Web Extras American Lutherie #107 - Fall 2011 Page 12 - Lutherie: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow by R.E. Bruné The Lute Maker’s Guild was formed in Füssen in 1562 with about 20 members. Their articles of incorporation laid out the stringent regulations under which a member had to comply in order to enter and stay within the trade, which was protected by royal fiat. Page 40 - Meet the Maker: George Gruhn by Roger Alan Skipper George Gruhn describes these banjos in his collection (left to right): 1923 Vega style 9 original five string; 1950s tenor banjo handmade by Fred Van Eps, extremely rare, the only one like it I have seen; Van Eps tenor banjo probably made in the mid-1930s; 1950s original flush-fret scalloped fingerboard 5-string banjo handmade by Fred Van Eps, one of only about fifty made; AA Farland original 5-string banjo circa 1915 previously owned by John Hartford (I was the executor of his estate); circa 1930 Van Eps model 5-string made by Lyon & Healey; late 1930s Paramount Supreme model made by Clifford Essex in England (no relation to New-York-made Paramount banjos); 1950s original 5-string flush-frets Van Eps handmade by Fred, one of about fifty made. More instruments from the Gruhn prototypes room. (image 1 of 2) More instruments from the Gruhn prototypes room. (image 2 of 2) Derek takes a few minutes to evaluate the features of a Skipper “New Vintage Series” mandolin. Chill-laxin' with author Roger Alan Skipper and the guitar he made to Gruhn’s specs. Derek Zelenka, Roger, and Andy Jellison talk about lutherie in general and the Roger/George guitar in particular. (image 1 of 2) Chill-laxin' with author Roger Alan Skipper and the guitar he made to Gruhn’s specs. Derek Zelenka, Roger, and Andy Jellison talk about lutherie in general and the Roger/George guitar in particular. (image 2 of 2) Lin Crowson in the Gruhn shop resets the neck on a vintage Martin guitar by “flossing” the neck joint. (image 1 of 4) Lin Crowson in the Gruhn shop resets the neck on a vintage Martin guitar by “flossing” the neck joint. (image 2 of 4) Lin Crowson in the Gruhn shop resets the neck on a vintage Martin guitar by “flossing” the neck joint. (image 3 of 4) Lin Crowson in the Gruhn shop resets the neck on a vintage Martin guitar by “flossing” the neck joint. (image 4 of 4) Dig the crazy aftermarket art. (image 1 of 2) Dig the crazy aftermarket art. (image 2 of 2) Lin Crowson shows “one of ours” – a guitar that he is considering buying for his own.
