The La Conner Virginia-Belize connection

I had a luthier guest at my Airbnb for five nights from Virginia, Steve Showalter, the creator and proprietor of Showalter Guitars. Steve, a very laid back kinda guy brought two of his beautiful guitars to the show for sale. He and I shared some interesting stories about ... wood! The man is a true artisan.

Since he had some extra time before the show kicked off on Friday, I took him over to meet one of La Conner’s own wood artisan’s, Stuart Welch.

When I called, Stu said to tell Steve that he a had a piece of “The Tree.” Steve’s eyes lit up when he heard that. We go to Stuart’s shop and these two guys hit it right off talking wood types, techniques, tools,etc.

Then Stuart brings out a board of wood and the real story begins..”The Tree” was a tree that fell after a storm in Belize into a river 40-plus years ago! An American discovered the tree and had it barged to California. It was quite huge: a 10 foot diameter and about 100 feet long. The wood from “The Tree” is much sought after by wood craftsmen and especially luthiers.

Long story short, Steve was smitten by Stuart’s piece from the tree – and began plotting how many guitars he might (very carefully) create from “The Tree.” Two. He purchased the piece; Stuart carefully packaged it up and needless to say “The Tree” is now on it’s way to Ol’ Virginnie!

Steve was toying with buying a first class seat for the trip home – not for himself, but for “The Tree.”

So a chance meeting in little La Conner brought Belize together with Virginia! Steve was overjoyed to attend the show, loved our town and assuming there is a festival next year..He will be back…along with one or two custom guitars crafted from “The Tree.” Hence Virginia and Belize will return to the guitar crossroads of the world: La Conner, baby!

John Leaver

La Conner