Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi Guys,

I'm moving from Fresno Ca to the Victorville area in the High Desert Ca. Does anyone know of any luthiers out that way or any Classical/Flamenco Guitar societies?

I'm spoiled here in Fresno with my many Guitar friends and a wonderful classical guitar society. We are making the move due to my father-in-law being terminally ill. We want to be close to my in-laws so that we can do all we can to help during these difficult times.

Also does anyone know what problems I may have with building in that area? I'm buying 2-1/3 acres of property and I'm getting 2 9.5'h x 8'w x 40'l shipping containers and putting them side by side taking out the adjioning walls to give me an area of 9.5' x 16' x 40'. Of course I'll be insulating it and cooling it. The containers only cost $2000 each delivered. What do you guys think of this plan?

Sorry to hear about your father in law, I recently went through 2 similar losses. Be strong, your family is going to need you.

I don't think it would meet Fresno's zoning code, but out of town I think it would work fine, and cost efficient. Speaking of cost efficient Home Depot has some portable buildings that are not bad.

Al

Al, I checked with the county planning department and they said it would be no problem. They say they even allow them to be converted into homes! They also allow straw bale, used tire, and bottle homes to be built in the high desert! They said anything can be built aslong as it's properly engineered.

Sorry to hear about your losses, I think this move will be good for everyone.

BTW I found this picture on the net, it's ahome built from shipping containers!

and this one

That's one way to live the Afghani experience. They have shipping containers as store fronts over there. It is amazing what a little ingenuity can do with the right materials.

_________________
Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Sorry to hear about your father in law Ed, very thoughtful of you to gather the energy for your people, God bless you for that.

I hope you'll enjoy your new place and make many friends!

Serge

Good luck on your move, I know your In-Laws appreciate you getting the family closer. Sounds like a great shop.

Mike

THATS BRILLIANT. I could totally live in a shop/house like that second one. Live upstairs, build downstairs. Insulated containers (generally used for frozen foods) make exceptional kilns (we dry all our tops in one)

_________________
CVT Inc.
A tour of our shop (Somewhat outdated)
My Personal eBay profile. BCWoodBug

Ed, where did you buy them containers for that price?

I've been researching that a little bit online.. Very very cool. I've been watching local realestate but I could build a container highrise at the farm instead

_________________
CVT Inc.
A tour of our shop (Somewhat outdated)
My Personal eBay profile. BCWoodBug

Architect Magne Magler Wiggen (MMW architects) in Oslo, Norway designed some pretty cool container houses, check this one out:

MMW container house

_________________
Rian Gitar og Mandolin

thanks Arnt, you guys are opening some creative thinking here, i'm gonna have to look further into that, $2000 isn't expensive for a nice shop!

We've got a bunch of semi-temporary student housing made of containers up in Amsterdam North, which I pass on my way to the lumber purveyor. Doesn't look half-bad.

If you build a shop in one, make sure I put on your ear muffs before you run the table saw.   

_________________
Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Serge here is the contact information you requested:
Kenneth A. Smith
Sales Manager
American Portable Storage
Office (510) 777-8333
Cell (510) 414-6438
ksmith@apstorage.com

_________________
Support the OLF! Bookmark our STEWMAC link Today!
Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Thanks Ed and Lance too!

Sounds like we got ourselves a guerrila guitar-maker on our hands.
Dont forget to get your internet put in so you can drop us notes from the underground from time to time.

People in BC get those containers or transport truck trailers all the time - they do have a tendancy to bury them up here though, strange................
Mabye a transport truck trailer would be good for you as well - chainsaw in a couple windows, and you can get insulated ones too. From what I understand they are pretty cheap.
Cheers
Charlie
charliewood38827.5109490741

I wondered about the noise factor too Arnt, guess it could get pretty loud with steel walls

[QUOTE=Arnt] Architect Magne Magler Wiggen (MMW architects) in Oslo, Norway designed some pretty cool container houses[/QUOTE]
Arnt, I bet that house discourages door-to-door salespeople!

What do you think, guys...a group container buy?

Why not put wheels under them and a motor in them and you can take your shop on vacation with you. Nelson

Nelson,

Too complicated. Just add a trailer hitch and pull it behind the Buick!

[QUOTE=CarltonM] Nelson,

Too complicated. Just add a trailer hitch and pull it behind the Buick![/QUOTE]

Or tear the furniture/kitchen/bedroom out of a motorhome. Repair shop on wheels

_________________
CVT Inc.
A tour of our shop (Somewhat outdated)
My Personal eBay profile. BCWoodBug

Victorville

I live in Victorville when i was a kid, motorcycle riding every day. very (hot) there . way hot.

I know you can pick up land very cheap as long as its
not oil rig or farm land. your idea sounds good,check
with the city (permits)and you have to think about a (water well) and septic tank and check for power polls
in the area. The most important think is see how
deep you have to drill for water, that could run
into a lot of money if the well is deep.
I would try to found land with all this done.
Ron.

Hi Ron,
We already checked, there are no easments and the property has city water and no obstructions. I've alreadt got the ok to build what ever I like on the property. Have you ever been in Fresno in the summer? 110-115F with higher humidity than the high desert. I'm hoping it will feel a little cooler in victorville, what do you think?