<\/p>\n
The next time you listen to a band, you just might be hearing the strumming sounds of guitar strings made by Curt Mangan Fusion Matched Strings.<\/p>\n
Curt Mangan, owner of Curt Mangan Fusion Matched Strings, a Cortez-based manufacturing and distribution center, makes 400 boutique single strings and 250 packaged sets of strings for instruments including acoustic, electric, classical and bass guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, bajo sexto and quinto instruments.<\/p>\n
In 2004, Mangan opened the family-operated strings business in California. Two years later, he moved it to Cortez. \u201cThere was a little bit of an attraction to the Four Corners area. We finally decided on Cortez, because of the beauty of the area,\u201d Mangan said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had really good support from local dealers in the community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
His wife, Nancy Mangan, handles packaging and shipping and her daughter Samantha Cameron, a 2011 Fort Lewis College graduate, is responsible for Marketing and is the artist representative. She also designed the company website and the graphic designs on the string\u2019s packaging.<\/p>\n
Cameron explained how she named the company using the term \u201cfusion matched strings\u201d because \u201cIt\u2019s a fusion between family, industry and players.\u201d Most days, Cameron\u2019s office space is shared with their family dogs, Noel, Chewy, Pan and Boo.<\/p>\n
To complete the business are four employees who create handmade strings with the aid of winding machines. Mangan oversees the seven machines and tests every batch of wire for strength.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have a lot of choices in the type of machine that you use and materials. Our machines are specially made. What sets us apart is that our recipe came from scratch, from trial and error, and me being a guitar player for many years,\u201d Mangan said. \u201cWe had to find that sweet spot between the core and wire dimensions to achieve the different feel and tone,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Each string begins with a core wire of steel in a hex or round shape. It is then wound with nickel, stainless steel, bronze, phosphorous bronze, pure nickel or Monel, an alloy mainly of nickel and copper, that is very resistant to corrosion. The wire, all made in the U.S., is made into different gauges or thicknesses to create different tones.<\/p>\n
Artist Signature sets are available from various artists, or customers can create their own signature set in different gauges and personalized with their name on the label.<\/p>\n
The popularity of Mangan\u2019s brand label has helped his strings make it on stage played by band members of artists such as Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Charlie Daniels Band, which are just a few from a list of about 800 artists.<\/p>\n
Mangan has the opportunity to attend some of the concerts to actually hear his strings in use. \u201cIt\u2019s very gratifying. We work with some pretty amazing players. I have had the opportunity to work with some of the absolute best musicians in the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe music industry is a really fun industry to be a part of,\u201d Cameron said. \u201cIt\u2019s a privileged to work with so many talented people.\u201d In the past year, Cameron has met Miranda Lambert, Cody Johnson and Lady Antebellum, she said.<\/p>\n
Mangan\u2019s love of guitar spans 50 years, in which he worked at music stores or owned them, built and repaired guitars, was director of sales and marketing for Ernie Ball in California, and also taught guitar lessons.<\/p>\n
He began playing guitar at age 10 and dreamed of sitting around a campfire and playing the guitar like his idols Roy Rogers and Gene Autry.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took me many years to try to convince my parents to let me play guitar,\u201d he said. \u201cI told my parents I wanted a 10-speed bicycle, and on the way I said could I have guitar lessons instead. They said \u2018OK, but, you\u2019re not getting a 10-speed,\u2019 and I said I understand the deal we just made.\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled reminiscing how he began 10 weeks of guitar lessons at the Natural Music Guild in Loveland when he was 12.<\/p>\n
At 14, he became a songwriter. Then, at 17, formed a trio naming their band Forrest. At 22, he started his own record label, Mangatune Records.<\/p>\n
After many years of ups and downs in the recording industry, Mangan came to a realization: \u201cWith all of the younger ones coming up in the business, sooner or later I was going to be in the way. That\u2019s when I decided to start my own little company.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, Mangan displays his products in more than 1,000 independent shops in Europe and 20 countries including Vienna, Singapore and Australia.<\/p>\n
Colorado locations include Denver, Sheridan, Englewood, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Thornton, Parker, Lafayette, Montrose and Cortez. \u201cWe are a family-run company, so and we sell only to mom-and-pop, brick-and-mortar stores,\u201d Cameron said.<\/p>\n
At age 66, Mangan said he still plays guitar. \u201cI try to get in at least half an hour every morning \u2013 it never gets boring.\u201d<\/p>\n
And Cameron, at 30, said she just recently began playing guitar. \u201cI\u2019m actually learning on FaceTime from an artist in Hollywood, Stephen Brewer with the band Westfield Massacre.\u201d<\/p>\n
For product information or to purchase Mangan\u2019s strings online, visit www.curtmangan.com or call 970-564-5935. Mangan strings are available at Rocky Mountain One-Stop at 330 N. Broadway in Cortez; call at 970-565-3795.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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