Gus Escobar

I’m starting a project titled "Texas Hands", showcasing folks that repair, create and or fabricate something uncommon. These are individuals that work in a field that most would call "a dying art". The man that is kicking off this incredibly passionate series, is none other than a gentleman by the name of Gus Escobar. Gus is not only a dear friend of mine,
he is an inspiration to me! These are His hands.

You could call him the Mechanic's mechanic or a Technician's technician; the go to guy when no one else can fix it. In fact, during his career in the Air Force, he received a certificate from his European colleagues that stated, "If Gus can't fix it, it can't be repaired". At the age of 13, he began playing and repairing accordions along side his cousin, Roel "Roy" Escobar, in Escobares, a community in the Rio Grand Valley. He went on to tell me that Roy was blind. Gus and his cousin were very close, so much so that he would take Roy to his accordion lessons, provided by none other than the legendary Pedro Ayala aka "El Monarca Del Accordeon".

While serving in the Air Force, he didn't make much use of his beloved accordion and instead focused on his assignment, working in Specialized Vehicle Maintenance. It wasn't until he retired that he picked it up again and began to tune accordions professionally. As he worked to hone his craft, he spent some time with several master tuners which included Amadeo Flores, Tony De La Rosa and Flaco Jimenez. These were some of the finest tuners at the time and Gus was their equal.

Each of these men had a unique method and philosophy which is a topic of conversation among accordion aficionados to this very day. Gus has joined their ranks, and has tuned accordions belonging to some of the finest players and legends in the business as well as many rising stars in the Conjunto genre. Which reminds me, his advice to the next generation of players "first your schoolwork, then the music".

His masterful technique is respected by many. A few years ago, he was recognized by Hohner Inc. as a Certified Technician. This is a huge accomplishment, since Hohner is based in Germany and houses some of the world’s finest engineers. This speaks volumes to his skill level and is something he is very proud of.

Now, as if that wasn't enough, he also finds time to build Bajo Sextos and hand-winds strings under the label "Cascabel Strings". Recently, it was my distinct honor to spend some time visiting with him, and I managed to snap a few photos of that particular visit. I have attached several of my favorite images to this post. I would like to thank Gus and his lovely wife for allowing me to interrupt their day and visit the man with these "Texas Hands".