John Parchem is an American luthier and the builder behind Harvest Moon Guitars, where he documents his instrument-building journey in meticulous detail — from raw tonewoods to final setup.
John builds steel string, classical, flamenco, and ukulele instruments, with a particular passion for the science of acoustic guitar design. He is one of the few American luthiers with deep hands-on experience in falcate bracing, the innovative system developed by Australian luthier and engineer Trevor Gore and described in the landmark two-volume work Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build by Gore and Gerard Gilet. John works closely with the Gore/Gilet methodology for plate thicknessing, resonance tuning, and carbon fibre reinforcement — applying the same engineering rigor to each build.
Recognition
His falcate classical guitars have earned recognition at the Guild of American Luthiers conference, where a number of well-known classical guitar builders sought him out after a listening session, impressed by the instruments’ performance. His classical guitar instructor, Doug Rice, commissioned a falcate classical guitar from John after hearing his first build — a testament to the quality and voice these instruments produce.
Community
John is the owner of the Acoustic Guitar Construction Forum, an active online community where luthiers from around the world share knowledge, techniques, and build documentation. He is also a regular contributor to other international lutherie forums, bringing the same spirit of open knowledge-sharing that defines Harvest Moon Guitars.
Philosophy
At Harvest Moon Guitars, John shares everything — the successes, the lessons learned, and the hard-won knowledge that comes from building by hand, with passion.
Contact
Questions about a build, interested in commissioning an instrument, or just want to talk lutherie? Reach out at johnparchem@hotmail.com