American Lutherie #93 Spring 2008 How would you like to see that view out your shop window everyday? Swiss wood dealer Andrea Florinett does just that. Photo by Greg Hanson This issue is out-of-print. Meet the Maker: Robert Ruck by Jonathon Peterson In many ways, Robert Ruck personifies the Golden Age of American Lutherie. Starting as an enthusiastic teenage guitarist in the ’60s, he has become one of the top makers of classical guitars in the world. In this issue he shares some fascinating stories and thought-provoking philosophy, as well as information on his unusual bracing patterns. How would you like to see that view out your shop window everyday? Swiss wood dealer Andrea Florinett does just that. Photo by Greg Hanson This issue is out-of-print. Our back Cover features a lutherie still-life with an early-20-century Italian violin, a wooden plane, a well-used splitting wedge, and generous portions of Swiss spruce and maple. Photo by Greg Hanson Harp Guitars: Past, Present, and Future with Mike Doolin, Kerry Char, Gary Southwell, and Fred Carlson Who would have thought that the harp guitar would rise again to become the cutting edge of guitar design? Four fine makers discuss their new design directions and developments. A Mid-19th-Century Martin Guitar by Jeff Liverman When Jeff Liverman saw photos of a rare old Martin guitar in American Lutherie #91, he reached into his files and pulled out a full-scale drawing he had made of a very similar instrument ten years ago. We are pleased to offer it as GAL Instrument Plan #57. This article appears in our anthology book Flattop Guitars. GAL Instrument Plan #57: Mid-19th Century Martin Guitar by Jeff Liverman Reduced plan image appears in article. For more information on the full-scale instrument plan, see GAL Instrument Plan #57. This article appears in our anthology book Flattop Guitars. Meet the Maker: Andrea Florinett by Greg Hanson Who gets to live in the Swiss alps and spend all day working with spruce trees and big old honkin’ loaders and stuff? Certified Swiss forester Andrea Florinett, that’s who! Geometric Design of the Stradivari Model G Violin Pt. 1 by Robert J. Spear Many scholars have tried to crack the code of what Antonio Stradivari was thinking when he designed his body outlines, soundholes, and scrolls. Violin maker Bob Spear things he’s cracked the code. His explanation is based on the use of dividers set to the Golden Proportion. Fabio’s Excellent Nicaraguan Adventure by Mike Moger Mike Moger and Fabio Ragghianti recently taught a class in fine classical guitar making in Nicaragua. Conditions were primitive in this area still struggling to recover from the Sandinista-Contra war. The idea is to help talented local makers create a cottage industry of making quality guitars. Product Reviews by James Condino Mandolin maker James Condino reviews the available mandolin tuning machine brands. Quick Cuts: An Experimental Carbon-Reinforced Guitar by Peter Vile Dutch guitar maker Peter Vile made an experimental guitar featuring a carbon-topped lattice bracing and a wingless bridge. He says it came out great. Letters from our readers Rob Edelstein made an experimental violin with a balsa top and a bass bar made from an old carbon-fiber bow. And the sound post is a sort of wooden leaf spring. It Worked for Me by Mike Doolin and Mike Foulger Mike Doolin shows his setup for making kerfed linings. Mike Foulger uses Friendly Plastic to make a specialized clamping caul. Web Extras View photo gallery for this issue of American Lutherie. American Lutherie #135 – Winter 2018 American Lutherie #134 – Summer 2018 American Lutherie #133 – Spring 2018 American Lutherie #132 – Winter 2017 American Lutherie #131 – Fall 2017 American Lutherie #130 – Summer 2017 American Lutherie #129 – Spring 2017 American Lutherie #128 – Winter 2016 American Lutherie #127 – Fall 2016 American Lutherie #126 – Summer 2016 Journal
