Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey all,
I haven't been real active here lately, but I came across this article a little bit ago. We all know how hard it is to make a living building guitars. This guy has put up with a lot in the last couple years and could use some help. Take some time and read the article. I hope it's ok to link the donations page here, but if not, feel free to take it down Lance.

http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/dish ... id=2296383

http://www.gofundme.com/77za4o

That lady is an upper class twit.

actually i side with the neighbor: that's exactly why zoning laws exist. if i live in a residential neighborhood, i don't want to listen to some jerk's router/power saw/shop all day long, and why should i? if he's in the light manufacturing business, then he needs to lease a small shop somewhere more appropriate

And you live in a properly zoned industrial area? You have your own shop outside of your home in a properly zoned area?

no, and i am a hobbiest who only occasionally uses power tools. i'm not operating a manufacturing business from my home. i would expect complaints if i attempted to.

No idea why the Lawyers need to get involved. Just needs a couple of local authority employees to measure noise levels with a db meter whilst running some stock through the power tools. Could be done in about 20 minutes.

Agree with Michael N. Most cities of any size have a noise ordinance, and it's easy to determine if someone is in compliance with the code. The fellow in the story has been before the zoning board or code enforcement authorities and they have ruled in his favor. Sounds like his neighbor has had it in for him form the start. Also from the article, I got the impression he is operating within an enclosed and insulated garage. When I work on my guitars and need some neck wood or other pieces cut, I open the garage door and literally drag my table saw outside, and if the weather is nice, I tend to do most of my power sanding outside as well or at least near the open garage door. Not nearly as noisy (and I've had no complaints) as the neighbors who turn up their sound systems so they can hear them when they're working outside, or running their leaf blowers, chain saws, and other lawn equipment. Michael, lawyers in this country (hoping I'm not getting political here) always get involved, if there is money to be made.

No class, just an obnoxious twit,

I have a 200 yard rifle range complete with a concrete pad, bench and berm on my place, living in the "county" has its benefits, I can run power tools, 100 watt Marshall Amps, and 300 win mags 24/7 if I choose.

I can see it from both sides personally, but I wonder how upset the neighbor would be if the work being done was construction vs instrument building. If he was working to make his home prettier, but making the same amount or more noise, I doubt the neighbor would be complaining despite the noise.

I realize that in that scenario there's a theoretical end to the work vs continually building instruments, but it just strikes me as a rich lady with nothing better to do digging her heels in on a non-issue. If reporters were not able to hear the machinery going, then I doubt the neighbor is hearing a fraction of what she claims.


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Clinchriver is the place for me.
Farm livin' is the life for me.
Land spreadin' out so far and wide
Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside.

source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/ ... yrics.html

Sorry, Clinch - I couldn't help myself.

in contrast, my neighbors' houses are about 10 feet away on both sides. no exaggeration. but, everything i could possibly want or need is within about a 5 mile radius(including a flight to anywhere in the world)...no 35 mile trips to Walmart for me

We also have 40 chickens, 3 Tennessee Walking horses, a potbelly pig that roams from one end of the place to the other, dogs, cats, a pygmy goat (Take that Tony!) and a very happy 14 year old.
Its a lifestyle

no doubt. and i appreciate both, in controlled dosages


and if i was made of money, i'd have both.

Something seems not right to me. I only quickly scanned the article, so I may be missing something.

For proof that the equipment is not noisy, the fellow turns on his table saw, but---HE DOES NOT RUN WOOD THROUGH IT.

There is nothing in the article that the fellow is in great hardship and needs charity such as is solicited in the link.

Has anyone vetted this story to verify that it is not a scam?

Bummer. I can definitely see both sides of this story. I'd probably look to rent a commercial space nearby for my power tool tasks and see if that appeased folks. If not, I'd either move the business or sell the house--maybe both.

Yeah, the fundraising part seems a bit cringe worthy to me. Maybe that's a generational thing? A lot of people are doing it, but, well, I wouldn't.

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George :-)

Maybe he could soundproof his shop some. As for the donations I think it's a little to much to expect others to pay your legal fees.

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Another day, another dollar.

Easy solution is switched to all hand tools
Minimal noise.
My workshop is located in an apartment.
So all hand tools approach or (90% hand tools) is the only way for me to avoid a complaint.

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Sen CL Goh
http://senguitar.blogspot.com

I believe he did that already.


I agree also, but according to the donations page, he has received almost $4,000 of his $5,000 goal in just one day.

I wish the guy well - it sounds like his neighbor is a PITA. I can empathize with the guy, I've lived next door to some very unhappy people.

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

He could fill his shop with spray foam, and enclose it in a vacuum, but his neighbour will never be happy until she manages to wear on him enough to move.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

"Eight years later, the Buchwalds paid almost twice that — $766,000 — for the place next door." Nice house! Sympathize but not inclined to donate. Just my opinion -mdg

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guitarsbygiltzow.com

Not everyone understands the freedom outside the city. I can do what I please, when I please and I don't get any complaints. Well except the one time with the explosives.....but even then no one really complained directly.

I don't live outside the city, but paying more than $700K for a house that's that close to your neighbor seems like something that would've been a deal breaker for me.

I do have friends and family that live in the country and they love it for the reasons Zeke and others have mentioned. Personally, I don't like being quite as far out there as most of them. 45 min - 1 hr commute one way to work isn't something I'm interested in. But it's sure fun to visit.

Need to get that still put back together and get some mountain dew going again...


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To be fair, it is difficult to complain when you've just been blown up!

My kind of setup!

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Sounds personal to me. I build guitars in my garage, and my next door neighbor was really surprised when I told her, because she had no idea I had the kind of tools you would need. I only work with the garage door down, and she had not noticed the sound of my table saw, bandsaw, thickness sander and dust collector or router. Her house is 12 feet from my garage. I don't see how anyone would notice a bandsaw or thickness sander, and really how often is a table saw cutting wood when building a guitar. I think she was worried about the concept of a guitar builder next door, and won't let loose of her pre-conceived notions.