I have checked in some, but not posted much. I am trying to get used to working out of the house after retirment and shop in basement and having to be somewhere each day, so been tired at end of hour drive home each night. Apprenticeship(in true meaning of term) is going well. I thought I was pretty good and clean at building bodies when I arrived. Well I wasn't anywhere near where should be. I work and learn from some of the best guys around. In addition to Dana, I have had pleasure to be under the wing of a really amazing luthier John Slobod in differing things. John is in charge of binding and things at the shop, but is a guy everyone and I mean everyone goes to for anything in building a guitar. He also builds his own line under Circaguitars.com He builds traditional insturments but as one player commented he builds pre war style guitars only better. He is also an amazing teacher and great guy. I am trying to get him to check in here, but with family, Bourgeois and his own stuff not much left for him. I work now with Cary Clements, who is in the body building area. Again a very good luthier, who has had great patience with me and although can ride me, it is all to the good and much appreciated. Dana has also been very cool and works with me in many ways. He is a gentleman's gentleman. Then Buck Curran a great player and builder who has started his own line of non traditional guitars in a butterfly styled body. I have so far been involved in about 8 guitars a week in the body area. In this is carving braces, notching and gluing backs and tops and then put things together. Buck has been kind in the bending and kerfing area. Thing is Dana is taking some guitars to summer NAMM and ther is no such thing as a practice area of guitars to get feet wet or learn. It started working with brazilian rosewood, cuban mahogany and other woods would never do until now on my own. I have built more bodies and worked on more jigs, necks and with tools the last 8 weeks or so than I would have in several years. There is also oppurtunity to work on my own stuff in time as do the others for my projects, but putting anything off like that until August or Sept. Love Maine and New England. Except for wanting to be by grandkids, and feel bad on occasion not closer to my dad with his health problems, would stay forever. My wife Ronda has been amazing and supportive, I would hope every guy or gal in this business or for hobby have such a great and supportive spouse. We still plan on being here a year or two and then go back toward OK, or more likely MO and Branson area. I will build for my folks and Ronnie wants to open a small (very small stringed insturment store) Hope to build a few mt dulcimers, have some folks put guitars in store for no cost but to get your guitars out there and for them to make a few bucks. Then some lower end guitars to sell and do repairs. That is a ways off though and so much more to learn. Sorry for long post, please forgive the long ramble but don't know when get time or energy to post ofter like used to
Thanks to all of OLF folks who have encouraged and supported me in past and future. When start build on my own again, I will know where to go for things to build with, gain knowledge and hopefully be able to give some advice on things as alot of you have done with me
Stan
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