Official Luthiers Forum!

If you are an amateur luthier living in the South West England around Bristol/Bath/Somerset Gloucestershire areas, how about getting together for an informal meet once a month in a suitable hostelrie to talk lutherie over a pint?

PM me with an email address if you're interested in something like this, I have no fixed ideas, let's see what happens. It might be good to get out of the shed once in while!

If there are six people interested I reckon it could be a goer. I live in Bath but I am willing to travel a 25 mile radius.

Hi Yvonne,

Thought I'd say hello! I'm from Swindon originally - just down the M4 from you (I emigrated to the USA in 1992). California is a bit far for me to pop over for a meet and greet, but if I ever move back in the UK, I'll give you a shout.

Cheers,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Hi Dave

Good to hear from you, though I cannot imagine why you would leave Swindon for California !

there must some more folk out there! ( and no I m not a bunny boiler, I am happily married thanks, so no need to fear!)

Yvonne, I don't know any of the UK luthiers who are down in the West country, I'm over in Kent as is John Hale and Dave White is in Bucks with a few others scattered around Scotland and the North. What we are, is always available via PM or e-mail. Dave and I are both approaching 50 instruments each so have probably made and hopefully learned from every mistake possible so can usually find a solution to any problems you come across. Dave's a steel string builder of a wide variety of instruments, check out is website, and I build both steel string and classical guitars as well as lutes (and a violin!) but also restore historic instruments for some of the London museums.

Oh and welcome to the forum.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Hi Yvonne.
I'm a late start beginner (4 guitars, all Steel String so far).
Welcome to the OLF, great place.
Like you, I'm a bit isolated geographically in Aberdeen area, but people here are really helpful.
Good luck,
Colin

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Hi Yvonne
It's a really good idea but unfortunately I don't think you'll find too many luthiers (amateur or not) living that close by to each other.
As Colin said, you can always email or PM people. Everyone here will be only too glad to offer any help or advice that may be needed.
Other than that, if you're ever travelling you may be able to 'drop in' on one of us. I'm in Basingstoke by the way.
Mat

Thanks to everyone , I knew it was a long shot but you never know. It is great how much help people are willing to give around here. Ive only built 3 ukes so far, but am starting on a terz guitar roughly based on the Martin 5/18. Im currently trying to decide on bolt on or dovetail neck, and am a bit confused about neck angle and how to achieve it, since I avoided that with the ukes. Perhaps I have read too many books and internet articles - need to find one set of instructions and stick to it! I may be starting another thread soon with one of those newbie questions ....

Thanks again to all who replied.

Hi Yvonne, I am somewhat isolated as well. I live in the Scottish borders, don't drive and can't get around much. Colin North and I have been in touch a couple of times through the US forums, (13th Fret and the OLF). Alas he lives a couple of hundred miles waaay up the road in Aberdeenshire.

Bill S.

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Dream to be a luthier

Hi Yvonne, good to see another female luthier here! I've built several acoustic guitars, one classical, and am on my second bouzouki.

Unfortunately I live further north, however much I'd LOVE to be sitting in a pub with a pint discussing luthiery. I am isolated as well and fora such as these are a lifeline. Shame, I used to live down your way....

Hey Bill and Colin (sorry Yvonne, for hijacking your thread - but I PM'd you anyway so dont feel too bad )

I am kinda sandwiched between you guys in Fife. There seem to be a few amateurs in this neck of the woods.. perhaps we could get together in North sometime - I moved up this way from Sussex back in June/July and in the process of converting a damp dingy cellar (basement) into a new workshop... nearly done with 'tanking, rendering, insultaing, plasterboarding, painting... just need to fit the new benches and I am done...

If you fancy a sort of annual get together or something mioght be fun... There is an annual festival in 'Muchty in August which attracts several hundred musicians etc for a week or so, so am planning an open workshop during that week... would be good to get a few more Scotish builders to come down/up - (although I am English!).

Yvonne, as mentioned in the PM, happy to trek down to the West sometimeas I am down in Readiong a couple of times a month through work...

Best

Frank