I made my first guitars, but not stringed instrument in 1972. I made a classical guitar and a steel string guitar. My first shop was in the laundry room area of an old Victorian house in Sacramento, CA. The next shop was in the back side of a barn, walled off so I could control the environment. I worked on the farm for money to feed the luthier habit while attempting to complete college. The habit grew so strong that I moved back to Sacramento, CA. and built/repaired in the basement of a music store along with doing all the repair work on all stringed instruments that came in the store except electric guitars. Each summer I repaired all the stringed instruments for the Sacramento school district. This was a huge all summer undertaking along with building more guitars. I started showing my guitars to some top notch players who encouraged me to keep going and study with a master builder. In 1974/1975 I went to Europe and studied Baroque guitars and original Spanish classical guitars in the largest museums and collections in England, France, Brussels, and end up in Holland studying with master luthier Nico Van der Waals.

A truly great guitar needs the human touch, intuition, and insight; therefore, I still primarily use hand tools so that I may feel the wood as I work with it. Moreover, I still use traditional glues and finishes, for I believe this helps the instrument maximize its potential. I try to build each section of the guitar in such a way that all its parts work together, and the instrument becomes a unified expression. This, to me, is the art of luthiery. When a guitar becomes a "product", it ceases to be a true expression of musicality. My main concern is whether or not an instrument is musical. With this in mind, I try to find the guitar's voice rather than just make an instrument based on scientific theory

In 1976, I went to Europe and studied extant instruments in many of the famous museums. With encouragement from Michael Lorimer, I also spent a month working intensely with the well known Dutch lute and guitar maker, Nico van der Waals. I returned home to feed my passion for luthiery. Five years of college was enough for me. Building guitars, many styles of lutes, vihuelas, harpsichords, baroque guitars, harps etc., and keeping my hand in repair and restoration, I worked fifteen hours a day or more, often seven days a week. The desire to attain a deeper understanding of my art burned in me. Over twenty five years later, the passion to build the finest instruments possible is stronger than ever. I've narrowed my focus to primarily classical and flamenco guitars, and a few 19th century and baroque guitars. This continued drive has, of course, been fueled by too many people to mention. To them I owe a great deal of thanks, and to my many customers I promise to put all my experience and knowledge into each instrument I build. What else can I possibly do; I can't help myself.

Traphagen Guitars are fabricated one at a time in a old-school workshop in Bellingham, Washington. Over the last half-century, Dake has built virtually every type of fretted instrument that one can imagine. Today, Dake Traphagen is still building masterpiece classicals, dreadnoughts, concerts, jumbos and orchestra models.

No matter how you make contact, Dake will personally guide you through the many decisions and choices you’ll make to arrive at the design of your perfect guitar. While a shop visit is the easiest and most fun way, Dake can help you specify your guitar through any other method of communication. Pictures, text messages and zoom video can all be used to communicate the design of your guitar and can also be used to communicate progress during your instrument’s construction.

CLASSICAL: String Lengths ranging from 635mm to 665mm, the most common being 640mm, 650mm, or 655mm. I do make several 660mm guitars a year for clients who prefer a longer length.

String Spacings: Almost any string spacing can be customized to fit a player's hand, as can the neck's shape, width, and thickness.

Body Size: I make a slightly larger body size for the guitars with string lengths of 660mm or longer. I also make a "Petite" body size for string lengths less than 640mm and sometimes use this body for smaller people who want a 640mm scale. The cut-away model is the same overall dimensions as the standard size but with a rounded cut-away for either right or left handed players.

STEEL-STRINGS: Custom string lengths can be ordered but my standard range from 24.5" - 27.5". Custom shapes and sizes can be ordered to suit any players needs.