CUYAHOGA FALLS:Chance encounters can change everything.Joe Heindel walked into a Kent State University art classroom in 2001 ready to learn.The professor, Doug Unger, was captivating. “He had me locked in,” Heindel recalled.But after class, Heindel checked his schedule and realized he was in the wrong room.He liked Unger so much, he tried to change his schedule but wasn’t allowed.And unfortunately, this would be Unger’s last year, so there were no other opportunities.In the classroom, anyway.Several years later, Heindel, who was doing computer design work, was dissatisfied with life’s direction and was praying for change. He walked into Doug’s Dinner Bucket in Boston Township one day in 2007.There, eating breakfast, was the former art professor.They struck up a conversation, and Heindel learned Unger had a new occupation: building banjos and mandolins. Sensing some interest, Unger invited Heindel to stop by his home studio in Peninsula.When Heindel walked into Unger’s house a few weeks later, he was transformed.“I was blown away” by Unger’s artistry and craftsmanship, Heindel said. “I thought. ‘Man, I can get into this.’ ”The seed was planted.Heindel had played guitar since he was a boy, so he decided to “give wood a shot.” He had a large chunk of oak from a tree that had fallen in his backyard in Stow.With additional visits and encouragement from Unger, he made a slide guitar for local guitarist Freddy Hill.Unger liked what he saw.Heindel’s next instrument was a violin for his girlfriend, Beth Canfield.In 2008, he made four guitars while seeking tutelage from Unger.“He taught me that everything is art, from art work, to your studio, to your relationships,” Heindel said. “It’s all art.”Heindel tried to pay Unger for the help, but the answer was always no. “He won’t let me pay for a damn thing.”Unger was impressed with Heindel from the beginning.“Joe has an amazing brain,” he said. “He has an artist’s skill, which is amazing, and he is a workaholic, and you can’t beat that.”Unger took Heindel on a visit to Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Mich., a firm that sells Unger’s instruments online. Now they sell Heindel’s instruments, too.Unger, 69, said that he retired after 35 years of teaching, and that that was his intention — to retire — but Heindel was “kind of hard to say ‘no’ to.”And as for being paid, he said: “I just want to help people who are interested.”Unger learned his instrument-making skills on his own. About 35 years ago, he borrowed a banjo from a friend. When the friend wanted the banjo returned, he challenged Unger: “You’re an artist, make one.”So, he did.Unger now is widely known in the music world for his intricately designed artistic wood carvings and engraved pearl inlays. He has won recognition for his work, including the Ohio Heritage Award from the state of Ohio in 2005 and a National Endowment for the Arts award in 1993.His banjos and mandolins sell for $4,500 to $10,000.“The thing about a banjo that is different than a painting is that when you make a banjo and somebody gets it, the journey starts for the banjo,” he said. When someone purchases a painting, he said, “the journey is over for the painting.”He said he loves the idea that his instruments are played around the world.“They are better than we are. They are more together than I am. They are more beautiful than I am. They are unlimiting. I am limiting,” Unger said.And the business of Unger’s protege continues to flourish.Heindel and Canfield were married last summer, and for the women who donated the wedding dress — she plays the ukulele — Heindel made her an instrument.Now he has requests for ukuleles.Heindel, 30, and his wife moved this year to Cuyahoga Falls, where he makes instruments full time in his garage.He said he has made about 30 instruments since his journey began and sells guitars starting at $1,700 and ukuleles starting at $600. Both can sell for much more money, depending upon how much work is involved, he said.And he is passing along the goodwill he received from Unger.He is encouraging and helping his friend, Greg Guarneri, who is developing his own line of guitars. Guarneri visits Heindel’s studio to watch and help.Heindel said he believes God has been instrumental, so to speak, in taking him on this path.“I am going to do what I think I am called to do, and where that leads me, I am going to let it lead me on,” he said.For more on Heindel Guitars, go to www.heindelguitars.com or email him at heindelj@yahoo.com or call 330-354-8396.For more on Doug Unger go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSbhYImgCGQ.Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or at jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.