Official Luthiers Forum!

Kevin: Touching post brother and you have been on my mind and in my prayers lately. Keep your chin up and stay focused on WHY we are really here.

We had a guest preacher last Sunday and his sermon was on "Givers and Takers, the two basic types of people in the world". I am thankful that the vast majority of folks here on the OLF are "givers". Yes, there will always be takers who drag you down to the point of saying "I just can't give any more". I am thankful we can visit a friendly forum of givers and get our batteries charged with positive energy from the majority of people who frequent this forum.

BTW: Matt, I didn't follow your thread but stay focused and shake the dust off of your shoes and move on. We need good folks like you to stay the course and fight the good fight. Please re-consider...

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

Kevin don't ever loose track of the fact that you are one of those that helps make this community great

Thanks, I care about you guys as well.

I also apologize to Mario, I should`nt have let his pay your dues comment get to me.

I am done feeling sorry for myself now, and am getting back to work.

Matt

how about a group hug everyone?! This place is great!

Kevin, what an awesome post. You have managed to sum up in a couple of paragraphs what all of us must have felt at one time or another since joining this forum. This forum is truly a community and also a blessing to everyone who becomes a part of it. I hope the problems that plagued you yesterday are gone today and things can get back to normal for you. God bless ya.

Matt, please don't go anywhere man. You have been an inspiration to me, in you work and your attitude, for quite some time now and I would hate for all of us here to lose that. Stay dude, stay!Dave Rector38814.4993287037

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Kevin, nothing I can say about your words that isn't already here! We're praying for you at my house...we don't know exactly for what, but God does! I agee completely with the feelings shared in this thread...I remember reading on that other forum when Lance first posted that the new OLF was up and running...BEST thing that happened to me in my guitarmaking endeavors (circus? ) was reading that post and coming over here and meeting all you fellas! Terry, you always know what to say and pray...you're a blessing dude...Matt, I read the thread about the jig, and understand that you spoke with conviction...for that you should have no regrets... a voice that reaches this many folks is sure to meet with disagreement tho, and we don't want to lose you! Now, I always feel better when I give something to someone who'll appreciate it, so please send me your best guitar (I'll PM you with the address)... Really, you'll feel better!

As Tiny Tim (the little one, not the Uke player) said, "God bless us, every one!"

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Kevin,

Beautifully said.

Matt,

I consider you a friend I have not yet met. You don't know how many people your participation here has encouraged and inspired. I am one of them!

Jeff

Yeah, me too....I look at the OLF as a place to relax, learn, share and escape from the craziness of the world.
Sometimes we laugh other times we get blown away by the creativity and craftsmanship of the members and all that serves a greater purpose...one of inspiration to this great art that we all try to improve upon!
whether for business or relaxation this great art can take us to a place where time realy ges lost and our minds escape the worries and troubles of this world (at least for a while!)

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

I would chime in here...but I'm way too manly for emotional conversations
such as these.

Well, I'm off to beat the dog.


Peace Out,

Matt, What would become of your favorite Bear without you? I care a lot too ya know! You have to stay for only one good reason, you are our brother and you're a caring person also. We need you here!

Serge

Nice Comments for sure. The OLF can seem like a refuge from the realities of life. At other times, it's like getting beat up by a bunch of thugs in a dark back alley. I've enjoyed both I must say.

Okay, like I've always said, the OLF is kind of like the CHEERS bar off yesteryears TV. Everyone knows your name, and for the most part they also know your idiosyncracies, and ignore them or at least make fun of them on the PM not publicly.

Flaming, curse words, nudity, and just downright hatefulness have no place here on the OLF. We are here for the same reasons, we enjoy the fellowship of other luthiers, and we put up with some, just so we can hang out with the others.

Now to the point of my post. How about it Ronn Coates and Craig Holden, where are you guys? We all want a post out of both of you.

Matt Gage how about I buy you a beer? Thanks for kicking in your two cents on this thread.

Long live the OLF, and long live free sharing of luthier's ideas and luthier's lives along the path.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Matt
     You didn't do anything wrong. this is an adult forum.We may be adults but once in a while we get a little well lets just say intense.
    No one should allow that to be offenseive as we all have typed things we wish we wouldn't. Your expertise and friendship would be missed . Please you are part of this and it I think we all understand that
john hall
   also a footer putter inner once in a while

KG, I am pleased you could find a minor escape from a trying circumsance here at OLF, I hope everything improves for you as quickly as possible.
Im pretty new here - but the spirit of the community here is pretty incredible, helpful in nature and kind in spirit. This much is evident immediately.
There has been the odd minor fray but even from what I have seen in that vein, the memebers here have had the maturity to pull back emotionally, and shown enough restraint and respect for the forum, to not allow thier ego to superceed the balance and harmony of this string sanctuary. ->lets keep it that way.
I for one am glad to have found this forum - I have learned alot in the short time I have been here, and already I find myself here more often than any other forum I have been a part of.
You guys are doing all the right things - and obviously from the above post, you help people in alot more ways than just imparting knowledge of craft, but imparting a sense of peace, .......... priceless!
Cheers
Charlie

If our wives ever find out that we can be this understanding, we're in trouble. Isn't it neat that you can feel such compassion for each other without physically knowing each other? That feeling has been here, for me, since day one. And it keeps growing. Im old and grouchy sometimes but I find the OLF to be, generally, a very happy place. Hang in there, Kevin and Matt. We are brothers (and sisters) in this community and I am strong on family.
I hope the atmosphere never changes here.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

This is off topic & I ask Kevin to bear with me here, but... I have a strategy which works very well for me. If a forum thread stars getting personal, I don't check in to it any more. The thread eventually dies & everything gets back to normal. A good rant is entertaining once in a while, but when it starts getting mean, I bow out. I lose nothing & keep my peace of mind.
The fewer folks check in, the sooner the thread disapears.
Hang in there Matt!

Kevin – well said – you can’t imagine how timely your post was – you pretty much nailed how I felt yesterday. (Today things are good).

Yoo Matt Gage: We’ve met (John How introduced us) – I’ve played your great guitars – (while drinking John Hall’s beer if I recall) -- kinda feel I know you a bit.   Scary thing about forums is it’s in text – had the discussion over the thread you reference been with a bunch sitting in a room -- the same words could have been spoken and I’ll bet a bunch there would have been no hard feelings. Text doesn’t capture the “wink” or “inflection” in ones voice.    Last time I checked – no one here holds a grudge – and no one is ill intentioned. Get over it and keep contributing (you can’t see my smile right now)!

Nicely said, Kevin!

Matt, you are needed here!

Very well said Kevin. I think the OLF is a better place because of you. We need your expertise for one thing, but you also inspire good will in all of us with your giving spirit. I'm glad to be a part of such a great group.

After the ASIA Symposium, we heard the story about Don, Lance, Brock, Don A., Tom Dowey, and others were at dinner and the waitress thought you were all great friends, and after explaining to her that they were all friends over the internet, and this was the first time to meet. It really does feel like old friends sitting around here, and in person it feels the same.

Anthony, very good points that I hope we all take into consideration when posting.

And Matt, don't go anywhere, we do need you here, and you would be sorely missed!

Tracy

Hmm....yes the waitress...wasn't she the one that Mr. Zoot kept taking pictures of?
Remember Bob?!

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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."

Well said, Kevin.

This is truly one of the finest spots on the web. It really is a community, as evidenced by the posts that deal with joy, loss, triumphs, life, and the support that comes and goes here.

Uh-oh, the wife's coming....

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Pat,

You are truly a gentle, caring, kind soul.

I feel your pain......

Wait!! I'm just kidding... Don't throw that can of KTM-9 at me....Joe Beaver38814.8211111111

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Well, Kevin, I hope you can tell from the posts here that you're way out of line, and the world would be a better place without you and your kind (he tried to say with a straight face --hope things are looking better today! ).

Matt...You must know that luthiers can't do good work without a Gage!

I must say Kevin that your words were right on. I've said it before that I have frequented other forums for my various interest, and non, not any come close to this forum and this group of guys. What you guys consider controversy is a joke !! Thats normal conversation on many other threads. If you don't do it my way your wrong and a jerk. Thats the norm in other forums. Here we discuss, sometimes with a small amount of negative emotion, but mostly very enthusiastically. I have learned much about guitars on this forum, why not thats what its here for, but I have learned as much about being a caring person from this forum also. When someone is in need here, emotionally, intellectually and even with materially, there are plenty who come to their aid.
I have just gone through a very rough time in my life, the last 4 weeks were a bear, no not a Serge, but I still HAD to read the OLF. Even when I thought I was not going to be able to continue to become a luthier. I had to read the OLF. I will continue to learn about guitars and life here on the OLF thanks to you and all the other members.
I agree with Robbie, it is time for that group hug..Quick my wifes not looking...
Mike

I'm givin' ya all a Bear hug! My wife is used to it!

Thanks again guys, I really appreciate it. Matt Gage38815.3102199074