Official Luthiers Forum!

So, just to update, I have spoken to a couple of clients/friends and they have both agreed to participate as needs and time allows, to an archtop forum. The first person is well known to everyone I am sure. Roger Siminoff has built mandolins for a very long time, is a consultant and expert on everything Loar and runs a successful and growing mandolin and banjo parts business. Of course he is also the authour of many great books on various stringed musical instrument topics including mandolin construction. He has agreed to participate in the sub-forum once it is up and running. You can view his stuff here: http://www.siminoff.net/

Next, I spoke with Peter Hopkins http://www.hopkinsguitars.com/ and asked if he would be willing to stop in from time to time as well. Many of you may not know of Peter (I know that Nelson and Dave Stewart do!) but he is one of the shining stars in archtop guitar making arena. He is largely self taught and comes from a high end cabinetmaking background and has a great sense of design. His guitars are STELLAR!

I have had a great relationship with both of these guys for a good long time and consider them friends. So they have agreed to support this process through their participation. Once the sub-forum is up I will let them know and we can expect them to be involved in a similiar fashion to Ervin's recent participation. This should only make this forum stronger and much more diverse! Good on you JJ for getting this going! Now we just need a couple of violin/viola/cello/contra dudes to step in as well!

Lance/Brock, will this make a strong enough impression to start a new sub-forum?

Thanks

Shane

_________________
Canada

Good one, Shane...so we're actually talking about 2 new subforums...Mandolin AND Archtop. Why not?

_________________
JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I, for one, would love to know more about arch tops.

_________________
http://www.booneguitars.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Boone-guitar-builder/488208541257210

Or we could just have one sub-forum titled "Archtoped Instrumnets" or something and inside we could have discussions on anything that has an arched top. I am sure that questions about flat mando or zouk issues may come up there as well but they would probably be more related to neck joint construction and stuff like that as bracing, binding, and the like are still similiar to the flattop guitar stuff.....

I don't know...whatever works best. Just being too specific may limit activity.

Shane

_________________
Canada

There is a Mando sub-forum now...

http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=10128

Shane -
Thanks for doing the 'legwork on this!
I agree that an 'arch topped instruments' or 'carved top' category will be good. We don't want to carry the 'divide and conquer' thing too far....

Cheers
John

Shane, that's outstanding! I'd certainly love to hear comments and advice from both these gentlemen as related to building and improving archtop instruments, and appreciate your taking the step.
Although I see a sub-forum for mandolins was created today (thanks Lance/Brock), I personally think a lot of the same characteristics, techniques and "uniqueness" is common to both mandos & archtops (ie carving, brace style, floating bridge, recurve "tuning" etc.) I know I check the "mando cafe" often to try & learn more about building archtops. Thought it would be a very "symbiotic" subforum. Whatever... just happy to see the direction of things. Thanks again.

_________________
Dave
Milton, ON

I don't build or play arch top guitars but wouldn't mind a forum. I'm into carved top mandos so maybe i learn something that can carry over.. Mike

Dave Steward I love that guitar for violin lovers, and I am a violin lover...and maker, but mostly the biggest ones called double bass.

I also have a particular interest in laminated archtops which can be pretty cool once you get inside one.

_________________
Ken

Hopkins' stuff looks killer! I would love the chance to pick his brain about building. I thank any and everyone responsible for getting it going. Waiting with bated breath.
Jason

I would be all over this.

_________________
The member formerly known as erikbojerik....

Thanks for this Shane. It would be pretty cool if it's not a big effort for Lance and Brock.

Musical instruments that would make my life more complete. Nylon string-done, parlour-done, mando-done. Guess what I'm lacking.. Give you a hint. It"s 16 or 17" in the butt and has "f" holes.

Good one Shane! Would be great to see an archtop section.

Danny

Danny...You need to turn to the "dark side" and build an electric!

_________________
JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

It would be great to see an archtop section on the OLF!
Nelson

I'd love to read any archtop posts. I built a couple archtops in my early building days, but they really didn't come out very well. I'd like to take another stab at one now that I'm a little further down the luthiery learning curve.

With that said, my habit is to read the main forum, and I usually don't think to look at the sub-forums. Maybe I'm alone in this, but I would probably miss most of the sub-forum posts just because I usually don't look at anything but the main forum.

Why not simply have people post their archtop-related posts here in the main forum? I think the archtop discussions would get far greater participation and views that way.

But it's your sandbox.

Heck this might even get Anthony Zlathic out of retirement.....

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

I would be interested, just because I think they are cool!

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Let the Archie Boys have their home!

_________________
JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Sure, that is fine... we will get it created.

You know me... I am always game for more forums provided there are enough people to participate.

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

One REAAAAAALLLLLLY BIG Fiddle ??????

_________________
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/

.
Brock, him already said him gonna add the new arch top forum,


YAY!


even me flat tops are carved...so figure that one out


icu
the
Padma

_________________
.

Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


.