Official Luthiers Forum!

No, Sorry, not a new member. Just another aspiring luthier on holiday from Ohio.

Actually, I just wanted to brag a bit about my little side trip today! I visited the Musee de la Musique in Paris. I was looking forward to seeing all those beautiful antique instruments and I was not disappointed.

The highlight of today's journey were three little assemblages of toothpicks...but OH! what toothpicks. This museum has three genuine Torres guitars! All three appear to be from the second epic.

Unfortunately (VERY unfortunately! ) I couldn't take photos and much to my chagrin, they offered NO catalog!

One of the more interesting aspects of his construction was the fact that the sides and back of one guitar appear to be of knotty pine (?). I know it is not (knot?) but there were numerous knots in the side I could see (I would have killed to see the back!). The moral of the story is that the next time someone wishes to complain about bending sides, picture several knots in the upper bout and waist and then fire up the fox bender!

There was a thread a while abck about a luthier and fluted backs etc. This place was lousy with them! The artistry and the marquetry were both inspiring and intimidating. Plucked instruments with backs alternating ivory and ebony were common at least, in this museum!). They did a lot of scrimshaw on the ivory too. UNbelievable!    

When I consider the tools they had to work with, I am amazed.

Well, enough for now. The martini I made is kicking in. My good wishes go out to all of you and I look forward to getting back to creating my "shop" when I return to the States. I couldn't take picture of Torres' guitars but I will try to upload something of interest in the days to come.

All the best, Steve Brown

PS. Mattia, what you said is very true! A little French language and nice slacks go a long way! With two exceptions, everyone has been great! Au Revoir!

PPS About the updates...since I have started this post, I have had to run 3 miles(there and back) to get concert tickets for my 22-year old daughter (Someone named "Beck"?) because giving her my credit card wasn't good enough. Needless to say, I am out of breath, ready for another martini and my wife wants to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower tonight! Salude! sfbrown38519.5632175926

Steve,

Cool! Thanks for filling us in. No pictures of the Torres! Dang I would like to see some. They could have at least let you take it out and play if for a while!

Have fun.

Jeff

Steve, your in Paris. you are gitting way too much for your guitas

Hang ten dude

_________________
tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

[QUOTE=Tim McKnight] Hang ten dude [/QUOTE]

I will Sunday. That's our first full day in Arcachon. It's a resort on the coast!   

All kidding aside, I can feel the batteries recharging as we speak. I'm looking forward to getting back to the smell of sawdust (especially, Spanish cedar! )

Au Revoir! Steve

:-)

Glad you're enjoying the trip. And Cedro's great, isn't it? I've got a bunch on neck blanks playing shelf (don't ask) right as I come in, so I regularly get a waft as I walk in the door. There are worse smells to walk in on.

[QUOTE=Mattia Valente] :-)

Glad you're enjoying the trip. And Cedro's great, isn't it? I've got a bunch on neck blanks playing shelf (don't ask) right as I come in, so I regularly get a waft as I walk in the door. There are worse smells to walk in on.[/QUOTE]

Mattia, about the cedar, tres bien! About your advice, tres bien!! The French are exactly as you said; they do not like to make eye contact. It's almost funny at times.

I will tell you about Pascal when I get home. Describing this guy who was supposed to get the condo ready PRIOR to our arrival ia a story in itself. The fact that he is the first person who cannot speak even one word of English is another!

The culture shock is wearing off but why do the French NOT LIKE AIR CONDITIONING!! It was 32C yesterday upon our arrival. I thought I was going to die!

Au revoir (salude?), Steve Brown

PS I had to install AOL in French in order to use the owner's DSL line. That was fun.

Heh. You won't find air conditioning in the vast majority of Europe. It's slowly making headways, but most people don't like the artificial cold, dry air that air conditioning provides, I suppose. If I can make do with an open window, I do. Probably also a cost issue; they're not cheap to run 24/7.