Profile of Mike Aronson, M.D., Radiologist & Electric Guitar Maker
Radiologist Mike Aronson, M.D., M'89, H' 94, F' 95, is both passionate and relatable. He possesses the commitment to the practice of medicine but also the talent to build custom electric guitars for musicians, singers, and songwriters. His success in medicine and in the world of music is a testament to his hard work and creativity.
Graduating from high school, Aronson wanted to go to luthier school because he loved music and playing guitars. However, his father, who was a physician, didn’t want to pay. So, he decided to study at a liberal arts college before drifting for a couple of years until he found his calling. It wasn’t until Aronson was living in Seattle when he realized he did not like the direction of his life. “I hit rock bottom, working with really unhappy foundry workers in a brutal job. That was my wake up call, it was the moment I knew I wanted a job that motivated me to get out of bed every morning.” He thought of his father and his noble work, being so worthwhile to the community, and decided to go into medicine too. “I remember that when I told my dad I wanted to go to medical school he looked at me suspiciously and asked, “What did you do with my son?””
Aronson obtained most of his medical education at VCU where he made a connection with radiology during a medical school lecture. During this lecture, a radiologist came into the classroom and started showing slides. One slide featured an air contrast barium enema and he remembers saying, “Wow, that's beautiful.” His classmates laughed at him but he knew it was love at first sight. Aronson has now been successfully practicing medicine for 26 years in southwest Virginia. With experience, he has found many other benefits to being a radiologist including the team work, sheer breadth of cases, and working with different clinicians to help them with their patients. He really enjoys communicating with people all around the hospital, noting that, “Radiology is the perfect specialty for me.”
And once a physician he turned back to his love of guitars, and now, “I can have my cake and eat it too” using his professional income to fund his musical passion. Aronson began building electric guitars because he played them and he wanted to help promising musicians, especially those who are particularly gifted players. Working out of his small workshop and with a network of trusted craftspeople who provide quality components and materials to Aronson’s specifications, he builds five to seven guitars a year, some taking six months to finish.
Aronson says, "building the highest quality custom electric guitars is a hobby, a passion, not labor and I'm not a luthier." A luthier is a skilled craftsman who makes and repairs guitars. He adds, “If I built acoustic guitars from scraps of wood, then I would consider myself a luthier.”
During his time at VCU, Aronson used to go with friends down to the Flood Zone, a Richmond-area bar, to see a popular local band that regularly played at the venue. Between sets he would talk with the singer and tell him that he had incredible potential and would get a major label deal. The humble musician turned out to be Dave Matthews. Today, when Aronson meets a musician he thinks has that kind of potential he asks them if he can build them a guitar.
Aronson has built guitars for himself, friends, local and well-known musicians, master guitarists, and non-profit organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, for fundraising purposes. His guitars ship across the country from Maine to California and internationally, including Bosnia, New Zealand and Sweden. He prides himself on the quality of his guitars - the parts, craftsmanship, and finishing details - working closely with each musician. Aronson is confident that his guitars, Aronson Custom Guitars, are as exceptional as any of the large custom shop models. In fact, he has never received a complaint about a guitar over the fifteen years of making them.
Over the years Aronson has developed good relationships with a lot of musicians. "Because music has been such a part of my life...I know a lot about music. It's fun to talk music and learn from others," remarks Aronson.
(Above Photo: Dr. Aronson in his workshop holding a custom guitar called the "White Elephant" designed for Nashville guitarist Will Jones. Photo Credit: Mike Aronson, MD)
Becoming a Radiologist
Building a Successful Radiology Career in Southwest Virginia
Based out of Blacksburg, Virginia, Aronson works with a radiology group that provides medical imaging for the HCA Virginia LewisGale Medical system. There are four hospitals, all located in southwest Virginia serving Alleghany, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Salem. The region has vastly different communities, which is reflected in the diverse patient base. Aronson notes, “The medical staff at the hospitals are just great people and everyone communicates really well.” This makes for a good patient experience and a great working environment.
Aronson is also an assistant professor at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, a medical school on the campus of Virginia Tech. “It's nice for me to be able to teach. I just like having an influence on these kids’ lives, and it's fun.” adds Aronson. He also likes to channel talented medical students interested in radiology towards a rotation with VCU Radiology, and some of his students have even gone on to train and work at VCU Health.
(Photo of Dr. Mike Aronson at work. Photo Credit: Mike Aronson, MD)
Aronson Custom Guitars on Stage
"Seeing my guitars on stage is very rewarding." ~ Mike Aronson, M.D.
Aronson Custom Guitars are made to meet the individual musicians needs and talents. Following are some of the artists who play Aronson's custom electric guitars:
- Willie Brown, Jr., guitarist for American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, has two custom Aronson electric guitars and a third being built.
- Brian Franklin, the guitarist for country music hall of famer, Kenny Rogers
- Brian J, Grammy-nominated producer and musician, and lead for Pimps of Joytime and the world funk project Gitkin
- Josh Reedy, lead guitarist for Thomas Rhett, country music singer-songwriter
- Redd Volkaert, Grammy Award-winning master guitarist who played with Merle Haggard
- Cameron Kimbrough, blues musician and grandson of Mississippi Hill Country Blues legend Junior Kimbrough
- Cedric Burnside, Grammy-nominated electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, and son of blues drummer Calvin Jackson and grandson of blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist R. L. Burnside
(Above Photo: Several guitar bodies and necks hanging above Dr. Aronson's workbench. Photo Credit: Mike Aronson, MD)
Professional Musicians Rave About Aronson Guitars
"I'm amazed at the playability of Aronson Custom Guitars and I almost exclusively play his guitars. Upon meeting him; seeing and feeling the quality of his work, I was totally sold." ~ Willie Brown Jr., guitarist with Alicia Keys
"I got one of Mike’s guitars custom-made for me several years ago, and it is without a doubt one of the best playing and sounding guitars that I have ever owned. When the guitar was delivered, I opened the case and I was amazed at the technical skill involved in making such a beautiful instrument." ~ Redd Volkaert, master guitarist
"I love my Aronson guitars. I’ve put tons of miles on them and they just get better with age. Mike was so accommodating in creating instruments that fit my aesthetic. My Aronsons’ are all over the albums I make and they are among my all time favorite road axes." ~ Brian J of Pimps of Joytime and Gitkin
Restoration Of A Legend's Guitar
Aronson recently had the honor to restore one of Danny Gatton's guitars - a guitar the legendary musician had since 1956 when he was nine years old until his suicide in 1994. The restoration was doubly important to Aronson, as he is a fan of Gatton's music and it was for Gatton's daughter.
Gatton, a master of the Fender Telecaster®, was known by other guitarists as "The Humbler" and he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Unknown Guitarist" by Guitar magazine. He has been listening to Danny Gatton since a teenager so the opportunity to work on a legend's guitar was surreal. Restoring this priceless guitar back to it's previous, well-used glory was a monumental and memorable occasion.
(Photo: Danny Gatton's guitar during the restoration process. Photo Credit: Mike Aronson, MD)
Danny Gatton Music FacebookAronson Custom Guitars Fills A Musical Void
In 2019, Aronson reached out to Anders Osborne after finding out that Anders' three favorite guitars were stolen while on tour. As a guitarist, collector and aficionado, he immediately reacted to the news by offering Anders one of his custom guitars - hoping to keep Anders' tour on track.
Anders Osborne is an award-winning New Orleans Songwriter. The stolen guitars included a1968 Fender Stratocaster, 1974 Gibson Les Paul and 2017 custom Les Paul. Visit the Anders Osborne website to learn more about the musician.
(Photo: Anders Osborne with his new guitar and Dr. Aronson (right). Photo Credit: Mike Aronson, MD)
Dr. Aronson On Stage
Aronson is the lead guitarist for Vinyl Tap, a Virginia-based band that plays mostly covers originally released on vinyl records. The band covers several artists, including favorites from Grateful Dead and Tom Petty. The band draws big crowds and the members are looking forward to booking post-pandemic gigs around Virginia.
He likes to jam with local musicians and he is often welcomed on stage to play with other bands. Aronson (right) is seen here playing one of his custom guitars with a reggae band in Antigua. His very special custom guitar was hand painted by his wife, Jane. (Photo Credit: Mike Aronson on the right. Photo courtesy Mike Aronson, MD)
Aronson Custom Guitars