Official Luthiers Forum!

Well, things have been a bit slow in here lately....I thought that I'd start up a topic about what goes on with the meetings that I have every other tuesday...I used to have them every tuesday but I made them bi-weekly because it was summer and everyone had things to do, and I had a lot of work to get done. I also wanted to encourage those who have been coming to do some things on their projects during the two week periods.
So, this last tuesday Joel came by with his solid-body project, Dale brought his telecaster over and showed me that he had it all wet-sanded and ready for the last coat of lacquer.....Russ came by, he's been making a bunch of nice necks. Dan came too and told me that at the next meeting he'd bring over his L-00 made with Pau Ferro that he's just finishing up. I've seen it, it's very pretty!
At the next meeting, Jim will be bringing by his Stew-Mac dobro that he's finished up.
The next meeting is on the 23rd, and any member is welcome! My shop is humble and it's small- but we share and have good times. Anyone who doesn't know where I live, please drop me a line and I'll get you the details.....
Meanwhile, I hope the rest of you start to post some thoughts and comments here!

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

Mark,
Ill make an effort to get out and at least meet some of your group - what are the times?

Thanks
Lance

PS, I'm getting anxious for the next MGL meeting, I'm going to skip work that day to be SURE to make it. LanceK38577.3602083333

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

The meetings here at my home are pretty low-key, just some show-and-tell and a bunch of us all sharing what we have been working on and help each other when we can....you would be welcome anytime Lance- meeting or not. So if you get into GR let me know!
As far as the meetings go, the start time is 5:30 and they go about as long as anyone stays, they are usually done by 8 or 9.
I'm getting anxious for the october meeting too! It'll be a good one. Right now I am trying to get two guitars and an octave mandolin ready for the Wheatland festival which happens on 9/9-9/11, and Bryan has asked me to display in the Luthier's Tent with him and a bunch of other really good builders! So I am focussed on that. Mark Swanson38578.0061689815

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

Mark,

Yeah, I'd like to make one of your gatherings, too--if not on the 23rd, then the next one (9/6? That's Wheatland week). Please e-mail (it's in my profile) or PM me with your address. Thanks.

hey everybody,

good idea on getting some topics going. when i get a little more time i will post a few because i sure have a lot of questions.

just so everyone knows, my wife and i had a healthy baby boy, solomon taylor van dam, on aug.17th @ 11:53a.m. he was 8lbs. 1oz. and 21 1/2" long. mother and baby are doing fine. i had to go back to work today but all is well.

unfortunately my guitar has been sidelined but hopefully not for long.

thanks everybody,

joel van dam

Congrats to you and Mom, Joel! Now you can build him a guitar.

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

Congrats Joel and wife!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Mark...I'm very interested in actually meeting more experienced luthiers. I'm in north-central Indiana and was planning to make the trip for the Oct 8 meeting. But I would also like to try to make one of your Tuesday meetings. Please send me info on where and when (probably 9/6 but what time?). Hopefully it will be one that Lance attends as well.

I have more questions than contributions. One thing I would love to do is to bring a few completed guitars and get some real critiques and feedback first hand. Thanks

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

JJ, ill try to plan on attending that meet! And the OCT MGL meet is a must! I'm going to take the day off work for that one!
JJ, you should join up, i know its just a formality, but heck, if your going to come, may as well make it official

LanceK

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Hey, Mark...Looks like your place is becoming the Unofficial MGL meeting place! You're gonna need a bigger shop (good excuse, right?)!!!

Sure, it already has been a regular tuesday night meeting place for a couple of years now. Just this summer, I cut it back to every other week because I wanted to get more work done, and encourage the others to work on thier own!
But you all are welcome, there is a meeting tonight and the next one will be on 9/6. You guys can come. I would rather give you directions in email, since this is a big public board...but it's right near the I-96 X-way in north G.R. and as 9/6 gets near, we can talk about it some more!
I guess I'll have to clean the place up a bit! <G>
I will post again tonight, after things die down from tonights' meeting.

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

Lance...Check the members' list...I signed up a long time ago!

Mark...please email me the directions when you have time...jjdonohue@kconline.com

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

DHO!!!!!!!!
And Im the one that added your name!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Well, I haven't reported much about last tuesday yet...again it was a bit short in the turn-out. Sometimes I have so many that my small shop is crowded, other times (such as late summer!) not so many can come. But Dan Sharp and Dale Thomas came over, Dale is finishing up a nice set-neck telecaster. I sprayed it for him with nitro, and he wet-sanded it. Now I'll buff it out for him and then we'll put it together and it should be all done by the 6th.
Dan will probably have his pau ferro L-00 done by then, too- I am hoping. He brought the neck with him and we had a look at a very fancy fingerboard inlay, I've seen the whole guitar and it is really good- Dan is a great artist!
I have told everyone that we'll probably have some guests on the 6th, so I hope all of you out of towners can make it!

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

Well, we had a nice time tonight! Dale, Russ, and Dan all showed up. We were joined by Carlton Macksam, who made the drive over from Muskegon. He's a very nice guy, and like most builders he's pretty cool! It was great to meet him and talk for a while. I hope he had fun, he said he's going to come to the next meeting up at Bryan's.
Dale is building a nice telecaster and we spent the night looking it over and helping him put it together. I showed everyone the instruments I'm taking up to sell at the Wheatland festival.
I took a picture! Here's Dale, Russ and Carlton lookin' at Dale's double-cutaway tele!
Mark Swanson38601.8876736111

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

Looks like 3 crusty rascals on a work-release program!

My kinda guys! I think I'll like these meetings. I'm looking forward to making the trip in October if not sooner.

Thanks for posting and hosting, Mark!

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

Thanks, Mark. It was big fun! You're bringing some really fine, distinctive instruments to Wheatland. I'll be especially surprised if you come home with that sweet octave mando! It seems just the right thing for the Wheatland crowd.

I've gotta mention Dale's electric--with the alder body, maple cap & neck, it looks like it's going to be pretty hefty, but it weighs about the same as two loaves of bread! It's gonna really resonate! Ya gotta tell everyone where you got all of that fine wood! Oh, and hey, Dale, shall we tell 'em what you forgot?    I bet a lot of people have similar stories!

[QUOTE=JJ Donohue] Looks like 3 crusty rascals on a work-release program![/QUOTE]

Yep, the bus came to pick us up right after this picture was taken.

I would like to welcome carlton to the group. we had a great time joking and just having a good time.
thanks Russ


Russ jansma38601.9897569444

It's good to see you post, Russ!
Yeah, we did have fun. Maybe Dale will come in and tell us about that missing output jack. If you see the picture of the guitar, you just might be able to see that we forgot to drill for it!

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

I say hard wire it and play the day lights out of it.
lets not forget the wood for Dale's guitar is from home depot. the wood is vary cool good job DaleRuss jansma38602.3238310185

Cool! Looks like you guys had fun!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com