Kevin Gallagher's Last Omega Guitar #499

cpabolting · #1 07-30-2010, 10:36 AM

To my understanding, this guitar that I had commissioned last year was the last guitar that Kevin worked on. It was the last piece of art that Kevin undertook. Although how tragic it was that Kevin was sick and struggling with the medical treatments and how it made him feel, I think Kevin was so very passionate and excited about this guitar that he mustered up energy in his last days to go do what one of the things he was on this earth to do. Do what he loved..... build magnificant guitars.

Unfortunately that was all that Kevin was able to do with the guitar. Having many offers from many of you fine luthiers, I decided to entrust a dear friend of Kevin's, Brock Poling, who has been so gracious to help complete what was one of the things in Kevin's dying days, that Kevin had been so motivated to work on between his intense medical treatments.

On 3/12/2010 12:50 PM, Kevin Gallagher wrote:
Keith,
I'm looking forward to your project. It's guys like you and guitars like your's
that keep me going in this business. I'll be spending as much time in the shop
as possible because I love to out there and love the work, but also because it
will serve a the best distraction from all this stuff for me.

You'll have what will truly be a treasure when the guitar is done and in
your hands.

Thanks,
Kevin

I look forward to Brock's task of making this guitar a fitting tribute to Kevin's life..... and completing what I believe to be Kevin's final gift to the world. There will be appropriate tributes to Kevin incorporated into the existence and completion of this guitar, and I so appreciate Brock's willingness and desire to help finish the journey.

K III · #2 07-30-2010, 12:13 PM

Keith,

I hope for something magnificient.

Have a look at this:
http://www.luthierscollection.com/montequisto.html

Martin_Nut · #3 07-30-2010, 12:20 PM

Keith,

Great choice - I bet Brock will make this one an extremely fine instrument, fitting to it's origins. Good Luck!

cpabolting · #4 07-30-2010, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin_Nut

Keith,

Great choice - I bet Brock will make this one an extremely fine instrument, fitting to it's origins. Good Luck!

I have a really good feeling about this guitar that it will be really special for a thousand reasons.

keyshore · #5 07-30-2010, 12:36 PM

Keith,

Brook is a great and a logical choice as a Luthier to finish your guitar as Kevin's swan song on planet earth. In one of my many phone chats with Kevin, I remember him mentioning to me, that he bends the sides of guitars by hand. I think most of the major work has be done on your guitar, he has worked on this one sitting down on the floor of his shop as he did not even have the energy to stand.

It saddens me when I am reminded of Kevin and how much he loved his life, work and his family. On his last phone call to me somewhere in April he told me that he wanted to grow old with Paula.

Oh, heck, I guess the Lord has other plans for him.

wish you all the best for the completion of this unique guitar which you are lucky to own. I will watch out for this one.

Best,

Keyshore

cpabolting · #6 07-30-2010, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keyshore

Keith,

Brook is a great and a logical choice as a Luthier to finish your guitar as Kevin's swan song on planet earth. In one of my many phone chats with Kevin, I remember him mentioning to me, that he bends the sides of guitars by hand. I think most of the major work has be done on your guitar, he has worked on this one sitting down on the floor of his shop as he did not even have the energy to stand.

It saddens me when I am reminded of Kevin and how much he loved his life, work and his family. On his last phone call to me somewhere in April he told me that he wanted to grow old with Paula.

Oh, heck, I guess the Lord has other plans for him.

wish you all the best for the completion of this unique guitar which you are lucky to own. I will watch out for this one.

Best,

Keyshore

I am so with you on all of that.....

As my friend Jim Olson said to me when he heard of Kevin's passing....

Life is but a vapor

And so it goes we are all reminded of the fragility of life.... how very little control we have over where life takes us.... that one bad choice, or one good choice, or even just a choice to take the expressway or the bypass can have forever change the future. I always think of the movie Back to the Future... where there was an event that caused his parents not to meet, and how that was going to change his mere existence... and how occurences in our lives changes the future.

I am reminded of Newton's First Law of Motion:
Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.

Life is about collisions that change the path we are on and send us in a different direction than what we would have taken. The challenge is being able to be accepting of the things we can't change, courageous to change the things we can, and wise enough to know the difference. It was just time for Kevin to go....to be relieved of the burdens he carried. And so he went. But the world was better because he was in it. I guess that is the definition of impact.

Here is to all of us making an impact on the world!

jay7347 · #7 07-30-2010, 01:06 PM

This guitar has "Special" all over it. May it be something Kevin would have smiled proudly at. So good to know it will find a fine and appreciative home!
-jay

Glennwillow · #8 07-30-2010, 01:33 PM

Keith,

Thanks for the photos and the story behind it, Keith. I hope this guitar will be something to really treasure -- I don't see how it could miss.

Regards, Glenn

Broadus · #9 07-30-2010, 01:44 PM

Keith, thanks for sharing that. This will be one special guitar.

Bill

Kitchen Guitars · #10 07-30-2010, 01:57 PM

Brock does amazing stuff. It was wonderful of him to take her on. What a tribute! Looks like a 36 month calendar

jonathanvaljean · #11 07-30-2010, 02:33 PM

Thanks for sharing this story with us, Keith. Also, I appreciate your having reminded us that "Life is like a vapor..." So true, so true... My best to you, Keith!

cpabolting · #12 07-30-2010, 02:36 PM

Just as an interesting note on serendipity..... the set of Brazilian rosewood for this guitar....it was a special set that Kevin sought out because of it's incredible sonic properties.... that originally came from Brock.... I guess Brock was always supposed to build a guitar with that special set of Brazilian!

Even if you don't believe in that stuff... makes you wonder!

johnzias · #13 07-30-2010, 06:43 PM

Touching words Keith! Enjoy all the humanity that will be instilled in that guitar!

BTW thanks for letting me try your Ryan and Olson at Legends the other day.

cpabolting · #14 07-30-2010, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnzias

Touching words Keith! Enjoy all the humanity that will be instilled in that guitar!

BTW thanks for letting me try your Ryan and Olson at Legends the other day.

John,
I am always glad to let someone carefully try a guitar they might not ever get to play. Anytime you are welcome to do so!

SteveS · #15 07-31-2010, 12:03 AM

This is great. Brock will do a wonderful job I'm sure. I can't wait to see how it turns out.