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jsmith
 Post subject: Bozo Podunavac RIP
PostPosted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 9:53 pm 
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I just got word that my old teacher and employer, Bozo Podunavac has passed away. Bozo was best known for his large-bodied, resonant 12 strings, played by the likes of Leo Kottke and Peter Lang. Serbian by birth, Bozo left Yugoslavia in the early 60's and began building in Chicago. In later years he moved to Southern California, eventually starting a school of luthiery in San Diego in 1978. I had the good fortune to have attended the class in January of 1979, and was hired by Bozo to build a limited edition line of his guitars after I graduated from the school.

Bozo was an innovator. He was one of the first luthiers I know of to put an arch (24' radius) in his X brace. And his guitars were built very heavily, yet they were renowned for their resonance and volume. His influence will live on through the many students who passed through the doors of his school on University Ave in SD.

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These users thanked the author jsmith for the post: Pmaj7 (Wed Jun 03, 2015 12:22 am)
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TimAllen
 Post subject: Re: Bozo Podunavac RIP
PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 12:37 am 
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Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:13 am
Posts: 449
First name: Tim
Last Name: Allen
City: San Francisco
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I'm sorry to hear of his passing. I had the privilege of playing one of his 12-strings in the early 70s, one of the first handmade guitars I ever played. His approach was different than that of most hand builders now, but I think he inspired a lot of people.

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Haans
 Post subject: Re: Bozo Podunavac RIP
PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 6:43 am 
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That's a shame.
Another rebel gone. His 12's were a odd sort of gaudy, but they had thick tops and sounded great.
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LanceK
 Post subject: Re: Bozo Podunavac RIP
PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:23 am 
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Focus: Build
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Sad news indeed.

RIP

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bluescreek
 Post subject: Re: Bozo Podunavac RIP
PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 8:41 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Location: Central PA
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Last Name: hall
City: Hegins
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Zip/Postal Code: 17938
Country: usa
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he was a nice man , I got to know him through ASIA symposium in 2003.

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jsmith
 Post subject: Re: Bozo Podunavac RIP
PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 3:22 pm 
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Haans wrote:
That's a shame.
Another rebel gone. His 12's were a odd sort of gaudy, but they had thick tops and sounded great.


They certainly are a visual smorgasbord, Haans. I used to joke that every time Bozo built a guitar another herd of abalone disappeared. He definitely resided on the high side of the embellishment curve. But, after playing that first Bozo 12 that I ran across in 1975, all other 12 strings I tried sounded like a handful of nickels being thrown into a harpsichord.

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Haans
 Post subject: Re: Bozo Podunavac RIP
PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 7:03 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:34 am
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jsmith wrote:
all other 12 strings I tried sounded like a handful of nickels being thrown into a harpsichord.


Agree except Stellas and Holzapfels. Great description of a Martin rosewood 12...
Thanks for the very visual description!
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jfmckenna
 Post subject: Re: Bozo Podunavac RIP
PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 7:47 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 10:44 am
Posts: 6261
Location: Virginia
Well thats too bad to hear. Sounds like you had a wonderful experience and good memories jsmith.
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