Posted on June 13, 2024January 22, 2025 by Dale Phillips Carmel 1978: What it Was Carmel 1978: What it Was by David Russell Young Originally published in Guild of American Luthiers Quarterly, Volume 7, #1, 1979 The Carmel Classic Guitar Festival (Nov. 3, 4, & 5) provided a valuable opportunity to exhibit guitars to a large number of interested amateurs and accomplished professionals, as well as a chance for interaction among the luthiers. Several guitars were sold or commissioned as a direct result of the exhibition. It was at the previous festival (May ’77) that I first met Jeff Elliott and was talked into joining the G.A.L. Prior to that time, I had worked pretty much in isolation and assumed it would always be like that. Now, through the G.A.L. conventions, the Carmel Festivals, and the friendships that grew out of them, I have a feeling of community with an expanding network of colleagues. The technical information and materials sources that have come out of this have been as valuable as the personal contact has been enjoyable. Another factor, pointed out by Steve Klein, is that being in the G.A.L. is almost like belonging to a union; you can find out what others of comparable abilities are getting for what work, and make appropriate adjustments. This is more important than it might seem at first glance, as some rather great disparities crop up. 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 June 6, 2024January 15, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Direct to Digital Pickup Questions: Direct to Digital Pickup by Brian Stewart Originally published in American Lutherie #76, 2003 Joel A. Anderson, Port Allegheny, PA asks: I have a computer program called Finale for Guitar. It permits me to enter notes and chords from the guitar directly into the computer by using the keyboard. I am looking for a MIDI pickup for my guitar so I can play a note or a chord and it will go directly into the computer in a digital format. Do you know of such a pickup? Brian Stewart of Blue Springs, MO answers: Roland manufactures the GK-2AH for guitar, the GK-2B for bass, and the GK-KIG-GT for permanent installation into a guitar. I have played a Godin Multiac nylon with the RMC electronics MIDI pickup through a Roland GR-33 guitar processor that worked great. The web addresses are: www.rolandus.com; www.california.com/~bwagon/rmc2.htm. ◆
Posted on June 6, 2024January 17, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Experimental Stringed Instruments Questions: Experimental Stringed Instruments by Bart Hopkin Originally published in American Lutherie #87, 2006 J.B. from the Internet asks: Do you have articles on “experimental” string instruments? I’ve been playing with guitar and bass strings stretched across different resonating bodies of various salvage materials. I knew a man in Montana that made a thing called the wind wagon; it was an old pioneer wagon frame made into a 50-string banjo. The resonator/body was an old dredge pipe reducer about 6' in diameter and the head was thin stainless stretched with a million bolts. It had a huge wooden bridge. He parked it on a windy hillside and it played itself, making an eerie Zen soundtrack oscillating sound that could be heard for miles. I was present when a guy from the Smithsonian recorded the maker playing it with hammers, bows, and other percussion implements. Have you heard of other artists doing similar research? Bart Hopkin of Point Reyes Station, CA answers: There are many people in the USA and abroad making strange and wonderful musical instruments, stringed and otherwise, but it’s not always easy to find them. There are some good resources, though. I’ll plug my own first: If you go to www.windworld.com, you will have entered the world of Experimental Musical Instruments. For many years EMI was the home of a quarterly journal by the same name and devoted to just that topic. The journal is no longer active but back issues are still available along with books and CDs on unusual instruments and their construction. The other great resource is Oddmusic (www.oddmusic.com), a discussion group for unusual instruments and creative instrument making with a large and active following. And if you join Musical Instrument Makers Forum (www.mimf.com) you’ll find a section devoted to “Wind, Percussion, and Miscellaneous and Experimental Instruments” with lots of fertile ideas and good information.
Posted on June 6, 2024January 17, 2025 by Dale Phillips Letter: Replying to Binding Cutter Review Letter: Replying to Binding Cutter Review by Harry Fleishman Originally published in American Lutherie #90, 2007 Dear Tim, et al., I must compliment you on the beautiful cover photos (AL#89). I couldn’t love it more if they were pictures of my own instrument. Seriously, thanks to Jon Peterson for making me look good. Things got even better once I stopped admiring my own work and opened the issue... but not until I got through the very sad news of more luthiers we have lost. It’s simply hard to believe that these vital, generous people are gone, whom we saw and heard, learned from, played with, and shared with so recently. 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 June 6, 2024January 15, 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. ◆
