Official Luthiers Forum!

Okay, due to my ignorance of the forum software I didn't realize that I set
up my "Head Count" poll so as to not allow any replies.

So, perhaps it's best just to post a quick yes or no here so we know who
to expect.


And if you're coming from southeast Michigan, I may be looking for a ride
back to Ann Arbor. My wife and daughter may be coming up with me, but
would want to stay through Sunday and I have to be back for a Michigan
Violin Makers Association meeting on Sunday morning at EMU. I'd hate to
have to take two cars, so Hesh, Lance, or anyone else down here please
let me know.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

I'm a-comin'!

I'm comin' too!

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

I plan to come.

David--

I will not be able to make it to this meeting as my wife is recuperating from an elective surgery that was done about ten days ago. I'm really hoping that there will be more get togethers this spring or summer. I'm really looking forward to meeting with the group.

Thanks --Jim

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

I've said it before that it's been a year since the last one. I will be there!

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DES - Shepherd, MI

I have a number of repairs that would be interesting in the shop right
now, but by some stroke of bad luck I do not have a single guitar ready
for a general setup to bring. If anyone coming has something to bring
that needs only basic setup work (something that can be fit within the
limited time of the meeting) it may be worth bringing and perhaps we
could work it in. Something like a recent Martin, Larrivee, Seagull, Taylor,
Gibson, et al., factory guitar would be ideal, although I also wanted to do
a 7 1/4" radius Fender style to demonstrate approaches I come at from
different ends.

Then again, it may be best to put this off for the next meeting (which I
hope to be ready to host at my shop) so I can be more prepared for it.
Right now I was planning on bringing a headstock repair and bridge
reglue, both fairly basic. The bridge reglue is a classical which I would
probably not clamp up until I got back to my shop, but I could
demonstrate the ledge/inset fit that I use.

I have a couple old mandolas, a badly cracked mandolin top, fretless bass
conversion, custom pickup windings, custom electronics mod, neck and
bridge removal and a variety of other things, but I don't know how well I
can prepare to bring many of them for presentation in the few non-
waking hours before I leave in the morning. I guess a number of the
repairs I have would not be the best candidates to repair on a foreign
bench though.

So if anyone has a demo guitar to bring for setup or can think of
anything else of interest before 8am, post it here and I will check before I
go pack up tools at the shop. Otherwise I'll just bring the headstock
repair and the bridge reglue.
David Collins39108.8933912037

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

Sounds cool Dave. Look foward to seeing you.

Bryan

Still being in the "wannabe" classification, I'm more in the receiving camp than the giving. However, I am planning on bringing some piano hammers from the dismantling my brother and I did a couple of months ago.

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DES - Shepherd, MI

By "piano hammers" do you mean the felt tip ones that strike the strings, or
the claw hammer and 5 pound sledge to demonstrate "dismantling"?

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

Actually, it was more like a dissection. Had I used a sledge, I'd have used a 2 pounder. Easier accuracy that way.

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DES - Shepherd, MI

Awww, c'mon. No deafening blows, no strings popping and shrapnel flying?
Now what fun is that....

Unless..... well I guess it never occured to me to do it for the wood. I thought
it was just the sheer enjoyment of destruction.
I suppose that's better done with a banjo anyway.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

I'm sorry I couldn't make it this weekend. I was really looking forward to meeting you guys too. Next time I will make darn sure I don't have any other obligations.

Hope everybody has a great time.

Kirt   

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Horton, MI

The meeting was great! It was so jam packed with secret information that it
makes the ancient guilds of europe look like gosip time at your
grandmother's hairdo shop


Seriously though some little tidbits will probably published here about the
meeting. It was good to meed some nice folks.

Yes, there was a good number that attended! Sorry Lance and JJ, you guys missed a good one. Ken, it was nice to meet you and learn about your laminate arched-top process. We didn't take a roll call, so how about sounding off if you attended and spot light what you liked about the gathering. And, of course, thanks once more to Mark and Bryan for making it all happen! Also, David's presentation on set-ups and his latest gadgets was fantastic!!!!

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DES - Shepherd, MI

David gave freely of his set-up expertise! Thanks David, I know I benefited
greatly. Thanks to Bryan Galloup also for use of his shop and the nice tour
and information. I liked his apporach!

I was there--the guy who was always interrupting and asking questions. Got me some useful information, though!

Darin...thanks for the felt hammers! Now, when I realize I've made yet another mistake, I can use one of those to hit my forehead and it won't leave a big red mark like my hand does. Or, I can see if they'll be useful for tapping wood.

Ken's show-and-tell about plate laminating took most of the mystery out of the process, and was quite cool! Also--something I wouldn't have known otherwise--Ken has come up with a new hybrid lamination process that might offer some new possibilities for double tops, sides or backs. He only brought a small side sample, but it is extremely light and stiff. Very creative!

As Darin and Ken mentioned, David presented a great how-to that was valuable for both builders and repairers. David has one of those MTMBA (Minds That Must Be Admired), 'cause he's an inventor. He showed us some mighty cool tools that do those mysterious lutherie things better. Thanks David!

Bryan said he was just providing the space for our meeting, and didn't have anything prepared to present. Ha!!! I think he's always prepared, 'cause he has several textbooks-worth of lutherie knowledge, and he likes to teach. He, as usual, had a lot to contribute, and a bunch of interesting guitar stuff to show us. Thanks again for your shop and time, Bryan!!!

Of course, thanks to Mark Swanson for making the phone calls and doing the work to make the meeting a reality!

WHAT! No mention of the aforementioned Dancers!

Sorry to have missed it..

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Lance, we were sworn to secrecy!

I was there, although a little late. It was my first meeting. Lots of great info. It was very cool to see Bryans shop

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Jeremy Vonk

It's okay, Lance, I got the video.........NOT!!!!!!

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DES - Shepherd, MI

RATS!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Yes indeed, I was there and it was great!
I was the one with the zebrawood guitar (my #4) that David used for some of the Guitar Setup presentation. I'm pleased that my guitar was able to give David so many opportunies to show examples of a bad setup so we all could learn so much. I was a bit stunned when Bryan joined in and decided to pull one of the bridge pins with a mini-end nipper - I have a simliar pair that I sometimes use to cut fretwire! Thankfully, before reaching the pin, he commented that he ground these down to a smooth surface especially for pulling pins and what-not.

A few of us got to sneak into the back and see Bill Wise's kerfing jig. Real sweet. Hopefully, he can show it to everyone at the next meeting.

Being my first meeting I didn't know who hardly anyone was. I encourage those who attended to add to this topic and give a hint as to which one you were. I hope that future meetings can include a short introduction or have (sorry to say) name tags. Here's a list of who I know was there so far, I know I'm missing 5 or 6.

Bryan Galloup (Galloup Guitars - Big Rapids)
David Collins (Collins Luthiery - Ann Arbor
Bill Wise (Charis Acoustic - Bay City)
Mark Swanson (Mark Swanson Music - Grand Rapids)
Ken McKay (Up North Strings -)
Terry Williams (Grand Rapids)
Tom Lenartz (Middleville)
Darin Spayd (Shepherd)
Carlton Macksam (Muskegon)
Jeremy Vonk (Hudsonville)