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Rod Connell
 I was born and raised in glorious Tasmania and during my youth the only involvement I had with woodwork was to make a coffee table in high school.
After moving to the mainland in 1970 I began serving an apprenticeship as a plumber, which has been my primary career for the last 40 years, to the point where I now lecture in this trade skills area at the TAFE College in Albany.
These days I work on home DIY wood projects and, more importantly, I've also discovered a passion for stringed-instrument making.
I've always had an interest in guitars, having started playing in a band during my teenage years called Sinersect in the 60's, while in the last four years I've derived a lot of pleasure performing with work colleagues in a band called The Bar Chords ... we play the occasional gig, 25 tunes to our repertoire, and it's a lot of fun!
The best part of being a founding member of Gt Southern Lutherie has been twofold: the camaraderie that developed while we all made our first pieces, and the spontaneous lutherie conversations that arise most times when we see each other!
 The first guitar I made under the guidance of Alan Warburton & Maurie Howlett was a steel-stringed acoustic (at right): Sapele back & sides, Western Red Cedar top, Mahogany neck and Ebony fretboard. Family and friends have all been impressed with it's sound; it's even impressed my guitar teacher who has played it many times ... in his words: 'Awesome!'
Making that first guitar inspired me to set up a woodworking space at home. I have a 100sqm shed out the back and, apart from converting one corner as an office-work area, the rest of the floorspace is dedicated to pursuing an interest in making more instruments. I've also invested in a drum sander, shop vac system, bandsaw and a decent drill press.
Current projects include a solid body electric guitar based on a book & plans for a Telecaster that I ordered from the States, using a nice bit of solid Maple that I scored from Tim Spittle in Perth. The electrics is proving to be a challenge, but anything worth doing is worth the investment of using quality components & pickups, and time.
The other piece that I have on the go is a Classical Guitar, but this time I've used Indian Rosewood for the back & sides, and Spruce for the top - it'll be interesting to compare the sound of this new baby to the Western Red Cedar tonewood that I used for my first guitar.
In 2006 my wife & I bought a small property in Tassie that we're renting out, so who knows? ... one day down the winding lutherie path I might get amongst some lovely bits of wood in That Small Isle.
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