Official Luthiers Forum!

Well, since everybody's doing it...

I am named Mike Snider (actually Robin Michael Snider), and am a Colorado native, living in Denver with my lovely mate Sarah. Never really went to college, so I did odd jobs like ATM tech and whatnot, until I found woodworking and guitarbuilding. Now I teach the Electric Guitar Building class at Red Rocks Community College School of Fine Woodworking, and I'm about to teach the Fundamentals of Woodworking class for the first time this summer. I do some part time repair work for an excellent Denver luthier named Brian Deckebach. I build a lot more electrics than acoustics, but I'd like to even that out a bit more. Also working on a new "advanced electric guitar building" dvd with Robbie O'Brien. My other passions include sleeping and lovemaking.

Cheers

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

Hi, Jim McClary here, Property manager ~ healthcare, I'm 52 and I am a newbie. I built an electric back in high school and have been a woodworker hobbiest since then. I've collected many rare woods over the years and have a massive stash to choose from. Mostly I have very little time ~ married with kids. I really want to start soon, been a lurker on most of the luthier forums for a few years. I have a very complete shop due to a very bad case of TAS. I also suffer from WAS. As soon as I can make room in my shop to actually work in it ( TAS & WAS ) I will build a guitar. Or at least I hope I will !!!! Jim

I'm Colleen Kett, married to Mark Kett (of Kett Guitars, Pearl Inlays, Guitar Jigs et al. )
Many of you know who he is. And when he dropped off the face, is when I came to be. Some of you will know what I mean

We've got a Baby, who will be 2 in Sept. He's not much a builder yet. But spanish cedar kisses and the twing of a custom guit. were a big part of his creation, so I am sure he has it in his blood.

I am a total poser to the forum as I have never built a thing in the guitar shop.
I have a mind like a sponge, and I am some of the organization behind the man as of late, and so its been important to me to learn all the bits and bobs of how to help inspire Mark and things going for him in the shop.
First met the OLF when I 'googled' the funny man (Mark) I met one afternoon about 3-ish years ago, and he told me to google him to get his email addy.... . Didnt know what I was in for when I did THAT.

I know all my woods, know nothing about sound, studied goldsmithing once upon a time and so I get inlay pretty well. (get it, but never TRIED it out)

I don't play. Don't have time. I drum like

But I love Luthiere. I truly do. And was glad the day I snagged one myself (KIDDING KIDDING )

I come here when I am trying to step into my husbands shoes and speak his language. And find my own inspiration so that I can continue being his.

My background is in Addictions Treatment from both a medical, cognitive and affective perspective.

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Colleen, wife to Mark Kett and longterm lurker to the OLF
http://www.pearlinlays.com

Hey Everyone! Tim Metcalf here from Greeneville TN. I'm work as a manufacturing engineer days/ luthier evening and weekends. Started and finished building my first guitar in 2004 mostly from scratch and haven't looked back since. To date I've built over 50 guitars with all but a few sold to finance my habit. Currently building 6 to 8 a year mostly commission along with a few show-room demo's.

I pretty much build exclusively with mortise/tenon neck joints glued and bolted to the body and use Oxfords Target Ultima Water based finish.
http://www.targetcoatings.com/shop/prod ... 86-24.html

A few pix of my guitars can be seen at http://www.metcalfguitars.com current models are Dread, OM/000 ,MJ, 00 and playing around with a Gibson Nick Lucas size.

I've been participating as time permits on a couple of other forums for a few years now and thought it time to join the "OFFICIAL" Luthier forum.

Tim

Hi, Tim! Welcome to the OLF! It's a great bunch of folks here too. You already know a bunch of us.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I'm Ken Hodges. Ive been married for almost 34 years now to a lovely wife that puts up with me We have a daughter and SIL that lives in Nashville, but no grandchildren yet.

I spent 25 years in the chemical business and worked my way up to the plant manager's position before retiring early after having a heart attack. I started a small Internet service provider company in the mountains of North Georgia and later sold the business and retired again. After doing some engineering work for Uncle Sam's DOD, I came back home to Hilliard, Florida to take care of my parents in their last days. My Dad died in '06 and my mother is still hanging in there. Where I go after my job here is done is yet to be seen, but I do love the mountains dearly.

I started putting together my love of woodworking with the love of the acoustic guitar several years ago and building acoustic guitars is what I do for a living now. God has blessed me to be able to enjoy my passions in life.

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Reguards,

Ken H

Long time lurker emerges - I live in State College, PA ( where Penn State University is) - and no, I can't get football tickets either. By day I work in a group psychology practice working with kids and families and my wife teaches at the University. Son is 24 and is a teacher in Minneapolis, daughter is 21 and entering her last year in college at Colorado College. Built - or tried - a kit about 10 years ago and it sort of worked, next a classical from scratch that sort of plays, but has "issues" - then spent a week at Frank Finocchio's workshop last year and the lightbulb got brighter - Oh, that's how and why you do that! Am currently working on a classical - Hauser plan and am enjoying the process. One thing I have learned is that there are many ways to accomplish the same thing, and many ways to screw things up. I have no wood working background, so the process is slow and full of trial and error for me. In addition to learning from Frank, I spent a day at Blues Creek Guitars at John Hall's open house a month ago and was able to watch the demos and talk to other builders - that was a great day - I watched and asked a lot of questions. I enjoy the forum and the atmosphere of comraderie and helpful advice. Hopefully someday I will be able to contribute as well. Thanks, Bill Tolan.

Hi all. Lars Stahl. Stockholm, Sweden. Use to lived in Texarcana USA some years back, was working there as a believe it or not, A COWBOY" at a small quarterhorse ranch, breaking horses for this guy named Howdy Smith. . well it was 10 years ago, but still the best time of my life, it all ended with me having to leave, was threatened by Howdy that if I wasn´t out until 10 in the morning I would have a gun stuck to my head hahaha. sounds like a movie !! well he was a bit yealous of me and his wife, Long store, but to make it short, his former wife had left him for his best friend so, he was a pretty hard yealous type a person, and that his now girlfriend was laughting at me pulling out jokes, was not a good thing. So if there are any movie producers out there, then let me know haha.

I am starting on my first guitar. Waiting for Watkins to open so I can get soem parts from there and then I am set to go. To make time fly, I am trying to come up with some body shapes for my guiter. "will post them soon to have you all give me some output on them.
Right now I am studying to become a Psychologist. guess my time in the states had some negative inpacts on me hahaha. Or it might be my ex, hmm. well. ..

Adios for now.

Lars.

Wow! I know that story!!! I used to pull guns on my girlfriend's friends all the time! Just couldn't help myself!









JOKING!!!!! JOKING!!!!! JOKING!!!!!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

[quote="Jim McClary"]Hi, Jim McClary here, Property manager ~ healthcare, I'm 52 and I am a newbie. I built an electric back in high school and have been a woodworker hobbiest since then. I've collected many rare woods over the years and have a massive stash to choose from. Mostly I have very little time ~ married with kids. I really want to start soon, been a lurker on most of the luthier forums for a few years. I have a very complete shop due to a very bad case of TAS. I also suffer from WAS. As soon as I can make room in my shop to actually work in it ( TAS & WAS ) I will build a guitar. Or at least I hope I will !!!! Jim Oh and I hail from Point Pleasant NJ and I am looking to find someone local to share my equipment with, since I have allot of tools that many don't have access to. What I hope to get out of it is some quality build time ~~~ Jim

posting.php?mode=edit&f=10101&p=246935#

Jim Warwick here, Northern Virginia. Trying to let go of my 40's graciously, which, despite my best efforts, will happen in a few weeks.

I'm married to my best friend and soul-mate Judith, the world's most tolerant (and beautiful!) woman, and father & step-father to 4 great young adults. Mine's an eclectic educational background including architecture, mech. engineering, and clinical psychology, and my last serious job was as Executive Director of a children's charity/mental health organization. Although I still maintain a professional relationship with them as a consultant, I've been building and repairing full-time since 1996. I have a small 2nd floor shop in the "historic" district of my town, which I'm very excited to say is expanding by a whopping 144 sq. ft. on Monday!

I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to do this, and am continually amazed and gratified by the generosity and bigheartedness of the OLF community. I don't post much, but I'm definitely with you guys in spirit!

Oh, and speaking of generosity:

Todd, that flattery gets you a month of free lunches! Thank you for the kind words. But ... I had nothing to do with it. That's a gorgeous guitar, and all I did was poke it once or twice, confirming what you already knew. Bravo, my friend.

Best to all!

Jim

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James Warwick
J. Warwick Guitars, LLC
http://www.jwarwickguitars.com

Short version: Hi, I'm Mattia, age 28, Dutch/Italian, living in the Netherlands.

I'll be an MD with aspirations in Cardiology come August this year, and in the meantime I translate (funds the wood habit, for one thing), I'm doing a rotation/internship in Cardiology, building about 6 guitars at once (almost, almost done, which which in one fell swoop increase the total number of guitars I've built by about 50%).

So, y'know, I keep busy.

Hey,
I'm Andrew and i'm in 10th grade and i've been playing for 3 years and building for 2. I live in south eastern Pennsylvania. I don't really have a workshop, it's more just a very small table down in the basement where i pile up all my stuff. I make do with a hand operated belt sander, a drill press, a crappy router and a hand operated jig saw. I don't have much time to build in between track seasons but I do love to build and i'm obsessed. I'm really cheap and try to make due with the bare minimum amount of materials. In a week or two i'm going up to the Martin Factory to swipe those huge chunks of mahogany my teacher was telling me about. I'm addicted to luthier forums too!

I'm Terence and I just moved to Singapore to take up a job. I've built a couple of guitars in high school, but since then, due to space and tooling constraints, have been concentrating on playing, dealing and storing up on tonewoods!

Terence

Hello,
My name is Kent Schoonover. I found this forum about 1 month ago. Looks like a great place to hang out. I am 50 years old and married to my beautiful soulmate Tammie. We live in Southern Oklahoma in the small town where we both attended school, as did our parents.
Growing up in the country, I learned to play guitar on my dads 1952 D-18 while backing his fiddle playing. One of my younger brothers took up the Dobro and I gravitated to the banjo (I know!). We played all the time growing up.
I built my first instrument in 1985. It was a mandolin literally made from scratch. It was made with all hand tools with the exception of a hand-held belt sander. It was not purdy, but it played well and it demonstrated to me that I was obsessed about making instruments. I had written a paper in high school about the desire to build instruments.
By 1986 I had accumulated the basic needs of a luthier shop and commenced to doing repairs and honing my skills as well as absorbing all that could be found in the libraries on the subject. I had built a few dulcimers when my brother mentioned that he would like another resophonic guitar. I built him a reso out of walnut from a tree I had felled and milled myself. That was 1992. I have only built resos since then. I build about 10 per year in addition to my work as a fleet maintenence supervisor for an oilfield trucking co. I have plans to go fulltime into the guitars in two years if my list continues to grow.
You can check out my work at http://WWW.schoonoverresophonicguitars.com

Peace,
Kent

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Kent Schoonover

WWW.schoonoverresophonicguitars.com

Lo' all
Just joined the forum. I balance my time between:
Going to school (starting eighth grade) I live in a two-horse town in SE Oklahoma
Practicing for my fiddle contests -already won one -
Getting ready to make my first guitar -that's why i'm here ^_^-
And playing in a Country-gospel band

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-They made me do this-
My name is Matthew Luce

Jody Annan , single never married ,no children . I am from the lower hudson valley of new york , the town of newburgh. I have been in the construction trades all my adult life , didnt do well in the academics, probably had alot to do with a very bad teacher in about the 5th grade.. started working in construction at the age of 15 .. 36 years of climbing up and down ladders my body is feelin it. I also traveled around the country in my youth playing pool for money , in between jobs , not the relationship I now want with people , but it allowed me to see much of the country I probably would not have otherwise .
I am not too sharp on the electronics, hence my innabilitly to post pics of my work here .. seems right now i cannot get my cd drive to download my suite for the phone cam .. .actualy I cannot get it to do much at all.
I plunk away at the guitar and sing a little , got into collecting some older vintage guitars. I didnt know they almost always have design problems and need work ! I got a price from a local guy for $1,150 .00 to refret, new nut and a new bridge ( not even a replica) for an older j-200 .that inspired me to contact Frank Finocchio, whom I had met earlier due to a messed up martin I had purchased on line , and sign up for his intensive guitar building course , hoping to somewhat shorten the learning curve.which it did .
I am hoping to be working at lutherie full time within five years , I have survived at least four major recessions in the trades, and this one I think will be the worst ever . I greatly appreciate this forum and all of the members that unselfishly share much of their hard earned knowledge with us upstarts!
I already have about 25 back and side sets, and almost as many tops.. so its to late to turn back now, the big mystery seems to be the voicing , well with god willing and the help of some friends I will be able to figure it out ! Jody

Kent, I just got done going through your website....your reso's are fantastic! I built one for myself a couple years back, hoping to learn to play like Jerry D.......but I'm afraid was a hopeless cause from the get-go.

Love the curly maple instrument in the Gallery section. Wow! Great finish and burst work.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Ok, I spend a lot of time here lurking so I guess I'll join in. My name is Vincent M. Simokovich. I have a wonderful wife of 23 years and three wonderful boys. I graduated from Michigan State University and spent my early adult years working as a mechanical engineer in and around the Detroit area designing machines for auto manufacturing. After 11 years I decided that I hated corporate America and having a boss, so I decided to go back to college to study chiropractic. Although I was born and raised in Michigan, I now reside in Parma, OH which is a suburb just south of Cleveland. I've been practicing chiropractic for the past 17 years.

My wood addiction started one day while walking through the magazine aisle at a local supermarket. I went to pick up a copy of my then favorite, Black Belt Magazine. While walking to the register, another magazine caught my eye. It was the April 1995 issue of Fine Woodworking. That was by far the most expensive magazine I have ever purchased.
Since then I've learned woodworking by reading books, and by trial and error.

I started playing guitar when I was eight years old, and as my wood addiction grew I eventually wanted to get into guitar building. Right now I am working on my first one. The boat is finished and I'm getting ready to start on the neck and fingerboard. I really appreciate all I've learned here from the folks who so freely share their knowledge, and look forward to building guitars for as long as God lets me.

Vince

Hi All,

I am Ron Shriver and I live in Bellingham, Washington. I am still trying to decide who I am. After receiving a Civil Engineering degree, I went to Med School and became a Radiologist. Retired from Anchorage, Alaska practice in 1995 and ultimately located in the Pacific Northwest. Now I mostly complain about things, but also build a few guitars, mandolins, boats, etc and travel. I have a great wife, Nila, and 7 grandchildren. I welcome visitors and enjoy visiting other peoples shops when given the opportunity.

Ron Shriver

Hi Don,
Thanks for the kind words. I love that Black Acacia on your website. Beautiful work. I am binding a Black Acacia guitar today.

Kent

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Kent Schoonover

WWW.schoonoverresophonicguitars.com

I am Mark Burton, 24 years old, and live in Austin, TX. I went to Florida State and got my undergrad degree in finance. Went to grad school at University of Texas- Austin to get my masters in accounting. I now work in public accounting for one of the big four accounting firms. More importantly with the help of some books, the John Mayes DVDs and reading on here, I am currently in the process of build #1. I sold off my guitar to fund this venture (goodall rosewood grand concert) so I plan on this being a life long hobby.

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Mark Burton

Hook 'em Horns

Hi everyone,

My name is Doug Orth and I'm from Tacoma, WA. I've been off the forum for a while for a variety of reasons including not wanting to replace a dead computer, being extremely busy at work, and some life changes.

I've been married for 29 years, with three kids and three wonderful grandchildren.

I work in construction and have been with the same company for 25 years, which is a large commercial contractor in the Seattle area. I started as a carpenter and am now a division director.

I completed my first build last year after thinking about it for a very long time. I have a couple more started and wood for at least 50 more. Needless to say, I have a serious problem when it comes to wood. Last week I found a fabulous piece of 4/4 bloodwood that is mostly quartersawn and is over 12" wide. The week before that it was a couple slabs of Santos Rosewood (Pau Fero), before that it was a chunk of cocobolo.... you get the idea.

I'd love to meet any of you attending the GAL convention next week.

Doug

Mark Ewing, Columbus Ohio, married 28 yrs, 4 girls one married (finally another male in the household. Cats and dogs are female as well.) 2 worthless degrees -Christian Ed and Philosophy, 21 yrs in facility maintenance at a local college. Carpenter back ground- built/framed houses. For the past three years I have mostly used my musician skills in leading worship at church whenever I get the chance.

After two additions on the house I went sedentary for about two years. Started thinking about the 30 plus years of enjoyment I have gotten out of the Yarie I own. Started looking for another guitar to have more fun with but could not afford a Larivee.

Last thanksgiving I got up off the couch and got all the books on building I could from the local library and started cutting up some walnut I have had for 10 years. I am going to put the finish on #1 next week. Only 97 mistakes. Maybe only 96 mistakes on number two. Who knows.

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Mark Ewing
Columbus Ohio
"Trees are an important and precious thing. We should build good things with them. Building good guitars with heart are the best use for them." K. Yairi.