Official Luthiers Forum!

"When I see a topic title that doesn't interest me I just skip over it." Jimmyjames

Don't be so quick to discount a topic that may seem irrelevant to you. Not all topics follow a linear path, with many side questions that bring about some interesting answers on different topics. Just like this reply has nothing to do with Double Acting Truss rod slot questions.

Alex

_________________
"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

I agree completely. Point taken.

Why would one even bother with a double acting truss rod........??
Tom

_________________
A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

Please do explain. I've no clue. I only picked a double action based on Cumpiano's suggestion where he amends the book on his website. What are the advantages/disadvantages of each type?

-j

I like them because sometimes you have to adjust the truss rod backwards in order to get the kind of relief you want, but if the neck was built right it's not necessary. However I don't really like compression rods and most the rods out there are double acting...

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Tai,

Seems like a good reason to me: adaptability.

Also, I see you live in ATX. I used to live there, a remarkable city. Probably one of the best cities in America.

-j

Been trying to find work as a guitar tech... for a city with a LOT of musicians there don't seem to be a lot of music stores. The industry must really be dying.

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Everything there is out of people's garages. Kind of speakeasy culture. May I suggest going to South of Congress bars and rubbing elbows with musicians. I'd avoid Sixth as those places usually contain tourists and you won't really meet locals.

What about working for Bill Collings?

I put in a resume with Collings like many months ago, I have not heard back at all, so I don't think they're impressed enough with me. The other problem is Collings is almost to Bastrop and since I don't have a car, I would not have a way of commuting there. I'm sure they took 2 seconds to look at my resume and decided I wasn't really as good as I thought and passed me up. Maybe if I could talk to Bill Collings for a few minutes I might be able to get something... (I doubt he's even aware that I sent a resume)

Problem with a resume is I can't really show anyone that I have the skill in 2 words... I have a thousand pictures showing what I am capable of however the resume really limits my potential. I also have no US based experience so it makes people not want to hire me.

I agree, I hate 6th street... too much tourists and hip pop stuff for me to want to be around there. I pass by there on the bike on my way to UT.

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I don't know Collings but I've met him, been to his shop. I doubt the overlook is due to lack of skill but rather just that things get lost in the shuffle. He's not an administrative type, he's actually in shop making instruments and covered in varnish. I understand it's too far to drive also.

The irony of guitar tech work is that nearly everybody needs it, they just don't realize it. I can't tell you how many people who I've swapped guitars with has said "this guitar is incredible! How much did you pay for it?" And I'm thinking "your guitar sounds and plays like I'm picking a bucket of mud." So I suggest to them to go to a guitar tech and get their instrument in proper working order but they never do. Curiously, I've noticed those same people never seem to advance their playing. I just don't understand why more people don't have it done?

Story time: my first guitar fell into my hands while at a friend'a house. He had a Sear's Harmony electric in pieces in a cardboard box. He delighted in telling me how he was going to paint it and all the grand plans. I knew him well and he never followed through, I told him that and asked him to give it to me. I bolted the thing back together and played it for a year, a miserable, painful year full of poor action, insipid intonation and the dazzle of what appeared to be a plastic neck. Eventually I stumbled upon a man who knew how to set up a guitar and wow what a difference. I paid him gladly. The difference was remarkable. So you can see why I appreciate a knowledgable guitar tech.

What about getting clients from UT? Post around campus and drum up some biz? It's a start at least. I'm just spitballing. Perhaps in the long term you could develop it into a larger business. People tend to trust one person only working on their guitar, at least I've always been that way.

I've been doing that, including posting on craigslist and all that. I even gave business cards to anyone that I feel is a budding musician. However despite all my efforts I don't even have a single curious customer who calls or emails asking how much to do a setup and all that. Maybe there just isn't a market for it.

Almost all customers I have done setup for was amazed at the difference a setup made. I can even make a Bullet/Affinity Squirer play better than a 2000 dollar Fender with the right setup. Most don't understand what setup is, and I'm not good at telling people why they need one when I don't have a marketing department and lots of marketing budget to put up a booth at SXSW doing free setups for people.

I can send another resume to Collings and invite him to look at my site (full of pictures of my work) but I don't know, probably at least 100 people in Austin probably have far more experience than I do. If they do hire me I'd consider buying a car with credit and all and make the daily drive. My understanding though is that the entire music business is dying, so I wouldn't be surprised if Collings was downsizing as well. I wish there's a better email than HR because I'm not even sure anything gets read there. (By the way Warmoth is also hiring and I've sent resumes there, again no response)

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

"Don't waste your time with any HR department for any kind of job. No company on earth is functional from the bottom up. It does not work"

-my former mentor, a big time Wall Street player. Guy was on tv all the time. He knew that he system was broken. The way to get a job is from the top down. When you communicate to the decision maker and he decides something: things happen.

You: Howdy, may I speak with Bill Collings please?

Gatekeeper: he's busy. Can I take a message? Can I ask who's calling? What's this regarding?

You: my number is blah, blah, blah. Thank you.

Don't tell her why you're calling, it's none of her business. It's between you and the decision maker.

Keep repeating this scenario. Get to know the gatekeeper, swoon her but never reveal why you're calling.

Sooner or later, usually later, he'll get annoyed and call you back. When he does you've got two minutes to tell him why you're going to be better than anyone he's ever worked with.

Ask him who's the best he's got and how much they produced last year? Then tell him you will outperform that guy. Then don't utter a word and with all your might wait for him to speak. Whoever speaks first loses.

If you played your cards right you've got him and he'll hire you. Watch how fast the ball gets rolling when he makes a decision.

I'll bet you my housecat and my cowboy boots it works.

-j

Perhaps I can schedule a shop tour and use the opportunity...

I've met Frank Ford and he seemed impressed (I could be wrong, I'm bad with reading people and nonverbal cues, it doesn't come natural to me) that I was able to learn as much as I do just by combing his website. But then again, the other issue is, I can't get a full time job because I'll be going to school soon, and if I'm going to work for Collings I'd like to be able to work full time for at least 5 years, so juggling that with full time at UT just won't work.

Sometimes I'll go to pawn shops and even speak to customers looking at guitars there and tell them that I can fix any of them up to play very well, as well as advising them on how they can find the best deals there.

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

What are you studying? I didn't realize you were also in school. That's a lot to do. In my opinion, a person needs work less and be more involved in school, not just the academics but all the other things that make up the college experience. I spent my first two years working full time at two different jobs. I lived in my car when the dorm was closed. A struggle. I made it though. I ended up getting a very sweet scholarship and got to enjoy being involved in all things college. A remarkable experience, don't miss it.

The best way to make money in school is waiting tables or bar tending. You'll make more money per hour than anywhere else. Maximize your money and decrease the number of hours you work. Waiting is also pretty fun and you'll learn lifelong people skills. Do your tech work on the side for extra cash and develop a reputation. Those are just my opines.

I'm going back to UT to study Geology. I'm not in school at the moment but I will be in spring 2016, so if I work full time working at Collings I'd have to quit next year, needless to say it's not going to work. As for waiting tables and stuff, I have Asperger's and social skill is not something that comes natural. By the time I realize how I should act, it is either too late or things will have changed enough to where it's no longer relevant. I do know that waiters do not make a very high hourly wage but depends entirely on tips to make a livable wage, so someone like me is likely to be let go very soon... That said a friend has introduced me to a couple of opportunities, it's just that I couldn't check it out today because I had to be home to fix huge internet problems... I even ended up missing my volunteer work as a result. Waiting/Bar tending isn't really something I'm thrilled to do. In Taiwan I was around coffee shops and the stuff they do doesn't seem like something I'd be interested in.

I live very small, and I've engineered it that way so that I don't depend on a high wage to sustain my living. I figured that either I'd have a lot of trouble finding work, or I'd have trouble getting high wage. A car costs more in monthly maintenance, fuel, and insurance than my monthly rent for example... And Austin's small enough to where cars are not 100% necessary. Traffic is so bad here the city would really benefit from fewer cars.

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I share your opinion regarding cars. I don't drive anywhere I can walk. Often people I know will stop and ask what happened to my car. They don't seem to understand the concept of exercise. I love bicycles. You might have read in another post that I built a bicycle spokes up. What a great project that was.

I really enjoy a pedestrian city. I've been spoiled by living in Europe and seen firsthand what a complete hassle cars really are. Were it practical I'd move to Amsterdam but citizenship in the EU is hard to come by. I've been known to go out and ride fifty miles a day and I love the shape it keeps me in.

Aspergers eh? Well I've had two relatives that had that, both brilliant scientists who sometimes had a difficult time finding their way home from work. You'll do very well in Geology I'm sure. Those with Aspergers seem to have an understanding of details that us mere mortals cannot comprehend.

-j

I think Asperger's is what allowed me to learn an entire craft of guitarmaking/repair simply by reading Frets.com. I doubt most people could do that, but most people could make loads of money waiting tables because they know how to get people to like them, I can't do that. I often wish I could because in this world if people like you then you will become successful, than if you are smart and detail orientated but bad with people.

Biking in Austin drains me, so much so I need 3 days to recuperate from a single ride, because everywhere I go is uphill, meaning even 2 miles is a huge workout. I don't understand America's love of cars, I mean anytime public transportation comes up it gets shot down. Also I've personally been hated on for NOT having cars, and needing rides to go to far away events (where no public transportation is available and is 30 miles of constant uphill ride)

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Everyone has their talents. Seems like your talent is more rare.

If biking wears you out do it more. Conditioning is key.

I don't know, I always thought that my talents are common. That everyone and their dog could watch enough youtube videos, studied frets.com enough times, watched enough Robbie O Brien's video, and posted enough times on OLF could learn how to build/repair guitars. So I often wondered the time I sought jobs as a guitar tech, if 9 out of 10 people in Austin could do what I do and do it better. I know everyone has their talents but I do notice that some talents are respected more than others. Everyone who made a bunch of money or had a successful career had one thing in common: They are all experts at dealing with people.

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Nope, most people cannot because they won't try. The possibility exists but the actual learning and doing is where the mayonnaise meets the mustard. Consider the population of the world, how many people want to make a guitar, how many actually do? The number is tiny. Most people are spending their lives in front of a tv not doing anything.

As people we have a tendency to believe that people are basically as smart as we are but that's not the case. Smart people think automatically that others will see the concepts they talk about easily but they don't. Less capable people can't see above the ceiling so they don't even know there's another level and it's impossible for them to see. There's misperception on both ends of the spectrum and both have merit.

Few people are naturally expert at dealing with people, they're called Sociopaths. The rest of us have to learn by trial and error.

Geology major sounds like a lot of fun I've always been fascinated with this crusted ball of magma that we call home.

And I hear ya on the car thing. They're just so ridiculously expensive, between the buying, insurance, the maintenance/repairs, fuel, licensing/taxes, new windows every time someone decides there might be something valuable in there... and then there's the whole risk of death every time you go out in traffic.

Electric bicycles would be great for avoiding most of that, and getting some exercise, while not being as slow/tiring as a regular bike, except for the fact that the death risk is even higher than cars, and around here it would just get stolen immediately.

The coolest new vehicle type I ran across recently is the electric unicycle. Particularly because it's small enough to carry around and keep indoors so it won't get stolen, and doesn't make you any larger so I doubt there'd be any issue using it on sidewalks where it's safer. Still pretty expensive though. Especially the upcoming Solowheel Orbit, which only weighs 4kg so you could just walk up hills carrying it, which is more energy efficient than pedaling a bike. Then recharge your battery on the downhills with regenerative braking

The difference seems to be that normal people can read nonverbal clues from people and understand things that people with Asperger's don't ever see. I've learned over time but if you met me right out of high school (basically when I first attended UT and have no guitar building skills) you'd probably want to kill me or something. I was offending people left and right for what it seemed to me to be no reason (like why are they angry with me, I didn't do or say anything wrong).

Many Sociopaths are successful by the way, when they get good at manipulating people they can manipulate the right people and get to the top. Some just direct their manipulation wrongly and end up as serial killers. As much as I wish I had the skills of a sociopath, I really do not like the fact that they have no moral or conscience.

What got me into Geology in the first place, besides the professor for Intro to Geology was the fact that my parents made their living doing Intergem shows my whole life. I was of course made to go with them sometimes and other exhibitors would often sell rocks and other fun stuff. Others sold lapidary equipments and that part really piqued my interest. Some exhibitors were nice enough to provide rock samples for my collection (that was sadly lost) while others gave me the chance to polish up some rocks. Also the fact that the Geology program at UT makes you take several field classes made it even more appealing.

I've seen a few electric bicycles but I'm not sure I want to spend the money on one... I'm thinking of scooters however I've read that in Texas you need a Class M license for that, and I don't know how to get that (I'm even struggling with the Class C license simply because I don't have the chance to practice behind the wheel).

But maybe the reason people like Collings or Warmoth never bothered to look at my Application because I don't have 20 years of experience, and have only 2% of the expertise of people like Hesh. I mean why hire me (or even look at my application) when they could have easily hired people like Hesh or someone who graduated from Robert Venn's?

It's tiring that America is too car dependent. I never needed a car in Taiwan because buses ran every 5 minutes and on top of that, you have subways.

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Tai Fu,

I lived in Austin and Round Rock during the dot com years. I live in Houston now and work in the oil and gas industry.

Not to belittle anyone with Asperger's, but it seems many simply lack the social skills that develop as a result of social interaction. Like all skills, social skills must be honed by practice.

I was always that independent, loner kid. I had friends but preferred being alone. Consequently, I didn't develop good social skills until (after?) my college years, because I felt awkward and uncomfortable in groups.

Now I love entertaining and organizing social events.

So, my advice is go to the coffee shops, bars or mall and just watch people. Observe people flirting in the food court or look at their facial expressions as they pass and try to guess what they're thinking.

You'll learn not to say the first thing that comes to mind, without filtering it. I've found this extremely valuable in my professional career too .

When talking with someone, other than small talk, try to ascertain what they want or need. Are they trying to sell you something? Do they need your help? Sometimes you have to ask directly.

If you haven't already done so, read Dale Carnagie's book "How to Win Friends and Influence People." Despite the quaint, outdated anecdotes, it offers valuable insight into human nature that I feel is still very relevant.

Like your lutherie skills, learn and practice.

Good luck,

Glenn

I agree with Glenn wholeheartedly.

That Dale Carnagie book might be good, but it's hard to do in practice especially when your brain is wired differently compared to everyone else. I haven't read the entire book but my first impression is basically you have to be a "yes man". Never confront anyone, always be polite, and that's the key to social success. It's hard enough for a normal person to get people to like them, it's doublely hard for someone who is Autistic. You can't expect them to act like a normal person and have them achieve the same success as normal people. In fact many of the pains that Autistic people face is because they were expected to act normal, but they can't because their brains are not wired like a normal person.

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com