Meet Cody Kinney | Fretted and Orchestral Luthier

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cody Kinney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cody, how do you think about risk?
I think taking risks is a huge part growing as a person. Conquering that fear of the unknown instead of allowing yourself to continue to feel comfortable. For most of my life I was afraid to take those leaps because fear can be overwhelming. I would have to think out every possible outcome before I made a decision. That fear freezing me in my place even if I knew staying where I was would leave me to feel empty and depressed.

It wasn’t till the birth of my son that I started to see what life really meant to me. What kind of person I wanted to be for myself and my son. It would be one of my greatest regrets if I taught him to be so afraid of life that he didn’t take the risks to live it.

Now, I try not to think so hard about the outcome. It may sound silly, but not getting in your head about every little detail frees your mind to just enjoy the ride. I try to bring that mentality into my business. Take the leap and trust yourself.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The beauty about being a luthier is that you get to work in several different fields of work to create the instrument. Not only is it art, but engineering, woodworking, electronics, and more. There are so many wonderful luthiers out there that we all have our own unique style. I’m very proud to be a part of this community.

I started with only the knowledge of how to play guitar. Instrumental Music Center in Tucson Arizona took a chance on me to be their repair tech. Over the years I learned on my own through research and discussions to become better. The internet is a heck of a thing! There are always challenges to overcome when starting anything new, but I worked very hard to be a trustworthy source in the Tucson community over the last 8 years.

If I learned anything, it’s that you need to be yourself. Be genuine to people. I think that helps people feel more comfortable working with you. I always tell the truth and sometimes that gets me in trouble, but people respect me more for it.

Starting Rennode Guitars from the ground up is about respect and honesty. Working to deliver the best service I can and to build trust with each client.

Even the name Rennode is a word a came up with to exemplify the virtues behind my business.

REN – in Chinese is the Confucian virtue of being altruistic.
NODE – is simply a point where lines intersect.

So RENNODE means to be altruistic to those you come across in life.

I hope to show that through my work.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are a ton of wonderful hiking spot all over Tucson. That’s a hard one to pick, but probably hiking anywhere on Mt Lemon is always a great time.

Baja Cafe is my favorite spot to eat in Tucson. They never disappoint.

The desert museum, walking the Rillito wash, checking out the farmer’s markets around town, seeing life performances at the Rialto or at Congress. Just a couple things that are simple, but fulfilling.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My wife and son. My mother. My friends and colleagues in the industry.

Instagram: @Rennodeguitars

Other: Email: rennodeguitars@gmail.com 520-369-5491