About the Author

Barrows Riverwood is a woodworker with experience in cabinetry, lutherie, and general shop practice. In recent years, their focus has shifted toward the intersection of guitar making, data analysis, machine learning, AI, and automation, and how those tools might be used together without losing sight of the craft itself.

Riverwood got into lutherie during the COVID-19 lockdown, starting with a StewMac tenor ukulele kit. That first build led to a few more kits, then to a self-built soprano ukulele made from scratch. From there, the interest kept growing, eventually leading to a job at the prestigious, boutique acoustic guitar manufacturer Ampliùs Guitars.

At Ampliùs, Barrows worked primarily in the neck department and spent a lot of time milling braces, a part of the job that slowly shifted their attention toward how soundboards behave structurally and acoustically. Over time, that curiosity turned into long-term research and experimentation, eventually forming the basis of Soundboard Analysis: Variables for Automation in Lutherie.

Since then, Barrows has made several ukuleles and guitars for friends. A musician themselves, they enjoy playing music, long walks with their wife, and quiet nights at home with their pets.