Fred Brooking '72

24 years in southern California with wife Linda, and our dogs. The kids are all grown and doing well. 3 grands, a workshop and a garden. Linda and I closed our business, and retired, in 2023. After living under the pressure of delivery deadlines for over 40 years I have been attempting to learn, and exercise, a modicum of patience by building guitars and mandolins, a hobby I have been pursuing since 2017. This spring will be my third year teaching acoustic guitar-building classes for SIMSCal, a southern California luthier organization. Tabor roommate John Pitts ’72 recently became the steward of one of my more unique guitar projects; a Hurricane Katrina flood damaged metal body resonator guitar that I spent almost a year rebuilding. In addition to its interesting history, this instrument has some added nautical cache, and connection to Tabor because the nut and saddle are made from whale and walrus scrimshaw scraps acquired from another Tabor artist, Brad Washburn ’72.