Posted on January 11, 2010May 23, 2025 by Dale Phillips Letter: Electric Violins Letter: Electric Violins by Mike Zimmerman Originally published in American Lutherie #92, 2007 Dear GAL: Back when I was a full-time luthier, I was the chief designer for the Amazing Musical Instrument Co. of Toronto, Canada, from 1987 to 1989. I’ve been out of the business for many years now, although lutherie is a serious hobby. But memories came flooding back when a friend e-mailed me from New York to say he’d seen my name on an electric violin that was on display at — of all places — the Museum of Modern Art! I’d known the museum had acquired an Amazing Violin back in 1991 for their permanent industrial design collection, but to my knowledge it had never been publicly exhibited. Here’s the story: Twenty years ago, the Amazing Violin was patented and promoted as the world’s most ergonomically correct violin. Guitar-style tuners are mounted on the body within easy right-hand reach, and the output jack throws the cable neatly over the player’s left shoulder. There is also a fully adjustable built-in shoulder support. A one-piece chambered mahogany body has a piezoelectric pickup in the chamber under the bridge. This allows the bridge to be adjusted like a standard violin bridge as there are no wires attached. 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 11, 2010May 28, 2025 by Dale Phillips Review: Mandolin Magazine Review: Mandolin Magazine Reviewed by Randy Allen Originally published in American Lutherie #60, 1999 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Five, 2008 Mandolin Magazine www.mandolinmagazine.com The premiere issue of Mandolin Magazine announces that this is a quarterly magazine for mandolin players and enthusiasts, welcome news to be sure! There has been much renewed interest in the mandolin of late, and editor Ginny Hollon has done a fine job of presenting us with this new magazine. The magazine is full of articles that are of interest to mandolin players and builders. Luthier Ken Cartwright, whom I met at Wintergrass several years ago, writes a regular column called MandoMedic. This issue had a very informative installment on mandolin bridges. 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 26, 2025 by Dale Phillips Letter: The End of Experimental Musical Instruments Magazine Letter: The End of Experimental Musical Instruments Magazine by Bart Hopkin Originally published in American Lutherie #53, 1998 Dear Friend, Experimental Musical Instruments will publish its last issue in the summer of 1999. By that time, the magazine will have been in existence for fourteen years. I’ve made this decision now, in the hope that with advance planning I’ll be able to handle the shut-down smoothly, without leaving promised articles unpublished, subscription terms half-filled, and similar loose ends. After the magazine stops, EMI as an organization will continue to exist on a smaller scale, taking orders for the back issues, tapes, books, and other items that we will continue to make available. Several factors led to this decision. There are the inevitable financial considerations, and also the personal stuff — like maybe it’s time for the editor to open more space for other things in his life. Arching over all that is a sense that the time is right. I feel that the best EMI will have had to offer under my editorship has been realized over the last few years. I used to have a long list of article topics that EMI must cover someday, from pyrophones and aeolian harps to the work of people like Bill Colvig or Harry Bertoia. Now EMI has at least made a bow to most of the topics on the list. On a broader level, EMI has attempted to document the creative work in a particular field of endeavor over an extended period of time. In doing so it has helped to create and define and support the field. So I’m happy! 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 19, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Guitarron Strings Questions: Guitarron Strings by John Decker Originally published in American Lutherie #25, 1991 John Decker from Puunene, HI called to answer Allen Howland’s question regarding guitarrón strings. They are available from Pimemtel Guitars, 3316 Lafayette Dr., NE, Albuquerque, NM (505) 884-1669.
Posted on January 10, 2010May 23, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Hurdy-Gurdies Questions: Hurdy-Gurdies by Debbie Suran, and Harry Schwab Originally published in American Lutherie #33, 1993 We received two more answers to Mario Daigle’s request for information regarding hurdy-gurdies. Debbie Suran from Deer Isle, ME writes: I know of one book devoted to the hurdy-gurdy: The Hurdy-Gurdy by Susan Palmer, David and Charles Publ., North Pomfret, VT 05053, ISBN 0-7153-7888-0. It’s rather dry, but you have to take what you can get. Harry Schwab from Plymouth, MI writes: A nice kit for the hurdy-gurdy is made by Musicmaker’s Kits, Inc., 423 S. Main, Stillwater, MN 55082.
