Official Luthiers Forum!

I am hosting a gathering at my place for all that want to attend on Sunday, June 24th at 3pm. As this will fall over dinner time, we might as well throw some meat on the BBQ and enjoy a meal here.

I was talking this afternoon with Mark G, and we want to also open this up as sort of a mini swap meet. If you have some extra sets of wood you have milled or just interested in swapping woods or other items, bring 'em!

I would be happy to do a demo of pore filling with zpoxy and will likely have several guitars in progress. Be sure to bring some of yours!

I live in Northville. Mark your calendars!

Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com

Glad you will be doing it, see you there. The usual Windsor On. guys will probably also attend.

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Great, Ken! I will be there.

Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

hmm, I think I may have to try and make it up.

I've got it down on my calendar.

If anyone's interested in custom dimensioned faux-bound CNC fretboards, I can bring them to the event for delivery. I have EIR and Ebony blanks in stock. If you want something from a particular blank, you can bring it to the event for me to pick up. PM me for details.

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Just a reminder to those that may have missed this thread. The gathering is 3 weeks away.

Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com

Anyone in the Detroit area that has not yet attended our get togethers you are missing a great event. I believe this will be the 5th with the 1st ones at Bluefish music.

Come on out you won't regret it.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Thanks for the reminder Ken. I'm sorry to say that I can't make this one... too many irons in the fire right now. I was looking forward to seeing all of the group once again. Hopefully, next time.

Peter

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Peter

I'll be there and wanted to put out another call for custom scale and dimensioned Faux-Bound Fretboards. For the event, I'm waiving the $10 setup fee.

Machining is $25 each.
EIR + $10
WA Ebony, +$20 (not Washington, West African)

I'll also pick up any blanks that anyone wants machined and also waive the setup fee. Blanks should be surfaced both sides, a little proud of your final thickness.

If you're interested, contact me for details.

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Thanks Andy. I think Mark is going to bring some wood to sell, and I don't mind tossing in a set or two into the mix to either swap or sell. For those of you attending, feel free to do the same.

If I know how many will be coming, I'll pick up some sausages and chicken to toss on the BBQ.

Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com

I plan on bringing some wood to the event as Ken said, so if anyone has any requests for what they are looking for they can pm me so i can bring what they might want to the gathering if i have it. I'm looking forward to attending.

One week until our get together. PM me for directions to my house. Let's plan on meeting from 2 until around 6-6:30 in the afternoon. I have a church youth group coming over at 7, so unless you want to participate, we need to wrap things up before they get here.

Looking forward to seeing what you have been building and sharing ideas. Again, bring a few items you would like to swap or sell. We can certainly pass a few hours talking guitars, but if someone wants to demo something, please do. Or if you have a specific interest, let us know, and we can be ready for it.

Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com

So who is coming besides Ken, Paul Murphy, Mark Groza and good old me. If it is anything like the Bluefish gatherings it will be a great meeting.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Max and Andy said they would be there, and I got an email from a fellow named Dave, who Paul referred to me, who said he would like to come. Those are all I have heard from.

Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com

I invited another guy, John MaCarthur who's probably going to attend as well.

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

For those of you coming over on Sunday, do you have any specific topic you want to discuss that may require a bit of set up or prep beforehand? You are welcome to use my tools and the shop. If there is any interest, I or you could do a demo of any of the following:

- Pore filling with zpoxy
- Waterbased spray setup and application
- Buffing out a finish using a pneumatic polisher
- HHG
- Rosettes
- Side bending
- Inlaying
- Headstock routing
- Bolting down a fingerboard extension
- Routing binding channels
- CNC, though my application is still basic, but I could demo a headstock logo inlay.

Or, I could open up the shop and we could discuss various alternatives to some of those noted above. I do have a thickness sander if someone wants to do a demo on thicknessing a soundboard. I am happy to show my process, which is primarily by sound, feel, and gut. I know Fred uses a more objective approach, which we could apply to a soundboard. I am even happy to glue up a set of spruce plates to use for this, though we wouldn't go through bracing unless someone has a top braced. I am not there yet with two I am working on.

Just tossing out ideas and am open to more. Let me know if you want to see or demo something, and we can make sure that we are setup to do it.

I am going to try and borrow back the mango commission I sold a month ago and will have the butternut topped OOO and a larger body spalted mango at the house. Be sure to bring some of your guitars.

Also, I will have soda and food available. If you want beer or wine, you'll have to bring your own!

See you Sunday!

Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com

Many thanks to Ken Casper for hosting the gathering, and showing off his shop. We all had a great time and Ken's wife put out some great eats.







Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Thanks for coming Fred! Nice to play the the black limba 12 fret. Great sounding guitar. Lots of other great guitars and some beautiful basses. This was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon! I'll add a picture of the photographer of the previous photos and one of Andy playing his gorgeous bandura.

Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com

Good to meet you Ken and others, and thanks for being a great host!

Dave

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David Radlin
http://www.facebook.com/radlin.guitars

Ken,

Thanks so much for hosting the get together. Wonderful instruments and great conversations. Please, thank your lovely wife for the super eats.

Best regards,
Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

Thanks for hosting a great event Ken. I enjoyed talking with everyone and seeing all the nice guitars. And the food was very good as well

I think everyone agrees on the eats being great, though I don't no how we all stopped talking long enough to eat anything. The was no shortage of conversation, the great thing of these sessions is the sharing of ideas. Thanks again Ken, I think we need to do another in maybe October, who wants to host at their shop

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Thanks Guys! Yes, Fred, you are absolutely right! Too much food was left behind and Bill left with two full growlers of Liberty ale! Go figure I don't know if folks were timid regarding the food and drink or as you say too engaged in conversation and guitar playing. Very nice afternoon, regardless the reason!

Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com

Looks like a great time. Makes me wish I still lived in Ann Arbor (moved away in '97, after living in MI 18 years) so I could have attended! All the best to all of you -

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Thanks Todd. Would loved to have seen you there, but Ithaca is a bit longer drive than Ann Arbor! My wife and I moved here in 2005 and Ann Arbor quickly became one of our favorite haunts. We are down there for dinner or a show at The Ark or Michigan Theater once or twice a month.

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http://www.casperguitar.com