Posted on September 17, 2024September 18, 2024 by Dale Phillips Fall Collection 2024 Articles Online Fall Collection 2024 GAL Members – Login first before clicking on article titles to read the full articles. Not a 2024 member? You can join or renew here. Radiation from Lower Guitar Modes by Graham Caldersmith (1985) Caldersmith discusses the efficiency and pattern of sound radiation in the classic guitar produced by the four lower resonance modes, which he calls monopole, cross dipole, long dipole, and tripole. Inside Pacific Rim Tonewoods by Steve McMinn (1993) McMinn’s lutherie wood business has turned out to be a pretty big deal. Here we gain perspective by seeing it at the very beginning. The Great White Sitka by Jeffrey R. Elliott (1993) Holy Moby Spruce! How does one hack a log that’s eleven feet wide into 4000 guitar tops? Very carefully! By the way, this is a log that Steve McMinn rescued from the pulp mill. Meet the Maker: Bernard Millant by Jonathon Peterson (2006) Millant is a violin maker, a bow maker, an appraiser, an author, and a man of high repute within the violin world. The depth of training behind many old-school fiddle people will astonish most guitar makers, and it makes for entrancing reading. Meet the Maker: Dmitry Zhevlakov by Federico Sheppard (2007) This is not only the story of a Russian luthier who also makes beautiful rosettes for other builders, but is another example of how the Internet has changed the world — in this case for better. Aluminum Sonatas: A Brief History of Aluminum Stringed Instruments in the Last 120 Years by James Condino (2007) Every luthier knows how fickle and finicky the market is, so it’s no wonder that musical instruments made of aluminum didn’t catch on. Examined here are a violin, a mandolin, and a pair of bass viols. Fun stuff! Mechanical Compliance for Soundboard Optimization by David Hurd (2007) Hurd believes that the fastest way to great instruments is science, and it’s hard to argue with such a rational man. His jigs measure the deflection of top plates while under tension, and once he carves the top and braces to the numbers he wants, he’s done. This could be math heavy, but he offers an Internet spread sheet to ease the pain. Construction of the Colombian Tiple by Anamaria Paredes Garcia and R.M. Mottola (2007) Cross a 12-string flattop with a classical guitar and you get the Colombian tiple. The tiple has four courses of three steel strings, but on the inside, it’s a classical. Follow Alberto Paredes as he builds the instrument in this photo tour. See GAL Plan #51. Meet the Maker: Mervyn Davis by Rodney Stedall (2007) Davis’ South African upbringing inspires a wonderful decorative sense in his instruments. He’s built a ton of different stuff but may end up best known for his wildly unique modular guitars called Smooth Talkers. Cricket: A Reclaimed Salvage Recovery by James Condino (2007) Condino’s mandolin is made from recycled materials, mostly Douglas fir and katalox. It is unique and beautiful, and the story behind it is pretty cool, too. Grading on the Curves: Fitting Bars and Bridges on Archtop Guitars by Steve Andersen (2007) This is a very detailed look at how a notable builder of archtop guitars fits tone bars and bridges to his instruments. The Venezuelan Cuatro by Aquiles Torres (2008) Traditionally, this instrument is a small 4-string guitar with 14 frets clear, no frets over the body, a flush fretboard, and a large veneer tap plate. Note that the cuatro built for the article has 17 frets clear of the body. See GAL Plan #58. The MacRostie Mandolin Deflection Jig by Don MacRostie (2008) MacRostie’s clever jig measures the top deflection of a carved mandolin under string load at any stage of its construction. It is a valuable tool within the reach of any luthier. The “Corker” Guitar: A Sideport Experiment by Alan Carruth (2008) Carruth built a classical guitar with many small ports drilled in the side. By plugging the ports in various combinations he investigated the usefulness and physics behind them. Though this guitar did not make a believer out of him, he admits that his results are somewhat inconclusive. Electric Guitar Setup by Erick Coleman and Elliot John-Conry (2009) Two disciples of Dan Erlewine explain the latest techniques of setting up the electric guitar. All the details and specs are there, as well as a bit of philosophy. Dulcimer 101 by John Calkin (2009) Dulcimers are needlessly maligned and in need of advocates, and the author is a strong one. Tools and jiggery are kept to a minimum to make construction of this entry level instrument as accessible as possible. The Guitar as a Structure and Some Practical Information on Bracing by James Blilie (2009) A structural engineer and guitar builder sees the guitar as a thing buffeted by forces and stresses. Total Flame Out: Retopping a Harp Guitar by Harry Fleishman (2009) Harry replaces the failed soundboard on a complicated instrument with as little refinishing and other stress as possible. Strings: The (Often) Forgotten Accessory by Fan Tao (2010) D’Addario's resident scientist Fan Tao helps us understand string issues in relation to custom instruments and customized tuning. Practical Acoustics by Michael Cone (2010) Cone describes his advanced apparatus and method for acoustically testing classical guitars. Meet the Maker: James Ham by Roger Alan Skipper (2010) Ham operates from a shop in Victoria, B.C. where he repairs and restores violin family instruments and constructs world class double basses. It’s All About the Core or How to Estimate Compensation by Sjaak Elmendorp (2010) Mathematics and parameters used to address the problem of string compensation estimation. Articles Online Fall Collection 2024 Radiation from Lower Guitar Modes by Graham Caldersmith (1985) Caldersmith discusses the efficiency and pattern of sound radiation in the classic guitar produced by the four lower resonance modes, which he calls monopole, cross dipole, long dipole, and tripole. Inside Pacific Rim Tonewoods by Steve McMinn (1993) McMinn's lutherie wood business has turned out to be a pretty big deal. Here we gain perspective by seeing it at the very beginning. The Great White Sitka by Jeffrey R. Elliott (1993) Holy Moby Spruce! How does one hack a log that’s eleven feet wide into 4000 guitar tops? Very carefully! By the way, this is a log that Steve McMinn rescued from the pulp mill. Meet the Maker: Bernard Millant by Jonathon Peterson (2006) Millant is a violin maker, a bow maker, an appraiser, an author, and a man of high repute within the violin world. The depth of training behind many old-school fiddle people will astonish most guitar makers, and it makes for entrancing reading. Meet the Maker: Dmitry Zhevlakov by Federico Sheppard (2007) This is not only the story of a Russian luthier who also makes beautiful rosettes for other builders, but is another example of how the Internet has changed the world — in this case for better. Aluminum Sonatas: A Brief History of Aluminum Stringed Instruments in the Last 120 Years by James Condino (2007) Every luthier knows how fickle and finicky the market is, so it’s no wonder that musical instruments made of aluminum didn’t catch on. Examined here are a violin, a mandolin, and a pair of bass viols. Fun stuff! Mechanical Compliance for Soundboard Optimization by David Hurd (2007) Hurd believes that the fastest way to great instruments is science, and it’s hard to argue with such a rational man. His jigs measure the deflection of top plates while under tension, and once he carves the top and braces to the numbers he wants, he’s done. This could be math heavy, but he offers an Internet spread sheet to ease the pain. Construction of the Colombian Tiple by Anamaria Paredes Garcia and R.M. Mottola (2007) Cross a 12-string flattop with a classical guitar and you get the Colombian tiple. The tiple has four courses of three steel strings, but on the inside, it’s a classical. Follow Alberto Paredes as he builds the instrument in this photo tour. See GAL Plan #51. Meet the Maker: Mervyn Davis by Rodney Stedall (2007) Davis’ South African upbringing inspires a wonderful decorative sense in his instruments. He’s built a ton of different stuff but may end up best known for his wildly unique modular guitars called Smooth Talkers. Cricket: A Reclaimed Salvage Recovery by James Condino (2007) Condino’s mandolin is made from recycled materials, mostly Douglas fir and katalox. It is unique and beautiful, and the story behind it is pretty cool, too. Grading on the Curves: Fitting Bars and Bridges on Archtop Guitars by Steve Andersen (2007) This is a very detailed look at how a notable builder of archtop guitars fits tone bars and bridges to his instruments. The Venezuelan Cuatro by Aquiles Torres (2008) Traditionally, this instrument is a small 4-string guitar with 14 frets clear, no frets over the body, a flush fretboard, and a large veneer tap plate. Note that the cuatro built for the article has 17 frets clear of the body. See GAL Plan #58. The MacRostie Mandolin Deflection Jig by Don MacRostie (2008) MacRostie’s clever jig measures the top deflection of a carved mandolin under string load at any stage of its construction. It is a valuable tool within the reach of any luthier. The “Corker” Guitar: A Sideport Experiment by Alan Carruth (2008) Carruth built a classical guitar with many small ports drilled in the side. By plugging the ports in various combinations he investigated the usefulness and physics behind them. Though this guitar did not make a believer out of him, he admits that his results are somewhat inconclusive. Electric Guitar Setup by Erick Coleman and Elliot John-Conry (2009) Two disciples of Dan Erlewine explain the latest techniques of setting up the electric guitar. All the details and specs are there, as well as a bit of philosophy. Dulcimer 101 by John Calkin (2009) Dulcimers are needlessly maligned and in need of advocates, and the author is a strong one. Tools and jiggery are kept to a minimum to make construction of this entry level instrument as accessible as possible. The Guitar as a Structure and Some Practical Information on Bracing by James Blilie (2009) A structural engineer and guitar builder sees the guitar as a thing buffeted by forces and stresses. Total Flame Out: Retopping a Harp Guitar by Harry Fleishman (2009) Harry replaces the failed soundboard on a complicated instrument with as little refinishing and other stress as possible. Strings: The (Often) Forgotten Accessory by Fan Tao (2010) D'Addario's resident scientist Fan Tao helps us understand string issues in relation to custom instruments and customized tuning. Practical Acoustics by Michael Cone (2010) Cone describes his advanced apparatus and method for acoustically testing classical guitars. Meet the Maker: James Ham by Roger Alan Skipper (2010) Ham operates from a shop in Victoria, B.C. where he repairs and restores violin family instruments and constructs world class double basses. It’s All About the Core or How to Estimate Compensation by Sjaak Elmendorp (2010) Mathematics and parameters used to address the problem of string compensation estimation.
Posted on July 16, 2024August 8, 2024 by Dale Phillips It Worked for Me It Worked for Me by Ralf Grammel, Robert W. Taylor, and Steve Kennel Originally published in American Lutherie #152, July 2024 ■ This little Dremel Tool jig lets you perform on-the-body rosette repairs cleanly and accurately. In the photos, I’m adding rings to the inside of a finished rosette. You will need: ▶ a […] To access this post, you must purchase Guild Membership – United States, 2024, Guild Membership – United States, 2024 + 2025, Guild Membership – Canada, 2024 + 2025, Guild Membership – Canada, 2024, Guild Membership – Outside U.S. and Canada, 2024, Guild Membership – Outside U.S. and Canada, 2024 + 2025, Guild Membership – Outside U.S. and Canada, 2024 Digital Only or Guild Membership – Outside U.S. and Canada, 2024 + 2025 Digital Only.
Posted on July 16, 2024August 22, 2024 by Dale Phillips In Memoriam: Kent Rayman In Memoriam: Kent Rayman August 22, 1949 — May 16, 2024 by Jeffrey R. Elliott Originally published in American Lutherie #152, July 2024 From 1973 through 1976 my shop was in downtown Portland, Oregon, where I had four full-time apprentices building and repairing guitars. One day in 1975 Kent Rayman walked in, introduced himself, and asked if he could interview me for the Guild of American Luthiers Quarterly newsletter. I did not know of the Guild yet, so this was my introduction; a fortuitous day for me if ever there was one. All photos courtesy of Jeffrey R. Elliott. With our common interest and passion for instrument making we became friends, and two years later, Kent began a two-year apprenticeship with me. It was during this time that Gary Bennett, a dear friend of Kent’s, began his comic strip “Kent ’n’ Jeff,” which ran in the GAL Quarterly for a time. Not only was Kent an adept student, but he brought with him a knowledge of machinery and jig making that benefited the shop — I’m primarily a hand-tool worker, so there was also something of an exchange, where the student teaches the teacher. We kept in touch over the years, which spanned several shops for Kent. An early one was shared with fellow luthier Christopher Burt, and together they developed the Oregon Bass, a full-scale upright electric solidbody instrument, complete with an end pin. Around that time, Kent also became an authorized Martin repair center, something he took great satisfaction in. Kent never lost his interest and love for instrument making, and in later years enjoyed teaching woodworking and the use of power tools to others, whether or not in the trade. I’ll remember Kent most for his thoughtful, careful way of working, his calmness in all situations, his reverence for the planet and all life, and his ready sense of humor. — Jeffrey R. Elliott
Posted on July 16, 2024August 8, 2024 by Dale Phillips Supplemental String-Action Data for the Spanish Guitar Supplemental String-Action Data for the Spanish Guitar by Federico Sheppard Originally published in American Lutherie #152, July 2024 Proper setup, neck relief, and string heights are critical to the sound and playability of the Spanish guitar, but little has been published on this important aspect of guitar construction and repair. The outstanding reference volume, […] To access this post, you must purchase Guild Membership – United States, 2024, Guild Membership – United States, 2024 + 2025, Guild Membership – Canada, 2024 + 2025, Guild Membership – Canada, 2024, Guild Membership – Outside U.S. and Canada, 2024, Guild Membership – Outside U.S. and Canada, 2024 + 2025, Guild Membership – Outside U.S. and Canada, 2024 Digital Only or Guild Membership – Outside U.S. and Canada, 2024 + 2025 Digital Only.
Posted on July 16, 2024August 8, 2024 by Dale Phillips A Simplified Larrivée-Style Binding Jig A Simplified Larrivée-Style Binding Jig by Jon Sevy Originally published in American Lutherie #152, July 2024 This binding jig is a variation on a popular jig attributed to Jean Larrivée. Many of us have made our own versions over the years, though nicely made commercial offerings are now available from several suppliers (Elevate Lutherie […] To access this post, you must purchase Guild Membership – United States, 2024, Guild Membership – United States, 2024 + 2025, Guild Membership – Canada, 2024 + 2025, Guild Membership – Canada, 2024, Guild Membership – Outside U.S. and Canada, 2024, Guild Membership – Outside U.S. and Canada, 2024 + 2025, Guild Membership – Outside U.S. and Canada, 2024 Digital Only or Guild Membership – Outside U.S. and Canada, 2024 + 2025 Digital Only.
