My Story

My Dream to Reality From 1967 to Now! 

Hello, I'm Rev. William Fred Rudder, Jr.

I learned to play piano and saxophone. I learned guitar from friends and started guitar lessons at Tillman Music in Rock Hill, SC. They are still in business today. I later took classical guitar which helped in playing the bass. 

In December of 1967, dad wanted Santa Claus to bring me an electric guitar for Christmas. After every guitar lesson at Tillman Music in Rock Hill SC for about two years, I played and researched each model discovering what I wanted in my first electric guitar. Each manufacturer sent me a catalog which was filed away. At Tillman music with the owner’s son Jerry Tillman, I met the factory salesman from a British guitar and amplifier company. We discussed whatever you buy in life, not only guitars, but suggested looking at the features of the product not the name. I played my top two choices which included his brand out of courtesy. I wanted a west coast design double cutaway and a lightweight body. The guitar had features such as flat tail piece with dampener to get bass thumping, minimal noise in their pickups, but the neck was awesome with a fully adjustable truss rod. He told me it was built by an Italian company for their company. I was sold on the natural grip of the neck of guitar in sunburst! It was like a friend’s handshake.

From that moment the Rudder family entrepreneur spirit began to dominate my vision.  My new thoughts were, I enjoyed playing guitar, but I wanted to be known for designing guitars and amplifiers not a musician. I made two decisions. First, I made the choice to buy an unknown guitar brand based on features. Second design my own made in USA guitar and amplifier line based on an OEM business model.  

In 1969, the thoughts of building a line of guitars came to a hasty end.  My uncle got cancer and eventually died. It devastated our family. I put my product book in my guitar case. My dad closed Tech. Furniture side down changing the name to TF&E Pressroom Devices. We focused on the Engineering and equipment design side.   

1973-2021. I went to college and graduate school while leading my dad’s company. After grad school I served on church staff as a “Spiritual Entrepreneur” not called to preach but help people discover their purpose in life and working in family ministry while developing their self-care.  I did not start playing again till 1994 as praise and worship leader for our youth and DJ. Several of my guitars were damaged in Hurricane Hugo including my first electric. I was born in 1954. On my fortieth birthday I shaved off my mustache. I bought my second electric guitar.   

In April 2021, I became friends with Roger Calhoun the founder of Guitar Wishes. I shared my dream of building a line of guitars to support local charities, especially veterans as a tribute to my father and other veterans. I will always thank him for the encouragement to take that leap of faith and friendship that developed between us.  

During Covid, I found two companies, but one met my criteria for starting my guitar company. The guitar industry praised the company. There guitars were rated as a 9 out of 10 score by major guitar magazine. Another magazine rated as a top made in the USA guitar under $1000. 

On July 1, 2021, the state of NC recognized US Staff Sergeant Rudder Musical Instruments and Education LLC.

We do business as Rudder Guitars 4 M.E. 4ME is acronym meaning:

  1. For Musical Educational & Entrepreneurship Group or MEG Promoting Musical Education for Life by teaching others to become master teachers passing it on 

  2. For Mission Equipping the Musician and Others first with Self Care, and then Family, Community, less fortunate, etc. 

  3. For Music Promoting Equality in people’s lives 

  4. For Music Promoting an Environmentally Green World

    Rudder Guitar Goals and Mission

    Rudder Guitar (RG) Goals.

    Rudder Guitar wants the name to be synonymous with promoting self-care and the best features. The goal is not to be the best but one of the best made in the USA Guitars. RG shares my dad’s vision “IF there is a better way we are searching, we will find it and deliver it!” RG guitar is Feature Driven and delivered at a more affordable price.

    The features are incorporated into our models as standard features not found in other models. We will strive to talk with new and experienced performers to find out their needs My interpretation of Rudder Guitars is like you buying a new average 300-HP performance car or buying a limited production performance car.

    RG produces the 1000-HP Car. RG has a unique price niche below the big-name US built guitars and their custom shop models. We offer more features than big name standards. RG wants you to have a strong performance in your home alone, stage or studio.

    In today’s culture, Rudder Guitar applies my dad’s and Uncle Bobby’s belief that product quality reflects the company. I’m fortunate to experience my dad living long enough to combine CNC machining with the human touch to continue their line of quality products. Rudder Guitars great looks are more than outward appearances. The result is the quality of the manufacturing and features will make it a timeless heirloom as it is passed down through your family. We offer the option of having your name on the headstock.  We are proudly made in USA exceeding the Biden Harris percentage of components in our guitars. We will continue to seek US suppliers including the smaller family operations or manufacture our own.

    My dad believed in corporate responsibility to preserve the environment for hunting and fishing for generations to come before the EPA influenced our drive to be in harmony with nature. For example, our use of sustainable wood, Lucite and Aluminum necks.

    Rudder Guitar is about Self-Care. I plan for Rudder Guitars to be known for Features and Self-Care. I personally have experienced playing a guitar as my instrument of therapy. It is the therapy in the darkest times of my life. In my work with opioid addiction, it is an emotional life changer.

    Every time you see the name of a Rudder Guitar you see the names capitalized! The mission is to use the instruments such as JoyMaker, HopeMaker, PeaceMaker and LoveMaker on the headstock you will be triggered to examine your emotional level of joy, peace, hope and love in your life. If your emotions are numb, use Rudder Guitar as the instrument of self-care. You Play through the tears till you feel triumphant! Now share the emotional over-flow with family, friends, others and on your audience.

    Rudder Guitar is about building family ancestry.

    Rudder Guitar wants “YOU” to clearly be the family member that future members of your family and friends give you the credit for their playing. You pass the flame down to others and surround yourself with other talented musicians in your lifetime. Each future generation of players will look back at their musical heritage. My Aunt Bea inspired me by starting my playing at 6 on a ukulele. Her grandmother taught her to play the mandolin.      

    Rudder Guitar Unique Dealer Family Relationships

    We provide three unique features for our dealers to introduce you to Rudder Guitar.

    First: We equip our dealers. Each sales engineer in the dealership is equipped to introduce you to Rudder Guitars.

    Second: Rudder Guitar dealers will provide an alter (designated space) to offer live test trials against your other choices. We want you to be excited about your Rudder Guitar.

    Third: Rudder Guitars offers a unique custom shop to build your unique guitar at similar prices as our standard models.  Each dealer is a RG custom guitar design shop. The employees are skilled in assisting you to create your unique guitar. It will have your name on the headstock as an option manufactured by RG. You are the star not some other celebrity.