Official Luthiers Forum!

I intended to do this long enough ago that I am now embarrassed to begin but I owe it to all of the people who made this happen, to bite the bullet and admit that I dropped the ball; I'll take my medicine.*


Last spring our friend "Big Jim" AKA Wudwurker posed the question to the OLF membership - "Is anyone interested in a gathering in St. Louis?" Well people were interested and thanks to Wud's efforts the folks at Hibdon Hardwoods agreed to host us for an afternoon. Everyone had such a nice time that Jerry (Hibdon) expressed willingness to do it again next year (2012). Shortly after Wud coordinated with Ken Jeffs, Brett Boggeman (on behalf of Hibdon Hardwoods) and me to put together a second (hopefully annual) gathering. The result was the 2nd Annual Gateway Area Luthiers Assembly and Show. We all had a wonderful time and as proof I will post the few pictures I have (It was hard to remember to take pictures while I was trying to soak up anything I could that could make me a better instrument maker). To all who attended, thank you and please post any photos or stories you have here.


*Testing to see if the forum software has a cliche limit (it does not).

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Before I stumbled on Wud's 2011 call for interest in a gathering, I had no idea that such an awesome source of guitar wood was right under my nose.

Hard to believe that I drove past this place all through college and never knew what it was -- in my defense I went to night school and it was usually dark when I left work and headed to class. Oh and it wasn't until years later that I picked up my first chisel.


If any of you have failed to check out Hibdon, either online or in person, you really owe it to yourself to do so.

This is only part of the back and side sets that are all waiting to become guitars. Jerry even arranged to have staff available to help us pick through the matched sets to find just the right wood.


They also offer neck blanks, FBs, bridge blanks, binding. . . here is just one of the shelves of necks.


One of the highlights of the day for me was when Hibdon demonstrated sawing logs on the mill. I really wanted to drive this thing!

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I made lots of friends at these gatherings, I really hope I get names right and matched up with displays properly. I didn't take very good notes. Here are some shots in no particular order:


Thomas Rein gave an informative demonstration on how and why he graduates soundboard thickness on his flattops. He also had one of his L1ish guitars that sounded AWESOME (I hope I have a picture of it somewhere [stay tuned]).


John Ressler also gave a demo on neck carving. I'm quite sure this demo was helpful to those who haven't yet tacked neck carving. I know I would have benefited from it before I stumbled through the trial and error process.

*****picture missing because bone headed Bryan didn't take one*****

Michael Boggeman gave a second neck carving demonstration. This time it was neck carving with a pin router. One of the great things about getting new and experienced makers in the room together is that it really reinforces the notion that there are many ways to accomplish your projects, all you have to do is decide what works best for you and your goals.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

We had a rep, Cameron Guthrie from Lennox who was particularly helpful to me when we discussed blade options to get max value/performance from my uber cheap little 14" bandsaw. He also added to the pool of attendance prizes (more on that later).

In addition to Lennox, we also had a display table from Canadian Lutherie Supply. I foolishly spent too much time chatting it up with my new friends and never made it over to talk to these folks .


jeremy Keith (pictured here with Lonnie English) who's company makes t-shirts and promotional items was good enough to make out shirts for this event. I neglected to get a picture of one and mine is in the laundry right now, but some of us are wearing them in the pictures to follow. Here is his table next to OLF's own Wudwuker and his offering of Mando-Linds and the "Purpleheart Build" that I was excited to get to meet in person.


I may have forgotten to get a picture of the event shirt, but I did get a picture of this shirt done by Jeremy. I had to buy it! I'm sure if anyone wants one, he won't mind Wud posting his contact info. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I would like one of these shirts.

This little beauty was built by Bob Long. The customer who owns this lady was nice enough to lend it back to him for this gathering.


As folks were arriving, I met the gregarious Chris Oliver out front and chatted with him as I helped him unload. It didn't take long to realize that I was going to enjoy talking to him. Here are the instruments he brought. If my pictures were of better quality, you would notice that one of these is a (1947?) Martin. This was a guitar he restored after it was found in a flood! Judging from the before pictures, It was in the flooded basement of a Johnny on the spot.

Also pictured are Keith Osterberg (left) and the back of Ken Jeffs (notice how nice the event t-shirts look from behind).

Chris Askins provided me with my very first opportunity to play (read butcher) a multiscale guitar. Also pictured is his purpleheart electric. One of the neat things about an annual gathering is getting to see work in progress one year and finished product the next; this electric turned out as beautiful as I pictured it last year.

Here you can also see that the shirts look nice folded. Man I botched this job!

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I had an absolutely great time. I plan on attending next year and hope to be to actually bring some guitars with me as well!

Thanks so much to Wud, Jerry Hibdon, and everyone else involved in getting this off the ground.

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ELEVATE || Next Level Lutherie
http://elevatelutherie.com
&
http://ensorguitars.com

Many of you know Chuck Hutchison from OLF. I had heard roomers of his existence, but after his no show last year I mentally placed him in the file with Bigfoot and Nessy. Here we can see photographic evidence that not only does he exist, but there is a breeding population of Huchisons. Yes that it right not only did he show up but he brought his son.


Last year, the winner of the largest instrument (fullsized harp) contest also brought the smallest (mando). This year's smalles instrument was Craig Finnegan's tenor ukulele, pictured here with one of his classicals. The WRC uke top pictured is made from an enourmus utility pole, the top of which he "re-appropriated" from a utility installation. Craig was good enough to donate a guitar sized top set from this log as an attendance prize (too bad I didn't win).


Here you see Craig taking Michael Boggeman's archtop for a spin. I don't remember him squatting on the wall to play this but this how it must have gone down as my computer refuses to save the version of this picture rotated 90 degrees.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Being played on the wall or properly displayed on a stand, Michael Boggeman's guitar was a thing of beauty.


Last year I had the honor of befriending Ken Jeffs (a truly great guy), this year I had the honor of sharing a table with him. Here you can see his display of tools and jigs and the in-progress reso box made with woods he selected with Jerry Hibdon's help last year. You can also see the in-progress L-00 cutaway that I brought. If the look on my face is one of humbled awe, it is because of all the other instruments on display, all of which made me look like I don't have lights in my workshoppe. Please note that (obviously) I did not take this picture which happens to be the best shot of the t-shirts we have yet to see.


Ken was good enough to share his table with me even though it meant he had to put his reso on the floor. This is another example of an instrument that I got to see partially completed last year and hear this year.


Some time between processing world class tonewood and graciously hosting a bunch of goofy instrument makers, Jerry Hibdon builds guitars. I wonder If he has a hard time sourcing his materials. . .

_________________
Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Somehow, I didn't get to actually talk to Keith Osterberg, thankfully I was able to connect with him via facebook. Here are some of the instruments he brought along.

This reso-mando of his really inpired some rumblings in my "things to build someday" file.


The table next to me displayed some beautiful work by Paul and Kyle Burner of Burner Guitars. I took one look at their bubinga guitar and started looking for an open table somewhere else to move my display. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Here we see the L1ish guitar made by Thomas Rein that I mentioned earlier. This one was really lovely in all respects.



Here Mr. Rein and Mr. House are discussing who knows what. I'm sure that I should have been eavesdropping though, as I'm sure I could have learned quite a bit!


My very favorite part of the day was the bluegrass jam that broke out. Here we see Chris on mado, Hutch on guitar and Ken pickin' the reso. Keith would later join in on mando and the jam grew.

It was bittersweet when the jam broke up. It seams the only thing that can break up a luthier's jam is announcing attendance prizes that include tonewoods. . . Thanks again to Hibdon for hosting, staffing, catering and still being good enough to give away several awesome sets of back and sides. Even though I didn't win after Ken said I would I went home happy. Sadly, I did not get any pics of the giveaways/winners. I think Brett Boggeman did, hopefully he will chime in.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

It was a great time . I look forward having a show again next year . I have emailed everyone recently and asked for suggestions to help make next year better . If you havent responded to that email , please do so .

Thanks for the update Bryan .

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

I would love to get one of these shorts too, if available.

My humblest of apologies. I had some quick notes to help me as I posted the pictures. I waited too long and the notes were no longer fresh in my mind. It was not Keith English who made the shirts, it was Jeremy Keith. He was pictured next to Lonnie English. Sorry guys for mixing up the names.

Looks like two people have expressed interest in the shirt posted above. Wud can you double check with Jeremy to make sure it is okay to post his contact info? I'm sure he won't mind. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I forwarded it to any who show intrest via PM

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

Thanks Bryan. I was starting to wonder where the pics were.

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Chris

Yeah, now with smart phones I almost never get a chance to sit down at the home computer to upload pictures. Family life kept distracting me. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Thanks for posting the pics Byran. Thanks too to Jim and Hibdon's. It was great again.

Jim, I did not respond to your email and unintentionally deleted it with my Blackberry, . I liked your suggestions and in fairness to Hibdon's a fee structure or minimum purchase requirement is fine with me. The size of crowd was about right for the space and expansion of the attendees would require IMHO a larger and quieter venue.

That has been discussed already and Hibdon does have the area on the ground floor that is 3-4 times bigger than where we were . So there is ample room to expand . I have thought about a diffrent venue but quite frankly until we grow a bit we couldnt afford the cost to rent a hall im afraid . And Hibdon has gone to great lengths to help us grow and expand . Growing pains lol But at least we are growing !

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

And if we really get big we can block off the street behind the building. We may all need to buy motorcycles.

_________________
Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Well at least we would have better looking women attending !

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

You and I could put on dresses and still be able to make that claim.


Danny, I think the year before this one the venue was quiet enough. I think the 700 motorcycles right outside the window pushed us over the edge this year. We probably would have been okay if it were not for the burn-out contest in the alley. . . Perhaps we should try to schedule our events on differnt weekends next year though. All kidding aside, it wasn't all THAT bad. I was nervous about the parking arrangements at first, but Hibdon took care of us!

Again, if any one has more pictures, please post them. I'd love to see them. Bonus points if anyone got photos of the motorcycle ralley. Random things I wish I had gotten pictures of:

Motorcycle Ralley
The dumpster full of African Blackwood off-cut that may or may not have been jsut big enough for all the ideas dancing around in my head.
Lunch.
More candid shots of people.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Can anyone share what he had to say?

Did he talk about the Lennox Kerfmaster blade? I just received one but haven't tried it yet.

IMO opinion, Lennox makes some great blades but their marketing/tech info is lacking.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

I too never knew that place existed. But apparently I drive by it everyday on my way home from work.

Give me your email via PM and I will add you to our Gateway area Luthiers Group .

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/