By
Katie KlannAugust 22, 2019 | updated 7 years ago
John Ramsey poses for a portrait in his shop, Avenue Guitars in Manitou Springs. Ramsey has been in business for over 40 years and has built over 200 guitars, ukuleles, mandolins and banjo necks. (KatieKlannkatie.klann@gazettedev.gazette.comhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/15e8af752374ad1abb67090ceaed3ec3?s=100&d=mm&r=g)
John Ramsey poses for a portrait in his shop, Avenue Guitars in Manitou Springs. Ramsey has been in business for over 40 years and has built over 200 guitars, ukuleles, mandolins and banjo necks. (KatieKlannkatie.klann@gazettedev.gazette.comhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/15e8af752374ad1abb67090ceaed3ec3?s=100&d=mm&r=g)John Ramsey works on measuring the neck of a ukulele recently at Avenue Guitars in Manitou Springs. Ramsey fell in love with the ukulele after spending time in Hawaii. (KatieKlannkatie.klann@gazettedev.gazette.comhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/15e8af752374ad1abb67090ceaed3ec3?s=100&d=mm&r=g)John Ramsey works on one of his handmade ukuleles at Avenue Guitars in Manitou Springs. Ramsey will work on a batch of six or so instruments at a time. He has customers from Hawaii to Japan. (KatieKlannkatie.klann@gazettedev.gazette.comhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/15e8af752374ad1abb67090ceaed3ec3?s=100&d=mm&r=g)Instruments for sale on Friday, August, 9, 2019 at Avenue Guitars in Manitou Springs. (Photo by Katie Klann, The Gazette) (KatieKlannkatie.klann@gazettedev.gazette.comhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/15e8af752374ad1abb67090ceaed3ec3?s=100&d=mm&r=g)John Ramsey uses a device for making banjos to smooth out an edge on a ukulele neck on Friday, August, 9, 2019 at Avenue Guitars in Manitou Springs. (Photo by Katie Klann, The Gazette) (KatieKlannkatie.klann@gazettedev.gazette.comhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/15e8af752374ad1abb67090ceaed3ec3?s=100&d=mm&r=g)John Ramsey explains the different patterns in the wood used for making ukuleles on Friday, August, 9, 2019 at Avenue Guitars in Manitou Springs. Ramsey uses koa, a traditional wood used for ukuleles, and mango to make his instruments. (Photo by Katie Klann, The Gazette) (KatieKlannkatie.klann@gazettedev.gazette.comhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/15e8af752374ad1abb67090ceaed3ec3?s=100&d=mm&r=g)John Ramsey works on a ukulele on Friday, August, 9, 2019 at Avenue Guitars in Manitou Springs. (Photo by Katie Klann, The Gazette) (KatieKlannkatie.klann@gazettedev.gazette.comhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/15e8af752374ad1abb67090ceaed3ec3?s=100&d=mm&r=g)John Ramsey pulls out the logo used on his ukuleles on Friday, August, 9, 2019 at Avenue Guitars in Manitou Springs. (Photo by Katie Klann, The Gazette) (KatieKlannkatie.klann@gazettedev.gazette.comhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/15e8af752374ad1abb67090ceaed3ec3?s=100&d=mm&r=g)John Ramsey sprays one of the ukulele necks to show what it will look like once it’s stained on Friday, August, 9, 2019 at Avenue Guitars in Manitou Springs. (Photo by Katie Klann, The Gazette) (KatieKlannkatie.klann@gazettedev.gazette.comhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/15e8af752374ad1abb67090ceaed3ec3?s=100&d=mm&r=g)
