Official Luthiers Forum!

As unpleasant as both of these sound, it would be even worse if you got them mixed up and used the rectal probe as an esophageal probe. YUCK!

The word is that this class is really filling a void.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I'm still interested. I'm busy the weekend of Oct. 24, but Oct. 31 would work for me, as would Nov. 7, 14, or 21. I would need to use one of your guitars.

Thanks.

_________________
John Cavanaugh
Saint Paul, MN
"What could possibly go wrong?"

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'm going to be out of pocket for a couple of days but will pick this back up early next week with some proposed dates, etc.

Hi Hesh, et al.

I'm new here and I've been really enjoying and appreciating the learning on this forum. Thanks to all.

I'm interested in the workshop, if you're not already fully booked. I don't have a guitar to bring with me so I'd appreciate using one of you beaters. I'm just about to retire from my day job so I can be there almost any time after 9/20.

-Bob

Hey Bob - welcome to the OLF!

Keep an eye on this thread as we will be booking seats for the two classes starting now!

Congrats on the retirement too - that's what started all this Lutherie madness for me too...

UPDATE: We have a date for the second class that will be held in the spring of 2016

April 30th, a Saturday.

The class will start at 9:00 AM and run to around 5:00 and lunch will be brought in (Anthony's Gourmet Pizza (incredible by the way...).

We have Greg and Steve already in the class and as such have two more available seats.

To book your seat in the April 30th, 2016 FretWork Workshop simply declare your interest in this thread.

We will be accepting nonrefundable deposits (deposits are completely refundable if the class gets cancelled but not refundable if you can't make it, these seats are perishable...) of $150, checks are fine or we also take (and return...) credit cards as well and can do that over the phone for your security if you wish.

For Checks please send them to:

Ann Arbor Guitars
302 E. Liberty Street
Third Floor
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104

Our business phone is 734 332-6142

So to summarize this class is half full/empty.... and two seats remain so if interested please post here. Availability will be determined by the date and time stamp of the posts of interested parties.

The class this fall will be scheduled in my next my next post.

Many thanks - it should be a hell of a good time for all and I'm sure that your instruments and chops will greatly benefit from the classes!

Lastly remember to get your own Jaws II and caul set and leveling beams as well. I will be posting links to these things in the near future too.

You can add me to the April 30 class, Hesh!

Alex

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

UPDATE:

How does November 21st, 2015 sound to you guys for the first class? U of M's team is away that day, Penn State so traffic and the crowds in town not to mention hotel availability will be very good. Our football stadium has been or is the largest football stadium in the US so on game day well over 110,000 folks come to town. As locals it's not always a good thing....

Let me know if November 21st works for you and please let me know in this thread. Anyone who has expressed interest in the first class will have dibs for a few days on this class in the order that you originally expressed interest. I can't think of a more fair way to do it but if you can let us know please?

We will likely only have one beater for someone to use so it's much better if you can bring a guitar with the fret board installed on the neck and the neck installed on the guitar for your personal use. Dave, who does about the best fret jobs that I have ever seen will be happy to use any of your guitars when he is showing folks what to do and if I were you guys I would be keen to have him working on mine at least part of the time. You will of course still be working on it too - that's the entire point! The guitars can be finished or not, makes no difference to us and we will show you how to get over the fear if so afflicted as I once was of fretting on a newly finished instrument.

BTW in addition to the special jig/tool that we will provide to each of you to keep I'm going to make some protective shields that will fit Martin style dr*ads and OM's and many others for each of you too also to keep. These are invaluable for working on nice instruments.

After we fill this class, Nov. 21st we can talk about what to bring and get.

Also we still have one opening available for the April 30th, 2016 class next year too.

And we have decided to do this every three months going forward and the next class offering will be something a bit different and the other half of what I took from Dave 8 years ago that launched my career - "Set-up For Builders."

Set-up for builders will assume that the fret work is already completed so the fret work class is a good idea to take first although not a requirement.

The class will cover the following:

1) Nut making
2) How to cut nut slots and cut them very, very well so that your stuff plays like butter.
3) Bridge gluing with HHG in 10 seconds or less! We have a proprietary method that takes the drama out of using HHG for bridge gluing before it starts to jell.
4) Saddle making AND fitting for ultimate performance with or without a UST (under saddle transducer).
5) Saddle individual string compensation.
6) Our method of setting up a guitar which is a sequential methodology that takes all the guess work out of the set-up. You will also learn industry standard specs (mostly Martin) for action levels for various string gauges and various sorts of players and how they play.
7) How to make your very own nut buffer. A nut buffer can put a polish on a bone nut, horn too, that my Master Jeweler friend could not believe that the nut was not plastic until he examined it under a scope...

Basically this class will teach you how to do superb set-ups giving you an unfair competitive advantage over the competition when it comes to having prospective clients bond with one of your creations. The set-up is after all the user interface to any instrument and super important.

Please let me know in this thread if you want a seat in the November 21st class and we also have one seat left for next years April 30th, 2016 class.

Many thanks guys this should be a very good time for all.

You've got it my friend and I'm looking forward to finally meeting you too!!!

Hesh, count me in for Nov 21.

I'll give you a shout at the shop tomorrow with credit card info.

Steve

I am sure you could generate a ton of interest should you decide on a webcast or even an instuctional download.

_________________
My memory is so good, sometimes I remember things that never happened.

I'm in for Nov 21.

Will send payment.

Thanks

_________________
I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Hesh, I'll give you a call in the next few days with CC info for a deposit on the April 30 class.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I've spent many hours and employed many kinds of tricks - all sorts of lenses, angles, even focus stacking software - in attempt to capture factors in a way that suitably conveys the critical points, but have never been able to succeed toward this goal. This, combined with the missing hands-on review and opportunity to accurately communicate subtle but important tactile aspects, leave me less enthusiastic about an online or video class.

I'm sure I'll still try to come up with strategies to more effectively communicate all the details through some online or print medium, but as of yet haven't figured a way to do so to my satisfaction.

_________________
Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

If you guys could give me 24hrs to see if I can make the pieces fit, that would be great. Bit of a stretch for me.

Thanks guys: We have Kevin and Steve confirmed for the Nov. 21st class and we are holding a seat for David F.

This means we have one or two seats left for Nov. 21 and one seat left for April 30, 2015.

Get em while you can!

Hi Hesh,

I'm in for 11/21. I'll call with credit card info.

Thanks for the congrats on retirement. I'm pretty excited about it and luthiery.


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Steve everything went through fine and you are all set with your $150 deposit for the Nov. 21 class. I'll also be contacting you with hotel recomendations when I get a minute to look into that.

Many thanks too and it should be a very good time!

Hi Robert! Sure we are happy to have you in the class and you are in the Nov. 21st class. Please give me a call at 734 332- 6142 and I can run your $150 deposit.

Thanks again!

Hi Bob - It was great speaking with you and you are all set with the deposit as well. Watch this thread in the next week or so for hotel info, tools to get, etc.

Thanks again.

Sorry guys I can't swing it this time around. Sounds like a good time. I'm glad to hear you will be trying to do the teaching on an ongoing basis.

No problem David and thanks for letting us know. We still want to meet you when we can and you can and are looking forward to it too. By the way Ann Arbor is a big cycling town so maybe you might want to select a class when the weather is better here too.

Take care

UPDATE:

Steve Smith is paid with the deposit for the April 30, 2016 class and Kevin Looker has paid the deposit for the Nov. 21, 2015 - Many thanks guys!

OK we have one opening for the Nov. 21st class still available.

We also have one seat in the April 30th, 2016 class available as well.

Thanks

Good luck with your class Hesh. I'm sure a good time will be had by all.


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UPDATE: John C. is booking the last available seat for the Nov. 21, 2015 class so this class is now filled! John I will call you after 10:00 AM EST tomorrow to get your information and thanks much too!

Thanks