Update for Issue 4: Minnesota Luthiers

January 1st, 2007

In issue 4, Todd Lunneborg wrote a great article about the Minnesota luthiers that inspired him to become a builder himself. (Those are his guitars in the photo.) Todd interviewed Brian Applegate, Kevin Ryan, Michael Keller, James Olson and Charles Hoffman. You should check out the luthier’s websites for photos of some beautiful guitars and an extra treat or two. Olson’s site, for instance, includes a video gallery of pickers like James Taylor, Chet Atkins and Leo Kottke playing, well, Olson guitars. Hoffman and Ryan both include photo essays on how they build guitars and Keller’s site includes an interview he conducted in 1978 with renowned luthier Richard Schneider. Also, Keller’s site has a very cool Easter egg. To see it, go to his opening page, scroll right until you see six guitar strings. If you roll your cursor over the strings, it should turn into a pick. Strum each string three time and you’ll get to see some famous luthiers goofing off.-MJS

Entry Filed under: Guitar, FJ Issue 4