Official Luthiers Forum!

There's really no way to put one person at the apex, but the question is fun to ponder. I've been playing guitar since 1963, but trying to make guitars for only the last few years. I have different responses as a player and listener than as a would-be luthier.

The best violin I ever heard was made by Stradivarius. He also made guitars, but I've never heard one. The finest viola (my life partner is a violist, so this looms large) was made by Amati. Or maybe it was the one by Bartolomeo Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri, ("del Gesù").

If "the pre-WWII Martin team" is "a luthier" they are up there.

The finest individually hand-made guitars I have ever played were made by D'Angelico, Bruce Sexauer, and Rodney Kent Albin.

The finest luthier in terms of construction techniques I've stolen is Mario Proulx. But the finest in terms of explaining guitar sound is Alan Carruth. And the best in overall perspective about lutherie is, for me, Todd Stock.

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Tim Allen
"Never hurry, never rest."

Awe, threw me in there with the Padma? I'm touched!

Stradivarius made guitars too. http://orgs.usd.edu/nmm/PluckedStrings/ ... uitar.html

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Jason Moe
LaCrosse WI 54601

the happiest luthier

Mario M.

So is Padme !!!

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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/

Kathy Wingert?
Tom Ribbeckeee?
Monteleone?
Segovia?
Oh, this reminds me of a "who is the best guitar player" one in a different forum.
C'mon!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is one person on this forum that if I was rich,
I would axe him to build me a git-box.
Not tellin' who,
and I just keep buildin' my own for now,
cuz I think I'm the best...

There's certainly no best. I'm going to hijack, save(because it could be fun) this thread. Who has done some of the most innovative changes over the centuries to musical instruments. I'll start with, Lloyd Loar did some great caving and was the first one to put "f" slots on a guitar. Mmmmm "f" slots. Who doesn't like them?! And, he may not be Stradivarius, but he's doing pretty well as far a $ value for per years dead. OK a little cryptic but note worthy.

Who's next?

One of my favorites is Sergei DeJonge - he makes wonderful steel string guitars. I played one of his 8 string classicals and it was really nice too. Plus, he and Devora have just about doubled the luthier population in Canada by themselves - those kids build great guitars.

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

the best luthier is the one that kills the bad guy and gets the chick.

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

you´re talking about luthiers, right?

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

Well thanks! I'll frame that. My vote would be Martin Luthier

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Estevan

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Horton, MI

Well, John Monteleone is the only living luthier in a show at the Metropolitan Museum and that has to count for something! And when it comes to innovation, it's hard to match Linda Manzer's record (wedge body, soundport, etc. etc.)

But I go along with the best luthier being (happily) undefinable.

I`ve seen some work by some suppose to be good luthiers ,some of it was excellent and some not so hot in my opinion.The absolute most knowledgeable and astonishing to watch,is David Collins in Ann Arbor Michigan.Pure genious.If there is someone better He must be sitting right next to God.
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

With you on this one.

Probably someone on that other forum
You know the "home of the worlds greatest living luthiers"

I think the question should be "who's the funniest luthier"?

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

Martin Luthier King ?

_________________
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/

Definitely, without question, the guy who did this ....

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Or maybe guy who built a reso Like this ?

_________________
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/