Official Luthiers Forum!

I added my two cents about a conference on the main discussion forum under lutherie training. But the fact is, this is just the type of gathering we might look at as a group.

The past Northwood Seminars were big successes, but they were a lot of work, but fun work. I might be able to get ASIA on board in some fashion (given it’s on the off year to the convention) and maybe Stew Mac too.

I have a formula or a template for operating a seminar such as this. We have the Holliday Inn/convention center in town that will work with us so we could continue to talk guitars at dinners, at the pub and set up jam sessions into the evening. As a group we can get good rates on rooms a meals so we can all talk guitars as we eat and sleep. Nothing new for most of us.

The way it works is, get the heavy hitters in from around the world to demonstrate and treat them like kings (as they disserve) and the information will flow.

The price per person is about $750.00. ($175.00 per day) This covers the seminar, lunch and a few group perks. All the money goes to air fair, rooms and an allowance for the instructors.

I’m banging this around in my head and I haven’t talked to Susan yet (my wife/business partner) but I have thought about doing the Northwood’s at least one more time.

Of course I'd have to get Dan Erlewine on board to make this happen.

What do you think?   

Bryan...I'm in! do you have a course outline from prior seminars? ...what worked, what would you do differently?

Thanks for getting this started! I hope others are interested.

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

That sounds great to me, and I'd like to participate. I admit that I'd have trouble affording it, but Bryans' place is close to my city so I couldn't miss it.
In fact, to Bryan and anyone else- I'd like to help plan and work on making this happen if I could. Mark Swanson38646.4274652778

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

It sounds great to me too! Although different than what were talking about doing with the OLF. I think that it’s a great idea and as Mark said, the close proximity to Bryan would make it easy for me! Id love to do it!

I would also like to look into how we could include the OLF members some how? Maybe taping the seminars? Or a live web cam feed? There are lots of very cool things we could do here.

Bryan we should talk about this!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I agree. The time frame would be something like August of 2006. I hosted 5 or 6 Northwood’s in the past and all cost aside, when you get Seymour Duncan and Lindy Faylin at one table showing you how to wind pick ups in one room, Tom Murphy showing how he antiques a finish in the other and the Frank Ford show going at all times the $175.00 per day seems pretty OK. And that’s just one day.

I’d like to see things like Grit Laskin/inlay, Buzz Feiton/intonation, Ervin Somogyi/acoustics, and maybe Tom Ribbecke on arch tops for starters.

To make this happen you have to get enough people to sign up in advance so the cost of the event can be secured. I would be the sponsor and we as a shop will loose money but that’s OK. The main thing is someone (me) has to sign the paper work with the hotels and conference rooms. If the event folds I am still responsible for 20% of the total cost of the 40 or so rooms pre booked (to get the good rates) and someone has to book the flights for the instructors, which will require a credit card. (again me)

On the main forum I’ve already seen the typical postings that say, "too expensive". This event would be for people who are serious about getting better at their craft and who can see that the money spent will come back ten fold.

This is only at the discussion stage but I’m still thinking about it.

"Too expensive" if you didn't have world-class people doing the instructionals. The only reason why ASIA Symposiums are so much cheaper is that the accomodations and food are fairly lower end. Not that most people minded the high humidity and temps in the 90's with no air conditioning...everyone loved that.
Yes, $750 is a lot of money for a few days, plus air fare or gas/car rentals whatever, but if the workshops are appealing enough, that's not an unattractive cost. Even for a reasonably broke fellow like myself. Simply put $20 a week aside to save for it, or to pay back the savings account.
I would simply sell some brazilian....

Don Williams38657.4867824074

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Hey Don...you keep talking like that and you'll be out of retirement in no time!

Sure hope Bryan can pull this off...and I would love the opportunity to meet more OLFers in person.

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

Bryan asked me to post this for him - looks closely! There are a lot of familiar faces!
Its the orginal Northwoods gang!

LanceK38646.8008680556

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

You know Mark we live close enought we could drive everyday. If the cost is in my ball park you can count me in for sure.

TW

That's what I was thinking, too. But I would also want to get in on the jamming later in the evening!

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