Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello again fellow sawdust enthusiasts! In the past I have spend hundreds and hundreds of hours here perusing the site to glean as much knowledge as possible to feed my interest in building guitars. IMHO this is the best site I've found for a wealth of information on luthiery. Unfortunately life threw me a world series of curveballs that I couldn't hit a few years ago and I had to backtrack on most everything I had going on. A failed marriage coupled with a job loss and subsequent 6 month search cost me my home, all my earthly possessions (sans some clothes and a few personal items) and my pride. It's just in the past few days that I could no longer avoid reading up on the hobby I had so much fun with and OLF was the place to be. While I don't post much, I do read about everything anyone puts on here to see what I can glean for little nuggets of knowledge.

I sold off all my luthier and wood working tools as well as my stash of materials to fund a car for my teenage daughter and was tickled to find a budding young man who was studying luthiery to become a professional builder. I can't remember the school he was attending but when he and his father drove down to SC from Ohio with a large enclosed trailer to pick up my shop in total his dad pulled me aside and said "I can see this is a passion you've got for this hobby based upon what all you have and how you are taking time to explain the use of each item to my son in detail as much as you can. While I know your situation is forcing you to do this and you've got many times more money wrapped up in these items than you are selling them to us for, please know that my son has the same passion for this and wants to make his living doing exactly this. I hope you can get some small satisfaction knowing that these items will give my son a HUGE head start in his chosen career. I know he'll do them proud." When they pulled out of my driveway a few hours later I broke down happy that I could finally help my 18 year old get her first car as well as help out a very mature young man begin his path to a profession he already loves. Could I have held out to find someone willing to pay significantly more $ for the items? Yes but although it was one of the saddest days of my life it was also one of the happiest because I got to help 2 young people get off to a good beginning.

My daughter is now a nursing student commuting from school to work weekends and help pay for her college while living with her mother. I've since gotten my career back on a better track, gotten remarried and am the proud father of a new 3 1/2 month old son, my first boy! I don't know what happened to the young budding luthier as I lost the contact #'s I had for him when the job loss happened, but I hope he is doing well and that someday I'll run into him or his work and know I maybe had a small part in his life. God works in mysterious ways like that sometimes.

Now on to Houston. My wife and I relocated here several months ago and are finally getting a few hours better sleep with the newborn settling into a routine. It'll probably be years and years for me to accumulate the luthier items I sold off but that's all part of the process of life changes. I don't regret them and know those curveballs have made me a better person ultimately. I do wonder if there's any builders full, part time or amateur here in the Houston area that wouldn't mind someone coming by from time to time to either help them with processes or mentor me in beginning a new build at some point. I'm not in a hurry (baby and new family time is first priority and always will be) to begin a project again, just to be around a shop occasionally when I have some time and pick up more on the building process so that when I do begin to accumulate some dust making tools and stock again that I'll be further along than I was a few years ago. If anyone in the Houston area would like to get together in their shop and wouldn't mind a sponge asking tons of questions feel free to drop me a msg sometime. Otherwise thanks to everyone here for sharing your knowledge.

“Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.”
― Dalai Lama XIV

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Bobby Masten

Congrats on getting your life back on track and welcome back to the OLF!

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George :-)

I know of at least 3 builders from the OLF from Houston , but hesitate to name them without their permission.Marchione is one pro builder that accepts newcomers , google guitarmakers in houston an chat with him friendly fellow.

I'm glad that life has given back to you, Bobby, and hope that you and your young family thrive in Houston! Welcome back to this great and giving forum!

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

Welcome back Bobby!

Life happens - sounds like you've managed to come out the other end in good place. Good to see you back and good luck getting back into the obsession.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Welcome back and I hope you get started again as soon as possible.

Thank you all for the kind words. I'll look up Marchione later today if work doesn't get in the way and see if he's willing to chat.

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Bobby Masten

Bobby, I make a little sawdust out of my garage in the Garden Oaks area. You sure be welcome to come and hang out and shoot the breeze if you like.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Thanks Chuck! Pm with contact info sent

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Bobby Masten

He makes High Quality Sawdust !

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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/

Bobby, welcome back buddy! When your ready to make some saw dust, shoot me a note. Ill send you a back and side set to be named, with a Sitka or cedar top complements of the OLF to help get you rolling!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

You make this forum the best, Lance!

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

Thanks Alex, but id like to think its the community that makes this the best place to hang out
Not trying to deflect praise, but with out you guys and gals, the OLF would be an empty shell.

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Support the OLF! Bookmark our STEWMAC link Today!
Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I just returned from lunch and I don't know what to say other than a wholehearted thank you Lance. I saw your note and had to get up and close my office door so no one would see the tears. Be assured that I'll treat every grain of dust with joy. Oh and when I'm able I fully intend to "Pay it Forward" as I believe you reap what you sow. Again thank you and the whole community for your sharing of knowledge to all of us.

Sincerely,
Bobby

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Bobby Masten

I have a chunk of neck wood (mahogany) you can have to go with Lance's back and side set.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

I have some wood binding that I could spare , depending on what back and sides are sent .

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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/

I and two other builders are in the Clear Lake area. The pro I know is in bad health, but he's an interesting character.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I love interesting characters! Would like to meet all of you when you have time

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Bobby Masten

I am in The Woodlands and would be glad to talk guitar building.