Posted on March 3, 2024May 15, 2025 by Dale Phillips An Interview with Guitarist Roger McGuinn An Interview with Guitarist Roger McGuinn by Rachael Brent Originally published in Guild of American Luthiers Quarterly, Volume 9, #3, 1981 Anyone that has ever seen Roger McGuinn perform knows without a doubt that, unlike many other musicians, McGuinn will never disappoint an audience. His singing, playing, selection of songs, and rapport with his audience convinces all that he is one of the most talented, thoroughly professional musicians in the business. Beginning his career as Jim McGuinn, (later changing over to Roger) he was renowned as a fine banjo player and guitarist in the early 60s. He found a place as a accompanist, writer, and /or arranger for such artists as the Chad Mitchell Trio, the Limelighters, Bobby Darin, Tom and Jerry (later renames Simon and Garfunkel), Judy Collins, and the Brothers Gibb (the Bee Gees). 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 October 31, 2022May 23, 2025 by Dale Phillips A Survey of Guitar Making Books A Survey of Guitar Making Books by Graham McDonald Originally published in American Lutherie #98, 2009 Over the years, I have accumulated quite a few books on building guitars and other stringed instruments, as I’m sure many other instrument builders have. While many of the newer publications get reviewed in American Lutherie and other specialist magazines soon after release, others fly pretty much under the radar and never get much attention or noticed at all. This is a comparative look at most of the books that have been published (at least in English) as instructional manuals over the past fifty years or so. Most have remained in publication over the years and even the ones that are out of print are usually pretty easy to find, especially through such online retailers like AbeBooks (abebooks.com) or Amazon. 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 March 4, 2022May 20, 2025 by Dale Phillips Steve Kauffman: Winnin’ and a-Grinnin’ Steve Kauffman: Winnin’ and a-Grinnin’ by Ted Davis Originally published in American Lutherie #6, 1986 Mention guitar flat-pickers and names like Dan Crary, Tony Rice and Mark O’Connor burst into our minds. To the growing number who know Steve Kauffman, his name flows just as easily and quickly into our thoughts. Steve has many things in common with these “biggies”. For instance only three men have ever won the flat picking championship at Winfield Kansas twice. Mark O’Connor and Steve Kauffman are two of the three. Dan Crary had the following to say about his first meeting with Steve: “One night in the summer of 1977 I had a chance to sit down and join with some fine guitar players in Knoxville, Tennessee. One of the things I remember about that gathering is the looks of respect and awe several of the pickers gave Steve Kauffman when he came over and sat down. I soon found out why: Steve is one of the best young flatpickers in the country. And along with his flair for the hot and flashy, he has some additional ammunition like power, clarity and musical taste. All those things make him an out-of-the-ordinary guitar man. The music is up beat, hot and melodic. When it’s over you feel like you’ve heard the tune and you’ve learned a couple of things about guitar and mandolin playing and you’ve enjoyed yourself besides.” (From the cover of Steve’s first album “Footloose”.) 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 March 4, 2022May 21, 2025 by Dale Phillips Mossman Truss Rod Adjustment Mossman Truss Rod Adjustment by S.L. Mossman Originally published as Guild of American Luthier's Data Sheet #263, 1983 Explanation of the Truss Rod and how it Works The steel rod is laid in at a curve. The curve extends from the first fret and tapers off at the ninth fret. Since the rod is anchored at both ends, when the nut end is tightened it simply shortens the rod by pulling the curve out of the rod and straightening itself, forcing the low part of the rod up and pulling the hight point down, which is the point of least resistance, causing a back bow in the neck. 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 August 12, 2021May 19, 2025 by Dale Phillips Bending Sides with Silicone Blankets Bending Sides with Silicone Blankets by Michael Keller from his 1990 GAL Convention workshop Originally published in American Lutherie #25, 1991 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Three, 2004 Althrough I attended the 1977 Guild convention in Tacoma, I exhibited my instruments for the first time at the following year’s convention in Winfield, Kansas. I visited Stuart Mossman’s shop while I was there, and I saw the side-bending mold that he had. It must have cost a fortune. It was about the size of a Volkswagen van standing on end, and it had all sorts of hydraulic pumps and pistons. In a production shop that kind of tooling might make sense, but for a small shop like mine, making twenty to thirty instruments a year and bending wood for repairs, I don’t need that kind of investment. I bent sides for years over a hot pipe I bought at Lewis Music in Vancouver, B.C. I had to work at a regular job and save money for quite a while before I could afford to buy two Overholtzer side-bending molds. A friend of mine had a custom mold made by the Overholtzer company, and it cost $1,000, I believe. That’s a lot of money. I can bend guitar sides with either a hot pipe or a cast mold quickly and accurately, but I am in this to make a living, and if I can save time and money I will do it. That’s why I prefer my new method. By the way, would anybody like to buy two nice Overholtzer molds? 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.
