Ross Shafer is a busy man. When he’s not working in his machine shop, he’s working in his woodshop. When he’s not woodworking, he’s practicing guitar or playing in his band, South Bend (named after a machine in his shop). Or he’s riding one of his bicycles (that he made), or riding his Ducati through the winding roads of Sonoma County in northern California. Or taking his Ducati apart to replace the lifters. Or refurbishing old amplifiers and old guitars. 11
Right now, he’s just finished a steel staircase for a custom house, and is remodeling his own home, a small farmhouse on a gorgeous piece of land that actually is a working farm. (There are chickens, sheep, a huge garden with a greenhouse built from salvaged windows, and, at one time, a pig named Homer.) Besides these accoutrements of rural life, there are two refurbished chicken coops and two barns. They contain a music studio, a woodshop, an office, a sewing room, a proper car garage, and a machine shop. 4
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Once the owner of Salsa Cycles, a successful high-end bicycle company known for its hand-built frames and accessories, Ross sold it and began his next career, as a metal fabricator. Or as a rock band guitarist. Or as a sought-after woodworker. Or as an accomplished artist. You can check out this, and his other work, at six-ninedesign.com. —Shawn Connally
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1. Ross’ fixed-gear bicycle (his favorite). He made it. 2. Bedside table he made as a present for his wife, Mari. “It's soooo beauuuuutiful,” she says. 3. Tube guitar amps, built by Ross. 4. Side table with attached candelabra. Another gift for his wife. 5. Ross’ first self-built tube amp. 6. Big-ass milling machine. 7. The sweet, sweet sound of the first guitar Ross ever built. 8. Ross at one time raced motorbikes; these are his racing leathers, emblazoned with the Salsa Cycles logo. 9. This Ronnie poster was stolen by his wife off a wall in Scotland. 10. Another big-ass milling machine. 11. Ross built this bicycle for his son Max's third Christmas. Max is now 20.
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