Peggy White—Luthier
“I was 51 when I started making guitars. It’s never too late to pursue your passions.”
It’s hard to pick favorites. Peggy White is attached to all of the beauties that are born in her Eastern Ontario workshop. But if she had to choose one, it would be the the parlor guitar she built for local musician, Lucas Haneman. It was made with Wenge back and sides and an Adirondack top, and it produces the most wonderful sound. Musicians such as Roddy Ellias, Terry Tufts, and Lynne Hanson can tell you a Peggy White guitar is worth waiting for. It takes roughly 180 hours for Peggy to make a guitar. But really, it took a lifetime.
Peggy came to the art of lutherie later in life. After she lost her 18 year old son, Taylor, in a snowmobiling accident, Peggy decided to radically change course: “As I started to come out of the cloud of grief there was an overwhelming desire to bring more meaning to my life, to do something I was passionate about.” Peggy had owned a successful residential cleaning company, which allowed her flexibility with her young children. But she had always made music and yearned to go even deeper: making the musical instruments that make the music. The world of guitar-making has few women luthiers, but Peggy was lucky to apprentice to Linda Manzer. She has also received generous encouragement from male mentors and peers. These days, life is a beautiful mix of tasks in her home workshop. She selects materials, build bodies, carves necks, and tunes in to the joy of meaningful work. Follow Peggy on Instagram @peggywhiteguitars.
Peggy White makes music happen in the Britt Utility in Grey Stretch Canvas.
Dovetail Workwear Disclaimer: We are not the boss of our Women At Work! They say it their way and wear it their way.