Who is going to The Woodstock Invitational Luthiers Showcase October 21-23?

[srick]

Of course, I had to chat with Mr. Bourgeois (as did a thousand other people). My question to him about strings on my "Country Boy 00" pretty much ended up with him suggesting that I "experiment - if you like the combination, use it." Arrgghh these gurus.... they make me find my own darn path....

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the guru

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able assistant "Jack" holding a torrefied guitar that feels and plays just like my 00, but with twenty years of heavy play and age (so when I'm 83...)

[srick]

A shout out to Jon Fried, a luthier who came all the way from Saugerties, NY, home of "Big Pink"! (it's the next town over)

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[srick]

Bernard Krause with a "reso" dulcimer:

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[srick]

The wood tent - Oh man - humidity was 100% today and that stuff was soaking it all in - luthier's nightmare.

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[srick]

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Happy Traum did a workshop on turnarounds. I happened to be sitting next to a youngster who brought a flatpick to a fingerstyle session - plus he didn't stop noodling for a minute! Right - get off of my lawn!

[srick]

And last - a favorite guitar. This is a modified Silvertone with an orange-carved soundboard, Phillips screw fret dots and nicely tinted tuning buttons.

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[srick]

So - if you are ever in the Northeast during October, you should go to Woodstock. Fair warning: hotel prices and competition for reservations are ridiculous because of leaf season. BUT, the Hudson Valley and New England are spectacular. There is no place like it on earth.

The show is crowded and it's noisy. But one minute you bump into Dick Boak and the next minute Frank Vignola. Last year, John Sebastian sat in with one of our AGF'ers. The town and the show is a throwback to 1973 - except the hippies are grey and or balding and some drive jag-u- ars.

I can't believe that I was in a place where a luthier would gladly would hand me a guitar worth $20,000 and say, "Go play it for awhile - there's an alcove right next to the men's room that's sort of quiet." Yes, that has happened several time now. Somehow, I have taken the guitar through the crowd and avoided damage. (I don't quite know how I would explain THAT purchase to my wife.)

best,

Rick

PS - you probably know this. The Woodstock Festival of 1969 was held about an hour away in Bethel, NY on Yasgur's Farm. There's a museum there now)

[srick]

PPS - Here's a portion of the crowd. There are two main exhibit spaces, a soundstage, another space for workshops, a couple of little restaurants and bars and lots of people and guitars.

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[TomB'sox]

Srick and I also met yesterday, in the wood shack....It was nice to meet you Rick and chat for a couple of minutes. I know you were have a great time as was I. Thanks for the pictures.

[srick]

Same here Tom - we shoulda done a selfie for the forum.

[TomB'sox]

This is a parlor from Lamehorse guitars, Chris and Jeremy Jenkins (Father and son team).

[TomB'sox]

Super cool Paul Beard resonators. There were some folks really whaling on these guys....fantastic.

[CoolerKing]

Awesome report guys! Thanks for posting photos.

[TomB'sox]

This was the main exhibit room. You entered on the right...there was one more single row of luthiers under the balcony that I was standing on that does not show. This room was about a half of an old gym like basketball court with a stage on one end. The other main room for luthiers was somewhat smaller than this one but it was too small to really have a point of reference to get a good picture...

The guy in the bottom right corner is Mr. Kevin Ryan and the guitar being held up is the one I mentioned in my other post....



Another photo showing the center of the room...



One more view of the room: This is the left side of the room, so between all of the photos, you can piece together the entire room.



Not really the point of the photo, but to ID some folks, the guy in the center of the stage in blue, grey hair is none other than Mr. Klein...he sold a bunch of guitars, the man on the floor next to the stage in dark clothes and gray hair is Mr. Fred Tellier, sort of in the middle on the bottom, purple shirt, pony tail is Mr. Sam Guidry. The single guitar in the middle hidden behind the lady in glasses and redhair pulled back is Mr. Buendia's Tree guitar. Sorry I did not get a better pick, I was in sensory overload....

[CoolerKing]

Lots of archtop builders respresented!