Posted on June 6, 2024May 28, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Simple Instrument Plan Questions: Simple Instrument Plan by Tim Olsen Originally published in American Lutherie #76, 2003 Russell Lee from cyberspace asks: I have no lutherie experience and would like to purchase a plan for a simple instrument. (I know others who have experience and tools who can help.) Which of the bowed instruments for which you sell plans is the easiest to make? Or is some other plan (other than a bowed instrument) much easier? Tim Olsen, our fearless leader, responds: There is only one GAL plan that I would think of as easy to make. Many are simple instruments, but the plans may not include full instructions, or the subtleties of those instruments may not be apparent. So I'd draw your attention to GAL Plan #44, “True Companion” Travel Guitar by John Calkin. Fairly detailed how-to text is included along with several photos of the building process. No side bending is required. An article and reduced plan appear in AL#57. The plan can be ordered directly from our website at www.luth.org and an image of it can be seen at https://luth.org/instrument-plans/guitar-plans/steel-string-guitar-plans/#Plan44. ◆
Posted on June 6, 2024May 28, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Orpharions Questions: Orpharions by Wes Brandt Originally published in American Lutherie #82, 2005 Lance N. Mearing of cyberspace asks: Who makes orpharions in the U.S.? Wes Brandt of Amsterdam, Holland replies: Unfortunately, I do not know of any orpharion makers in the U.S., but Stephen Barber and Sandi Harris (www.lutesandguitars.co.uk/htm/cat05.htm) are makers in London whom you may wish to contact. ◆
Posted on June 6, 2024May 28, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Where to Get Mandola Plans Questions: Where to Get Mandola Plans by Don MacRostie and Jim Hoover Originally published in American Lutherie #77, 2004 Don MacRostie of Athens (aka Stew-Mac), Ohio responds to Thierry, Bernus Turner, and other's questions regarding where to get a mandola plan. Although I don't know of a plan for a carved-top mandola, the following figures taken from a signed ``Loar'' mandola and a teen's H-1 serial# 75585 should be helpful in proportioning your own from a plan like the F-5 plan from Stew-Mac or GAL Plan #26. Archings on these two instruments were very much like the companion mandolins, and plate thicknesses were essentially the same as for the mandolin. The H-1 had two transverse braces on the top, with the rear brace under the bridge. The Loar was tone-bar braced. The one slightly unusual point on the Loar mandola is that the peghead and the body scrolls were not scaled up with the rest of the instrument. They were basically the same size and shape as those details on the mandolin. The book, The Mandolin Manual: The Art, Craft, and Science of the Mandolin and Mandola by John Troughton is available from Elderly Instruments (www.elderly.com/books/items/542-62.htm). Also, AL#51, Questions column gives some useful information and dimensions. Several websites offer plans for flattop mandolas, though I have not actually seen them: www.touchstonetonewoods.co.uk/ttwp2.html secure.mimf.com/order.htm www.art-robb.co.uk/plans.html Jim Hoover of New Holland, PA adds: The book Making Stringed Instruments — A Workshop Guide, by George Buchanan (Sterling Publishing) has a clean, scale drawing of a flat-top mandola as well as drawings of six other instruments, including violin, viola, cello, mandolin, and classical and archtop guitars with step-by-step do’s and don’ts.
Posted on June 6, 2024May 5, 2025 by Dale Phillips Review: Earl Scruggs and the 5-String Banjo Review: Earl Scruggs and the 5-String Banjo Reviewed by James Arial Originally published in Guild of American Luthiers Newsletter Vol 2 #1, 1974 Earl Scruggs and the 5-String Banjo Peer International Corporation 1740 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10019 This book was published in 1968. It is a comprehensive study of the 5-string banjo including a very well written adn illustrated chapter on banjo construction. The seventeen pages in this section of the book describe all phases of construction except that of making a resonator. There is an excellent segment on inlaying using a unique technique of sandblasting to carve the recesses for fancy work. The book’s $10.95 retail price might scare off the casual luthier, but if you’re interested in Scruggs type picking as well as banjo making it is well worth the price. The technique used by Scruggs is very clearly described in step by step procedure. Thirty-five of his best known songs are presented in easily read tablature. ◆
Posted on June 6, 2024May 23, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Parlor Guitar Plans Questions: Parlor Guitar Plans by Walter Carter Originally published in American Lutherie #90, 2007 ■ Robert W. from the Internet asks: I have been looking on the web for plans for a parlor guitar with floating bridge and tailpiece rather than a pin bridge. Can’t find them. Any ideas? Could you tell me the names of some of the instruments that used this construction so I can look them up? Walter Carter of Nashville replies: I don’t know of any published plans for parlor guitars with floating bridges. Haynes would be the most commonly seen vintage examples, although they are rare. I came across some others in catalogs from Lyon & Healy, from the early 1900s. One catalog is for distributors. It says nothing about L&H but the guitars are clearly theirs, under such models/brands as Jupiter, Columbus, Lakeside, and Marquette. All are cheap ($7–$13) and all have a simple stamped metal tailpiece. From the same general period, another catalog has Lyon & Healy brand College Line guitars with the same cheap tailpieces, priced $3.50–$10. ◆ Christopher D. Tallon provided this picture of the body of an 1856 Haynes guitar with the back off and the center reinforcing strut removed. Photo by Christopher D. Tallon. A catalog illustration of a Jupiter guitar by Lyon & Healy.
