Official Luthiers Forum!

Are there any chicago or surrounding area guitar builders that would like to talk about projects, tools etc?

Hey, Turbo...welcome. While I'm 2 hours from Chicago, I often am in the area and would welcome attending a meeting with interested builders.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I can't call myself a builder as I am only starting my first build. But I would be happy to be considered for any sort of gathering. Oh, and welcome to the OLF.

JJ are you ever in the Loop for business?

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

I am a Chicago guitar maker. This is my first time here. A good friend of
the site recommened I chime in. Would be interested in meeting other
builders in the area. I dont spend anytime on chat sites. But it would be
nice to meet some folks.

I have been doing restoration work for a long time. And I specialize in
Larson Bros. Instruments. I hand make about 15 guitars a year. Within the
stylings of Larson and depression era guitars.

Let me know. Maybe we can all get something together...

Thanks

Steve...I get to the Loop occasionally...more often, I'm passing through on my way to Wisconsin to visit family. I love Chicago and have lots of memories from the many years I lived in the area. Still have lots of friends in the north shore suburbs.

Best of all, I'm an avid Bears fan for 30 years...we could be in for a happy year...go Bears!!!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Welcome Frankie, glad you could make it! Hope you can hook up with some of these builders! Frankie is doing some really cool stuff replicating old guitars, and probably your only chance to play a guitar similar to a larson bros guitar.
Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Hi Turbo
Welcome to the OLF, I was born In chicago, but
have lived in Montana for the last ten years.
If I am ever back that way I'LL look you up.

Tom

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http://www.moriciguitar.com

Hi Frankie
Welcome to the OLF
Great to hear you have experience with Larson's.
I love larson's. It must be that
You can take the boy out of chicago, but you can't
take the chicago out of the boy.
I tried to go to your web site, but got a error message, maybe you could check it.

Tom

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http://www.moriciguitar.com

Doug Mills, who sometimes contributes to this forum lives near Chicago, and I have a friend in Aurora who has built a handful. Maybe we can make something happen! Lets let this thread fill out and get a head count. Then we can try setting dates and propose a place.

JJ, I would be happy to meet you sometime. In fact, we might know some of the same people. We have done some IP work for one of the BioMed companies in your neck of the woods. Probably we should not talk shop though!!

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Turbo and Montuoro Welcome to OLF. I live in Illinois, but I'm 100 mi closer to Memphis than to Chicago.

Al

Tom,

Thanks for looking. I just checked it and the website seems to be working.

www.montuoroguitars.com

I did speak with the web designer early today. And he was supposed to be
working on the site. So that may be the issue. Its still under construction.
But in about a week there will much more to look at.

Pleased to meet you folks. And thanks again...

This is great. When I wrote this post this morning I didn't anticipate such a strong response, and it looks like more to come! With this number of people we certainly can meet but there is also possibility for a chicago area project, group build or more.

Thanks all for the warm welcome!

[QUOTE=JJ Donohue]

Best of all, I'm an avid Bears fan for 30 years...we could be in for a happy year...go Bears!!![/QUOTE]

I knew you were a good guy bro!

Hi Turbo and Frankie, welcome to the OLF, the world's best forum, just great folks here!

[quote]just great folks here[/quote]

   Well, there's me too!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

[QUOTE=Billy T] [quote]just great folks here[/quote]

   Well, there's me too! [/QUOTE]

And Billy's worth 2 of us, yeah!

Frankie
I was able to go to your web site from the address in
your post. I had a problem when I clicked on the
WWW button on the bottom of your post.
I think you put your e-mail address there.
I hope this helps.

Tom

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http://www.moriciguitar.com

If you don't mind a Sox fan, I'll talk shop with you too. I'm in Elmhurst which is west of Chicago about 15 miles.

RayRay L39007.9076967593

oops!! sorry abouth that Tom. I am meeting with my new web master friday.
So the website will be much different in a week. Thanks for looking.

I wanted to mention this. I am sure you guys are familiar with Tracy from
Luthiers suppliers. Well Tracy has been incredibly instrumental in helping me
get my shop together. He custom made the molds that I use to build the
Larson style guitars. As well I really love the brace maker jig. He has been
very helpfull along the way. And I received my product super fast. I cant say
enough good things about the guy. Be sure to check out his website if you
have not already

http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

I will be posting some guitar pics in the coming days. Thanks again for the
warm welcome.

Wow! Thanks Frankie!
Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Welcome, Frankie. I hope you visit often. I checked out your site and was particularly impressed with your bio.

Where are you located in the Chicago area?

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

My shop is located in the Avondale part of Chicago. Close to downtown. The
building that I am in is a 1850's brick that use to house a Chicago lamp Co.
And is also abot 1.5 miles from the site of the original Larson Brothers shop.
Now its the projects/Low income housing. Oh well. My website was updated
today and has more guitar pics to see. With more coming soon. If and when
you are going to be in town just drop me a line and you are always welcome.

That is awesome Frankie! Looking forward to learning more about Larson instruments...must Google now!

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Steve,
No need to Google, buy the book from Amazon from the link page on the main forum page. Do a search for Larsons Creations. You can see it HERE

Very good book, that is highly recommended! When Frankie called me to ask about smaller radius sizes for his dishes, I knew what he was talking about because of the Larson book. Their guitars have a very distinctive sound. When you buy the book, it comes with a CD of Muriel Anderson playing many of the Larson guitars so you can hear them. Very very cool!
Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com