"I strive to build a fine handcrafted instrument that will give the professional musician the power, dynamics and tone that they need and want - and give the hobbyist an heirloom quality instrument with the playability needed to inspire their musical development."
~ Austin Clark
Austin Clark has spent more than 20 years building and repairing mandolins and guitars from his one-man shop in Boise, Idaho - and that depth of experience shows in every instrument that leaves his bench. Drawing on traditional construction methods and carefully selected tonewoods, Clark builds each instrument by hand with equal attention to tone, playability, and visual beauty. The result is a body of work that serves the professional musician and the dedicated hobbyist alike: powerful, dynamic, and crafted to last a lifetime.
Clark's instruments have earned an international following and a reputation for excellent, careful work - the kind that reveals itself not just at first glance, but over years of playing.
Craftsmanship as a Complete Discipline
For Austin Clark, craftsmanship isn't limited to clean joinery or precise graduation - it encompasses design, artistry, and execution in equal measure. Every Clark instrument is built to be visually striking and sonically exceptional, reflecting a philosophy that the two are inseparable.
Traditional Methods, Uncompromising Materials
Clark builds exclusively with instrument-grade tonewoods chosen carefully for both sound and appearance - Adirondack red spruce tops, carved maple backs and sides, ebony fingerboards. Traditional construction methods are applied throughout, finished with an oil varnish and French Polish topcoat that ages beautifully over time.
Built for Every Level of Player
Clark's instruments are voiced and set up to inspire - whether in the hands of a working professional who needs power, projection, and dynamic range on stage, or a developing player seeking an heirloom-quality instrument that grows with them musically. That range of intention, built into every instrument, is rare at this level.
