Lichty Guitars announces that Jay Lichty of Tryon takes top honors as this years overall Made in the South Awards winner for his handcrafted guitars and ukuleles. This recognition comes to former homebuilder and carpenter just a little over a year after leaving the construction industry behind and starting his business, Lichty Guitars.

Garden & Gun Magazine launched the Made in the South Awards program this year to celebrate the rich cultural tradition of craft, design and ingenuity in small, Southern-based businesses.

The awards are about people who are making things that have character, integrity, a great story and, most importantly, Southern style traits that are truly embodied by our selections, said G & G Editor-in-chief Sid Evans. Lichty Guitars was chosen as the winner from hundreds of entries.

Friend, mentor and world-class luthier and musician Wayne Henderson was by Lichtys side as he built his first guitar and has seen and played many Lichtys since. I am proud to say I taught Jay to build his first guitar, said Henderson.

Since that time Lichty has crafted dozens of instruments and several top performing musicians play custom Lichty guitars. These include Tom and Mike Gossin (top country band Gloriana), Doug Lancio (Nashville producer and lead guitarist for John Hiatt and Patty Griffin), Jody Porter (Fountains of Wayne), Haley Dreis and Jonathan Gray. Lichty specializes in building custom instruments for both casual and professional musicians.

This award is an incredible honor given the skills and talents of all the other winners, says Lichty. I am especially excited that, as a luthier, I won. The more news about handcrafted instruments folks can read the more orders luthiers will get and the more beautiful handmade instruments will make it into the hands of happy musicians.