West Palm Beach Guitar Legacy: Father-Son Duo Continues Craft

Bruce Petros has spent 52 years crafting stringed instruments, transforming a modest woodworking shop into the renowned Petros Guitars. His passion, ignited by a $15 guitar kit assembled decades ago, has now been passed to his son, Matt, who is poised to take over the family business in West Palm Beach.

"We're trying to have lasting, lasting beauty in the instrument," Bruce Petros said, reflecting on his half-century career. His journey began in Colorado after he discovered and assembled a guitar kit for $15. This initial project sparked a lifelong pursuit, leading him to build guitars in the basements of rental homes before establishing his workshop, eventually finding a home for his craft in Palm Beach County.

Petros Guitars now ships custom-made guitars and ukuleles to a global clientele, including collectors, professional musicians and hobbyists. The company is known for its meticulous attention to tone and playability. Notable musicians, such as Paul Simon, own Petros instruments.

The transition to his son, Matt, represents an ideal scenario for Bruce Petros. "A lot of guitar makers when they quit, what are they going to do? You can't sell a guitar making shop. You can sell the tools and the wood. You can't sell your reputation," Bruce Petros explained. "So this is kind of the ideal situation where the reputation is built in and it continues on." Matt Petros echoed this sentiment, expressing his enthusiasm for continuing the family's musical legacy.

"It's just great to be able to create something with your hands," Matt Petros said. "There's never been any pressure. I've never been yelled at by my boss or threatened to be fired." He grew up immersed in the craft, stating, "Well, you grow up in the shop. That's all I knew. And every little boy wants to be like their dad. And I was just lucky enough to be able to do it." Together, the father and son focus on extracting the finest tone from each instrument they create, a sound that resonates from their West Palm Beach workshop.