Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey All!
We are all geared up for next weeks GAL (Guild of American Luthiers) convention in Tacoma,WA.

Chime in (and post) if you are coming!!

The venerable GAL convention offers amazing and informative classes, conversations and exhibitions -plus LMI (and many other fine vendors) will be selling some really choice tonewoods and other goodies. I sent the stuff up last week, so please, the door for requests is now closed! But rest assured there will be plenty of eye/ear candy there for you to see and buy, first hand.

For the full rundown, visit www.luth.org

Chris Herrod -LMI

coming...

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My Website http://klw-strings.com
My Luthier's Blog...http://klwstrings.blogspot.com

I'm going.

I'll be there. Can't wait. 1st time for me.

I will be there.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

See you there Chris.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

I am so jealous.
It sounds like so much fun.
I wish I had the time and funds.....

Have fun guys and gals!

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Support the OLF! Bookmark our STEWMAC link Today!
Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I'll be there --- can't wait!

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Kathy Matsushita
San Jose, CA USA
http://theamateurluthier.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathy.matsushita

I'll be there.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I plan to be there for at least one of the days. Not sure which one yet.

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George :-)

Wouldn't miss it.

Was planning to go, but hey way too many bills this year!

Unless a client goes sideways on me, I'll be there tomorrow. If you see me (see avatar pic), please say hello.

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George :-)

George,

It was great to meet you in person. It'd be great to talk more when I'm not so busy!!

Cheers, M

Yes, Michael, I would like that very much. The next time my wife and I visit Pt. Townsend I'll get in touch.

What a great afternoon it was! In addition to chatting with Michael, I also had the pleasure of connecting with OLF members Stephen Boone, Pat Foster and John Parchem. Hi guys! I know that Jim Watts, Stephen Kinnaird and Kathy Matsushita were around as well, but, sadly, I missed those three. I did, however, get to speak briefly with Natalie Swango from LMI and Bill Hibdon from Hibdon Hardwoods, two of our fantastic forum sponsors. It's fun putting names to faces and I'm looking forward to using a cool fiddleback maple neck blank I bought from Bill.

For me, I think the most valuable take away from yesterday's exhibition was that there is literally no end to what one might create using the basic elements of this craft. It was truly a most awesome expression of art and science and imagination and our fellow OLF members' tables featured some of the finest examples present. The afternon was equal parts impressive, inspiring and humbling, a combination that I find incredibly encouraging.

After poking around the rather noisy, chaotic exhibition halls I wandered into the hushed environs of the "Venerable Instruments" area. While the atmosphere was starkly different, the range of work was no less fantastical. As I stood there, surrounded by instruments dating back hundreds of years, I found myself dumbfounded by the remarkably creative thinking behind some of the designs. It really kind of destroyed any notion I had about what shape a "traditional" instrument might take. The fact that people have been and are still thinking "outside the box" is not a revelation to me. The stark difference between looking at pictures of this kind of work and seeing it face to face is what kind of blew my mind. Really, I think it's time for me to remove the blinders!

So, in closing, I must say, bravo, fellow OLFers, bravo! Thank you for having the courage to step up and the generosity to share. Your work is amazing!

George :-)

P.S. A snapshot can't do it justice, but here's an example of the imaginative thinking I found so notable yesterday. Is it a banjo? A guitar? I'm not sure, but I do believe this instrument is flat out cool.

The GAL was a blast, I enjoyed meeting and talking with OLF members.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

The Convention was great, but I only met 1 or 2 members here, a little disappointed with myself in that.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

It was another amazing convention at PLU. I met so many world-class builders and repair-folk this week -- Harry Fleishman, NC neighbor Jay Lichty, my new pal Bayard Blain (terrific builder and player), Jeffery Elliott, Bryan Gallup, and forum members Kathy Matsushida, Pat Foster, and Steven Boone. I'm sorry I didn't get to meet George, John Parchem or Jim Watts. I did get to chat with many luthier acquaintances I've made over the years such as Mike Doolin, Steven Marchione, the good folks from LMI and Stew-Mac, and Chris and Glenda from Luthier Tools (they should really like me now). I've also made many new friends who are in the earlier stages of their building careers who's work I look forward to following in the years to come.
The workshops were fantastic, and once again I feel like my expectations of myself have been elevated to a much higher level. I had a couple of aha moments in Brian Gallup's lecture, especially his ideas on why some guitars are stiff and physically harder to play, while others are supple and responsive in-hand. Here's a hint, it's not necessarily the action...

By far, the highlight of the week, though, was getting to spend some quality time with a true icon of modern lutherie and one of the finest American classical guitar builders of our time, Eugene Clark. At 83, he's still full of piss-and-vinegar, yet extremely generous with his time and insights, some guitar-related, some not. It's been a real honor, and I hope to get back out there next spring to advance my French Polish skills from one of the great masters. Thanks Eugene, GAL, and Tacoma. See you in three years...

late night jam at the pub
Fifty years of use -- the edge of Eugene's bench
Me and Eugene

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Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com

It was an excellent convention, catching up with friends and meeting new ones. I was pleased to meet OLF members GeorgeL, Kathy Matsushita, Steve Kinnaird and Ryan, Jim Watts, John Parchem, Ken Long. Also John Carrigan, Kerry Char, Nathan Ching, Jay Lichty, Steve Rolig. My table was next to Mike Doolin; it was good chatting with him. There are surely others whom I regretfully have forgotten for the moment.











Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I am soooooooooo jealous

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

When of the best conventions ever, for sure. Great to see you all! Thanks for your orders and friendship -and for posting these pictures! Ill try to post some of my own when I get a chance. Chris

Chris,

I was just a few tables away, and had meant to come over and say hello, but got a little bit (!) distracted. Next time for sure!

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

It was a fun weekend meeting lots of great folks. Richard Brune played my 38th and declared it "Good"! It is a rare treat to have great builders like Richard Brune give tips and feedback.

Thanks to all who said hello! It is nice to put names to faces and shake hands.

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http://www.booneguitars.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Boone-guitar-builder/488208541257210