Sound Guitar Repair has been Cat Fox’s life’s work since 1982, when she graduated from the lutherie program at Minnesota Technical College and apprenticed with renowned luthier William Cumpiano. After six years building and repairing guitars in Cumpiano’s shop, Fox opened Sound Guitar Repair in Seattle in 1989 before relocating to South Hero, Vermont, where she continues serving musicians of all calibers.

Fox’s expertise spans the full spectrum of guitar repair, from expert fretwork and professional setups to complex restorations of vintage instruments that other shops might consider beyond saving. Her shop has earned a reputation as a “no-kill shelter” for vintage guitars, tackling everything from crushed sides and busted soundboards to cracked pegheads and splintered braces. Professional musicians including Bill Frisell, Danny O’Keefe, and the Everly Brothers trust Fox with their instruments.

Beyond standard guitar repair, Fox works on mandolins, banjos, basses, lutes, ouds, and virtually any fretted instrument. She also builds custom guitars, drawing on decades of lutherie experience. Fox has trained five apprentices and taught at respected institutions including Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery, cementing her status as a master luthier.