Letters and more from our readers and the GAL Staff Originally published in American Lutherie #155, 2025 Good Ol’ Guild Love Letters   It is important to recognize the great significance that the GAL has given to the wealth and growth of the independent luthier, myself included. Credit must be accorded to all the staff […]

Meet the Maker: Thomas Beltran by Samuel Barnes Originally published in American Lutherie #155, 2025   Dictionaries may blandly define “luthier” as “one who makes stringed musical instruments,” but after nearly six hours of discussion with a real live luthier, I submit the following redefinition: “A uniquely curious, intelligent, affable, and generous creature who delights in […]

An Overview of Richard Schneider’s Guitar-Assembly Process by Thomas Beltran Originally published in American Lutherie #155, 2025   In the Summer of 1983, I studied with Richard Schneider in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and had the opportunity to learn his guitar-building process up close. The process I was using at the time to build classical guitars was based largely […]

The Alluring Ukulele: A Design Adventure by Pat Megowan from his 2023 GAL Convention workshop Originally published in American Lutherie #155, 2025   Maybe it was Tiny Tim on “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In,” or the ’60s plastic uke in the cupboard behind the fireplace; but growing up around my mom’s classical piano, ukuleles had no magic. […]