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  #1  
Old 09-27-2012, 05:08 PM
robj144 robj144 is offline
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Default Goodall's Ex-Hawaiian Employees?

I was just playing my Hawaiian made Goodall and a question popped in my head. When James recently moved back to California to build solely with his son, what happened to his ex-employees from Hawaii? I would think they would do well on their own as luthiers, but I haven't heard anyone mention them yet.
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Old 09-27-2012, 06:36 PM
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Good question, I've wondered that myself, but specialized tooling and some very expensive woodworking equipment would be required. It could be done of course and maybe some of them will, I would certainly be interested in the results.
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Old 09-27-2012, 10:26 PM
Guitarbench Guitarbench is offline
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Hi folks,

I know of one, Fred Vento who is building ukes and guitars in Hawaii now..
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Old 09-27-2012, 10:45 PM
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I have no idea how James ran his factory. I know at Martin (a much larger operation) there are numerous "tiny" specialties...and almost no employees would know how to build an entire instrument or, for that matter, probably not even fantasize about it. As I recall, the Goodall factory staff was supposed to number in the 30s, so it seems possible to me that there were many specialized tasks that might not involve knowledge about building the whole final product.
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Old 09-27-2012, 11:00 PM
sirduke58 sirduke58 is offline
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Here's the link to Fred Vento's website

http://ventomusichawaii.com/
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Old 09-27-2012, 11:19 PM
BGS BGS is offline
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I bought a Goodall from Fred Vento a couple of months ago. He used to be Goodall's finish guy. Seemed like a nice fellow, and his guitars are highly regarded there in Hawaii. Never seen or played one though.
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Old 09-27-2012, 11:34 PM
Bax Burgess Bax Burgess is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BGS View Post
I bought a Goodall from Fred Vento a couple of months ago. He used to be Goodall's finish guy. Seemed like a nice fellow, and his guitars are highly regarded there in Hawaii. Never seen or played one though.
Would that have been a 2006 MP-14, AAA curly maple back/sides, master-grade red cedar top?
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Old 09-28-2012, 01:07 AM
jseth jseth is offline
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Interesting question... I got to be pretty good friends with James when I lived in Fort Bragg; at one point, we were talking about the Hawaii shop, and he said they had a total of 15, I think, including the shipping/office people. Not 30, I'm afraid...

I don't recall him mentioning any of his former employees who were building...
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Old 09-28-2012, 07:52 AM
robj144 robj144 is offline
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Thanks for the responses. It's interesting, save for one employee, no one knows.
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Old 09-28-2012, 07:54 AM
robj144 robj144 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred View Post
I have no idea how James ran his factory. I know at Martin (a much larger operation) there are numerous "tiny" specialties...and almost no employees would know how to build an entire instrument or, for that matter, probably not even fantasize about it. As I recall, the Goodall factory staff was supposed to number in the 30s, so it seems possible to me that there were many specialized tasks that might not involve knowledge about building the whole final product.
Wouldn't that make the Hawaiian Goodall's "production line" guitars then if that's the case? I don't think the shop was set up like Martin or Taylor.
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Old 09-28-2012, 09:59 AM
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Bruce Sexauer Bruce Sexauer is offline
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I know another one. I am not sure he is comfortable being in the press, so we will call him Bobby. Aside from working in the shop, Bobby has some expertise in acquiring, grading, and resawing Koa, which is how I know him. I have great respect for him as I have particular ideas about Koa when I seek it, not always the same goals, and Bobby has come across for me every time.
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Old 09-28-2012, 10:17 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robj144 View Post
Wouldn't that make the Hawaiian Goodall's "production line" guitars then if that's the case? I don't think the shop was set up like Martin or Taylor.
HI rob...

Small shop like Collings, SantaCruz or Huss & Dalton.

More hands on than a major factory, but not necessarily a single luthier doing all the work on your instrument.


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