A Guitar Made With Real Human Teeth - Ervin Somogyi

[Michael Watts]

Hello everyone

while trawling my archive of raw footage from the last time I visited Ervin Somogyi's workshop I came across this clip. I found it fascinating and really quite moving to hear Ervin talk about the creation of this instrument - I hope you will too.



All the best

Michael

[SprintBob]

! That would scare the daylights out of me. My theory is that Ervin did not want to confess he is a huge fan of The Walking Dead

[s2y]

I'd love to own or even play a Somogyi. I'd need to steer clear of this one due to the high probability of a curse straight out of a horror movie.

[Stevien]

That would put new meaning to the term "case bite," I think so!
Steve

[Deft Tungsman]

Fantastic. Thanks for sharing, hermano.

[TomB'sox]

I am not really even sure what to say on this one. Creeps me out comes to mind as a starter.

[theEdwinson]

Ervin is such a brilliant man, such a wonderful human being, such a modern legend, I think he has earned the right to be a bit eccentric. He's made quite a number of guitars that don't just push the boundaries, they EXPLODE the boundaries.
I think it's appropriate that this weird guitar is now owned by a Mexican collector; this is a culture that has a revered tradition called Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, which celebrates the lives of beloved family members and ancestors. The symbolism is very much like our Halloween. So, as Ervin says, "it's all of a piece..."

Anyone who may want to watch the best movie ever made about Dia de los Muertos should get on their favorite streaming service and watch "Coco". It's an animated movie, with extraordinary detail, especially in the parts involving the guitar. You will be completely enthralled by this movie. If you haven't seen "Coco" yet, please do, and lift a toast to Ervin Somogyi while you watch.

[srick]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

I am not really even sure what to say on this one. Creeps me out comes to mind as a starter.

My thoughts exactly.

[cigarfan]

Only Ervin would say "Just felt like doing it"

[Stevien]

The old adage comes to mind; "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."
Steve

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by Stevien

The old adage comes to mind; "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."
Steve

I would have to agree on this one. I was thinking, well maybe if they were my own teeth, 2.25 seconds later, I decided nope, that would not make a difference for me.

[justonwo]

Although I appreciate the cultural reference to Dia de los Muertos and have always enjoyed the art and culture around that holiday, the human teeth thing gives me the creeps. But Ervin is an eccentric guy and not afraid to break to mold, so it's not surprising.

[mikealpine]

Do you have to floss after playing?

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by mikealpine

Do you have to floss after playing?

[alohachris]

Aloha,

Lotsa Ervin wisdom in that clip. Thanks for sharing it.

In a slightly related topic to the one above, I once inlaid a guy's wisdom teeth into the headstock of his All-Koa banjo I'd made. It creeped me out when he first put them on my workbench - in about the mid-70's. They added nothing to the design - or his gaudy, loud playing either.

I tried to talk him out of it because I really didn't want to even touch his effing wisdom teeth let alone inlay them into something with my name on it.

Unfortunately, I lost those old photos of that work from those days 50 years ago. Ah, ex-wives!

As I remember, the guy didn't have all that many of his original teeth left to begin with. Or much wisdom! HA!

NOTE: I've met Ervin Somogyi at several old GAL conventions & also know his body of highly diverse, excellent work pretty well. I can say that if there is such a thing as 'the perfect temperment for achieving consistent, artistic expression & endeavour," Ervin possesses it. Plus, he also has the natural reserve, intense smarts & curiosity about all of life to really 'BE' his art. As a contemporary, it's been a real pleasure watching Ervin's acoustic art evolve & flourish to the top of the custom acoustic guitar field. All the best to that brother! He's really earned it!

Ervin's many, many GAL worksheets & many columns in magazine's like the old "Frets" shared so much about his approach to his art. Example: His article on the reasons for his 13-point bridge designs made so much sense, that I immediately copied them. He was right!

And Ervin's GAL Data sheet on 'Art Hazards' was so timely for me, as I was already having problems from too much un-masked, second-hand lacquer exposure. Through his article, I was able to make healthier adjustments for finishing my work & save myself a lot of misery. A Very cool guy, indeed! Thanks Ervin.

I remember one time, I was shaving at a Tacoma GAL convention at Pacific Lutheran U., w/ Ervin at the sink on my left & the late great Richard Schneider on my right . We shared a "luthier joke" & laughed so hard, as I remember, that shaving cream flew all over the place. Great times in dem days, wit dem geetah boys.

alohachris