Official Luthiers Forum!

Just head form Cathy Ernie's wife who knew we were friends and she contacted me on Facebook.

Ernie passed several days ago from complications from covid.

I wanted to say a few words about my friend, our friend. Ernie had owned music stores in the LA area and as such had been exposed to every Lutherie BS subject that had ever come up. He had walked the walk AND talked the talk and knew far more than most here about markets and why people buy the instruments that they buy.

We shared a belief that the customer is often not correct and it's our mission to help that along with the straight scoop and honest, non-judgmental advice. He also understood the economics of building as few do and was never one to breath his own air and fool himself attempting to rationalize a poor decision instead of wanting to get it right, eventually.

I once told Ernie that it's in my will that my tomb stone say that I never was afraid to change my mind about virtually anything.... I would rather eventually be right than to have always been wrong. He loved when I said this and said that's him too. No one ever died he once told me from admitting that they were wrong. And he was right.

We, Ernie my pal and I were opposites in respect to politics but we both loved/love our country and we both were also dual nationals with Israeli citizenship as well. Not sure but I believe that Ernie may have Canadian citizenship too, he used to live there as well.

He was a pragmatist, he was funny as hell when he wanted to be, he was one of the kindest and most encouraging people I have ever known, Ernie was a mensch.....

I'll miss Ernie and I have no qualms in sharing that I'm welling up right now at Ernie's loss.

RIP Ernie Kleinman

I hadn't heard this sad news yet. Ernie and I spent a lot of time talking off the OLF and I found him to be savvy, sharp, and on the money. We met at a local OLF get-together in Kansas and bonded almost immediately over woods and techniques. I had been meaning to visit him in his new shop in Oklahoma to spend an afternoon or maybe more in deep conversation. Another chance gone. RIP, Ernie - You were one in a million!

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Yeah he will be missed.

You got to meet him in person which I never did but he told me that he wanted to visit us in Ann Arbor.

Very sad, thanks Chris, sorry for your loss too man.

Hats off to Ernie…

Oh, that's too bad.

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I think Ernie was at 2 luthier get togethers that I hosted.
He schooled me on sharpening planes.
I believe in forever so I plan to meet up with in down the road.

Rest In Peace Ernie.

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

I'm very sorry to hear this, he will be missed.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

It's been a rough year in the luthier community so far. RIP to your friend and best to his friends and family.

I am really sorry to hear that! Ernie was always just a super nice guy on the forum and he'll be missed.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Very sorry to hear this. My best to his family. He was always so willing to share knowledge and will be missed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars

Please let the family know that he will be missed by the OLF community.

That's a real bummer to hear. Ernie always had good advice here and in youtubes. We met up here and realized we were both into building a variety of instruments and were both ham radio operators.

In the radio world, we refer to operators who pass as "silent keys". Key for the morse code key. I've applied it to instrument builders too as "silent bench". I hate it when that happens!

My condolences to his wife and family and friends.

73 Ernie,
N8ZED clear for now,
Brian

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Brian R, Wood Mechanic
N8ZED

I’m always surprised when someone in my “forum world” passes - wait, they just recently posted - Then COVID… My regards to Ernie and his family!

RIP

So sorry to hear of Ernie's passing. He always had a positive vibe in his postings and will be missed. I know you and he were good friends. My sincere condolences to you and his family.

What a shock !! I always liked watching his builds. A really good guy.
Condolences to his family.

Very sorry to hear this. I never knew him offline but I sure learned a lot from his writings here. RIP.

I am sorry to hear this news.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

sad news we spoke a few times he will be missed

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Hello All,
This is Cathy Kleinman, Ernie's wife. Thank you so much for your condolences and positive words about Ernie. He loved his work as a luthier with a passion, loved to share his knowledge and to help others. He had an incredible drive to be creative and make beautiful instruments with wonderful sound.
Best regards,
Cathy

I'm just now seeing this. I'm sad to learn of his passing. I only knew him through the forum but I remember his posts well.

So Long Ernie and all the best.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I just now figured how to cut and paste on my fire. Hopefully it works. It is how I learned of Ernie.

I have an 8 string started, but it is really based on a baroque guitar. With nylgut and tied frets it will be a different animal, but this was the spark.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_contin ... =emb_title

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Why be normal?

RIP Ernie. You were a good man and a good OLF member. U will be missed.