Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi Guys. Finishing up a few this week, starting others.

This is the last installment of the Jordan NAMM violin- this red and gold orchid is located just under the fingerboard and just in front of the bridge,



and since it's butterfly and moth week, .. Here is a "paisley theme" butterfly, going on a deep blue paisley telecaster.



Thanks for looking!
Back to the shop..



Craig L

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www.handcraftinlay.com

You are too good Craig! Nice!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

You're doing beautiful work Craig! Any chance you can give us a full view of that violin so we can see your inlay in context?

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Carlton Macksam
Muskegon, Michigan

Far out!

Seriously, though, beautiful work once again, Craig. Thanks for showing it.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Wish I had the violin here, but it shipped yesterday back to California.
Here are all the images grouped, and a photo of another violin I did for John in the past, so you can get an idea of what it will look like.







Here is Last Year's piece I did for John so you can see the body shape. The inlay is groups of common dolphins. This one spent time at the Museum of making Music this year during an exhibition on American violin makers, So that was cool. Nothing on the back of this one, just the front. This year the pink ivory fingerboard was so pretty on it's own we went with the back, and not the fingerboard for the inlay.

Thanks for looking!
Gee.. the photos big enough? Sorry!
Craig L
http://www.handcraftinlay.com


One other (maybe two) NAMM pieces left.... Big stuff on the next one..

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Thanks Craig. Really eye-catching work. Obviously, your client wants attention!

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Carlton Macksam
Muskegon, Michigan

And as long as the instrument is tonally wonderful, the best he can produce (and they are) there is nothing wrong with that. Ferraris and Lamborghinis are not just sexy, they are great ( supposedly) well made cars, and very expensive because of that, as well as the obvious in terms of marketing and luxury goods, etc.. There is a place in the instrument world, as in any other realm of produced good, for the same. John does hardly any marketing, and only does the inlay thing really for the NAMM show, as well as when he has special client requests.
Once a year we get together and he lets me have almost unlimited fun with one, and he enjoys seeing what happens. He never tells me what to do, just shows me the wood, and says "here is the budget" It's more about creative collaboration then attention really. Even though he has sold them in the past it's far from his general market. It's a joy doing these with him, and the pallet and shape of the instrument really adds to the creative aspect!

Craig

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Craig, What is that blue you use in the lilly? Is the shell?

Freakin excellent! Just great!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Thanks Lance, Chris- what lilly?
The moth on front, or back? That's the only blue in the piece, and it's actualy seafoam green poly backed with white paper. All the other blue is either green abalone with blues in it.

Craig L.

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www.handcraftinlay.com

those dolphins are excellent, very nice composition!

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http://www.PeakeGuitars.com

Hi Craig,
like everyone else, I'm constantly in awe of your work. It's not only the craftsmanship of how well you execute, it's the way you use materials and your artistic interpretation that sets you apart.

You have also provided me with a great sigh of relief. I just finished inlaying some synthetic material that is a yellow/gold color. Once I had it inlayed the color just died because the material is just transparent enough for the brown of the wood behind it to show through. I carefully removed the inlay and adhered a piece of hard white fiber (the stuff we all use for purfling) behind it. It really did the trick visually, but I have been concerned about whether it was a sound practice. But if it's good enough for Craig Lavin, it's good enough for me!

Thanks,
Craig S.

Craig, and everyone else- thanks as usual!
Craig- the rule I follow basically is as long as it's a guitar usable, stable material, and as long as the glue being used will hold both materials together or individually during use, it's most likely good to go.
I have been working with Larry R. a lot lately with questions, tips, techniques, etc.. and it's helped my work reach new levels of quality that I hope are making an impact.
One of the most frustrating things is when lighter colors fade through on non-shell materials. I use a of of those, so coming up with "color saving" methods is always happening here!

Keep in mind a lot can be done with different effects as well with various backers.

Good luck!

Craig L.

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www.handcraftinlay.com

I want to make sure that you understand I wasn't disparaging the flash. It's exactly what he needs to draw attention to his instruments in the madness that is NAMM. If he's gonna do that, though, it had better look good up close, and you came through for him on that front!

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Carlton Macksam
Muskegon, Michigan

It's interesting you say that.
Having been to one (NAMM show that is)- it's amazing how all but a few instruments of ANY kind (there are literally tens of thousands there, if not more) stand out of the crowd. In the beginning it was neat to see all of the instruments, after day three, they all seemed the same, sounded the same, felt the same (well almost- some played and felt really BAD!!). You get he idea. Some people call it the NUMB show, for valid reasons.. It is amazing though.
Lets not get into day four!

If you need to have people as they are walking around in a daze wander into your booth, you need an instrument (or a star personality- that is another story) that they catch out of the corner of your eye, that makes them wonder enough to stop by and take a look.

Hopefully this will work. It's on the smaller side.


Craig

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www.handcraftinlay.com