Santiago Uyaguari grew up with the smell of sawdust and the sound of a chisel shaping tropical woods into amazing instruments. Like his father, grandfather and great grandfather before him, he spends his days creating masterpieces using old-world methods that have been handed down for four generations. Working from his small shop and crafting with only hand tools (no power tools) he knows exactly how to get the most out of every piece of wood that passes through his hands.

Santigo's instruments feature amazing hand-inlayed rosettes and binding that are made of individually died pieces of wood. His wife Patricia sometimes help with the meticulous creation of inlaid mosiac as their two young daughters play in the background. With the support of musicians like you he supports his family by doing what he loves.