Official Luthiers Forum!

This post concerns Ervin Somogyi's new books, The Responsive Guitar and Making the Responsive Guitar. As it appears you all now know, Ervin's books are now available for order. As one of only a couple of people to date that have ACTUALLY READ the books cover to cover I'd like to tell you what my impressions of what the books are and are not.


Ervin's books are not highly detailed how-to manuals with step by step instructions on how to build a Somogyi guitar. The Responsive Guitar and Making the Responsive Guitar are not highly technical books. They lack exact measurements, formulas, complex testing procedures, incomprehensible theories, and extensive left-brain topics. His book is not an encyclopedic review of all aspects of lutherie. They show examples of his jigs but don't tell you how to build them. Ervin does not disclose deep secret knowledge that he has been using to build his highly respected guitars for 30+ years. These are not coffee table picture books. These are not workbench manuals.

Ervin's books are conceptual manuals compiling the theories, opinions and methods that he has come to after his years of guitar making. They review his theories soundly based on established science reasoned out and practically worked out for use on the workbench. He provides his views of bench friendly wood biology, acoustics, physics, and engineering mechanics in a understandable and entertaining format. Although not technically oriented much of what the book describes is profound in its implications for guitar making. His cube rule discussion in the Responsive Guitar and his jig- DNA discussion in Making the Responsive Guitar are prime examples of light science and methods that he uses and you can use to build better guitars. His books do a nice job of filling the gap between theory and building- the why's and how's- not covered in any measure of depth by other luthier books.

Ervins books are, by standards of previously published guitar making books, expensive. In my opinion, after reading them, they are worth every penny. If you don't think Ervin makes premier guitars don't buy the books. If you already know everything you need to know to build world class guitars don't buy his books. If you think that no guitar building book should be "that" expensive don't buy it. However, if you want to understand and perhaps use the combined theories and methods that Ervin has, as part of his career legacy, graciously put down for us in writing to to assisting us in building better guitars, buy and read the books. I highly recommend Ervin's books. I have carefully read the author's proof copies and ordered my autographed copy of The Responsive Guitar and Making the Responsive Guitar last week.




I have built guitars on and off as a passionate avocation for about twenty years. I have nothing personal to gain(except making better guitars) as a result of reading Ervin's books and writing this brief review.

Great review. That's exactly what I expected that they would be. I can't wait to read them.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Dave, thanks for taking the time to post that for us.

Many of us are familiar with the cube rule since Ervin has discussed it here, and also because videos of his presentation on it during a seminar were published for a short time. Since it wouldn't be much of a spoiler, could you give us an example of how he takes the conceptual stuff and bridges it to application? What does the book do with the cube rule after it explains it? Does it offer suggestions about ways we can put it to use?

Maybe an easier question would be how the section on wood biology comes into play?

Just trying to get more of an understanding about where the books go. I've already pre-ordered, as well.

Dave, first of all welcome to the OLF!! And thanks for the great review on the books. It will be, I'm sure, very helpful to a lot of people. Ervin has been a very controversial figure in the guitar building world. My hope is that your review and then the books will help to clarify the value of his knowledge and contribution to the field of lutherie.

I have never heard anything other than total positivity from anyone that has attended his workshops so I'm also looking forward to the challenge of improving my own skills that the books I'm sure will provide. I personally think that the field of guitar building is in a true Rennaissance period right now and great advancements and a skyrocketing of knowledge is characteristic of Rennaissance periods. I'm excited about this! I think it's best to ride the wave while it's here. All of this major pioneering going on is really something and I think that a few people are really pulling the whole field into a new dimension. I don't know if what Ervin has to will be "factual" but I suspect that many people will have a lot to say and add to his illumination. It looks to me like his aim is to create more illumination. This can only continue to open the field and push it further. I say, "Bravo!!"

James, virtually everything in Ervin's book follows from the Cube Rule. He uses it to tell us to be careful when profiling braces, why he sands tops to final thickness from the onset, how backs can be reflectors or diffusors, why brace size must vary with guitar size to get the same "responsiveness". This theme permeates the first book.

The wood biology section nice explains things such as run out and why it occurs.

In short, some of what Ervin discusses has been discussed other places such as posts, GAL, ASIA conventions. In the text he pulls it all together and and adds quite alot more.

Randolf, I wholeheartedly agree that Ervin's course on voicing is great. I attended two years ago. The combination of his book and the course have been somewhat of an epiphany for me. The course provides the hands on experience of the principles that the book describes.

Thanks, Dave

I was signed up for last November's course but had to pull out after getting economied.

Great review Dave and I too thank you kindly for posting this.

Your description of Ervin's new book describes exactly what I had hoped for. As such I can't wait to receive my copy too and when I do I will be sequestering myself in my library (former shop....) and diving in - to the book that is...

I'm really looking forward to the books too, and have lightened my bank account accordingly. I'm happy that it's not another "how to" book. There is always something to be learned from the next book on assembling a guitar, but beyond some point you are just juggling different people's build processes and wondering what to take home from each one, and why. Ervin's books sound like they are aimed at the "why".

I hope the upcoming Jose Romanillos book conveys some of that, as it seems that a fixation on classical guitars is my fate.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu