|
Hey Ken,
Welcome to the OLF. I'm sure you'll find, as most of us have, that this is
the finest community of players and builders on the web. The members
here will surprise you with their willingness to openly share anything
they've lerned or discovered concerning lutherie and all of the materials
and tools connected to it.
I've always felt that anyone who builds a stringed instrument is, in fact,
a luthier, but also feel that they would probably be best served by
allowing others to hang the tag on them rather than pinning it on
themselves. As the number of instruments completed by any candidate
for the illustrious and revealing title increases, they may feel more
comfortable using it to describe what they do, but most builders actually
shy away from it for some time as they develop their abilities and
knowledge of the craft.
The vintage of the definition of the word "luthier" is reflected by the
"such as violins" designation. Violins (or ochestral stringed instruments)
were the most common stringed instruments at the time so the making of
violins and such made up the workload of most makers. Alot of the same
technology and philosophy is....or at least should be....applied to guitar
making and the goals of the maker for their product are the same. Great
tone, comfortable playability, wonderful appearance and a marketplace in
which to sell them are all common goals to any builder who has
determined to learn the craft and take it beyond the status of being a
hobby for them.
There is a small repair shop here in my area that is owned a operated
by a friend of mine. He's built only one guitar, but has repaired thousands
of violins, cellos and other similar instruments. That one guitar that he
built is a disaster in every respect as it has less than desirable tone, is
practically unplayable, and looks pretty rough, but his repairs on violins
are expert in quality and his set ups on those type of instruments are
flawless. He's a luthier of the highest order in my opinion and has more
right to carry a "master luthier" tag than anyone I know of. He's built a
single guitar and I've built nearly 500 alone in my shop, but I'd be much
more comfortable looking to him as the luthier if we were together and
someone asked, "Is there a luthier in the house?".
I've watched, though, as a few guys....who have built far less guitars
than myself and many other builders.....have deemed themselves to be
"master luthiers" on the forums and at the various shows. They huddle
together in their rather childish little circles to "critique" and "review" the
work of others, but it's never in an effort to help those being critiqued,
but more to pump their own image and to validate themselves and it's
laughable at best. I've played guitars from some and quickly discerned
that their "master?" tag was self awarded....or inflicted. Tone, playability
and appearance that fell far short of that of many more humble builders
who have chosen to remain in the lower masses of "mere luthiers".
There are very few who I would revere as master luthiers and they are
not those who most people would consider the more likely candidates.
They're not the guys who are getting the most press or are pressed by the
largest crowds at the popular show venues. They're not the guys who
have the longest and most impressive artist list for endorsement. They're
not the guys who tout themselves as anything more than builders striving
to build their next guitar to be a little better than their last. They're
certainly not the guys who boast their own abilities or guitars as being
the absolute end all or throw out rediculous formulas, numbers and
absolutes in an effort to validate their findings and methods or to impress
a less than knowing public.
They are the guys who have continually grown in the craft and have
developed their sensitivity to the subtle variations presented by the
medium in which we all work to a point from which they can not only
achieve the goals of the luthier, but convey and almost impart them to
others as they grow the craft itself.
These are the "master luthiers", in my opinion, if there is such a thing.
The funny thing is that you'll never hear or see a single one of them call
themselves a "master luthier". When someone does, I usually chuckle and
dismiss it as simply being a marketing effort to boost the perception of
their work by others. Just because an ad says that a particular brand is
the best, doesn't mean that it's the best and the same is true of
endorsement whether offered by an artist...or the builder himself.
The most humbling thing about those builders who truly are masters at
the craft is that they're happy to just carry the tag "luthier" and are proud
to be counted as part of the wonderful community that it surrounds it.
They're willing to share the same billing as you and me as we lern and
grow in our abilites.
I was honored once to attend a concert at a school in NYC that was
performed by students bwteen 4th and 8th grade. Evidently, a distant
relative of the great violinist, Isaac Stern, was performing and he just
happened to be in the city at the time. To encourage his relative's child,
Stern, made a surprise visit to the school to attend the concert. most
people had no clue of who he was, but a few of us understood the
magnitude of what we were seeing. After the concert, Stern made his way
to the stage to touch and congratulate each one of the musicians when
one asked if he would play his violin for him.
Stern took the child's violin and gently coaxed about thirty seconds of
musical heaven from it. He suddenly stopped and whispered something
to his assistant or protege who was with him who quickly produced a case
that was obviously protecting a valuable cargo. Stern opened the case and
pulled out his favorite performing instrument and called all of the student
close to him and began playing a portion of the concert they had just
presented. He prompted them to join in and as each one of them did, his
smile grew and his obvious joy and excitement increased.
I'd seen Isaac Stern perform on several occasions and had heard
countless recorded performances, but I'd never heard him play with so
much conviction or passion as he did that night in the auditorium of a
school surrounded by student players. As he played, he made eye contact
with the students and smiled as they responded to him and his playing.
This is the heart of a true "master" of any craft...that they are most
passionate and affected when they are being an inspiration to others in
the craft.
A master never belittles or discourages another from attaining that
same standard of excellence that they have in an effort to protect their
precious position as "master", but educates and encourages others to
achieve the same level of excellence and knowledge with a genuine desire
and hope that some will pass him by and take the craft that they love so
much to higher places than they have.
Their love isn't for their own recognition or accolades, but for the craft
itself. So, next time you read a post at a forum or listen to the ramblings
of one of the resident and self endowed "master" luthiers, consider their
motivation and apply their offering accordingly.
Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars
|
Login
Register
FAQ
