Official Luthiers Forum!

I know there have been several builders that are affected by the recent wild fires in CA. Our own Howard Klepper has lost everything. At this point Bruce Sexhauer is ok but there are 3 different fronts staring him down. If anything shifts, he could be in big trouble.
The Sonoma valley is kind of a hot bed (absolutely no pun intended) for builders since the early '70s. LMI and Allied are both in that area.

Really sorry to hear about Howard.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Just heard from Natalie at LMI that they are bugging out. Things must have shifted.

DANG!

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Dang indeed. I hope they're able to bug out with a tractor trailer filled with precious wood...

So sorry to hear about Howard, I'm a big fan. Really concerned for all.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

My buddy Topher Gayle has likely lost everything. They are in Oakmont. The fires were within a half mile last night. No word except that they are safe...

That's sad news...especially Howard.
Please keep us posted, Paul...

Oh wow I had not hear that news, That's terrible. There really are no words to describe those fires.

How close is Grass Valley?

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

For those who know people in the areas affected by the fires, a status map of the fires showing their current extents can be seen here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1TOEFA857tOVxtewW1DH6neG1Sm0&hl=en&ll=38.478504304163934%2C-122.49117977294924&z=10

I've been checking it today and it seems to get updated regularly. LMI is in Windsor on 101 just west of the fire north of Santa Rosa.

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

Such events are heartbreaking for so many people and on so many levels. To learn of the terrible impact these fires are having on members of our relatively small lutherie community makes it even more sad. It's good to know that Howard and his wife are safe and I hope the same holds true for all those in harm's way.

I have an uncle in Santa Rosa. No word from him yet.

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George :-)

I can sympathize with all those affected. We were evaced this summer, 8 homes within a few hundred metres were consumed. The worst part for me was the sense of helplessness... not f@&$ing thing you can do. Grab what you can and go. Best of luck to all in the area.
B

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

Probably 50 to 60 air miles away.....clear across the central valley. Pretty safe from those monsters, but Grass Valley has two smaller fires currently burning and things could get ugly if the weather doesn't cooperate.

Just found out several of my Studebaker pals in California have lost all their vintage cars....

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

This is terrible, might be time to organize some help for our OLF friends impacted by the fires and I'll add the hurricanes too.

I've never done it but who here knows how to set up something like a Go Fund Me page for donations to Luthiers who have been tragically impacted by recent events?

I live a few miles n/e of LMI. They have not burned. I'm sure leaving is precautionary. The smoke has been the worst in history, which may have been a factor. Also, employees need to take care of their homes and families. It's a smart move and I wish them all the best. Howard Klepper has posted his account over on the AGF for those who want see what he went through. Very sad. Glad his family escaped. Sonoma County has a large number of builders, so we may still hear of others suffering this catastrophic fire. Just heard Cal Fire has dropped the most fire retardant in their history on these complex fires. I'm packed up with the essentials (inc.7 cased guitars!) and ready on a few minutes notice to bail. As is everyone in my neighborhood. This is a fluid situation and will no doubt change. I'll post updates from time to time as I can.
Brad Hall
Mystic Dawg Guitars
Windsor, Ca.

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Brad Hall
Mystic Dawg Guitars

just spoke with Chris at LMI
so for so good.
Tom Ribbekke is ok for now
we can only hope for the best

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Terrible news. Just losing the shop would be bad enough, but losing all those years of tools, fixtures, wood stock. I hope they can recover

Very terrible to hear about Howard and others. I hope we can do something to pitch in when things stabilize.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

My heart and prayers go out to those effected by these fires.

Tom Peterson, who supplies a lot of kerfed linings and tonewood, lives smack in the middle of the huge fire that wiped out Howard Klepper's home and shop. Haven't heard anything concrete, but his house is most certainly in danger.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I live close. LMI is in no danger. More of a smoke, issue, with some roads difficult to traverse. Many of my friends have lost there homes. The containment percentages are going up rapidly. Oakmont is ok and well backfired. We are not out of the woods but well on the way to being so. As long as we don't get high winds these fires will should be mostly contained in a couple of days.

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Michael F Smith
Goat Rock Ukulele
http://goatrockukulele.com