Mastery

With over 30 years experience as a professional luthier, Minneapolis-based designer John Woodland began drawing out the now multi-patented design of the Mastery Bridge in late 2007. Originally intended solely for Woodland’s road-weary clients, Mastery has since played its part in revolutionizing the guitar industry by shifting the focus to independent builders who promote brand image through the quality of the instruments they create.

Prior to creating Mastery, Woodland, a noted American guitar historian, spent the better part of a decade studying primary source material on the origin of C. F. Martin’s Dreadnought and Orchestra Model guitars, forever correcting decades old misinformation on some of the most iconic guitar designs of the last century. He has designed six production model Martin guitars.

A consultant to major musical instrument museums as well as Christie’s and Julien’s auction house, he also contributed to The Story of Paul Bigsby book as one of four key consultants, stemming from a lifelong passion to correct and publish Paul Bigsby’s incredible history and influence on the modern electric guitar as we know it. In 2018, Woodland was hired to do conservation work on Prince’s massive guitar collection at his home and recording studio, Paisley Park. Woodland is currently working on a book entitled “Look Up in the Air: The Story of Prince’s Cloud Guitars” along with former Knut Koupée employee, Gerald Ronning.

Woodland is also a member of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) with a focus on Musical Instrument Conservation along with Research and Technical Studies.