Crafting Harmony: Dr. Robert J. Singer’s Purpose Behind Waterstone Guitar Co

In the often compartmentalized world of science and art, few stories bridge the divide as seamlessly as that of Dr. Robert J. Singer. A leading American neurosurgeon with an esteemed medical career, Dr. Singer is also the visionary founder of Waterstone Guitar Co., a musical instrument company revered for its fusion of vintage aesthetics and modern craftsmanship. While many may view his leap from neurosurgery to guitar design as unconventional, for Singer, it was a deeply intentional move born out of passion, purpose, and a desire to give musicians instruments as finely tuned as a surgeon’s hand.

Dr. Singer’s journey into music started long before he entered an operating room. As a youth, he played multiple instruments, eventually developing a fascination with the form, function, and sound of guitars. By 1978, he had already begun collecting guitars, finding inspiration in classic brands like Gibson, Rickenbacker, Hofner, and Hoyer. This wasn’t a casual hobby; it was a study and a self-taught education on how shape, material, and mechanics combine to create musical excellence.

Despite his academic and professional focus on neurovascular surgery and brain tumor treatment practiced at prestigious institutions such as Vanderbilt, Stanford, and Massachusetts General Hospital, Singer always kept music close to his heart. After completing his neurosurgery board certification, he began designing guitars at his kitchen table. The initial spark came through encouragement from friend and fellow musician, Matt Eichen, also a medical professional, proving that the worlds of science and art are more connected than they seem.

For Singer, the purpose of founding Waterstone Guitar Co. in 2002 wasn’t just to create beautiful instruments but to bring a level of precision, care, and craftsmanship into music that mirrored the diligence of medicine. He believed that just as the brain requires thoughtful navigation and delicate technique, so too does a guitar, which requires meticulous design to inspire and perform.

Singer applied his medical mindset sharpened through years of high-stakes surgical practice to the building of instruments. Every curve, wood choice, electronic component, and structural detail was examined with a surgeon’s eye. The company began producing prototypes in the United States and overseas, eventually scaling production to South Korea and Indonesia, all while maintaining design oversight in the U.S.

This attention to detail isn’t just an aesthetic choice; it reflects Singer’s deeper belief that musicians deserve tools that are not only expressive but reliable and exact, much like the tools he would trust in surgery. It’s this philosophy that led to Waterstone’s reputation for quality, innovation, and unmatched playability.

Another core part of Singer’s purpose was to create a platform that connected art and community. Through Waterstone, he collaborated with renowned musicians and visual artists to craft unique, limited-edition instruments, none more notable than the Jackson Pollock Studio Guitar and Bass, which feature high-resolution images of the paint-covered floor of Pollock’s studio. Proceeds from these instruments support the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center, reflecting Singer’s commitment to the arts beyond music.

Moreover, Waterstone’s artist collaborations span genres and generations, with notable musicians like Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick, Bruce Foxton of The Jam, Pat Smear of Foo Fighters, and Georg Hólm of Sigur Rós using Waterstone instruments. These partnerships aren’t merely endorsements, they’re dialogues, rooted in feedback, experimentation, and mutual respect.

In founding Waterstone, Dr. Singer didn’t just build a company, he built a legacy that intertwines science, music, and purpose. His story illustrates how passion, when guided by intention and skill, can manifest into something much larger than oneself. His medical background gave him the discipline; his love of music gave him the heart.

Waterstone Guitar Co. stands today as a testament to what can be achieved when two seemingly different worlds are brought together with vision and dedication. For Dr. Singer, the creation of Waterstone was more than an entrepreneurial venture; it was a calling to bridge craft and creativity, and to elevate the tools musicians use to tell their stories.