At GiantMouse, we are always interested in the different relationships people have with their blades. For this installment of Knifestyles, we talk to boutique guitar builder Doug Kauer, the mind behind Kauer Guitars and DRS Racks, about his gorgeous creations and growing knife collection.
Building is just in Doug Kauer’s blood. Hailing from a family of woodworkers, Doug’s passion for craftsmanship started early, fostered by summers spent in his father’s cabinetry shop. But the true fire sparked when he found a way to combine fabrication with his love of guitar, going from playing to building his own—to becoming one of the most respected names in the boutique guitar world.
Today, Doug and his company Kauer Guitars are synonymous with innovative design and superior playability. His instruments are celebrated for blending modern aesthetics with vintage tones, delivering an instantly recognizable balance of form and function. Dedicated to pushing the boundaries of traditional building, Doug uses creative materials and sustainable practices to set his work apart, making each guitar not just a tool for musicians, but a piece of art.
We were lucky enough to track Doug down for a wide-ranging chat about the early shop days, his favorite projects to date, and the blades he keeps close at hand. A fairly recent EDC convert, Doug’s obsession with knives is growing at a rapid pace, and we’re thrilled he’s found a few favorites from us here at GiantMouse.
The Knifestyles of Doug Kauer
What originally got you into knives?
To be honest, I wasn’t much of a knife guy until maybe 10 or 15 years ago or so, but I’m always fascinated with how things are made. One day, I was randomly surfing Instagram and I recognized a picture of a couple of my car buddies from way back when, attached to an account “Grimsmo Knives.” I started checking out their work and was blown away by what they had created in the years since we last ran into each other.
I happened to show my second-in-charge here at the shop, Andrew, knowing he is a big knife guy, and he knew all about them. So I ended up snagging one for him as a Christmas gift and of course I checked it out before he got it. Then I started falling down the rabbit hole... Soon, I had one for me and some knives from other brands, and found myself always carrying one. I think it is just that love of mechanical things for me (same with my car projects, bikes, etc.) besides being practical.
How do knives fit into your life?
I wish I could say I was some cross between Rambo and Swiss Family Robinson, making entire villages with just my trusty knife, but 99% of it is slicing open boxes at work and cutting apples for lunch! Pretty pedestrian. However, occasionally there's some fishing or outdoor days that mix in much cooler knife use.
Doug’s go-to EDC: Spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch… pretty much the normal stuff. The knives tend to be on rotation.
What is your favorite GiantMouse knife and why?
First time I heard about GiantMouse, I actually saw Chris Pontius talking about them (what a weird universe where we both follow each other's accounts, right?!). I’m always on the lookout for new knives. But again this was on Andrew, I bought the first one for his 30th birthday this year (ACE Riv LL). Now, I’m carrying my ACE Corta or Brass Clyde almost daily.
What I like about GiantMouse: First and foremost, they look amazing. Then, I really love the feel of the action of every one I've had. And as dumb as it is, they have the best pocket clip of any of my knives. Doing a great job on every aspect of them!
How did you first get started in guitar making?
I grew up in the family woodworking business (cabinetry). The rule every summer as a kid was: “One of you can go to summer school and the other can go to the shop, but you can’t stay home all summer.” So I went to the shop.
My senior year of high school, I took AutoCad because it counted as a math class. Around that same time, the shop bought its first CNC machine, so it became my de facto job to do the drawing and programming for it. A few years later, this piece of maple came in that was really neatly figured. The synapse fired in my brain to combine playing guitar with woodworking, and take a stab at building a guitar.
That was the downward spiral to being perpetually poor, but I absolutely love what we do. I’ve been super lucky to have incredibly supportive friends, family, staff, and industry peers to help encourage and grow with. Despite the economic ups and downs of the last nearly 20 years, we’re still here doing it and better than ever (I hope!).
How would you define your approach to design and craftsmanship?
I think the trick to building guitars is really just building the kind of guitars I want to play, not what the internet wants. It’s such a harder road than just being another builder who builds the same three classics, but if you’re stubborn enough to stick with original designs (or at least twists on a classic) you’ll find your people.
That keeps the designs and creative end pure, and people can feel that when they see it. I don’t have a design background, so new models and ideas tend to come in random spurts. I’m very fortunate that people seem to dig whatever dumb ideas I’ve been able to turn into guitars over the years!
What are some favorite projects that come to mind from your over 15 years in boutique building?
We’re horribly behind updating the “special builds” part of our website, but my absolute favorite are the Shop Truck Super Chiefs. A few years ago when my grandfather passed away, I inherited his 1964 Chevrolet C10. He owned it since 1968, and it has a huge connection to both my Dad and I.
One of the interesting things about those old trucks is they had wood bed floors, and his was pretty rotted out. So I made all new floors from the same Bamboo we use for our DRS Racks line. But when I started removing the old floors, I realized they were pine instead of the normal oak (they had green latex paint on them, so I couldn’t see the original wood at the time).
I ended up being able to salvage enough to make a couple tops. Taking inspiration from the old Gretsch knotty pine “Roundups,” I did a pair of themed guitars for my Dad and I. We’ve built a lot of amazing instruments over the years, but those are truly special to me.
What’s your life motto?
Be dumb enough to start and stubborn enough to finish.
Discover Doug Kauer's Favorites
The GiantMouse Team would like to thank Doug Kauer for taking a break from his adventures to talk shop with us. Keep an eye out for more Knifestyle profiles coming soon!
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