Meet Damon Walker | String Instrument Luthier

We had the good fortune of connecting with Damon Walker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Damon, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I believe that most progress comes through risk(s); there aren’t many safe bets when it comes to carving out a successful existence these days. Specifically in my case, risk is how I’d describe leaving my home in New York City to try my luck in an area I’ve never even heard of (Durham, NC). Risk is how I’d describe choosing to create a business entity in which I’d accept full responsibility for prized possessions. Risk is how I’d describe promising specific repair outcomes and the endeavor to live up to them. And risk is majorly how I’d describe stepping away from employment to focus and rely solely on my own business without savings or seed money!

What should our readers know about your business?
While any decent luthier can restore instruments, I have a unique penchant for accepting long-shot projects that other shops turn down and often still achieving the “wow” factor in the end result. The most common reason for rejection by the other shops is cheap or substandard construction. My compulsion is born from a deep desire to give all people (those with and without resources) and all instruments (bad and good ones) a chance at exceptional performance. This is definitely NOT easy, sometimes fails, and sometimes results in a financial loss for me. I’ve learned to limit the number of risks in my queue at any one time to reduce my exposure; a waiting list helps to maintain this balance. I’ve also learned to be explicitly clear about what I MIGHT be able to achieve. Occasionally owners of the longshot repairs have taken my agreement to TRY as promise to achieve.
I’d like the world to know that one does not need to have a fine instrument to receive quality and passionate care with a goal of greatness if not functional compromise at minimum; few instruments deserve to be junked

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
NC is incredibly rich in festivals so one or two would definitely be included in the week along with the museums, Bulls, Canes, Tobacco Road – Durham, and just e-scooting around Raleigh for daytime activities.

There are a great number of excellent chain restaurants (Brixx, Five Guys, and Cookout for example), but for the unique experience we’d have to do places like Cosmic Cantina, Goorsha, Angus Barn, Irregardless, and the old classic tried and true Elmo’s.

Chances are the the Carolina Theater and/or DPAC would have something great to catch. Otherwise nightlife would include West End Billiards, Pony Saurus, West End Billiards, Boxyard, Kings Bowl, Yard House, and definitely a night on a Trolley Pub. We’d also have to make a round of the excellent Jazz houses like Bond Bros East, Sullivan Steak house, Brasa, Mavericks, and the Durham Hotel for sure. Oh and a night at Charlie Goodnight’s and one at Mellow Mushroom Brier Creek on trivia night are essential!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The first person I’m compelled to recognize is my then girlfriend, current wife Zawadi (Key Swahili for “gift”) who tirelessly provided emotional support and encouragement even through lean times and setbacks. She never once expressed doubt over my ambitions and never asked about my interest in returning to employee life and it’s illusion of security. I also owe a great debt of gratitude to local school music teachers across Durham and Chapel Hill/Carrboro especially who were first to trust me with their program’s instruments and whose students became my first renters. Many of these teachers would go on to invite me into their classrooms to present to their students and speak on my expertise. This provided much stability while I built up a following of professional clients.

Website: www.docbassrepair.com