Posted on January 10, 2010May 23, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Lute Strings Questions: Lute Strings by Robert Lundberg Originally published in American Lutherie #39, 1994 Robert Lundberg from Portland, Oregon responds to the oft-asked question, “Where do I get lute strings?” AQUILA String-Makers S.a.s., Via Costantini 16, 36100 Vicenza, Italy. Gut strings and plain nylon. Boston Catlines (Olav Chris Henriksen), 34 Newbury Street, Sommerville, MA 02144 (716-776-8688). Savarez nylon strings, catlines, and plain gut strings. Donna Curry’s Music, 1780 Fort Union Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Pyramid and gut strings. E. & O. Mari, Inc., 256 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550. La Bella nylon and gut strings. Gamut Musical Strings (Daniel Larson), 26 N. 28th Ave. E., Duluth, MN 55812 (800-723-8011). Makes many types of gut strings. Pyramid Strings, Saiten und Stimmpfeifenfabrik Junger GmbH, P.O. Box 6, 91088 Bubenreuth/Erlangen, Germany. Overspun and plain nylon strings, gut strings, and frets. Savarez, B.P. 4356, 69242 Lyon Cedex 4, France. Sofracob S.A., Zone Industrielle, 38121 Reventin-Vaugris, France. Plain gut strings and frets.
Posted on January 10, 2010May 19, 2025 by Dale Phillips Letter: Koestler’s “The Act of Creation” Letter: Koestler’s “The Act of Creation” by Richard Schneider Originally published in American Lutherie #17, 1989 Tim: In my lecture to the 1978 GAL convention, I made a strong pitch for Arthur Koestler’s 1964 work The Act of Creation as a useful and great book. The Guild ran an interview with me in which I was quoted as recommending it. More than 10 years later, in SIGNAL: Communication Tools for the Information Age, a Whole Earth Catalog, Stewart Brand had the following to say about it: “Koestler takes his notion of bisociation to be the root of humor, discovery, and art. I take it to be one of the roots of learning, subject to applications of method (on yourself or whomever). Koestler is a scientist of some reputation by now. This is the book — on how discovery of every kind really occurs in the mind — that gave him the reputation. His most lasting contribution. Get this book back in print!”
Posted on January 10, 2010May 23, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Weissenborn Guitar Questions: Weissenborn Guitar by Marvin E. Shaw Originally published in American Lutherie #39, 1994 Marvin E. Shaw from Gainesville, Florida responds to Bob May’s inquiry regarding his Weissenborn guitar: Herman W. Weissenborn built koa wood guitars designed for Hawaiian-style playing. He built them from 1916 until his death in 1936. I believe his shop was in Los Angeles, CA. His designs were unique and rather interesting, but apparently were not widely accepted.
Posted on January 10, 2010May 29, 2025 by Dale Phillips Letter: The Hammered Dulcimer Business Letter: The Hammered Dulcimer Business by Christopher Foss Originally published in American Lutherie #63, 2000 Hey Tim, Back in 1991 I noticed a letter from John Calkin in AL#26 complete with photos of a mandolin family he’d made. The sides weren’t smoothly curved, but kerfed in four places and bent at those angles. They looked pretty cool, and John stated he’d made them in three days from lumber to spraying. I thought if he could do that, surely I could build one with bent sides in somewhat the same time. So I set to work in my Dad’s shop and made a nice little flattop mandolin. It’s based roughly on an antique Washburn where a large block forms little horns and the sides are glued to the ends of the block. You actually see part of the block in the finished instrument. I got it done in twenty-one hours honest time including designing, making the jigs, spraying, fretting, and everything. I still have that instrument and still play it. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of our premium web content offered to Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. Members also receive 4 annual issues of American Lutherie and get discounts on products. For details, visit the membership page. If you are already a member, login for access or contact us to setup your account.
Posted on January 10, 2010May 30, 2025 by Dale Phillips Letter: Luthiers Must Offer What Factories Can’t Letter: Luthiers Must Offer What Factories Can’t by Alan Carruth Originally published in American Lutherie #63, 2000 GAL, I was very taken with Woody Vernice’s review of the Taylor neck design video in AL#62, but I think he sells himself short. As impressive as the video is, I don’t think the joint is beyond the ability of most luthiers to cut to the required accuracy. Of course, it would take us longer by hand than it takes Bob’s machine! Woody’s overall point is well taken, though. If we are to justify our existence (and our prices!) we have to be offering something that the factories can’t. If you leave out the stash of endangered materials, two possibilities spring to mind: visual art, and tone. There are a number of builders exploiting the aspect of visual creativity. In most cases this takes the form of some sort of “applied” art; whether it be a distinctive soundhole rosette, carving, or inlay work. Often the decorative scheme of an entire guitar will be keyed to one such distinctive element, making it a unique work. In some ways this is the path of least resistance. Luthiers have always built highly-decorated instruments for the elite market. It is easy to add a little pizzazz by slapping on a bunch of pearl, but that way leads in the end to the Rococo and Mannerism: the elaboration of form to the ultimate detriment of function. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of our premium web content offered to Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. Members also receive 4 annual issues of American Lutherie and get discounts on products. For details, visit the membership page. If you are already a member, login for access or contact us to setup your account.
