#16
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In truth, I don't know if he is skilful at voicing guitars...yet, but most guitars on the market are not "voiced" they are simply built and that seems to have little impact on their follower base! What I do know is that the first guitar was outstanding, not "outstanding for a first attempt"...just outstanding so we shall see how things pan-out. I am hopeful! He is working on the deign and look now and he has a good eye for simplicity and elegance which is a great starting point!
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |
#17
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But this what he WANTS to do. He wants to do something with his hands. He wants to create things. He is a craftsman and wants to follow that dream. Who am I to do anything but encourage that. The world is too full of people who are doing things they hate for the money rather than doing what fulfils them. I have nothing but respect and admiration.
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |
#18
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And what fulfills you can change along the way. Those who are willing to take the chance will likely be the happiest, long term.
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"One small heart, and a great big soul that's driving" |
#19
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Agreed. I quit my full-time day job over 20 years ago to pursue the fulltime solo music career. It was work getting it off the ground, but work I wanted to do. And I have been very happy pursuing the dream. A funny story, a few years back, I was coming home from a gig at night, and I hit a patch of black ice. The next thing you know, my car was heading right off the road, and if it would have kept going in that direction, straight into a river. Most likely I wouldn't have survived that crash. And as I was heading in that direction, my life flashed before me. I saw that my son was doing great, and all of my grandchildren too. I was also very happy that I have a great love in the girl that I'm with. And to top it off, I thought of how I got to make my living as a musician, my dream. So if it was my time to go, I had a life worth living! But just as I was about to go off the road, my tires caught on some dry pavement, and I got the car turned around. Unfortunately, now I was headed right into the side of a semi truck and that prospect didn't look too good either. Fortunately though, I just hit one of his tires and bounced right off. The front of my car was crunched (they totalled the car), but I came out of it unscathed!!! Long story short, it was quite the ordeal, but at least I got to see how good my life really is and has been! If you have a dream, pursue it, and work hard at it! As they say, it's better to try and fail, than not to try at all and wonder about it the rest of your life. And there's a good chance, if you put the work in, you can make it happen!!! |
#20
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Similarity, a few years ago I had a cancer diagnosis…I looked back over my life for regrets, there were none really. So, like you, I thought if this is my time so be it. It wasn’t. It did show me just how lucky I was though.
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |
#21
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Great that you beat the cancer!!!
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#22
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I hope he does have a consistent and measurable way of optimising the bracing and tonewood thickness so that the best possible tone is obtained from the whole system, because if he doesn't, he may not be able to achieve good effects with subsequent guitars especially when entirely different woods are used.
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In the end it is about who you love above yourself and what you have stood for and lived for that make the difference... |
#23
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Thanks my friend...I have so far...we shall see!
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |
#24
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He's full of ideas so let's see how his work develops.
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |
#25
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In this age of information, it's so easy to build a "reputation" quickly if you are Insta savvy etc. or if you are being hyped by a dealer etc., who will do that stuff for you. I've been so disappointed on many occasions when I've held these holy grail (for which read expensive) guitars in my hands and, similarly, astonished when I've played instruments by guys (like the OP's chap) who have very little media presence. I will say this: Experience, with plenty of guitars under your belt, counts for a lot. A whole Lot. Cheers, Steve |
#26
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Just a quick word, we do not know of this person's financial status or what he does or does not need, but knowing many luthiers personally, it is pretty rare to find the luthier building 10-12 guitars a year that does not have another source of income. You might or might not be surprised to find how many have another full time job or at least something going to generate additional revenue. It is one of the reasons I am passionate about my guitar show being luthier-centric as anything I can do to help them makes me happy.
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PS. I love guitars! |
#27
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http://www.krausguitars.com Last edited by Bill Kraus; 12-09-2022 at 05:33 AM. |
#28
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I'm sure acoustic engineers get some training on this, and industrial engineers may have a leg up on manufacturing processes. Not sure that your standard electrical, computer, civil or environmental engineer have any more ability for "understanding how a guitar works" than you or I or anyone else. IIRC Lynn Dudenbostel was an aerospace engineer before he got into building exquisite instruments. I'm sure there are other engineers who became successful luthiers. But there are likely a lot more great luthiers with no formal engineering training. |
#29
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I've been friends with many luthiers for several years now, and often meet many others at shows like TomB'sox puts on. At one point or another they have ALL told me that they have greatest job in the world. To me, that says it all, and it is something that I am now striving for. Not that I am the jealous type or pine for what others have but hearing this over and over again has really made me take a look at my own situation. As an owner of a construction business for the past 30+ years I have had my share of ups and downs and have had my back up against the wall too many times to count. While I've managed to make a good career out of it and make a modest living, I've never felt that I have the greatest job in the world. Not even once. Don't get me wrong, I respect what I have accomplished, I love the people I work with, but it is a constant battle. Goals, passions and wants don't get you anywhere unless you make it happen. You can't get to the finish line if you don't start! So, for the past couple of years, I've been actively trying to take myself out of the pressure cooker that I've put myself in and I'm working towards selling my business. If I'm successful at doing so, my plan is to pursue my passion and desire to make guitars at my own pace, and for nobody else but for myself. Almost 2 years ago now, I had a student build with the Kinnaird West boys, and I would love to build some more. I've been so serious about it that I even built myself a shop (just finished it a couple of weeks ago).
So back to the OP and this guitar: I have nothing but respect for the people that can make a living at building guitars or doing anything really that they are passionate about. Godspeed to anyone that is pushing themselves in pursuit their passions. |
#30
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