Thomas early Luthier roots begin in Paris, France, where as a young boy, he insatiably absorbed the nuances and culture of wood working and blacksmith through his Italian immigrant great uncles

His education in the crafts of guitar making, which includes spending three years training with Daniel Stickel who studied under Geza Burghardt and José Romanillos. Thomas then went on to study two years of violin making with Michael Altshuler, who learned in Russia with Denis Yarovoy.