Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi, my name is Ben Pak. I'm 43 years old. I was born in Philadelphia, Pa but moved to North Wales, Pa when I got married about 3 years ago. I have been playing guitar for about 30 years (although not very well). I've been intrested in instrument building since I met a guy at the Phila Folk Festival who builds dulcimers. That was about 25 years ago and I finally completed my first instrument, a StewMac 000 kit, about a month ago (I'm still tweaking it). It was something I've wanted to do for a long time and now that I've done it...I'm hooked! I'm now starting on #2, a bubinga/sitka OM.

I'm grateful for the wealth of knowledge this forum and all of you have provided.

Thanks,

Ben

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- Ben Pak
North Wales, Pa.

[quote="stan thomison"]
I do mostly for Vets or their kids or Vet organizations as fund raiser instruments on my own cost. Call it what one wants, I call it my calling so that is where I am headed./quote]

God Bless you Stan, THANK YOU

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Hi All:

I am George Thomas and live with my wife and our dogs in Bellingham, WA. This area seems to attract lots of artists and craftspeople. I know five local luthiers and several other hobby builders who live here. There are a few more I have not met yet. I recently retired from 40 plus years of working in museums and consulting for nonprofit organizations. Fun stuff like fund raising, campaigns, board development and museum startups all of which I am happy to leave behind.

I eased into guitar and uke building about 3 years ago. So far the tally is 4 tenor ukes and 5 classical guitars with numbers 6, 7, and 8 underway. Clearly the learning never ends but I hope to live long enough to be a good journeyman builder.

For the playing side my focus is Hawaiian slack key. All the different tunings in slack key certainly justify having several guitars on hand at all times, don't they?

I seldom post here but very much appreciate the great builders who share their experience. Thanks to you all.

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GEO
perpetual beginner

Hi Folks!

My name is David and I'm 30 years old. I'm married with one wife and have a one 16 month old boy. I've been living in California for the past 20 years and work as a Flight Instructor.

I am on my first build (kit) and extremely excited and eager to build more and more. This forum has been great to me by giving me full of knowledge, experiences and introducing me to nice people. However as I have gained many wonderful things from this forum, the grestest blessing of them all was meeting Todd Stock. He went above and beyond to help me start up as if he was my family member. If it wasn't for Todd, I might have not been as motivated and be where I am. He shaved a year or two from my understand of guitars, tools, and jigs. I will never forget his grace.

Having said above, I'm greatful this forum is around. Must know place for all builders...espcially newbies.

Thanks everyone!!!

I'm Jim. I'm currently tooling and jigging up for my first build. I'm 36, have a beautiful (first and only) wife, and 2 beautiful daughters. We're living in Folsom, CA (small piece of trivia most Folsomites I've met don't seem to know: Folsom Prison is not in Folsom, it's in Represa, CA -though the only way to get to the prison is through Folsom). I've been woodworking for about 12 years and (poorly) playing guitar for about 18 years.

By day I'm an electrical engineer designing video processors. If you've been to any concerts in the past few years or watched any awards shows you've likely seen my team's work: U2, Tom Petty, Rascal Flats, the Who, The Oscars, the Country Music Awards, a few super bowl half time shows just to name a few; we've also had a big hand in several fixed installs -the most interesting that I can talk about is in Dallas in Victory Park (just outside AA Center).

I really appreciate all of the helpful knowledge on this board. I'm mainly a lurker because I can usually find the answers to my questions in the archive and I don't really have much to add to the discussions...yet!!!

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-Jim Wick

I'm still new here so I'll introduce myself.
I'm Mike Kroening, 51 years old been married 31 years, have 3 kids and 4 grand daughters, was a cabinet maker in the early 80s,and then went into computers in 1989, as well as Construction and remodeling business with other family members. Worked as a network engineer for Verizon/Airtouch from 96 until 06 when I became disabled and retired as well. Now I have plenty of time but cannot use it like I want. What I could do in 8 hours now takes about 8 days or more.

I do enjoy sitting in the shop and smelling the aromas from all of the wood. A good past time for me while in my compression boots, (to keep me from losing my legs, circulation problems) Is to drink a scotch and shape necks. I love to make those small curls with a good hand scraper.

I have a GOZILLION questions for everyone here as I learn to build acoustics. I have the electrics under control, so time to move forward with my skills. So please bear with me when I ask the obvious Dumb Question.

Thanks for being here as group for those like me with the box of GUMP chocolates
Mike

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I'm outside looking in, just farther from the window than most.

Name: Dave Fifield
Age: 50
Citizenship: English - emigrated to USA in 1992
Status: Married 25 years
Children: 3 boys aged 24, 22, 14
Education: B.Sc. Hons in Electronic Engineering from Southampton University, England
Work: Principal RF Engineer for Aerohive Networks Inc. (startup of the year 2007, top 10 startup-to-watch 2008). Resume at davefifield.com
Play: Squash racquets
Hobbies: Music Jardini.com, woodworking daveswoodenwonders.com, and now guitar making cambrianguitars.com
OLF Postings/Guitar Ratio: Will be about 210 soon!

Cheers,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

OK Here goes.
Home town Alexandria MN. I'm 63, retired Orthopaedic Surgeon. Started building kits in 1998 and after four took the Charles Fox course in 2003. Building from scratch after that. I'll be starting numbers 27 and 28 shortly. I've got a little business going with commissions and selling through a great guitar store in Minneapolis MN. I've learned there is no shortcut to getting good at this stuff. A good building course, great forums like this, establishing relationships with experienced builders and players and volume are the ticket. I'm just starting to feel like things are beginning to flow during a build but I still have to put names on my jigs to remember what they are for! (And remember where I put them). The coolest thing I have done in the last year is making the switch to hide glue.
Terry Kennedy
http://www.kennedyguitars.com

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Martin Edwards
41 years old, from Jordanstowm near Belfast in Northern Ireland

I'm married with 4 kids & teach High school Technology & Design.

I write songs and lead worship in my church.

I've built over 30 instruments now, acoustic & electric guitars & basses, a bouzouki, a couple of mandolas and a load of my signatire instrument, the mandonaught guitar shaped mandolin..

LOVE this place because of the friendliness to noobs and supportive (and realistic) critique, rather than the attitude some other places I wont mention!!

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My soundclick xx luthier blog xx luthier soundclick

I'm Jeff Sartin, and I am an addict. A tool and guitar addict, that is.

I live in beautiful La Crosse, WI, home of the world's biggest 6-pack (former Heileman brewery, now City Beer). I am an infectious disease physician during the day and a busy father at night. I have 4 wonderful kids, 1 of whom is on her own living in Israel and 1 of whom is graduating 6/1/08 and will be going to U of WI next fall to study engineering. All of my kids are very musical, none unfortunately with guitar.

I have played guitar on and off since childhood. I play mainly fingerstyle jazz in the style of Joe Pass (my hero), though not nearly as well as I would like. I have had a variety of store-bought guitars and currently play an Alvarez classical acoustic-electric and an Epiphone Joe Pass Broadway. My first guitar was a Goya classical from 1972, and attempts to refret and/or reset the neck have led to my current interest in guitarmaking.

I have also been woodworking as a hobby for the last 5 years or so and have a pretty well-equipped shop. Hence my other addiction--one of my ancillary hobbies is old-tool collecting, especially Stanley handplanes and spokeshaves.

I am preparing mentally and spiritually for my first real build. I made a first baby step by building a cheap guitar from a kit that is certainly no heirloom, but I learned a lot about construction and finishing, namely how finicky getting the lacquer finish right can be. I approach guitarmaking the way I approach any new venture--read as much as I can on the subject, think about it a lot, then jump in with both feet.

This forum is both extremely informative and a wonderful showcase for some outstanding work. I only hope I can live up to expectations!

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Without music life would be a mistake.

~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

There sure are an amazing number of posts from Canadians so far and impressive bios from all. It looks like we have enough Doctors here to start the OLF Clinic and Hospital and enough clever engineers and technical people to design the facility.

Lance great idea to flush out all of the lurkers that will hopefully begin to contribute to a strong continuation of a great forum.

I am 48 years of age, born in Sudbury, Ontario, now living in Toronto, Ontario. Married in Glasgow, Scotland almost 17-years ago to my wonderful wife Tricia. My in-laws tell me I now qualify as an honourary Scotsman with my love of golf and the delights I have discovered in the glenns of Bonnie Scotland. We have been blessed with two wonderful daughters ages 10 (on the 27th) and 11. Both of my daughters are musical and play piano with the eldest now dabbling in violin.

I completed my Masters degree and dropped out of a PhD program after recognizing that a career as a University lecturer and someday professor was not for me. I have spent the past 24 years in the energy business mostly in the development and acquisition of energy pipeline infrastructure. I have been involved in the development of and commercialization of over 2,400 miles of Greenfield large diameter natural gas pipelines placed into service throughout Canada and the U.S., a future LNG receiving terminal and a couple of gas fired power plants.

The OLF has been a wonderful experience and has increased my sphere of close personal friends such that now my daughters have a favorite builder and ski instructor in Tony Karol and family, an Uncle Zootman & Aunt Rosie, Uncle JJ and cousins Alain and Rod and a fellow named Hesh they’d like to see again.

I started building electric guitars in high school and got the bug again about 6 years ago building some archtops and now working on my first flattop acoustic for my youngest daughter. I build for fun as time and interest permits and hopefully semi-professionally when I finally check out of corporate North America.

Thanks Todd,
I'm entering treatment next week.
TJK

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Hi:

I'm Danny R. Little from a small town on the Illinois River, Meredosia. This September I will have 30 years in as a County Administrator. Don't worry, I'm from the government and am here to help you. Married with 3 children and 5 grandchildren.

I built an electric guitar around 1978 and my first accoustic steel string two years ago. I do have a lot of woodworking experience. I've made 4 or 5 kitchen remodels (I have two daughters) and working on another. I also do wood art stuff, boxes, & turnings, etc. I love wood and get such a kick out of exposing a spectacular bookmatch or an unusual curl or grain.

Currently, I have my first "batch" of six guitars to do, having reworked (hopefully improved) my jigs and patterns from my first build. Most if not all of these improvements were initiated by what I have seen here on the forum. While I can't afford the best, I have some beautiful woods for the backs and sides. I have also gotten some great tops accumulated since my last build.

So, once this kitchen is done I am back at it. Until then I reside here as much as I can and tweak my plans accordingly. Thanks, Lance and everyone for sharing!!!!

Seems as good a place as any for a newbie to jump in..

I'm Steve, 46 and an Engineer in the Oil Industry in Aberdeen, Scotland.
I'm my second wife's second husband and we both agree second time around is MUCH better
No kids but 2 dogs and that's enough.....

Been lurking here for a while but have now gathered most of what I need to start my first build ( A Mahogany/Spruce Parlour) so though I should say Hello before I start asking dumb questions.
My Bro in Law is bringing the wood tomorrow to build my workbench which will allow me to get started as soon as I get back from my weeks holiday in Orkney so be prepared for a deluge of questions.

Awrabest

Steve

Great idea, Lance! Haven't had a "who are ya?' thread in a long time. Seems like we need to do this about once a year.

I'm 59, born in Hawaii, grew up in California, now in Spokane, WA, married to fabulous Maggie who I met in Mexico 15 years ago. Two great kids, Anna Lee 11 and Benno 8. They're both involved in music. Anna Lee has taken classical violin for 5 years but has gotten really interested in fiddle tunes and mariachi. Benno played violin for a year then switched to piano a year ago. He recently started playing boogie-woogie.

I've pumped gas, driven cab, managed operations for data processing at a liquor distributor, designed robotic assembly equipment for Apple Computer, taught English in Japan, delivered my son, was network administrator at Gonzaga University, presently director of a computer lab for foreign languages at a small regional university.

Worked with wood since early childhood. I've played guitar for 30 years, but you'd never know it. I started out building banjos in the 70s and did repairs on beater guitars from garage sales and thrift shops. Finished my last year at school supporting myself with repairs. After a long hiatus, I started longing for a Martin again and couldn't see paying the going prices, so figured I could build one, have that fun experience, and some tools to build more. Got Robbie O'Brien's DVD and decided I could do this. Built an LMI serviced kit in 2005, now working on my 3rd scratch-built. Sold my last one and have several commissions in the discussion stages in the wings.

Life is good.

Pat
(formerly known around here as burbank)

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Another UKer!! Welcome to the forum, Steve!!!!

My name is Rich Fry, Born and have lived in Portland Oregon for 39 years now. My wife Darci and I have one daughter, Alyssa, who is working on 5 years. I have done Electrical work for about 20 years now, about 15 years with the tools, about 5 years Engineering and detailing. I am the head of my companies(Dynalectric Oregon, an Emcor Company) design department. The job keeps me pretty busy.

I became interested in fixing up guitars, refinishing, and building (initially solid body, as of the last few years I have been mostly interested in acoustic instruments) about 15 years ago. Building has always been a great escape for me to distract me from the pressures I deal with at work. Which is why I avoid feeling pressured when I am working in the shop, and hope to never view it as a job. I really enjoy seeking out and processing wood. It is almost a hobby in and of itself for me. The thing I probably like the most about working with wood is that you are always learning something new.

Geez, another Scottsman. Welcome to OLF, Steve. Do you know Geordie? There is quite a contingent of UK'ers at OLF now. Y'all can have a meet.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Well, I was born in Edmonton, Canada and moved to the west coast when I was 5, so I really consider myself from there. I married 23 years ago and am still married to that very wonderful woman who puts up with me and all my flaws. Just turned 47 a few days ago. We moved to Australia in 2002 and now are Australian Citizens. We're currently located in Cairns, Queensland. The wet tropics of Northern Australia. I'm a panel beater / spray painter by trade but have always loved working with wood. I rarely got a chance to work with it though. We now have a very relaxed lifestyle and have a great balance of work, play and hobbies. I wouldn't change it for the world.

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Allen R. McFarlen
Barron River Guitars & Ukuleles
Facebook
Cairns, Australia

I live in Northern Virginia and work as a CPA. I'm married and have 3 great kids. I've been playing guitar for about 30 years or so (I'm 44) and made my living for a while teaching guitar. I've completed 5 guitars at this point with more on the way. This forum has been a great source of knowledge and inspiration - thanks Lance and Brock. I play in my church band regularly and used to play quite a bit in bars etc. years ago. I've recently acquired a mandolin as well. Other interests include tennis, golf and sports in general.

hi all
Just been going over the posts here and a fine bunch of interesting folks you are.
Reminds me of a ol’ tymers expression,
“We’er a case the bunch of us”
??
well it makes more sense than this -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ3A8wWb ... re=related

yours Geordie

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some tunes on acoustic and guitar synth.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheGeordieAdams
http://www.myspace.com/geordieadams

Ken leeeeee! Geordie, you have a sick sense of humor, lad!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Geordie, that is hilarious.

Geordie! That is super funny! It reminds me of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDKcevMFUCo

My name is Burton LeGeyt, I am 30 years old (actually 25 if you don't count the 5 years I spent pickling my body...) and currently living in a neighborhood I shouldn't be able to afford in Brookline Village, MA in the building where the California Raisins were created. I have a very small shop in the basement surrounded by artists studios and experimential musicians. I was a painter for a while and switched over after losing our painting studios and haven't looked back. Like most of you I spend all day thinking about guitars and get a couple hours each weeknight and all day every weekend in the shop. I consider myself very lucky to able to have the time and tools to experiment and build and I can say with real honesty that I would not be where I am at without everyone here sharing as they do. Thanks to all!

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Burton
http://www.legeytinstruments.com
Brookline, MA.

I'm apparently late to this thread... wow 4 pages now. Thanks for sharing everyone!!

I'm Christian, married for 6 years to Melissa and have Parker, an 11 week old son at home.
I've been building my first and only guitar for well over a year now. Just have a few things left to do at this point. I live in Tacoma, WA and I work in sales for a boat lift manufacturer. At this point I would like to see myself doing 2-ish builds per year as a hobby. I am hopelessly addicted. Thank you to everyone here who has offered advise, congratulations, support and the occasional "you will probably want to do that over" even when I don't want to hear it...

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Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Louis Hector Berlioz

Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian