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  #1  
Old 09-03-2018, 12:29 PM
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Toby Walker Toby Walker is offline
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Default Just ordered a custom built guitar.

A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of playing an incredible instrument owned by one of the other instructors at a guitar camp where we were both teaching. Taking a look at the headstock of this remarkable copy of a 1935 Gibson Jumbo, I wasn't surprised, as I had been hearing of this builder for a few years now.

Then a couple of weeks ago another one of that builder's guitars shows up at a workshop I was doing in Vermont. Although it was a 12 fret parlor, it had a wonderful, marvelous projection and a superb tone.

So I finally called the builder - who is just one guy who produces only about 30 to 40 guitars a year - and we nailed down the order. Turns out he's heard of me as well, was always meaning to get in touch with me, and is very much acquainted with my music - which made it pretty easy to specify the model which would fit my style of playing. You can be sure that once this guitar is in my hands, I'll be a strong and loyal endorser.

Of course, you're probably wondering who this builder is. Well, my mischievous inner child is going to keep you guessing on that one. Suffice to say the builder has quite a reputation, and deservedly so. You can bet I'll be sending along pictures of the guitars progress. Unlike Wayne Henderson, this isn't going to take 10 years, just one.
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Old 09-03-2018, 12:49 PM
The Growler The Growler is offline
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Such a tease.
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Old 09-03-2018, 01:00 PM
Rosewood99 Rosewood99 is offline
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One guy who does 30 or forty a year? How is that possible?
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Old 09-03-2018, 01:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toby Walker View Post
Of course, you're probably wondering who this builder is. Well, my mischievous inner child is going to keep you guessing on that one. Suffice to say the builder has quite a reputation, and deservedly so. You can bet I'll be sending along pictures of the guitars progress. Unlike Wayne Henderson, this isn't going to take 10 years, just one.
When you said Vermont, I thought Froggy Bottom but that’s about 3-4 guys that put their hands on each new build. One man show, that will take more digging.
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Old 09-03-2018, 01:16 PM
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I hope it’s who I think it is.
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Old 09-03-2018, 01:41 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is online now
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Originally Posted by paulzoom View Post
One guy who does 30 or forty a year? How is that possible?
By having a well-planned and efficiently laid out shop, and as many jigs and fixtures to minimize the work as possible. With three or four guitars at various stations of production, as the glue sets on one the luthier steps over to another to do some work, and so forth.

It’s mainly a matter of getting organized for optimum production.


whm
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Old 09-03-2018, 01:57 PM
Dwight Dwight is offline
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Is it a Dale Fairbanks? I had the good fortune to be in a shop when he brought in a beautiful Brazilian Rosewood Gibson style dread of some sort. It was light weight and had magnificent tone. This is one of the few times I've ever had to think about it. A few days later when I asked about it, it was gone.
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Old 09-03-2018, 02:05 PM
mcduffnw mcduffnw is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wade Hampton View Post
By having a well-planned and efficiently laid out shop, and as many jigs and fixtures to minimize the work as possible. With three or four guitars at various stations of production, as the glue sets on one the luthier steps over to another to do some work, and so forth.

It’s mainly a matter of getting organized for optimum production.


whm

Or...having as FEW jigs and fixtures as possible, to save set up and tear down time...a LOT of production time gets burned up in a heavily jigged/fixtured up building process

I know a builder who works that minimalist jigs and fixtures way and builds 40+ year...{;-)

duff
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Last edited by mcduffnw; 09-03-2018 at 04:05 PM. Reason: fix grammer
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Old 09-03-2018, 02:11 PM
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Quote:
Of course, you're probably wondering who this builder is. Well, my mischievous inner child is going to keep you guessing on that one.
perhaps a John Walker Wise River
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Old 09-03-2018, 02:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paulzoom View Post
One guy who does 30 or forty a year? How is that possible?
It certainly has been for quite some time now.
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Old 09-03-2018, 02:15 PM
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Toby Walker Toby Walker is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wade Hampton View Post
By having a well-planned and efficiently laid out shop, and as many jigs and fixtures to minimize the work as possible. With three or four guitars at various stations of production, as the glue sets on one the luthier steps over to another to do some work, and so forth.

It’s mainly a matter of getting organized for optimum production.


whm
Absolutely, yes.
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Old 09-03-2018, 02:25 PM
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If you’re not going to reveal the name, then I’m going to . . . um . . . well, I have no recourse. But I don’t like it. Not one little bit.
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Old 09-03-2018, 02:31 PM
svea svea is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toby Walker View Post
It certainly has been for quite some time now.
A builder with the initials J.G. comes to my mind. I've heard he's still knocking 'em out of the park. I once owned a prototype of one of his L-OOv guitars for a while. Fun!

Toby, I'm assuming you want us to try and guess. But if not, too bad!!

Svea
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  #14  
Old 09-03-2018, 02:47 PM
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Toby Walker Toby Walker is offline
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Originally Posted by svea View Post
A builder with the initials J.G. comes to my mind. I've heard he's still knocking 'em out of the park. I once owned a prototype of one of his L-OOv guitars for a while. Fun!

Toby, I'm assuming you want us to try and guess. But if not, too bad!!

Svea
Not sure who J.G. is but nope, those aren't the initials of my guy.
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Old 09-03-2018, 02:52 PM
cmd612 cmd612 is offline
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Originally Posted by docwatsonfan View Post
perhaps a John Walker Wise River
I like the idea of Toby Walker on a John Walker, but John only builds around a dozen per year.
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