Chris,
Bob and I spent some time together while he lived here in northeast
PA. He's a great guy with a very big heart and a desire to help anyone he
can in the lutherie business....or outside of it for that matter. He and his
lovely wife Cindy hosted me at their home along with some other builders
and students of the craft back in the early 90s and they were a perfect
couple for hosting guests for dinner and talking guitars.
I have a few photos of us hanging our in Bob's small basement shop
back then with all of his wood and nearly completed guitars hanging in
different stages throughout the shop. I'll try ot fnd them and post them
when...or if...I do.
Dale Unger of American Archtops worked under Bob in that East
Stroudsburg shop for several years before embarking on his own effort to
build and market his beautiful guitars. They are very much in the line of a
Benedetto, but at a much lower price point.
Bob was very graious as he offered a flattering critique of one of my
very first guitars during one of those visits. I think back now to that guitar
and wish...as any luthier would...that I'd waited a few years and a hundred
guitars later to have one of the premiere builders of archtops in the world
take a look at it in detail, but he remembers where he came from and is
very humble so he was probably a great guy to receive that
encouragement from at the time.
Great post and all the best to you and to Bob as he continues his
wonderful work.
Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars
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