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LUTHIERS GATHER

10/23/2015

2 Comments

 
GEORGE THOMAS, guitar maker, had a nice idea the other day.  He invited ten or twelve local luthiers to his workshop for a beer and a little conversation last thursday.
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Here is George presiding over the chips and salsa,  George, a former museum director is a fine luthier and makes lovely guitars in his retirement.  I have often gone to him for assistance, He has been a fine and valued mentor.
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Michael Flaherty brought along one of his new uses which is being tested by one of the boys.
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A shot of part of George's new workshop built in his back yard.  This is about 1/4 of its area. It was nice to meet some other people with the passion for making instruments, most of whom I had not met before.  Only three people brought instruments but the ones they brought were very interesting.
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This is luthier John Rollins with his medieval guitar.  John specializes in Lutes and Baroque and Renaissance Guitars.  I was told that this instruments design dates from the mid 1500s.  It has four sets of double strings and a single 1st string and to my amazement the sets were tuned GCEA just like a ukulele.  I was told that that was their original tuning-this was indeed an early fore-runner of our modern ukes.
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I was intrigued to learn that medieval frets were sheep gut tied around the neck in the appropriate place.  John had tied his frets using a synthetic cord but It looked like gut to me.  Interesting that the instrument played just like a ukulele.  The familiar chord shapes produced the familiar chords.  

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This instrument was truly unique.   this fine craftsman is John Ryan and his instrument is a scandinavian instrument.  Played with a bow in one hand the other hand operating several dozen keys.  He played it quite well and it had a lovely sound
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Just imagine the labor and skill it took to research, design and build this instrument.  Truly impressive!!
​Think I will stick to ukuleles.

2 Comments
George Thomas link
10/24/2015 08:36:04 am

Hi Brian:

Nice photos. Thanks. Jim Myers is playing the Nyckelharpa, one of several he has made.

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9/29/2018 02:56:08 am

Looks like George and his visitors had tons of fun in his workshop! Those are some really great guitars. I like how detailed each guitar is and it really looks like it has been finely made. My father used to make guitars, too, when we were little kids. It was his greatest passion and he made one for me and my siblings. We used to perform together at a local bar. I would be the one in charge of singing and he would play the guitar for me. Those were my most treasured memories with my late father and not a day goes by that I did not wish to be able to hear him play again.

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