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He may not play, but Burrell knows guitars
Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch Leo Burrell is the owner of Burrell Guitars located at 4942 Wavery Road in Westmoreland.
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HUNTINGTON -- Leo Burrell is following his heart.
"For 40 years I was doing things that were expedient, but now I'm doing things that are desirable," the guitar builder, who operates Burrell Guitars in Huntington, said. "I'm 72 years old and still thrashing."
Burrell, originally from Ann Arbor, Mich., has loved music and guitars his entire life. At a young age, he wanted to learn to play the guitar, but when he tried he couldn't. He struggled with bending his wrists and stretching his fingers to play the chords.
Burrell decided to no longer play, but that experience would inspire him later to give guitars a design makeover.
"I knew there was something wrong with guitars. They just don't fit people," Burrell said. "So I began making guitars that are player-friendly."
Even though Burrell saw the problem when he was young, he wasn't able to fix it until he was much older. After years of working construction and honing his skill as a carpenter, he began creating his one-of-a-kind ergonomic guitars in the early 1980s. In 1985, he patented his twisted-neck design, which allowed players with injuries or limitations to play guitar easier.
At about the same time, Burrell thought his dream was finally realized when a major instrument maker, C.F. Martin, was interested in his design. But after he built more than 30 instruments to be re-created in Japan and Korea, plans fell through and he lost $35,000.
At that point, Burrell decided to follow his original career path as a minister. Though he graduated from God's Bible School in the 1950s, Burrell said he tried other paths before finally finding the one he was meant to do. Beginning in 1989, Burrell preached at the Norwood Free Methodist Church in Huntington for 12 years. The time, he said, was right to dedicate himself to the Lord. Burrell continues to be active as church elder at Vinson Memorial Christian Church.
"When I was younger, I was too immature to be any use to God, country and church," Burrell said. "For years I made bad decisions, changed jobs and chased the almighty dollar. This is something I was inspired to do."
Though his life was fulfilled spiritually, Burrell still had the itch to create and design comfortable guitars.
Burrell rented a space at 4942 Waverly Road to continue his hobby. Now, three and a half years later, his hobby has turned into his passion and the space is the site of Burrell Guitars.
He is the only builder, but volunteers help Burrell look over the shop. Burrell said a handful of guitar enthusiasts, neighbors and friends help out without getting paid.
"The guitars he makes really amaze me. I just like to go in the back and watch him work," Rudy Peters said. "Volunteering here is one of the best things I've ever done."
Peters, a retired electronics builder from Huntington, said he spends between 10 and 15 hours a week at the shop. He enjoys helping the customers and trying out the guitars when Burrell's finished, since Burrell still does not know how to play.
"I don't play the guitar, I only build them. If someone wants a demonstration I can't help them," Burrell joked. "Last week someone finally tried to teach me a couple of chords. I tried an A7."
Though only a few people come in weekly to purchase guitars, lots of people come in twice a month for pickers night and songwriters night at the shop. Held on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, Burrell said a loyal group of musicians come in and have jam sessions. For more information, visit www.burrellguitars.com.
Though slow moving, Burrell said the business is still growing. With his guitar being featured in the January 2008 edition of Guitar Player magazine, Burrell has faith that more people will become interested in his guitars, but if not, he will keep on making them.
Name: Leo Burrell
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Age: 72
Family: Wife, Francis; children, Beverly Stombough, Terri Sayers, Sandra Fielder and Pamela Hammerquist.
Hobbies: Attending guitar jam sessions, being involved in his church and creating guitars in his workshop.
