Posts filed under 'Lutherie'
At the Newport Guitar Festival in Miami Beach last weekend, Bill Collings regaled us with tales from his latest hobby–Spec Miata racing. Here’s the video proof. At around :09, your favorite guitar builder is seen passing the car with the built-in camera. At around :22, Collings makes a mistake and drives off into the dirt. Like we said, this one is only for completists … even Bill admits this isn’t the greatest spectator sport to watch. -JV
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April 15th, 2008
In our new Fall 2007 issue, we printed Tim Olsen’s story about eccentric electric guitar builder Harvey Thomas. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, Thomas built some truly out-of-this-world creations–guitars shaped like Maltese Crosses, headstocks that look like elf shoes, crazy conversions to otherwise innocent Gibson archtops–and, as a kid, Olsen was lucky enough to work for the builder. The story turned out fantastic and the photographs (taken at Guitar Maniacs in Tacoma, WA and at the Experience Music Project in Seattle) were great, but we left out one minor detail: Olsen is on the lookout for additional Harvey Thomas guitar sightings so he can add them to the Thomas photo gallery he’s building! Check out his Harvey Thomas site and you’ll learn a lot more about these unique guitars. And be sure to check out where Olsen works when he’s not writing about funky electrics–the Guild of American Luthiers. –JV
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August 30th, 2007
These photos are from an eBay auction of a TV Yellow 1959 Les Paul Special. The seller got it from the original owner who bought it new in 1959 and did all the “repair” work himself. Apparently the hole in the headstock was an unsucceful attempt to turn the guitar into a seven-string. Amazingly, the pickups and wiring harness are basically untouched. It’s not often that you see a repair job that’s so off-the-charts bad that it enters into the realm of folk art. I hope whoever gets it leaves it in its “as found” condition. And that someone makes a relic version of it. If anyone out there has similar photos of horrific repair jobs, I’d love to post them here on the blog.-MJS (Thanks, Andy, for the post title.)
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June 15th, 2007
Here’s an interesting article about Thomas Harmon, who wanted to learn to play guitar and felt that it might help if he built a guitar first. In the way these things go, he’s now a luthier.-MJS
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June 10th, 2007
I was reading this blog post by Clare Chu about restoring a half-size violin, and she mentioned she used a Sharpie pen to touch up a worn part of the fingerboard. She also mentioned the she was pretty sure that that technique wasn’t written in any violin repair manual. That may be true, but I do know of one very famous instrument maker that is aware of that particular quick fix.-MJS
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June 8th, 2007
Here’s a video clip of luthier and musician William Eaton from 1984 where he talks about building and playing. Eaton is the director of the Roberto-Venn School of Luthery and makes some of the most amazing instruments I’ve ever seen.-MJS
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May 22nd, 2007
Here’s an interesting photo essay by Frank Ford about doing some repair work on a guitar that actually went into space. Make sure you read all the way to the end. The story has a surprise twist. -MJS
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February 15th, 2007
Here’s a good article about the Greensboro luthier Bob Rigaud, who has made and restored guitars for Nokie Edwards and John Fogerty.-MJS
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January 9th, 2007
Luthier Julius Borges just sent this to the FJ mailbox:
“We all knew I’d end up in jail, but for now I’m doing it willingly. I’ve volunteered to take part in the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Lock-Up. On January, 17th 2007 an officer will be taking me to their lock-up at which time I’ll need to post bail. I’m looking to you to help me raise that bail money.
This is an important project and a chance for us to rally our better angels to help people in need.The suggested contributions are $25, $50 or $100. My goal is to raise $6000, so, please donate whatever you can.
Checks should be made payable to MDA. Send them to Julius Borges, 410 Great Rd A2, Littleton, MA 01460
Please email me at juliusjborgesiii@comcast.net if you’re going to be donating some bail money.
Thanks, Julius”
This is a cool thing for Julius to do, so please chip in. And all you other luthiers, no fair withholding funds in an effort keep him from making guitars. You know you’re better than that.-MJS
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December 6th, 2006
The Sawfish is a machine made by Triton Logging that is able to harvest standing timber that has been submerged. As you all know, it’s getting harder and harder to find old-growth wood, but this may be an excellent source of tonewoods. If any luthiers have used any of this wood, I’d love to hear about it.-MJS
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December 4th, 2006
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