Hailing from the low lands of Southern Illinois known as “Little Egypt”, Nathan began working with his hands at an early age.  He studied structural engineering, reading blueprints and welding.  After spending twelve years working and apprenticing in the industrial field he decided to pursue his true passion – music and the instruments used to create it.  He promptly turned his back on the metallurgical world and put his heart and hands into making music and learning luthiery.  He apprenticed under local luthier and spiritual guide George McIntosh and never looked back.  In 2017 Nathan opened his own repair shop in his hometown of Benton, IL and split his time there with Byassee Music and Sound.  Nathan has repaired a wide range of fretted and bowed instruments but specializes in fretted instruments from the early 1800 to present.