Posted on December 11, 2019March 7, 2024 by Dale Phillips Seeking the Top Seeking the Top by Michael Sandén previously published in American Lutherie #86, 2006 I have been building guitars for almost twenty-five years. One of the hardest parts of being a luthier is getting the right materials. Through the years I have bought wood from all kinds of people. In the beginning I thought that it was best to buy logs and cut them myself. Sure, I got a better price, but all of the work, and all of the surprises I would sometimes get when I got halfway into a log — wormholes, knots, and sap pockets — could sometimes make my cheap log just cheap; good for nothing but firewood. I moved on to buying wood from dealers who were middlemen that would give you a very good price, but it often turned out that they didn’t know what they were selling. These mistakes made me start to buy wood from well-known dealers, ready-cut, so I could see what I was buying. I have even bought back-and-side wood through the Internet, where the dealer sends pictures. But when it comes to soundboards, I always want to look at them, flex them, and feel the weight. I don’t trust anyone other than myself. At least I didn’t until now. 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 5, 2010March 11, 2024 by Dale Phillips Review: More on Somogyi’s Responsive Guitar Review: More on Somogyi’s Responsive Guitar Reviewed by Michael Sandén Originally published in American Lutherie #102, 2010 I first meet Ervin in 1984. I was in my second year as a wannabe guitar builder, and already I had read about him in Frets magazine. Over the years we have met a few times when I have passed through San Francisco and of course at Guild conventions. I have listened to his workshops and I have read his articles in American Lutherie magazine. When I saw these two thick books of about 300 pages each, I got the feeling that Ervin had left nothing out. Finally someone has taken the time and effort to write all of this down. He goes through the many aspects of the guitar and just tells you his experience (which spans over four decades) of how everything works. Ervin makes a full chapter of some topics that are barely mentioned in many guitar building books. Take for instance the chapter, “The Functions of the Guitar Back.” I have been building guitars for almost thirty years. To now be able to read about these things that have been in my head for so long gives me great satisfaction. 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.
