In the early 1970s Steve Grimes studied with a violin maker and worked in instrument repair before setting up his own workshop in Seattle to make arched top mandolins. After making mandolins exclusively for the first two years Grimes began to make arched top guitars in 1974. In 1982 he added flat-top acoustics and classical guitars to his product line up. He also relocated from Washington to Kula, Hawaii in 1982. Since moving to Hawaii Grimes now also makes slack key guitars and ukuleles. Grimes makes around 20 guitars a year,

Source: Grimes Guitars website (23 August 2017)