My name is Chuck Tipton. In 1974 I started working in the television industry as a cinematographer/videographer. Now retired I still do a lot of freelance work in that field. I was also a studio musician playing guitar and harmonica in recording studios in and around the east Tennessee area. Having to maintain my instruments over those years it was natural for me to become a luthier and about 16 years ago I started Tipton Custom Guitars in a small shop in my back yard. TCG is now an authorized C. F. Martin Guitar & Co. Inc warranty service center. I only became interested in metal working in the last few years so I got a couple machines and started studying.