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Craig asked that rather than him deciding on the peghead design, that there be a discussion on ideas for the peghead inlay. Keep in mind that this is an appreciation for contributions to luthierie and get well soon gift. But I think little attention on the guitar should be paid to the fact that the recipient is ill. So pony up your ideas.

Please the recipient’s name is not to be use on the forum, in order to maintain the surprise factor

How about a famous character. In keeping with Craig's Americana Theme, I nominate Samuel Clemmons, otherwise known as Mark Twain for the headstock.

Then maybe on the fretboard, one of his famous quips.

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I haven't chimed in here because I honestly don't have an opinion. (there's a first, eh) I prefer the simple look of no inlay but I know I'm in the minority there and I really want Craig to be part of this build. So I'm pretty much game for anything.
How 'bout nekkid mudflap ladies?

How about simple Japanese lettering symbols for the following in MOP; I have a friend at work that can give me the symboles
3rd fret: Wood
5th fret: Glue
7th fret: Steel
9th fret: Passion
12th fret: Devotion
15th fret: Persaverance
17th fret: Music
and the peghead: A Craftsman's Dream
MichaelP38770.9987731481

Michael, that is a VERY interesting idea! I likeit a lot!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I think it is an intersting idea, but just curious, why japanese characters?

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

American guitar, Japanese characters?

Mark Twain seems to fit better with Sitting Bull and Wild Bill Cody and an "American" theme.

Or we could do fish, fish is good, I like fish.

Mudflap ladies, Paul, I'm telling my wife on you. She detests those things. Have you seen the commercial lately where she comes alive, walks to the passenger door of the new glitzy pickup and gets in? I know you are joking.    Bruce Dickey38771.4781828704

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Purely for the simplicity of the shapes esthetics and meanings behind the symbols in reference to the thought behind the gift. It is just an idea. Did not mean to offend if I did. No national implications meant. Kanji(sp?) is often used in many medias to symbolize a given meaning or devotion.

With all due respect to Craig this is a dedication guitar. My idea and request was for ideas with a implications toward that theme of the build.

I think that the Mark Twain idea has merit if it can be tied into a short saying that expresses the sentiment of the gift. But whatever we choose should reflect the thought and feelings behind the build.

Come on guys more Ideas
MichaelP38771.4924652778

From Twain's Letters From the Earth :
All are on an equality absolute, no one of them ranking another; they have to be "brothers"; they have to mix together, pray together, harp together, hosannah together...

[QUOTE=Pwoolson] From Twain's Letters From the Earth :
All are on an equality absolute, no one of them ranking another; they have to be "brothers"; they have to mix together, pray together, harp together, hosannah together...[/QUOTE]

I don't think the fretboard is long enough

Sitting Bear



Wild Bill Cody



A Twain story: The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County (fretboard maybe with a species indigenous to the Mississippi) A Bullfrog













Mark Twain

LAUGHTER
Will a day come when the race will detect the funniness of these juvenilities and laugh at them--and by laughing at them destroy them? For your race, in its poverty, has unquestionably one really effective weapon--laughter. Power, Money, Persuasion, Supplication, Persecution--these can lift at a colossal humbug,--push it a little-- crowd it a little--weaken it a little, century by century: but only Laughter can blow it to rags and atoms at a blast. Against the assault of Laughter nothing can stand.
- The Chronicle of Young Satan, Mysterious Stranger Manuscripts

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Be good, and you will be lonesome! Twain

I never heard that one.

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Bruce did you get my last 2 emails???

How do we tie it into the reason or sentiment of the gift? I am not requiring or demanding that we do one thing or the other. But to me if we are giving the guitar in recognition for his luthierie contrabutions and heart felt consern, then I think it would mean more if the theme tied into that. I think the odds of Mark Twain having a short quip that reflects that are good. But I also think that this may be more than Craig bargined for as a donation.MichaelP38771.6315972222

Maybe fit in a sternwheeler steam boat?
Or perhaps a ship`s wheel?Cocephus38771.6659259259

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[QUOTE=MichaelP] I think the odds of Mark Twain having a short quip that reflects that are good.[/QUOTE]

While having lunch, it occurred to me that Twain's most famous character is Huck Finn, either floating downriver on a raft or painting the fence. Both would lend themselves to great inlay.

The gift is the sentiment, and the more outrageous the inlays and more meaning they stir, the better.

I just know any artist needs a great subject to be inspired. His call. Let's not vote, but be pleasantly surprised by Craig's genius.

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I stated no vote But Craig asked for some input on ideas

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.
Mark Twain

Mark Twain
The holy passion of Friendship is of so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that it will last through a whole lifetime, if not asked to lend money.


Mark Twain
Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed.


Mark Twain
It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.

Mark Twain
Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.


After all these years, I see that I was mistaken about Eve in the beginning; it is better to live outside the Garden with her than inside it without her.-- Adam's Diary

"Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul." (inscription beneath his bust in the Hall of Fame)

"Good breeding consists of concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person."


"It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt."



"I think a compliment ought always to precede a complaint, where one is possible, because it softens resentment and insures for the complaint a courteous and gentle reception."

Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit takes their place.

"Always do right. That will gratify some of the people, and astonish the rest."

Bruce Dickey38771.6986111111

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Tom Sawyer paintin' the fence.

http://www.nrm.org/exhibits/traveling/

Bruce Dickey38771.8662615741

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I think we need to keep this to contributions in lutherie. One idea is to stick to the tools of the trade, cam clamps, a hhg pot, chisels, wood shavings, planes, sandpaper, tuners, stuff like that. Pieces and parts. That would be cool.

Another idea would be to focus on what the fruits of the lutherie labor produces, toddlers dancing, people listening to music clapping hands, people singing, and old blues dude sittin on a stump thumping out a tune. Maybe something like that.

I think some of the other artwork suggestions are cool, but I just don't see the connection with this guitar.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I agree with Brock that the theme need to be vocused on the reason for the gift.

Maybe a peghead inlay with a luthier carving braces on the top and the rim and back assembly on his bench in the background, and keep the Fretboard simple markers or tools of the trade.

Michael, Brock, I like this idea, sort of a Laskinish engraved inlay.LanceK38776.3138657407

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I'm a total outsider here (and I'm not entirely sure what you are discussing, a charity guitar right?), and you all probably know this already, but Mark Twain was also an avid guitar player according to the book "Martin Guitars". There is a picture of his guitar in the book.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Arnt, this a surprise build, gift for a person going through some tough times right now. This person is intimately involved in the luthierie business. The guitar is a gift to show our appreciation for this person’s contributions to luthierie and best wishes from use here at OLF. I cant really give more info an keep the secret. I love the idea of Mark Twain but have a hard time making a intimate tie to the reason of the gift.