Official Luthiers Forum!

Howdy...
My name is John Sullivan .I just wanted to officially introduce myself to ya'll. I tend to lurk and learn...but have decided to participate on this forum . Ya'll all seem very nice and "flame free" around here...that's rare.
A bit about myself....
35 ....been working with wood off and on for years.Been playing all my life.I have built a few instruments(most of them crap)and am now working on my first acoustic.I got into building guitars because I wanted to build that "dream"guitar"...
well....still working on it. I look forward to throwing some newbie questions out there for those that would like to comment.
Thanks to all who have contributed to this forum...so far I have found the info invaluable.

Howdy do Big John,
Finally there is someone else that talks like I do. I alway say Howdy too. Anyway, glad you came outta the closet and decided to hang out here in Lance and Brock's shop.
I'm really happy that you are gonna start building your dream guitar. BTW, what is your dream guitar? a Dreadnaught? Oh Yeah! Nice and boomy!
Good to meet ya and hope to see ya around the shop here. We keep the hot bending irons turned off cause it smells like grilled hot dogs when Hesh comes over. He just likes to where his boxers.

_________________
"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Howdy Big John and welcome to the forum

Nice to meet ya Chuck...
Dream guitar? well here it goes..(warning...long ...mostly boring rant)..I started playing percussion...moved to bass(upright mostly)and picked guitar...so I learned to enjoy playing all the parts ...so to speak.At the time there was a lot of porch music in Austin so it was mostly acoustic stuff.I ended up playing bass mostly because no one else wanted to carry the beasthttp://luthiersforum.com/forum/ima ... edface.gif
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What I really longed for was to be able to hold down the bass f the song and do a little noodling myself(bassists know what I mean)http://luthiersforum.com/forum/images/icons/smile/mrgreen.gif
images/icons/smile/mrgreen.gif
So long story longer...i realized I wanted a bass and guitar in one...Flash forward ten years and lots of instruments later
I got a chapman Stick...which worked...but didn't give me the acoustic thing...or the normal guitar position so I sold it and bought woodworking tools....haha bound and determined to make an acoustic 10 string...no internet...just a few books and lots of sweat and mistakes...started first with building solid bodies .
well....I tried but didn't have the knowledge.....couple years later I got a job at a Library(where I still work)and learned the
comp-u-tater.All that knowledge sure made it easier and more confusing at the same time.So we ned up here...me with my hat in my hand and a heck of a long answer about my dream guitar....but hea...this is my DREAM guitar.
so what I gt workin now is a practice guitar /prototype....eight string fanned fret...scale of 25 1/2 to 30 on the bass side end.I had some cypress laying around (about 5 years old)so I resawed it into back and side sets.
like I said I consider this practice so I carved up some pine(yes I said it ...pine)for the back braces....made tons of mistakes....
I am to the ...join the back part ...infact kind sir...I will shoot some pics so you can get a clear view of my hacks-man-ship and questionable...woodworking....hehe
thanks for the reponse Chuck looking forward to hearing what others have to say about this....don't get me wrong guys ...nothing beats the sound of a good ole parlor guitar clean and simple....but I kinda what to go out-side the box with thie one.

Welcome Big John to the OLF!

Don't believe my buddy Chuck about the boxers - lately I am wearing my Grumpy PJs in Grumpy's honor. Now if we can get Grumpy back all will be dandy.

Howdy too Big John! This is the place to come for info on building guitars and a lot of great friends too!!



Now! That's not really fair is it Chuck?
Hesh has been known to dress up right nice!
See!



Don't be afraid Big John you haven't logged on with a bunch of weirdos....well.... not that kind of wierdo! We just like to take CG pot shots at each other now and then! Hope your first acoustic build turns out well! Remember we like lots of progress pix!

( I know, I know Hesh buddy! Isn't it time for Billy T to post updated pix of himself )

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

The worst part is that Billy always seems to strike in the middle of the night. So sitting here having just woke up, or trying to, is when I see these things...........

Ha ha nice...that Banjo Hesh pic cracked me right up. I am always up for a good joke so no worries here.The best thing about this place seems to be the fact that ya'll are all good natured ....good natured enough to laugh at yourselves....very important.I laugh at myself a lot to but....well...I got no choice ..i am one ugly son of a gun.
As you could see from my last post I am going to have to read up on posting pics...I can't even get the emoticons(sp) to work...haah...no worries I will sort it out. I am pretty new to this whole technology thing.
I am heading out this weekend but will get the pictures of my crap-man-ship ...I mean craftsmanship up soon.And because I didn't say so in my first post.....Thanks to Lance and Brock for letting us show and tell here...Even though I fear some of these folks might be jest a bit off...haha

Welcome to OLF, Big John!

And always remember we are not laughing with each other, we're laughing at each other, and mostly at Billy!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

First thing in the morning is the best time for a goof! One of my friends used to have a running gag war wth one of his room mates.

His room mate would always use these black towels... so you guessed it... cherry Kool Aid rubbed into the towel and carefully hung up for the next morning!

Great fun was had for everybody! Well,.... herhm ... almost ... everybody!

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

Just as long as everybody's laughing Waddy!!!

HEY! Where's your pic

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

Billy, you haven't been paying attention. He posted a good one.

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Aoibeann

Give me the link Babe!! I'll take care of that wascawy wabbit Waddy!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

Hey Hesh, those are some nice long johns. Do you wear them under that sexy dress?
I miss Grumpy's old as* too!

You know, with working in a prison and messing with the crooks all day and all the people I know out in the world, I don't think I laugh so hard as when I see Billy T's handywork on here. I'm like Big John, it just cracks me up.

_________________
"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

I used to work with corporate types too!

What I like is Hesh's hair!! He should wear it like that more often!

Thanks Chuck!
Sorry to wake you up too Hesh!

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

You know when Billy first showed up here and photoshopped me I didn't like it much at all....... But it became abundantly clear that Billy has one of those rare senses of humor that really brightens many folks days including mine. Besides resistance was futile.......

We are still waiting on Billy though for two things: First - a recent picture...... And second for him to actually build a stinkin guitar......

Hesh, how recent do you need?

Waddy, you know I'm going to have to sell you out don'tcha? Its nothing personal really, but Billy has, well lets just say I owe Billy.

_________________
Aoibeann

I have that great SINKING FEELING!

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Hesh: I try to take it easy on ya! Your so well appreciated on the forum, especially by me, it's like your an unofficial authority figure so no matter what you do your wide open! I'm starting to feel like an OLF journalist!

I know what you mean! First time you did me over I was like "How DARE THIS impudent PEON"!!! The Great "El Commandante Maquina" is offended !!!

So I posted a pic of myself on the OT section finally!! Commencez le festival! Billy's Pix

Thanks for the laughs far too much at your expense Hesh buddy!!

A STINK'IN Guitar I'm trying to, but I had to buy gas this week!

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

I'm watchin this one....

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

L: Nobody owes me noth'in!
But I appreciate it!

Now! I'll get this WADDY.... and his litle dog tooo!!! HA! HA! HA! HA!

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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