Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi Steve, Kyle, and John and a big welcome to the OLF to you guys!

Great to have you here!

Well I lurked here for a little while before i registered, but it didn't take too long for me to sign up because I didn't understand anything being discussed!

I am in high school still, and as of yet have not built a guitar, I know an extremely small amount of information, so I think it'll be awhile before I actually start building.

I would love to be able to be a luthier for a career, I'm still young and have time to develop by the time I'm out on my own.

My names Josh by the way

Hi Hesh (and all)! I fall into the newbie and lurker category as well. I've checked out a few of the Luthier's Forums. They all seem to have something to offer but personally I really like the vibe here. Seems very close knit.

Well about me.... my name is John and I'm mainly into archtops. I love playing Jazz Guitar and am absolutely in love with the archtop as an instrument. I find the aesthetic to be breathtaking as well. Needless to say I am in awe over the guitars that have come from John D'Angelico and James D'Aquisto. I've always had an interest in woodworking and in the last year and a half have been trying to start an archtop build. Strangely enough so far I've spent almost all of my energy on learning everything I can + acquiring the necessary tools. I'm a hand tool kind of guy so I'm trying to go about it using the least power tools as possible.

I'm a trained classical guitarist so for my second build I was thinking about building a nylon string instrument with a carved maple archtop back, a lá the Roger Borys Classic. So far the most frustrating part of this journey is the acquisition of tools. Besides the obvious ones there are so many little gadgets that seem to be necessary. I'm just taking it slow right now. Sorry if I rambled a bit!

Hey Josh and Archtop welcome to the OLF!

Josh it's very cool that you are starting out at a younger age. Many of us, like me, didn't start until we were old as dirt.... If you stay with your interest in guitar building you may be one of the future's master Luthiers! Good going!

Archtop it's great to have you here and we have many archtop builders on the forum who often weigh-in in archtop related threads.

Yes the vibe here is special IMHO and folks do get along very well. Most of all, and what attracted me to the OLF, folks are very encouraging as well as very knowledgeable. From the beginning there was a unique sense of community here at the OLF and even though the forum has grown tremendously the sense of community remains. Pretty cool!

Welcome aboard guys!

Hi Hesh! I absolutely agree with you. Seems like there are a ton of super talented people here that are very generous with their knowledge. Good to be here!

Hi folks. I don't feel new since I've lurked here forever, but I've only posted a few times so I guess that means I'm still new.

I don't build anything other than furniture and the occasional electric guitar, but I'm getting asked to do that a little more frequently now. I spend most of my time repairing and very much prefer to work on acoustics but I've been known to take on things that I grew to wish I hadn't.
I've been fortunate enough to meet a few of you and feel like I know many of you from your posts.

Great board, great resource.

Jay

Hello,
I'm new here, at least as far as posting. I've enjoyed reading the forum for a few years.
I make my living building electric guitars, solid body and archtop. I also make a handful of acoustic archtop guitars each year. That has been my emphasis for the last 20 years or so, but you will find my name on the occasional uke, banjo, bass, mandolin, flattop, classical, and assortment of one-off weirdos. I think there are about 350 instruments out there.
My background is in painting and sculpture. With guitar making, I'm primarily self taught, but over the years I've had the good fortune to learn from several great craftsmen. I used to bother Ed Mcglincy in San Diego in the early 80's. Later I worked at the World of Strings in Long Beach, CA with Bob Mattingly, Jon Peterson, and Glen Mers. In the 90's I worked with Chris Brandt, Wes Brandt, and Robert Steinnegger at the 12th Fret in Portland, OR. I've learned all kinds of stuff watching these guys and looking at their work. My main education was from every book I could get my hands on, the Guild of American Luthiers, ASIA, etc, and eventually online stuff like the MIMF. I filled in the blanks by asking lots of questions. I still do.
For the last several years I've been completely out of repair work and do new construction only.
I've made my home in Portland, OR since '93 and live with my wife and two daughters, (8 and 13). My shop is in a building on my property.
When I'm not doing family stuff or instrument stuff, I play loud guitar in punk rock clubs.

The OLF is a fantastic resource and I love to read of the ways other makers deal with tooling, space and materials. I especially like to see shop pics. There is always a better way to do a given task and I learn something new with every visit.
Keep up the great site. I'll chime in once in a while,
Cheers,
Saul

Hi Jay and Saul! Welcome to the OLF!

Hello from Alaska,
I have a repair shop in Anchorage and hope to be building more than repairing someday.
Went to Red Wing in 95.
I really enjoy the CNC section, I have a CNC lathe.

Hello Hesh, one and all.
I guess you have seen my name at the who's on line for a while now so it's high time I came forward out of the shadows. As with others here I am in debt to the many informative discussions, advice and tutorials offered on this forum. The wonderful work shown here is a true inspiration. I live in the port city of Geraldton Western Australia 430km from any decent supplies and it was with the aid of this and other such sites along with the wonderful Cumpiano Nattleson book that I decided instead of building a kit guitar I would order some raw product from Tim at Aussie Tonewoods, tool up, learn to sharpen and give it a whirl. It took me about 4 months to build my first from scratch and only another builder would know the pure elation of that first string up and the realization of all that work sounding so beautiful. By the way I used all Aussie wood, Tasmanian Blackwood B/S neck, Bunya pine s/b, Jarrah fret board, bridge, bindings, face plate. Made a few mistakes but it all turned out well and I have been playing it at some live gigs to a great response which is heartening. I am now chaffing at the bit to get onto the next one which I will start before Xmas. I shall post a couple of pics of No 1 when I work out how to.
Once again , thanks to all and sundry and I shall hopefully contribute a little more in the future.

Regards
Archie

Hi

I am relatively new... did not reaklly know about this place until desperate to share my first build with like minded souls - was it just me who felt the need to show this off? I guess its the enthusiasm that comes with spending many hours building something so great as a musical instrument - something that will hopefully still be around and played when I am long gone!

I am a very average player, but get alot of enjoyment of playing the odd gig in local pubs. I have been lucky enough to own a few tasty guitars including Martins, Santa Cruz, and more recently Patrick James Eggles and it was these latter that kinda finanly inspired me to give it a go - not without some trepidation given that for teh past 15 years the only things I had done with wood involved compound miter saws and skirting boards, door frames or shelves!

Made many of the newbie mistakes, but was like many I guess very pleasently surprized by the tone of number one - I guess the care taken on the inside, the cleaning up, scraping and sanding, smoothing the scolloped braces do have an effect afterall.

Number two is on the way, sadly no shop and use the space of a great UK builder, David Whiteman (the recent 'star' of Guitar buyer magazine - he recently restored a featured Martin built by CF Martin Sr in 1833!!!) - so I am VERY lucky in that sense.

For me its also a great way to destress after a week of the 'corporate culture' - so no matter how many times I make mistakes, it does not stress me out too much!

Seen and read some great advice and some wonderful examples of the art - just a shame as a player that willl never get to try some of the tasty morsels out.

Hi Fleck, Frank, and Archie! Welcome to the OLF guys!

Hello Hesh!
I've been around here a while, had been on earlier as northsongs, then woodandbone.
I just closed the box up on my #2 (a cutaway OM size) earlier this week, am getting ready to bind, then attach the neck. This place is a valuable resource, and everyone on here is most helpful. I'm looking forward learning from you all...
Thanks!

Hi Dave and welcome to the OLF my friend!

Be sure to post pictures when you get your guitar done - we love pictures!

Great to have you here!

I've only recently started posting though I've been a member and lurker for quite some time. I've built about 50 guitars to date averaging around 2 - 3 per year now. I was building and repairing guitars as my main job a few years ago but decided I wanted to eat more then rice and drink better beer so I went over to the dark side and got a full time job It's fun hobby now that pays for the occasional vacation and it's part of my retirement plan

The information on OLF is great.

Been reading through all the new posts, just wanted to say Hello and Welcome to all you lurkers!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Hi, I'm Mark, and I'm a lurker. I joined not to long ago, I do more repairs than building, but I'm setting up to do laminate top archtops. I've built a few electrics, and I'm working on my 5th acoustic build, a jumbo 12 string. There's some great info on here that I've used in some of my repair and modifications.

Hey Mark and JF - welcome to the OLF!

Hey all:
I've been lurking for a while. And joined up the other week. I'm taking up a new hobby to fill the winter hours. I don't plan to ever be a luthier, (but have nothing against them). But I would like to be able to build a guitar for my son then replace an old Takemaru dread that has seen better days. I thought I would like another dreadnought but was watching some HomeSpun guitar lessons on DVD. And saw David Hamburger play a Collins 00-2h and I thought that would be the perfect guitar for me. ( I know I can't expect to build a $4000 guitar the second time up to bat). We'll see how it goes. I have the dreadnought for my son about 1/4 done, tops braced, sides ready,neck stock cut, Just another chunk of money needed for tuners, truss rod, and a few odds and ends. Thanks for all the good advice I've taken from the members here.
Bill

Hi Bill and welcome to the OLF!

Hi all, - Justin here.
I'm new to OLF. I have been a lurker for a few months, but just recently joined to ask some questions and am enjoying it.

I started my first this summer, but getting married out of state has made it a SLOOOOOOWWW project, and I'm just slow about things in general. But, i'm going at it anyways on my first OM. I bought my wife a Taylor for an engagement ring and that is mostly my pattern because I love it so much. Maybe a 12 string later for my dad - but that is a long ways away.

So, thanks to all here. Your depth of knowledge is greatly appreciated.

justin in Colorado

Hi Justin in Colorado! Welcome to the OLF!

OK Hesh, I'll come out......

Im Sebastiaan, I live on the edge of the Blue Mountains near Sydney Aust. Im an amateur builder, started 2 years ago with some kits. My main interests are mandolin family instruments and historical instruments. I also dabble in Tin Whistles and Recorders. Im usually found pestering the other members of the ANZLF (thx Bob!)

This forum is a great resource, particularly the tutorials, and always a great place for eye candy.

Here is photo of some almost finished mandos based on Graham McDonalds excellent "Mandolin Project" book.

Hesh O.k O.K. Im new too although I'm sort of old acording to my young and beautiful girl friend. I built my first elec. about 30 years ago and then got married and had kids and bands etc. and stopped building . So after marriage kids and bands I took a job at Exotic Woods in Burlington Ont. building tables, windows , boatparts, and just about anything you can think of made out of wood .At that point Im still playing but this wierd guy starts showing up once a week or so and he keeps scooping the best guitar wood I've been cutting. wwwwwwwwwwwweell piss me off but at this point I,m planning on starting to build and who is this guy anyway? So I start looking for a teacher and believe me we get lots and lots of builders looking for stuff anyway I narrow it down to a few excellent builders and low and behold the wierd guy is in the top three [ humph] Well narrow it down a bit more and the wierd guy wins I'd like to thank Tony Karrol for being the wirrd guy and teaching me so much over the last 4 years Tony still has some of the best wood and atitude I've ever seen he introduced me to this form and all of you Thanks man! P.S. Tony builds one hell of a guitar So there you go Hesh another wierdo hits the form thanks for your encouragement. Joe posting.php?mode=reply&f=10101&t=19437#

Hey Joe welcome to the OLF! Yeah I am a fan of weird Tony too so I can understand why you love the guy......

Sebastiaan my good friend welcome to the OLF! Sebastiaan your instruments (and pens ) are beautiful and it's great to have you here bro.

Welcome aboard guys!