Official Luthiers Forum!

The boss asked me today if I'd like to start making trips to San Diego to set up a lab over there for a client. I'd be spending a couple of weeks there each visit. They've asked me to think it over for the weekend.

Still don't know if I want to be away from my family for long periods as I've never spent more than one night away from my 4 year old daughter, but it is tempting.

Are there any OLFers in that neck over woods I could meet while I'm there? Wood vendors? Local attractions?

Oh, and what is the penalty for trying to smuggle BRW back home? Announcing it on the internet is probably the first thing not to do I guess oops.

Man I miss that edit button!

Hesh you were right the 1st time.
It is Andy Zimmerman

Yep Paul. I live in San Diego Let me know when you are coming.
This is a great city. The Best Weather in the US

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

I have fond memories of a visit to San Diego.

Took the kids to the Zoo there to see the Pandas and all.

It was a July 4 weekend and Taylor Guitar had shut down on a Thursday for vacation. I was there on a Friday, bummer.

However, we did squeeze in a visit to the Carvin Showroom and that was very interesting. Carvin wasn't into acoustic at the time. Hmmm, I wonder if they import there acoustic line or build 'em here?

Anyway Paul, you probably enjoy it. Lots of Navy stuff along the coast. Home is a long way away for you though. Maybe the family can come with you some?

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Where's the edit button?   

one there = their

you = you'll

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

I'm just north of San Diego County.

My favorite wood stops are -
Cut and dried Hardwood in Solana Beach
Tropical Exotic Hardwoods in Carlsbad
Both have websites.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

buffalo bros guitars is another great guitar shop in carlsbad

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sweat the small stuff.

Do go do the Taylor tour. They are completely open about what they do.   Take pictures, ask questions, etc. I had a lot of fun doing that one.

In spite of the fact that I don't particularly like Taylor's choices for how a guitar should sound, Bob Taylor really is very open about how he has affected the technology of building guitars. It wa an afternoon that i would never regret.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Heh Andy, yeah, if everyone knew how perfect your weather was, it would cost about a billion dollars to buy a house there, so keep it quiet (as it is, it only costs about 1/2 of that)   

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Hey Paul, I know you will enjoy yourself here in San Diego, there are plenty of luthiery places to see and many other enjoyable sights. 

Also, as Steves said I must give CutnDried a big thumbs up, super great people with some very nice wood.  Same for Tropical exotic hardwoods, again cool people and plenty of very nice woods in here.  As the name suggests tons of exotics.  They have sales a lot and some are great prices.  One I remember was 10 cocobolo fretboard blanks for $40 or so.  Always ask about the deals.

I gotta tell you the irony of your timing though, Paul.  Tropical Exotics literally just got in a huge shipment from, guess where Australia! I had to laugh because they have so much of the stuff and likely those are the last woods you'll be looking to see while here. Oh well enjoy San Diego.

PS: Nice to meet you all. 

Also the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad (see their website).

Frost hardwoods has good prices on lots of quality lumber. Just got 2 sticks of figured 12/4 x 10" x 120"  1/4 sawn hondo mahog for $8.34 bd/ft, as an example.

Dean

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Dean

Oooh man, I cannot believe I forgot to mention Frost, yes they also have a great amount of nice lumber and good prices.  Frost was yje first place I visited as the others were a bit further from me.  Well actually I shot by Rockler first and they had some decent little pieces in, but they don't carry the stock that those other three carry.  Cut n Dried has more than Rockler, but less than the other two.  I believe thats about right, yes?  Frost might have the most, though Tropical exotics has a bunch stocked away.  All of them are good spots.  But, yes I'm glad Frost was brought up, definately another good one.  J 

Be sure to contact me and come up for a visit. We can sand and sweep or something.   

Hey, maybe we can work out something, like work for room and board.   

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Sorry, forgot to mention Allied Lumber. Owner, friend Mike Born,  is also a friend of Taylor and supplies him with tone woods. He is south of the city.

Dean

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Dean