Official Luthiers Forum!

Finally had the pleasure to meet Mr Marshall Dow, a bit of a local building legend in Aberdeen, Scotland.
An elderly gentleman now, he has been building nearly 50 years - violins, archtops, flattops, mandolins, bouzoukis, etc.
Had a good chinwag, and I played several of his instruments.
One early one was a Martin 000-18 replica, the plans for which were traced from the original templates by a very nice lady in the Martin office in response to his telephone inquiry for help.
He paid 5 shillings ($0.33) for the tracings and bracing details.
Here's a few of his builds and spot the little Gem he purchased.


Early Gibson L3 in original good condition.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Wow! That is very cool stuff. A visit like that can provide a lifetime inspiration!!!

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Chinwag huh, I like that one.

Cool stuff for sure.

Pochette or a dancing masters fiddle. Have a friend who has just started to make one.

Thanks Colin. That sounds like a priceless session.
I watched an interesting videoclip recently of an American TV host interviewing a British actor - they tried to bamboozle each other with local vernacular that the other had no hope of understanding. “Chinwag” seemed to be a term that totally mystified Americans - while every Brit (and Australian) knows what it means. I am glad you and Mr Dow had a good one!

Was the L-3 an archtop at this time? This one is a 13 fretter. Does that make it 1928-29?

Ed

your the next local legend maker.

Mc

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Mike Collins

I am no expert, and was merely repeating his claims for the guitar.
The logo suggests 1920/1933, adjustable truss rod suggests post 1922, similar guitar here https://www.archtop.com/ac_28L3.html

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Colin

Thanks for the site. Interesting to see these guys with the hand-rubbed sunburst in such good shape

Ed