Official Luthiers Forum!

I was greatly saddened to hear just a few moments ago that Frank Ford, that giant of our craft, has passed. I never knew him personally but I spent innumerable hours learning from his writings both on his iconic website and on many forums, including this one. He was a true innovator and as talented a toolmaker as he was a luthier. He was one of my heroes in the craft. Rest in peace.

Frank Ford, what an incredible and giving luthier. He's done so much for the craft.

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https://www.instagram.com/fostinoguitars/
https://www.facebook.com/PuraVidaUkuleles/

Our craft and hobby is built on the shoulders of giants like Frank.

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

Wow. Sad. He was a giant among us.

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Thanks Frank for all the hard work and especially being willing to share your knowledge…

Just picked-up another Jack the Gripper as a Holiday present for a friend, Frank designed it. RIP

A good man and master of his craft who was happy to share what he knew. RIP indeed!

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Sad news, its a huge loss. I have consulted his online pages for years, so much good information there.

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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.

I never met Frank Ford in person, but I have learned a great deal from his writings over the last 27 years, including some things that are at the heart of how I go about building instruments. I’m very grateful for the life and work of Frank Ford.

That's too bad. It was always a treat to have Frank reply to one of your posts, felt like a personal conversation by one of the true Masters in the field and a truly great teacher. Rest in peace and Godspeed Mr. Ford your legacy will carry on.

So many of us learned so much from him, and that will have a lasting impact on so many people's instruments. A sad day and a great loss. Rest peacefully Frank.

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

I'll never forget the opportunity I had to get his input 25 years ago on how to improve the salability of my guitars. I didn't implement all of his suggestions, and it took a long time to get what I did up to his standards, but it was a huge help. He embodied the open and sharing culture of American lutherie that has brought us all so far. He knew that whatever he shared would not hurt him, if only because it would take decades of the sort of hard work that he did for any beginner to catch up, and he'd be learning more all the time. We may now have the chance to reach his level, as a craftsman and a person, but I doubt many will exceed it.

Sad news indeed - I'm not much of a luthier (tinkerer would be generous) but I still learned a huge amount reading frets.com back in the day. I found it when I needed a pickup in a non-E Taylor and then read the whole site (multiple times)...even though I don't build or repair, that knowledge is invaluable when it comes to helping friends buy or sell or tweak instruments. I'm very grateful for him.

Very sad news, RIP.

When Michael Bashkin interviewed him I seem to remember his praise of Frank for being a pioneer in working in the open, high tide raises all boats, etc… he will be missed. Being a late comer to building, I’ve benefitted immensely from his contributions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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Frank used to occasionally post here some years ago. Learned a lot from him, mostly through his website.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I’ve also learned a lot from Frank Ford’s website. He was a great teacher and hands-on demonstrator. His methods are always practical and efficient - even elegant.

Going to make some caesar salad this week in his memory...watch out kids!
http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Fun/Kit ... aesar.html

I've dreaded the day as I knew he wasn't a spring chicken. I've used a ton of tips from his Frets website and ride on his shoulders in my minimal way. He is one of my luthiery heros and near the top. RIP.

Frank was a visionary teacher and communicator, a phenomenally knowledgeable luthier, and just a lovely guy. When you look at the quality and quantity of stuff on frets.com, and then recall that he compiled most of that stuff back in the 1990s when the internet was in its wild infancy - it is extraordinary. I started to get into guitar building and tinkering about 18 years ago and I ate up everything that Frank wrote. He achieved the perfect balance of technical content, clear communication and humour. Also excellent photography and presentation.

I live in Australia but in 2007 I was traveling in the SanFran Bay area and of course made a couple of visits to Gryphon Stringed Instruments. I bought a Martin 000-15 as a 21st birthday present for my son (and really should have bought that used Lowden that I tried and still think about). Anyway, Frank was in the house, sitting up at the repair bench in a loud Hawaiian shirt, and I went up and introduced myself as a wannabe luthier from Australia who loved frets.com and thanked him for all of the great teaching. He then gave me about 45 minutes of his valuable time showing me all over his workshop and pulling all kinds of cool instruments out of cases in the back of the shop. I felt like a kid being given a personal tour of the candy shop by Willy Wonka himself. Such a generous and self-effacing guy, but totally boss at the same time. Years later my son also visited Gryphon and mentioned it to me later - "I chatted for ages with this old guy in a really bad shirt who knew everything about vintage Martins, so cool!". I said, "yep you obviously met Frank". Farewell Sir, you were one-of-a-kind.

Oh man! I never came across the Luthiers Kitchen page hahahah

Like I said Frank is very much still alive in the hearts of many and his legacy will live on.

Yup, as said by so many already, whether it was his thoughts on glue or a new repair, there was always Frank to fall back on for some sage advice or a different way to look at a process or method. An icon in the world of luthiery. I think EVERYONE who has held an instrument and a tool at the same time knows Frank -- how often can you say that?

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Brian R, Wood Mechanic
N8ZED

I'm so sad about Frank's passing.

I have never met him, yet I feel like I've always known Frank. He taught me so much with all the knowledge he's shared over so many years, I sure feel he's been one of my most beloved teachers. We repair guys and gals, as a community, owe so much to Frank's generosity. I'm just hoping he fully realized what an impact his selfless sharing of knowledge and expertise had on so many.

My deepest sympathies to the family and friends… all over the world.


Pierre
Guitares Torvisse

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Pierre Castonguay