Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi Folks. The ASIA Symposium was once again, an experience that is indescribable. I don't intend to attempt to describe the event, but here is a good place to share some pictures and stories. Please feel to post yours.

On behalf of the A.S.I.A. President, Board of Directors and Staff, thank you to all who attended and donated their time, talents, experience and items for the incredible auction.

Mike Franks
http://www.mjfranksguitars.com

The Hotel Bar was a great place to be in the evenings. A few familiar faces were present.

My prize from the auction, a signed cutout of a John Monteleone Archtop. Probably the closest thing to a Monteleone that I will ever get to own but I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face. Another auction prize was a jug of "Hand Squeezed" Canadian Maple Syrup signed and donated by Linda Manzer. She never did explain how she "Hand Squeezed" it from the tree.

My goodness. Some of those folks are looking old. I better go look in the mirror....

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Mike, it was good to make your acquaintance, and thanks to the organizing committee. Some photos trail.

Michael Gurian on building a sustainable business:



Bill Tippin and Dave Nichols on bracing and voicing:





Chris Martin IV speaking:



Dick Boak with an 19th century Stauffer Martin:



Bernie Lehmann on stringed instrument design:



Pat Diburro on finish repairs:

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David Radlin
http://www.facebook.com/radlin.guitars

Hey Mike, I had a great time. Met a bunch of new friends, reconnected with a few old ones, and learned a whole bunch of new stuff. Thank you and everyone else at ASIA for pulling it all together.

Steve

I attended the ASIA Symposium this past week as well. This was my first Symposium so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I met a lot of new people and learned quite a bit. It was amazing to rub elbows with the likes of Dave Nichols, Linda Manzer and Chuck Anderson and see that they aren't that different than the rest of us. I was a bit surprised to see how humble and down to earth most of these people are. I look forward to attending the next one in 2015.

Great time Mike, and really nice to be on the panel with you.
Looking forward to the next one!
Best

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

Like Mick, my first ASIA Symposium (thanks to Steve Denvir for planting the seed last summer to join him this year). Also, like Mick, I'm from Oakville ... we'll have to connect sometime and keep the guitar conversation going!

Thanks to all involved in making ASIA and the Symposium come together. Met some very fine people and the learning keeps on going!

Cheers
Rick

It was my first time to attend and it was well done! Learned a lot. Got to pick the brains of builders much more experienced than myself. Great experience all around. Now if I could have just bottled the weather and taken it home with me. It was hot as hell in San Antonio today
Mark

Thanks for the great pictures. It was a great time and lots of information to cram into my brain. I big thank you to the people behind the scenes, David and Nadine Nichols and the A.S.I.A. board members for making this happen.

My pictures on photo bucket.
http://s190.photobucket.com/user/fetellier/library/ASIA%202013?sort=2&page=1

My new buddy John Rossbach doing a great job singing and picking my Ziricote/Bear Claw Sitka OM at a dorm jam. There was a little bit of out of tune picking as often happens in a jam after the 1 minute mark but it is worth listening to John and the other more competent pickers.




Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

I was so busy I only got one picture! Once again, I proved that I'm no longer the party animal that I never used to be.... It's nice to put faces and voices to names.

It was a good time and always enjoyable to meet old and new friends.
Nice especially to have finally met you Alan and Mike!

Best

I always forget to take pictures. I'm glad others do and post them. I had a great time and attended a lot of really interesting sessions. The ethics of repair and Linda Manzer's talk were really good.

If you get a chance to go to this or GAL, do it.