Official Luthiers Forum!

Come on guys tell us all about "the Class".

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Wellllllllllllll, words can't begin to describe the experience. The knowledge gained will forever impact the way I approach building instruments in the future.

Ervin recommends that all students should have several guitars under their belt as a pre-requisite. I think he may want to expound on this and suggest that they have a couple [dozen] under thier belts before attending. There were several students who only had a couple of guitars completed to date and we could see they were struggling with digesting all of the information [this as no reflection on Ervin nor his abilities as a teacher]. This is definately not a class for beginners. With that said I would POSITIVELY recommend this class for any advanced builder who wants to learn more about the flat top guitar voicing process.

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

I can absolutely say, without one shred of doubt or over exaggeration that Ervin has advanced my building by 20 years of banging around by myself in the dark.

This knowledge is beyond price. Ervin is a fantastic teacher and he breaks a VERY complicated subject down into a very managable systemitized approach.

Tim is absolutely right, you want to have the "construction" elements of building guitars down before you attend this class, but once you do.... you absolutely have to do it.

Here are a couple of pics..

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

[QUOTE=Tim McKnight] Wellllllllllllll, words can't begin to describe the
experience. The knowledge gained will forever impact the way I approach
building instruments in the future.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Brock Poling]
I can absolutely say, without one shred of doubt or over exaggeration that
Ervin has advanced my building by 20 years of banging around by myself
in
the dark.
[/QUOTE]

Told ya' so!

So, do you have any tops or backs that need the braces carved off so you
can start over? I had three.

What jigs are you going to build first?

I hate to say I told you so...but... I TOLD YOU SO!
Did your wife and kids recognize you?

Brock, Only 20 yrs...you must have been pretty advanced already...

Gotta get "I've been to E.S. and survived" t-shirts.

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Yeah... I believed you before... but now I REALLY believe you.

Jigs... where to start. I guess I am going to build some of those tapping molds and remake a bunch of my outside molds to incorporate a few of his ideas, from there have only about 40 or 50 others on the list.

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

See those tall thin braces...mmmmmm..."that will never work"

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

The cube rule was quite eye opening when constructing the braced foam board tops.

Yeah, the tapping mold is the first tool on my list as well. I have already been deflection testing for several years but my metric's will now need to be re-calibrated to my new "ES" standard. I just hope USPS handles my tops with care.

Dale,did you attend the Jan 2006 class?

Dave, what year did you attend?

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

the class was a real eye-opener for me. I will be reading thru all the handouts for weeks to come...

I am going to build the tapping mold setup too.

In addition, I also realized that I need to go back and re-evaluate all my guitar wood sets. Somogyi gave us a really good understanding of what to look for when selecting tone woods.
-Jon-

So, guys, what surprised you the most?

Also, regarding those tall & thin braces, would he modify those any further?

i am being stupid again....what is a tapping mold?

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

Hi Tim,
It was the February class...either 2003 or 2004 I'm not sure. Does he still do the "what's wrong with the guitar in this picture" segment. That alone was worth the price of admission. I am telling you...I would take the course again...just to really get things to sink in. There was sooooo much!

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

[QUOTE=JonChowning] the class was a real eye-opener for me. I will be reading thru all the handouts for weeks to come...

I am going to build the tapping mold setup too.

In addition, I also realized that I need to go back and re-evaluate all my guitar wood sets. Somogyi gave us a really good understanding of what to look for when selecting tone woods.
-Jon-[/QUOTE]



Welcome Jon. :-)

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

[QUOTE=azimmer1] i am being stupid again....what is a tapping mold?[/QUOTE]

It really is impossible to "pick apart" Ervin's method. You really have to get the "whole show" for it to make any sense. Before the class I had heard that people who came back "wouldn't tell you about it"... but in truth... and after seeing it.... there is no way to explain it. He takes you clear back to the tree and the structure of wood and builds you up from there.

But to answer your question the tapping mold is sort of like an ourside mold that you clamp your top in when you are beginning to voice it. It is mostly an instructional tool he uses, but I am going to use it to voice my guitars.

I think the next time he teaches this will be February of 07 if he sticks to his "traditional" schedule. They May class was an extra one this year.

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

Tim,

I was in the class in February '06. It was a week I will cherish. Wonderful
people and like everyone here has said, an eye (and ear) opening experience.
I did catch a NASTY cold while attending the class, but that gave me some
laid-up time when I got home to get through a good chunk of the handouts!

Cheers,
-Dave

Absolutely envious...
Gg

Hi guys-
How much is his class?

Thanks-

_________________
John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

To find out more about the class and to get in touch with Ervin for pricing, etc, go to www.esomogyi.com

_________________
Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

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

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

[QUOTE=CarltonM] So, guys, what surprised you the most?

Also, regarding those tall & thin braces, would he modify those any further?[/QUOTE]

Surprising you ask? Well .... every minute ... to be exact ... was eye opening.

Each individual brace is unique and is treated just that way, individually. To say you thin the X to a specific dimension and the finger braces to another dimsension is a misnomer.

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

Tim,
sounds like you really got something from Mr. S. That makes me happy. Mostly because I prayed so hard that you would.

Ervin is something special.

some pics from when I was there...
KATHY WINGERT - back of her head :


MAESTRO, JUDY THREET AND MIKE GREENFIELD:



MAESTRO AND THE TAPPING MOLD:



A Masterpiece made by the Maestro himself:


Tim by the dates on the pics I must have been in the Feb. 2004 class. Mind blowing! Dave-SKG38867.9145833333

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

[QUOTE=Tim McKnight] [QUOTE=CarltonM] So, guys, what surprised you the most?

Also, regarding those tall & thin braces, would he modify those any further?[/QUOTE]

Surprising you ask? Well .... every minute ... to be exact ... was eye opening.

Each individual brace is unique and is treated just that way, individually. To say you thin the X to a specific dimension and the finger braces to another dimsension is a misnomer.

[/QUOTE]
Thanks, Tim. Anybody else?

and I got to sleep in a room packed floor to ceiling full of brazilian... oh, the smell...   

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