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I had a great day that included a visit from JJ and then lunch with David Collins, Jotham, Max Bishop, Jim Howell, and JJ.

Before we went to lunch JJ tried out some of the guitars that were built since his last visit last winter.

Here is JJ with a French polished L-00.



And here is JJ playing the first of 2 consecutive OMs - this one is koa/Carpathian.



And here is JJ smiling with the BRW/Adi OM that was just completed several days ago.



We met (from left to right) Jim, David, Jotham, Max, JJ and I) for lunch and had a great time bashing the rest of you folks (JUST KIDDING!!)



And then it was back to my shop and here is JJ thickness sanding some beautiful 100% flamed maple for the Les Paul that he is building.



It was a GREAT day and many thanks to JJ, David, Max, Jim, and Jotham for making it happen!

Looks like you all had a blast - I wondered why my ears were burning

Hesh - So it's true that your new guitar doesn't have a front Get JJ to play and do some recordings - I'd love to hear them.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Looks like a good day, Hesh, et al.  Now all we need is an assessment of guitars that were built to play "Smoke on the Water", when something else is strummed or picked on them.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

JJ looks as if he's reluctant to let go of that guitar...

Great pics- ahh, that bar pic evokes happy memories....nothing like sitting with a bunch of like minded people talking shop....

To bad you didn't bring your elf suits!

You guys would’ve been a real hit in that place!

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Everything has beauty, But, not everyone see's it!

Good one, robert.  Hesh could do his little solo!  

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

  That would be "Robert".  Sorry! 

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

[QUOTE=robertD]To bad you didn't bring your elf suits!



You guys would’ve been a real hit in that place! [/QUOTE]

ROBERT - it wasn't THAT kind of bar 

Dave/Waddy we did do a duet of House of the Rising Sun after JJ showed me how to make a thing called cords.......

Sam the number on the monitor above our heads was our our bar tab at the point when the pic was taken by our friendly waitress.

Looks like alot of fun to me !  Glad everybody could get together and have some fun and laughs too. Wish I could have joined you.

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Reguards,

Ken H

What a great afternoon. Those guitars look fantastic, Hesh. That must
have been amazingly fun.

This is just a random aside, but do get more air flow from the vac with
the bigger hose?

Does this mean I`m buying lunch when I visit? I`d love to.         &nb sp;         Jam es
          

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Hey Hesh...thanks for sharing pictures of your day. Looks like you all had a great time. Sam's right JJ looks like he had the "keepers" hold on the BRW OM.

The lunch was wonderful and the company was great.  I'm really looking forward to more get togethers.

Oh, and Robert....

 

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Thanks for sharing the photos with us!!
Even though I wasn't there, I could feel the vibes!!

walter

Just returned from A2.

Many thanks to Hesh for the fine hospitality. His generosity and continued friendship over the years is special. Thanks, bro!

Getting to meet a few new OLFers was special as was a reaquaintance with David and Jotham. Lunch was special and the time passed all too quickly. Lance, buddy...we missed you!

Now for the guitars...OMG!!! I first played the Koa/Carp and it had a wonderfully different sound...much different from his guitars I played in years past. I didn't want to put it down. Then came the most recent. The BRW was sensational and spoke with a voice to die for! I can honestly say that I have never played a better sounding guitar...and the Adi top can only get better with age. Aside from the fit and finish to which we are all accustom, the tone was full, balanced, loud and reminded me of some of the clips that have been provided by Dave White and Colin. This is not a Martin or Taylor, but pure, crisp and with a bass tone that I really want to achieve some day.

The action and playability of all of the guitars I played were low, fast and buzz-free.

Thanks for the experience...so let's see if you can top those 2!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

One more thing...I was tired when I posted last night and forgot a few items.

Hesh's latest guitars are incredibly light! I know he has been shaving and weighing everything and really trying to reduce mass and it sure is noticeable when you pick them up.

In addition, the top bracing as viewed through the soundhole is low at the "X" and all braces are parabolic in design. I really think he's found his voice and it sure showed with the sound.

And another thing...

I needed to have some headstock material thicknessed, so Heshie rolled out his washed, and waxed Performax from its garage and attached his "Festool Negative Pressure Generator" (for that price, you just can't call it a Shop Vac!)to the exhaust port of the sander. After removing about .040" from the plate, there was absolutey NO dust that got outside of the sander...just incredible. And the funny thing is that we're in the shop in our stocking feet so we don't bring in any outside dirt. Well...it was Felix & Oscar for sure..."The Odd Couple".

Finally...

I didn't tell him but, before leaving, I purposely emptied my pockets on his shop floor of pocket lint!!! I wouldn't be surprised if he has trained Sony to detect the sound of such contaminant as it strikes the carpet. I can just see that cute little pooch pointing to the offending dirt!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

It sure looks like a fine day was had by all. Great description of Heshs' guitars JJ. Man,I would love to play them someday! It does sound like you found your tone voice for your guitars Hesh! Thanks for all the great pics.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

JJ bro many thanks for your very kind comments - are you feeling OK my friend.........

I had a great time and we really need to do this more often.

As for the pocket lint I have already deloused the place..........  And actually I was not truthful about not using CA - I use it on Sony (my dog pal) so he can't shed and does not have to go outside more then once a year......... 

In honor of you JJ the BRW guitar has just been named "JJ" so neither of you has permission to implode....

Jim that picture is fantastic and you even posted knowing that Billy is lurking with an itchy Photoshop finger........

AZ after I read your and Sam's comments I went and looked and sure enough the BRW guitar is missing.......

James but of course, at 134 CFM a hose nearer to 2" OD is going to be less restrictive then a 1" hose that is for hooking up the ROS and other Festool dust makers.  Thickness sanding is one of the dustiest things that I do if not the dustiest thing that I do so in order to have the Festool collect the dust AND cool the drum the larger hose is a must IMHO.

Many thanks everyone!!!!!!

Looks like it was a fun time.
Sounds like some might fine praise for the flushtone

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Good times, Gents. Thanks for sharing.

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

Man im bummed!

I would have loved to join you boys, but the timing was bad for me

Looked like a great time.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Lance there you are!!!!  I can't receive any Comcast email from you so I have no idea if you sent me one canceling.  You spammer you

As an aside we are talking about getting together around the 3rd. week of January and inviting everyone in the region who can attend.  Instead of trying to lay down a great deal of structure we think that we should just make it happen.  In the past it seems that it was very tough to get people together but with one week's notice we could have had 6+ people for a simple get together.

So expect to hear an announcement soon about a meeting, very informal, in January.

Hesh,

Mil gracias for the great time yesterday.  I really enjoyed meeting Jim, JJ, Dave and Jotham.  Hope next time Lance is able to make it.

Thanks again,

 

    Gee! All I had was a tuna sandwich! Wish I lived in Michigan....Uh!... no I DON'T!

It's good to see you guys had a great time!


HA!! Deloused... Funny!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

[QUOTE=jhowell]

The lunch was wonderful and the company was great.  I'm really looking forward to more get togethers.

Oh, and Robert....

 

[/QUOTE]

That's the spirit Jim!

I like a man whos not afraid to don the elf ears!

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Everything has beauty, But, not everyone see's it!