Official Luthiers Forum!

There has been an enormous outpouring of condolences and prayers for Lance’s wife, Dawn, and their children from, literally, around the world. To all those who sent messages, thank you.
One predominant theme in all was “What can I/we do for the family”
I have the answers below.

1. Of most importance and urgency at this time is the financial solvency of the family. Even the best laid plans generally do not include enough resources to deal with the sudden, enormous impact of such an event. Luthiers are no exception. So, today I established the McCollum Family Fund at my local bank to accept contributions to help defray these expense, and others that may arise, until some semblance of “normalcy” can be re-established. I know this is not the most auspicious of economic times, but neither does the need go away.

You may direct your contributions to:

“McCollum Family Fund”
c/o Bank of the West
13422 Lincoln Way
Auburn, CA 95603

OR

“McCollum Family Fund”
c/o Mauel Guitars
P. O. Box 3014
Auburn, CA 95604

If there is the slightest concern on your part, you are welcome to contact the bank directly and speak with Diane Nolen, Branch Manager at 530-889-6280 regarding this matter. Diane, and her husband Dave, live in Colfax and know the McCollum family. You may also email me directly with any question you have.

2. Of less urgency but no less importance…there have been a fair number of replies and internet posts that contained anecdotes, stories or what I’ll call “Lance-ism”. These are all about relationships between Lance and his many customers, friends and fellow luthiers. I would like all that have posted these remembrances and anyone else who can recall one (or more if you got ‘em) of these “special moments” to put them to paper (on a letterhead if you have it), sign it and send it to me with a photo of yourself, or with Lance if you have one, or with a McCollum guitar if you are a proud owner. They will be assembled into a memory book that will be at the Lance McCollum table at this summer’s Healdsburg Festival. Luthier’s Mercantile International (LMI), the festival producers, has graciously supplied a table to celebrate Lance’s life and his contributions to luthiery and guitar players in general.


You may send these to my address noted above. Again, email me with any question you may have.

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Hank Mauel

Hank,

I am wondering if you would be willing to accept a paypal payment to put into that account. I am in Canada and will be leaving for a couple weeks but I would like to send you $100 to get things started and help Lance's family. If so please let me know your paypal account address.

Thanks

Shane

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Canada

Yeah, hook it up to paypal, easier it is for folks to throw in, and all the more will contribute.

Dunno how it is over there in the states, but when my father-in-law died a few weeks ago, from a sudden and massive heart attack, the first thing the authorities did was to freeze all assets and bank accounts. So my poor old mother-in-law didn't just have to deal with the death of her husband of over 55 years, she also couldn't (as we say down here) 'find two cents to rub together' without the rest of us to look after her, she had no access to any of their joint bank accounts at all (which was all of them). Sometimes the laws that are supposed to protect us (or our estates) stand on their heads - at least down here.

Last thing those in grief need is to have no ready funds.

Chip in fellas, if you can.

Ok. I had thought of this but wanted to keep this as transparent as possible, keeping any funds from touching any account I owned personally. However, I will presume that my presence here over the years has established an atmosphere of trust and that you will hold me in that regard.
My Paypal account is whmauel@mauelguitars.com
Please add some note that this is for the McCollum Family Fund so that I can print out the monthly reports to show anyone who might question the funds received and the funds disbursed to the Fund.

Thank you Shane for stepping up. Are you going off to "hunt wood" in the next weeks?

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Hank Mauel

Paul, and any others wishing to participate via this avenue, please see response to Shane above re: Paypal

About your "government" experience down under, we are not quite as "confiscatory" as that, but our tax scoundrels (Federal and State) do have rather Nazi-like powers to go after accounts. Then they let you prove them wrong. So you spend more money on lawyers just to try to get back what was rightfully yours in the first place!
Anyway, I am keeping this account away from the McCollum's bank just because....(fill in your own fears) and for the ease of administering it locally where I have banked for more than 20 years.

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Hank Mauel

Actually, the family is dragging me off to Cuba for a couple of weeks. Hunting when I return. I need to get feeding the new saws!

Thanks again Hank for taking this on. I don't have any reservations at all in sending this your way. From the years I have seen you on this board there is no doubt about your honour! Pay Pal enroute!

Shane

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Canada

Shane bro thanks for asking about PayPal!

Hank my friend thanks for doing this for Lance's family - you are a GOOD man!!!

I echo Hesh's sentiments exactly. Thank you, Hank, for taking the initiative for the McCollum family.

We had an agreement, whoever went first the survivor would help wrap up the other's guitar business details and help the family . Since I was 13 years older I thought that was a bet I'd "win" and Lance would be going through my shop trying to figure out the mess I left him. Next week I'm going into his shop for the first time to start an inventory of his builds and "stash" of wood. I know that's going to be when I lose it big time. First, though , his oldest daughter, Kayleigh, is going to photo the entire shop, just as he left it when we spoke on the phone last Saturday night about 8 PM.
Man, I miss him!

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Hank Mauel

Hang in there Hank! Those feelings are the gold Lance left behind. Your emotions are the legacy he leaves. You are indeed a good man! Our thoughts are with you and his family!

Shane

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Canada

so are you thinking about putting the wood stash on Luthiers auctions for the benefit of the family?

I'm Guessing (hoping) that bidders would pay a FAIR price to benefit the family rather than going for bargains........

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My soundclick xx luthier blog xx luthier soundclick

The disposition of woods, tools etc will be decided downstream a ways. I'll keep forlks posted on what transpires.

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Hank Mauel

Hank:

You and the McCollum Family are in my thoughts. I never met Lance, but I do feel thankful to him a bit for one reason. About a month ago I was browsing some wood online when my son joined me. We talked a bit about tonewood and somehow the topic of The Tree came up. I googled looking for a guitar built with the wood from the tree and a McCollum guitar popped up. My son loved the look of that guitar and decided that he wanted to build a guitar with me this year. He would like to find some wood from the tree, but I have told him that is not likely. Anyway, we have started acquiring some of the materials and hopefully this year there will be a father son project completed that was inspired a bit by a McCollum Guitar.

Greg

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Greg Hatcher
North Carolina

Hank,

I know the deatils of one of those builds in progress (carpathian/walnut, rosette installed, maybe top on body - dunno). Please contact me and I'll give you what I can.

Don Hindenach

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-donh-

Everything is a tone control!

A very LARGE THANK YOU to all who have sent their condolences, best wishes and contributions to the McCollum Family Fund. So far we have raised more than $9,000 to help Dawn and the family get through this difficult time. Now, for all those on the Left Coast, within driving (or flying if you wish) distance of Colfax, California take a look at what we're planning for this coming Sunday. It would have been Lance's 51st birthday, so we're going to have a party the way he would have liked it. Check out this link for details: http://voyageairguitar.com/lance_concert.htm

Anyone who is able to make it, please introduce yourself to me. I'll have on the Mauel Guitars T shirt and probably be running around in circles!

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Hank Mauel

Hank, I'm planning to show up at Harvey's warehouse between 11 and Noon. Where will ye be?

--Steve

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---Steve

Well, the "party" was a rousing success. We filled the theater and then some. The performances were wonderful and the music kept on into the night at the alternate venues. It was a gig Lance would approve of!
Thanks to all the performers who came from far and wide, the attendees who did the same and to everyone for their support and encouragement for Lance's family. And a special thanks to Rob Bonner for doing so much of the nitty gritty to make this happen!

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Hank Mauel