Official Luthiers Forum!

Dear OLFers
I was sitting and reading after a day in the shop last night when my wife strolls in, after her day of work, only shes carrying a 10" Craftsman Bandsaw, and extra blades still in the package...
I was slightly stunned,,, "where in the heck did you get that?" I asks'es...
"From Bob!" (her client whom Ive only met once)
"He asked if you could use it,,, I said sure!"


http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e255/charlieweird/Picture1 14.jpg

Well this is the second thing this kind fellow Bob(and his lovely wife Ruby) have sent home for me in the last couple weeks, the other gift being a wet/dry ShopVac...
It got me thinking about all the good fortune my wife and I have had in the last year, and about all the acts of kindness that have been bestowed upon me in my pursuit of getting an operational shop happening for building guitars...

This is by far not the first turn of generousity Ive encountered thats for sure....as youll see..
Although its been tough for me watching people who have joined the OLF after me... and finishing first second and third guitars, I vowed I wouldnt start #1 until I had the gear to accomplish a guitar start to finish,,, the way I wanted to..
So as I fine tune everything - set to begin building, I looked around my shop, and the gifts and loans Ive recieved...in order to encourage and enable me... face me in practically every direction I gaze..
I wanted to give a Big Thanks and Thumbs up to the people who have gone above and beyond in helping me out...
Thanks to Jeff Binion for the gift of wood and encouragement,,,both in luthiery and in life and spiritual matters!
Thanks to Serge for the DVDs and the Poutine, as well as the endless encouragement!
Thanks to Rod True for the plans and the wood, and including me in the good deals he has come across as well as the encouragement!
Thanks to Hesh for the plans, the good swap meet deals, and the support,,, the tutorials,,, and for being an all round cool guy... and for not absolutely assuming outright I was a stalker in disguise!(long and funny story)
Thanks to ToddStock for the gift of a Delta combination sander - and then refusing to allow me to even pay shipping, for the tutorials, and for the common sense and sage wisdom we all cherish, Im sure..
Thanks to Klaas Geisbrecht for the Sitka spruce and the friendship and communications...
Thanks to Bob and Ruby for the Shop Vac and the 10" bandsaw,,, and for the cool party!
Thanks to Lillian for the loan of the Lollar book which is almost impossible to find, and for the electric guitar building book loaners too... and for being a super cool person!
Thanks to everyone else who has loaned me material to speed my learning curve!!
Thanks to the people who gave me the 5 apple trees!
Thanks to Mike (the judge) and to Bruce Dickey, and letseatpaste and all the others who have given me great swap meet deals...
Thanks to all the people who have given me encouragement and gentle correction when I have been off base!
Thanks to all the people who take the time to document different processes and operations that save us time, give us ideas, and make building instruments easier,,,
Thanks to Lance and Brock for making this site possible....
Thanks to Tim Spittle for patience in our business dealing and Brad Goodman and Shane and Ed Dicks and BobC and everyone else Ive done buiness with - who have all been exceptional to deal with - without exception!!!!
Thanks to Dan for offering the spalted alder, and for cluing me into the VILG... and DannyV and all the others I met at "Guitars by Hand 1"
and Thanks to John Abercrombie for his advice about the local woodworking and luthiery scenes...
Thanks to the other sites dealing with luthiery and offering info on the craft out there on the web!
Thanks to everyone who posts and offers advice, banter and encouragement,,, It does make a BIG difference!
Not least of all thanks to my Sweet Amazing wife of 15yrs who has always encouraged and supported me through thick and thin..
So as you can see I do have ALOT to be thankful and grateful for...by the grace of the Great Spirit that guides each of us.
Anyone Ive forgotten Im sorry,,, its not because of a lack of appreciation, but rather because Ive whipped this off the top of my head.. and also because my memory just aint what it used to be..
I only hope I can be as helpful and useful to others as you have all been to me...
With Immense Gratitude,
Cheers
Charlie   

ooops that second picture should look more like this:

sorry
Charlie

Congrats Charlie...you're a wealthy man indeed. Happy Holidays. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Charlie my friend are you SURE you are not a stalker.......

Charlie that is a list that I am very proud to be included in along with such very fine people - all of them!

But you left out the very most important person from your list who is every bit as generous and kind as everyone else - YOU!

You give us all back a great deal every time you post my friend.  Your posts are thoughtful, clear, and always interesting.  And most of all you are inspirational to us all too with this not so easy shared endeavor that we have - guitar building.

I look forward to the day Charlie that I can shake your hand.

Charlie-
Thanks for the mention, though I'm not sure I deserve it.

Best wishes for the season to you and your family!

Here's hoping the New Year sees a bunch of guitars coming out of your shop!

If there's anything you need, just give me a ring- I'm in the book.

Cheers

John

All in all, I believe that Luthiers are some of the best people on earth. So far I havent met one that isnt a good guy.  Generous people too!

Hope to see you building with the new tools soon!

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Reguards,

Ken H

Hey Charlie, That's some list. You are indeed wealthy as Bill mentioned.

I'm honored to be on your list my friend, just wish I could do more. Wish we lived closer together (that's one expensive commute between you and me) I'd come by more often

Looking forward to seeing some guitar progress pictures this coming year. I'm sure you'll be ready to start building within the next couple of months or less.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Thank you Charlie, though I have to say I didn't do anything special. I'm glad the books were of use to you.

We were just talking about getting our acts together and starting the paperwork to get our passports. We'll see what the summer brings.

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Aoibeann

Hesh Rod Lill John etc etc etc
You guys are all great!!
I forgot to mention John Mayes for offering me his DVDs at a real discount!
his DVDs are a real help to someone in my position who doesnt have a more experienced luthier to watch and learn from directly!
Cheers
Charlie