Eric Sahlin made his first guitar in 1975, during his first year of college at UC Santa Barbara. After completing his second guitar Sahlin decided to make a career out of it and set up shop building custom furniture, and guitars. By 1978/1979 he was making guitars full-time. George Dauphinais of the Dauphin guitar company, began selling Sahlin ’s 7, 8, and 10 string classical guitars. By the early 1980’s Sahlin started making lutes in addition to his guitars - but his focus returned to classical guitars by the end of that decade. He now enjoys a reputation as one of the great American classical guitar makers and there is a long waiting list for his instruments.