Official Luthiers Forum!

   I had a pretty rough day...and a long one that was sprinkled with tough moments and some bad news from family. Days like these usually find me retreating to my shop where I can lose myself in the work that i have lined up there and reflect as I pick away at it for a few extra hours. One of the beauties of lutherie is that it becomes such a part of who we are...whether professional, novoce or hobbyist...that we can actually get things done...and done well while still allowing the craft and the whole process to be therapy and a sort of escape for us.

   I came in a while ago and helped to settle the kids in for the night and sent my wife off with a hug to get some rest that she earns well every day. I thought I'd just pop in and read a few posts and see what everyone here at the OLF was up to as another day ended and realized something after only a few minutes online lurking...this forum has a very nice way of bringing on peaceful feelings even after a less than peaceful and less than relaxing day.

   I know what forums are like that operate on the other end of that spectrum of causing feelings. Some folks think they're not living if they're not in the center of some controversary or conflict and I've begun to avoid those forums that are frequented by those kinds of people. I want to get together with friends and with folks who are concerned about one another beyond their last post or response.

   The very nice thing about it is that you all can help to redeem people in general from the opinions that many have as they've been hurt or insulted or pushed from an online community by the bullying of moderators and members to a point where it is very clear who is welcome and who is not. We suffer enough of that garbage in the world we walk around in and don't need it to continue when we're visiting these venues where we have been able to establish crcles of feinds that reach to every corner of the planet.

   You don't even have to be involved in a thread or exchange to be encouraged by the simple tone of the communication here and that is a refreshing thing to experience and I've experienced on many occasions as I've just read a thread and was touched by the way everyone looks out for one another. It is a community in its truest form and that is something that is to be recognized, appreciated and commended often.

You're a great bunch of guys and really have a clear vision of how people are supposed to treat one another.

Thanks for the boost,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars
    

Amen to that. Very well said, Kevin.
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

Touche

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

That's cool Kevin. Well said.

Kevin, i am touched by the tenderness of your post, i've just exchanged a PM with another OLF brother and we were kind of saying the same thing. The fact that we are who we are and that we were somehow either directed or guided here has plenty of meaning for me. No one else can understand me better than another guitar maker, sure, my wife is happy to see her husband do what he loves but no matter how passionate i can be when talking about my love for this escape-craft-adventure, call it what you will, there is nothing like someone, like you, waiting there with a caring soul and a kind heart, ready to help in a moment's notice, either a newbie or another seasoned veteran who encounters the same highs and lows. Don't want to sound too sweet but i agree with you for recommending this special place of ours.

Even though my posts have all been written with the friendliest of my abilities, i must admit there were a couple of times i could have just lost it but twice since december 25th.......... >>>>>>Not much!

To me, that says it all on my community, I throw so many thank yous out here and wows, i'm just experiencing the most beautiful endeavour of my life!

Thanks to you Kevin and to you all my friends

I'm pretty knew here. I've posted a few comments and started a couple of threads with questions. All my questions were answered in a way that I could understand and use the information to be a better builder. All of my posts have been treated with great respect.
I'm in the middle of my forth guitar. It has been the hardest because I'm pushing myself and trying new things - that I learned here. This forum has been a great help to get me through.
I like it here too. This is a great group of people. Thank you Tim McKnight for letting me know about this forum.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Kevin,

We all know that that no road runs truly straight and flat. I only hope that what bothers you today becomes dealt with in another day and that peace finds you again. Thanks for allowing us a moment to reflect and to know that this is a very fine community.

Peace my friend!

Shane

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Canada

Kevin, may peace find you and your family.

I second your thoughts about the community here at the OLF and cherish all my guitar building friends. We can laugh, joke, share ideas, even disagree and 99.9% of the time, all is well here.

I thank you for taking the time you have to be part of this group, not only does your wisdom in building help us, your commitment to this community of friends is much needed and well received.

Thank You.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Well said, Kevin. This is one place to get away from it all. Doesn`t matter what time of day it is either!

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Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

Well said Kevin the OLF truly is a great forum and an accurate reflection of the kindness and goodwill shared within it's membership.

Kim

Very well said Kevin. The OLF truly is a refuge from a hard day.

Hate to admint it, having served with the Marine Corps, and that sort of stuff, but that brought tears to my eyes.

CrowDuck

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Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

Kevin, you're absolutely right.

I've actually never been apart of a forum before. I mean ever. And I can't
tell you what a joy it's been being apart of this community. I've learned so
much just this past week. The knowledge of these guys is amazing but I
would have to say what supercedes that is the willingness of everyone.

If the world could be more like the OLF it certainly would be a better place. I
pray peace and blessings on you and your family.

Ross

I too have dipped a toe in several forums (forae???) & this one is certainly the most pleasant & respectful. A great bunch of folks!
Thank you Kevin, for your post & I hope for better days ahead for you & your family.
Without the bad days the good ones lose a bit of their lustre. (it's a little trite, I know, but nonetheless true.)
Good Cheer,   Dan

Right on, Kevin. Thanks. And best wishes to your family.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Great post Kevin, you and your family are definatley in our thoughts and prayers.

Hear! Hear!

Very well said Kevin. All my best thoughts and wishes to you and your family...

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

I too had a very hard day when I got involved with radius jig thread. I should have stayed off line that day and I apologize for over reacting.

However, Id like to say that no one has more sence of the community here than I do, but due to the thread the other day I decided to walk away from my beloved community.

does anyone care? does anyone feel a loss?
guess not.... are any of my friends sticking up for me....Ummm guess not, that hurts me now.

Guys, its about the people.

anyway, Kevin I always applaud your efforts and enjoy reading what you have to say, you are obviously a good person, and I look forward to meeting you. I also appologize to the group for letting this all get to me.

bottom line is, I need this place too. I am very isolated in my work, and I need you guys to talk too.



Matt








Matt Gage38816.3457986111

   I had the pleasure of meeting many of the OLF'er. All are great guys and I like to come here and loose myself.
    We all do ahs say dumb things from time to time but I like all and I hope though I may put my keyboard in my mouth from time to time I hope you know it is not from malice .
    The respect here is great and it is fun to share info and ideas
john hall

Well said Kevin, as always. Here's hoping that your bad news works out...and thank you for hanging around here. You're a tremendous person, and a great asset. Your posts are always on the top of my list to read.

Matt: I was indeed disappointed to see you say you were leaving the OLF. But to say "Nah, don't go" seemed to me like I would have been trying to belittle how strongly you felt about things, or trying to talk you out of your position, etc. Choosing to say nothing was apparently not best either. It was a difference of opinion, on a topic you have strong convictions over. Nothing to be embarrassed about there, right? I'm willing to bet most people haven't given it another thought. I, for one, would love to see you here. Please reconsider.    

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Dude! Don't be going anywhere!

I think the OLF and our community would suffer more than I could put in words here, Dude! your one of the OG's!
You know personlay how I hold you as a dear friend, and It would be a sad day to see you leave our club house.

Your post in the Radius jig thread was spoken from the heart, and I totally understood where you were coming from, you had your buddies back! Nothing dishonorable there.

I agree, the OLF IS "about the people" always has been, lets face it, with out all of us, the OLF is nothing more than a computer program running on a server in some dark room.

The ingredients here are passion, compassion, understanding, and sprit, all of which you routinely display.
For the biggest part of the time, we are as Kevin puts it, a "circle of friends that reach every corner of the planet" Friends being the operative word. That share in a collective love for acoustic guitar building.

Matt, your camaraderie here is part of that collective love ( Trying not to sound sappy here )

Hang in there buddy! Today will be a better day :0)

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Hey Matt... I care man.      I hope you reconsider. I seriously do.

BTW, great post Kevin.   

Brock Poling38814.3431018519

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

Hey Matt I care too. I really mean that. Zootman wants you back here pronto. God knows you sure have paid your dues. Beautiful work too.

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Kevin,

It's encouraging to know that you love God with all you are, and that He's got his hand on your life. He knows what you need, and for many of us, this forum is part of the plan, including the healing. I believe many are attracted here b/c of what you said. If there could be such a thing as corporate annointing online, it would be here.

THanks for stating what is to me, most obvious, and tangibly felt. I'm praying for those you love, especially today, after reading this note. Not sure how rough things are, but I'd love to talk with you. May God saturate you with His presence, fill you with peace, and cover your family with healing. Bless your day. Talk with you soon.

That was very well said Kevin. I too hope that the things that weighed you down yesterday somehow turn around and lift you up.

I find myself thinking about the OLF with some frequency, like it's a part of my family. There are so many really nice folks here, and we all manage to somehow get to know each other over time and become friends.
I think back to the ASIA Symposium, where I finally got to meet a lot of the folks here face to face for the first time...Lance, Brock, The Zootman, John Hall, Terry Stowell, Steve Roberson, Tracy Leveque, Robbie O'Brien., Don Atwood, Shawn Carlson, Craig Lavin, Craig Holden, Sylvan Wells....and a several more - and I realize we've become a part of each other's lives. We're not just acquaintances here. Even the new folk who join up and are just starting to dream about building their own guitar...quickly become part of us. We change and grow, and hopefully give one another the respect we all deserve and need as human beings. That's a cool thing.

On another note...
I know Matt Gage pretty well. He's a deep thinker, and a sensitive person in a very good kind of way. One thing he is really passionate about is supporting the lutherie community at-large, by respecting each person and what they do, by supporting the vendors, by giving folks the recognition they've earned over the years, and by welcoming the new folks just getting started. He understands what it is like to work hard and sweat and bleed over the guitarmaking experience, and has tremendous compassion for those who he knows do the same. Matt, we would certainly miss you if you left us. You're part of what brings class and soul here. Don Williams38814.3631018519

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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."