedicated and passionate. I want Waterstone to reflect the same attitude and aesthetic."

With regard to how his neurosurgery background collides with the guitar-making business, Singer doesn't see that much of a connection, although he concedes, "If you want a good product or outcome, there has to be meticulous attention to detail. When I went through my training, it was about exhaustion, number one, because you're always working. And in the face of exhaustion, we had to focus on being as good as we could be. I won't say perfection because that's not human. But a focus on detail has to be paramount."

With hundreds of guitars produced, and sold all over the world, Singer says the business, mainly web-based to this point, has been very tightly controlled. With exploring new avenues and garnering dealership opportunities, he says, "We can do whatever we need to do. If someone wants 10,000, the factory would love to do that. We're in a transitional phase that has great momentum and potential."