Today we’d like to introduce you to Nuri Freeman
Nuri, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It all started with a dream to be a rockstar. I imagined myself touring the world, playing with some of the biggest acts. But like any young kid, I was broke and clumsy with my instruments, constantly breaking and damaging my guitars. Guitar repairs aren’t cheap, so with my dad having raised me to be handy, I decided to give it a shot myself. I spent hours working on my guitars—sometimes making them worse in the process—but the repairs held up just enough to keep me going. Soon, though, I wanted to learn more.
I started taking on work for friends who needed repairs. I still remember doing a full refret for just $50—something I now charge over $500 for. But the demand was there, so I thought, why not make a business out of it? I opened a small shop in San Bernardino, CA, under the name “P.C. Productions.” Completely self-taught with no mentor or guidance, I figured it out on my own and developed my own techniques. Before I knew it, I was the go-to guy in the area for guitar repairs and setups. Looking back, that shop was my training ground, both for guitar repair and for business.
For five years, I fixed guitars in that community, but eventually, I felt it was time to take things to the next level—something I knew wasn’t going to happen in San Bernardino. So, I shut down the shop.
My next step? Formal training. I did some research and found a company in Lake Elsinore looking for help with guitar building. This wasn’t just any company; it was Suhr Guitars, makers of some of the finest guitars, in my opinion. I was nervous at my interview, but my skills spoke for themselves, and I got the job. Working there was a “dream job” for me. I trained under some of the industry’s best guitar makers and really honed my repair skills.
Then the world changed—COVID hit in 2020. Businesses everywhere had to adapt, and Suhr was no exception. I lost my “dream job” and found myself searching for my next move. With a background in business, I decided it was a good time to go independent again, working solo from my garage with just my tools. No shop, no storefront—just me and my clients. I was finally able to show them what I could do with my new skills.
I enjoyed working independently, but over time, my personal goals no longer aligned with the life I was living. As much as I loved my clients and they loved my work, I needed a change. So, on a whim, my wife and I sold our house in March 2022 and booked one-way tickets to Istanbul, Turkey. We knew nothing about the country, had no friends or family there, and didn’t even speak the language. It was a fresh start in every way. Oh, and did I mention we had two little kids with us? Two weeks into our new life, my wife started feeling sick, and I couldn’t figure out why she didn’t like the food (If you’ve had Turkish food, you’d understand!). Then it hit us—she was pregnant. Imagine juggling a 3-year-old, a 1-year-old, a pregnant wife, and a new life in a foreign country. You can see why I’m bald.
Although I loved our new life, I missed working on guitars. I had brought some tools, but with Turkey’s economy, repairs weren’t practical. My clients back home needed someone reliable for their guitars, but I only had a handful of trustworthy recommendations. It got to the point where I was advising clients on repairs over the phone. But they needed more than just advice.
In late 2023, I brought my family back to the States to introduce the newest addition to our family, and while here, I worked on guitars. Knowing we’d end up leaving again, I wanted a way to help my clients from afar. So, I decided to film myself working on guitars. I teamed up with some friends in Riverside, CA, known as “Tukes Studios,” and brought my whole workshop to them. For days, we filmed every detail of guitar setups. I wanted the course to be so in-depth that clients could do it themselves, no matter their skill level. The course is now live on my website, and people are loving it.
As of 2024, I’m still here in the States, working on guitars and sharing my knowledge with people online.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I could confidently say NO. It has not been a smooth road. But you figure it out along the way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a Guitar Tech and that will be my title for a LONG TIME. I’ve dabbled in many projects but at the end of the day i will always have a guitar in my hands or on my desk.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
One step at a time. You’re going to come across some things that seem impossible to figure out but you really just have to figure it out little by little. Learn the basics and grow.
Pricing:
- Online Course : $400
- Guitar Set Ups: $120
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nuritheguitartech.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nuritheguitartech/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nuritheguitartech
Image Credits
Michael Tukes
Tukes Studios
