Wednesday, July 5
1:00pm Registration check-in
2:30pm Workshops (concurrent):
◆Larry Fitzgerald and Evan Gluck, Electric Guitar Repair: Setups, Frets, and Inspiration
◆Stephen Marchione, Spirit Varnishing an Archtop Guitar, Spanish Guitar, or Violin
◆ Pat Megowan, Hand Planes: Effective Sharpening and Use
◆ Science and Technology Seminar
7:30pm Concert: Pearl Django, Hot Club-style jazz group

Thursday, July 6
8:30am Lecture:
◆ Federico Sheppard, The Guitars of Augustin Barrios: History of the Guitar Rewritten
10:30am Workshops (concurrent):
◆ Mike Doolin, Replicating Existing Archtop Plates with 3D Probing and CNC
◆ Alex Glasser and Brian Michael, Acoustic Guitar Repair: Worn Out Frets and Sticky Necks
◆ Classical Guitar Listening Session with Jeff Elliott, moderator
1:00pm Workshops (concurrent):
◆ Pat Megowan, The Alluring Ukulele: A Design Adventure
◆ Jeffrey Yong, Alternative Woods for Instrument Making
◆ Stephen Marchione, Marchione Fretting Techniques
3:30pm–6:00pm Exhibition (open to registered participants only)
8:00pm Concert: Michael Partington, classical guitar

Friday, July 7
8:30am Lecture:
◆ Barry Grzebik, Thoughtful Electric Guitar Deisgn
10:30am Workshops (concurrent):
◆ James Buckland, Proportional Design Aesthetics of the Early Guitar
◆ Federico Sheppard, The Simplicio Classical Guitar Bridge: Elegance and Genius
◆ Steel String Guitar Listening Session with Mike Doolin, moderator
1:00pm Workshops (concurrent):
◆ Todd Cambio, Making Instrument Cases
◆ James Condino, Vacuum Laminating Sides, and Beyond
◆ Electric Guitar Listening Skills with Jason Lollar, moderator
3:00pm–6:00pm Exhibition (open to registered participants only)
8:00pm Concert: Alex de Grassi, steel string guitar

Saturday, July 8
8:30am Lecture:
◆ Todd Cambio, Finding Inspiration in Early 20th-Century Instruments
10:30am Workshops (concurrent):
◆ Monica Esparza, The 18-Hole Classical Guitar Bridge
◆ Alex Glasser, A Brief History of American Steel String Guitar Building
◆ Ukulele Listening Session with Nathan Ching, moderator
1:00pm–5:00pm Exhibition (open to public)
7:30pm GAL Benefit Auction

Sunday, July 9
9:00am Lecture:
◆ Monica Esparza, Homage to José Romanillos in Badalona, Spain
10:30am Lecture:
◆ Steve Kauffman, A Steel-String Guitar Maker's Journey
2:00pm–5:00pm GAL Headquarters Open House

 

Presentation Descriptions

Wednesday, July 5, 2:30pm – Workshop: Electric Guitar Repair: Setups, Frets, and Inspiration
Participants: Larry Fitzgerald and Evan Gluck
Evan and Larry will demonstrate and discuss several ways to get your setups and fret work dialed in. Topics will include: Why its so important to do good setups. How to develop your "brand" of setups. Fret leveling and installation. What has inspired us of late and where to get inspiration in guitar repair.

Wednesday, July 5, 2:30pm – Workshop: Spirit Varnishing an Archtop Guitar, Spanish Guitar, or Violin
Stephen Marchione

Wednesday, July 5, 2:30pm – Workshop: Hand Planes: Effective Sharpening and Use
Pat Megowan
There are innumerable uses for a tool that works quietly, cleanly, and pleasurably at .001" resolution. Topics include the surprising diversity of uses, choosing planes, sharpening easily, setting up for a cut, reading wood, work-holding, technique, difficult woods, pitfalls, and when to reach for a scraper (or bourbon). We will make shavings.

Wednesday, July 5, 2:30pm – Workshop: Science and Technology Seminar

Thursday, July 6, 8:30am – Lecture: The Guitars of Augustin Barrios: History of the Guitar Rewritten
Federico Sheppard
Using the Paraguyan guitar composer Agustín Barrios as a reference point, the guitar world will be turned on its head by new research discoveries that will rewrite the history of the guitar as we know it. Other topics to be covered include a history lesson in woodworking steel tools, comments on luthier longevity, immortality, and as always, surprises.

Thursday, July 6, 10:30am – Workshop: Replicating Existing Archtop Plates with 3D Probing and CNC
Mike Doolin
Scanning the back of an existing archtop guitar with a 3D touch probe to create a 3d model of the arch. Importing the model into CAD/CAM software and manipulating it to create the inside and outside arches for both top and back plates. Carving the plates on CNC.

Thursday, July 6, 10:30am – Workshop: Acoustic Guitar Repair: Worn Out Frets and Sticky Necks
Participants: Alex Glasser and Brian Michael
Alex and Brian will be discussing various guitar repair techniques, while demonstrating some of them live. Topics will include binding repair, truss rod repairs, and common repairs on Martin guitars.

Thursday, July 6, 10:30am – Classical Guitar Listening Session
Moderator: Jeff Elliott
Hear contemporary maker's guitars in brief performances played by a professional in a concert setting. This is not a competitive event. Rather, it's an opportunity to test your objectivity, and glean cause-and-effect impressions of how various tone woods and top bracing designs influence the sound.

Thursday, July 6, 1:00pm – Workshop: The Alluring Ukulele: A Design Adventure
Pat Megowan
What sort of ukulele might Julian Bream have enjoyed playing? How about Jimmy Page, or Ani DiFranco? Less speculatively, what about great contemporary players like James Hill, Donald Bousted, Gerald Ross, or Philip Griffin? Early thoughts on a journey of exploration.

Thursday, July 6, 1:00pm – Workshop: Alternative Woods for Instrument Making
Jeffrey Yong

Thursday, July 6, 1:00pm – Workshop: Marchione Fretting Techniques
Stephen Marchione

Friday, July 7, 8:30am – Lecture: Thoughtful Electric Guitar Deisgn
Barry Grzebik

Friday, July 7, 10:30am – Workshop: Proportional Design Aesthetics of the Early Guitar
James Buckland
Proportional ratios and geometry were once the primary tools of design and layout aesthetics. They were also considered essential to the construction of harmonious musical instruments. Learn about their application in historical early guitars, and how you can apply them to your own work

Friday, July 7, 10:30am – Workshop: The Simplicio Classical Guitar Bridge: Elegance and Genius
Federico Sheppard
Francisco Simplicio never made a guitar before he turned 45, but before his death at age 58 he set a standard of guitarmaking excellence never equalled. The Simplico bridge at first glance looks like most other bridges, but this lecture will give the methodology of constructing and fitting the exquisite Simplicio bridge using common tools.

Friday, July 7, 10:30am – Steel String Guitar Listening Session
Moderator: Mike Doolin
Hear your guitar in a brief performance by a professional in a concert hall setting. It’s an opportunity to test your objectivity, and glean cause-and-effect impressions of how various tone woods and top bracing designs influence the sound.

Friday, July 7, 1:00pm – Workshop: Making Instrument Cases
Todd Cambio

Friday, July 7, 1:00pm – Workshop: Vacuum Laminating Sides, and Beyond
James Condino

Friday, July 7, 1:00pm – Electric Guitar Listening Skills
Moderator: Jason Lollar

Saturday, July 8, 8:30am – Lecture: Finding Inspiration in Early 20th-Century Instruments
Todd Cambio

Saturday, July 8, 10:30am – Workshop: The 18-Hole Classical Guitar Bridge
Mónica Esparza

Saturday, July 8, 10:30am – Workshop: A Brief History of American Steel String Guitar Building
Alex Glasser
A journey through the world of guitar building from 1833's arrival of the Martin family in New York until the present day. Will focus on the progression, improvements in manufacturing, trends and the overall creative spirit of the entrepreneurial guitar builders of the last 200 years.

Saturday, July 8, 10:30am – Ukulele Listening Session
Moderator: Nathan Ching

Sunday, July 9, 9:00am – Lecture: Homage to José Romanillos in Badalona, Spain
Mónica Esparza

Sunday, July 9, 10:30am – Lecture: A Steel-String Guitar Maker's Journey
Steve Kauffman