Official Luthiers Forum!

Well, when I had camera in hand, most of the OLF brethren were no where to be found. So, I took shots of the instruments that were there. I know Hesh and Serge really like the pix, so here goes, guys.

1st, Mike Doolin's arch top harp guitar:



And, the back:



Next, a shot or two of an instrument by Fred Carlson, who has more artistry in his little finger than most of us have in our entire bodies. Here is his latest harp-guitar-thingy:



And the back:



Next, some nice Madagascar rosewood:



And, some nice Myrtle:



And finally, your-guess-is-as-good-as-mine:



Thanks for looking, and hope to see you there next time!

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

That last contraption is Dan Erlewine's.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Wow!   those are cool

thanks for the pics Steve.

Thank you very much Steve, all very nice instruments, i have to say that the Mad rose guitar is my favorite in there

Now I wish I had gone with you. Good pics. What an interesting idea, the arched top harp guitar!

Thanks for the pictures, I sure would have liked to be there too! Maybe some day.

[QUOTE=John K] What an interesting idea, the arched top harp guitar![/QUOTE]

The concept of the arched top harp guitar is nothing new, I'm sure you have seen these. Doolins harp guitars seem to more similar in outline to the Knutson harp guitars, but these were flat topped instruments.

Who would have thought that these instruments would make a comeback now!

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Hey Arnt .. all it takes is one Stephen Bennett concet, and you too would be hooked on the idea - he makes it look so easy, and the sound is jsut amazing. There are now quote a few fingerstylists picking them up - one guy I know near me has in the last couple years travelled the US and bought two original Dyers, one a six sub bass, the other a five, both from around 1910-1912 - they are unreal.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

That Dan Erlewine contraption, which he calls "the rockin' chair", is really cool. It's all about ergonomics, designed by himself for himself, to address his own physical challenges (I forget the specifics - he's got some arthritis or tendonitis or something). I saw him demo it at the ASIA convention last year. Really brilliant. Right on, Dan.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

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

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

I think he should have added wheels like a tricycle - that would be cool. Peddlin and pickin ....

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Todd, I was there at the demo last year too. Dan also commented that it sitting on top of it while playing it also felt good in his...ahem..you know! He was funny!

Tony, I never saw a harp guitar in person in my life, so I don't know how they sound. They sure look like they would sound wonderful! I will check out Stephen Bennett; any tips on good recordings?

Oh, I just remembered; didn't Robbie Robertson play one on "the Last Waltz"?

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

sure Arnt .. get the double CD harp compilation he has, the Beatles covers, or River - they are all awesome recordings. On the Beatles Hello/Goodbye, all while holding down the rhythym/melody, the harp strings are used to nail Pauls acscending bass riff in one part - too cool.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Here's Steve and Paddy and Scott Thompson. A couple shots of my display tables. The myrtle acoustic was done by Rebecca Urlacher who did the amboyna burl rosette for me. It's her 8th guitar and she may be building my new acoustic guitar....just haven't decided yet. The raspberry 7 string bass is the acrylized wood bass built by Fred Bolton of Bee Basses. I added dye to the acrylic resins so neck, top and back all match. All the wood accept the ash core were acrylized. There's no finish or oil on this bass, just buffed out. Barely seen is my mac ebony topped, solid BRW neck, black limba body Strat-o-like built for me by Chris Benavente......one of a twin set. Got a few more pics to post.

Very Interesting stuff! Thank You Steve for posting these! I have never heard a harp guitar either! Would love to try playing one some day.
And thanks Larry for more great shots!DaveAndy38897.4476967593

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

I tried to get you guys to come!
I told you it would be good....

Well, perhaps the pics will offer some vicarious enjoyment. (Whatever that is.)
Visiting Larry's table was a painful experience. In this sense--that I wanted everything there. Wonderful stuff, Larry. I did score some beautiful crotch Claro for a future build, thanks Larry, and thanks Paddy for not buying it.

Obviously Scott would have had more fun if he had hung around with Paddy and me!

Glad you like the shots.

Steve

P.S.--Here's another vote for Stephen Bennett's "River".
The title cut is the least appealing to me, but the rest of the album is fantastic. He's a great player.Steve Kinnaird38897.6213078704

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

[QUOTE=Arnt] Tony, I never saw a harp guitar in person in my life, so I don't know how they sound.[/QUOTE]
The bass strings tend to sound very lute-like. Sometimes it makes the "normal" strings sound somewhat small. It probably depends on the luthier.

So, hey, where IS that Doolin kid? I don't recall him joining us here for some time.

[QUOTE=Steve Kinnaird]

Obviously Scott would have had more fun if he had hung around with Paddy and me!
[/QUOTE]



That's my "I've been looking at wood for the last 4 hours" look.

That is also Paddy's "I've been looking at wood for the last 4 hours" look.





Scott Thompson38897.8050231481

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Scott Thompson
Port Townsend,WA

"In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room"
-Billy Bragg

Since I don't build I never got the "1000 yard" wood stare. I got the wow look at all these nice guitars that may need repairs someday smile!
Evan

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

[QUOTE=Scott Thompson]
That's my "I've been looking at wood for the last 4 hours" look.

That is also Paddy's "I've been looking at wood for the last 4 hours" look.

[/QUOTE]

Scott, that's a great line!   

SKSteve Kinnaird38897.949837963

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

[QUOTE=Evan Gluck] Since I don't build I never got the "1000 yard" wood stare. I got the wow look at all these nice guitars that may need repairs someday smile!
Evan [/QUOTE]

And, they all seem to end up in NYC sooner or later, don't they? Do you think all guitars instinctively go there to get healed?

SK

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Either healed or slightly destroyed more
Evan

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

Dan's Rockin' Chair is indeed very cool. It's got abattery-powered amp and he plays it outdoors. He also invented some really neat capos, they screw right into the fretboard, where he has installed screw inserts. here is a slightly lame photo but it does show a close0up of the capos and how they attach. They just screw in with a 6-32 screw insert! He said that he has them in all of his guitars, even his vintage J-45!

I believe that is Evan playing the Rockin' Chair.

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

Here's another of Fred, he is such a nice guy. That harp guitar is probably about as big as he is!

I should also put in a thanks for Mike Doolin, that guy is a genius and he sure has taught me a lot. He is quite an innovator, and if you think about it he shares a ton of his ideas with everyone.

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

Yes MArk that was me in the Rockin' Chair. I actually drove it back to NY after the convention
Evan

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

Speaking of helpful, generous folks I imposed on Geoffrey Elliot for an evaluation of two BRW crotch figured back sets as to their "buildibility". After awhile he brought them back to me and fully explained which way was first choice for center line for strength and the other choice for full aesthetics in the center with a "proper" beefed up bracing system for it. He explained what the expected results (even tone) might be either way. How great is that!!