Our Legacy
Two generations united by a passion for crafting instruments that inspire.
A Spark in the Garage
It started with a broken guitar and a stubborn refusal to let it go. In 1987, Robert Greenbriar Sr. decided to repair his grandfather's old acoustic rather than replace it. What began as a weekend project became an obsession.
Armed with library books and trial-and-error determination, he taught himself the fundamentals of lutherie. That first repair led to a complete restoration, which led to building his first guitar from scratch.
Sawdust in the Blood
Robert Jr. grew up surrounded by the sounds and smells of the workshop. By age ten, he was helping sand bodies and polish frets. By fifteen, he had built his first complete instrument under his father's watchful eye.
The bond formed over shared labor was unlike anything else. Long evenings spent discussing wood grain, debating pickup placement, and chasing that elusive 'perfect tone' created a partnership that transcended typical father-son dynamics.
More Than an Instrument
Every guitar we build carries a piece of our story, but more importantly, it's designed to become part of yours. We believe that an instrument should grow with its player, developing character and resonance over decades of use.
We source our tonewoods with intention, selecting each piece not just for its acoustic properties but for its story. Old-growth timber, reclaimed wood, sustainably harvested exotics—each material connects the player to something larger than themselves.
Where Tradition Meets Precision
Our workshop in the hills outside Austin is where the magic happens. Hand tools hang alongside precision CNC equipment. Traditional hide glue shares shelf space with modern adhesives. We embrace both heritage techniques and contemporary innovation.
Every instrument spends weeks in our climate-controlled curing room before final assembly. We don't rush. We can't rush. The wood tells us when it's ready, and we've learned to listen.
The Next Chapter
As we look to the future, our commitment remains unchanged: build the finest instruments we can, one at a time, with intention and care. We're not interested in scaling up or cutting corners.
Each Greenbriar guitar is a promise—that the hours we invest will translate into a lifetime of musical inspiration for its owner. That's a legacy worth building.
Become Part of the Story
Every guitar we build adds a new chapter to our legacy. We would be honored to craft an instrument that becomes part of yours.