Posted on June 6, 2024January 17, 2025 by Dale Phillips Letter: Lutherie Tips and Stories Letter: Lutherie Tips and Stories by Philippe Refig Originally published in American Lutherie #93, 2008 Dear GAL, When I was at the former College of Furniture in London, one of the students was experimenting with the moulding of violin plates. Instead of carving the plates, he bent them with the help of steam and jigs. I regret not having paid more attention. This was the system that was used in England during the Renaissance for shaping the soundboards of certain viols. By using bending techniques, soundboards could be made thinner and stronger because the grain was following the curves, instead of being cut short as in the carving method. Viol soundboards were made of seven staves, all bent longitudinally and (except for the central one) laterally as well. Very little carving had to be done internally or externally, just some smoothing to shape. 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, 2010February 7, 2024 by Dale Phillips Letter: Remembering Robert Bouchet Letter: Remembering Robert Bouchet by Philippe Refig Originally published in American Lutherie #71, 2002 Dear Sirs, Coming back to Europe in 1973 from America where I had been working for some years, I had the nasty surprise of opening my guitar case in Paris, to find my Contreras flamenco guitar broken. One of the components of the heel had become unstuck. Cracks were wide open on the ribs on each side of the neck. In those times I used to keep my guitar with me in the cabin without having to pay for an extra seat. But that day they took my guitar just before boarding and put in the hold. I thought I was prepared for all eventualities: I had made a rain cover for the case and put polyurethane under it. I had pieces of foam in strategic places inside the case to keep the guitar steady. Well, apparently that was not enough. I was pretty sad when I saw the damage. 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.
