Official Luthiers Forum!

these luthier organisations are poorly marketed & poorly differentiated, it
seems to me. Certainly finding their websites hasn't really gained me much
information. I understand they both publish magazines, and host
gatherings, but I've found no opinions of either org nor their goods/
services, and sample issues aren't available (that I've noticed).

I know most folks here must belong to one, the other, or both: would y'all
share your opinions on them, please?

both magasines are technically very good, with some outstanding contributors. the asia version is perhaps a bit more commercial, while the gal's is a bit less glitzy in its presentation and is broader in its scope. that is to say that the asia pub is almost totally guitar oriented, while the gal's will include articles on many other sorts of instruments, both mainline and world/ethnic. you can learn a lot from both.

the gal also sells good plans.

i've not been to either organizations' biennial gettogethers but there is ample information and comment in the archives of people's experiences form this past summer aat the asia symposium.crazymanmichael38646.3946990741

I am the marketing director for ASIA (yes, I wear a lot of hats).

I think both organizations have a lot to offer, and are worth considering for membership, but I would always recommend you joing ASIA first!   

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

[QUOTE=chmood] these luthier organisations are poorly marketed &
poorly differentiated, it
seems to me. Certainly finding their websites hasn't really gained me
much
information. I understand they both publish magazines, and host
gatherings, but I've found no opinions of either org nor their goods/
services, and sample issues aren't available (that I've noticed).

I know most folks here must belong to one, the other, or both: would
y'all
share your opinions on them, please?[/QUOTE]

There is a huge backstory to your question, and one that I won't
even begin to go into here...

Let's just say that 15 or so years ago your statements would qualify as a
major troll, and I'm not so sure that they still don't....   

But who knows?
Maybe things have changed....

[QUOTE=spruce]
Let's just say that 15 or so years ago your statements would qualify as a
major troll, and I'm not so sure that they still don't....   [/QUOTE]


Maybe it's just me, but I don't have a clue what this means.

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Troll Definition...

At one time the GAL/ASIA issue was probably one of the most
contentious issues in all of luthiery, and there were some very hurt and
hot feelings on both sides...

I'd like to think that those days are long gone...    

It is my understanding that has all been patched up. I was not around for any of that, but I can tell you that I talk with Bill Moll frequently and there is no animosity toward the GAL from ASIA's side. None.

I don't claim to have all of the details about what has gone on in the past, nor do I really care to reopen old wounds, I think both organizations provide value and I don't see why people shouldn't belong to both groups if they can financially swing it.

I am proud to be a member of both groups.

Brock Poling38646.6288425926

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I hope so, but it sure makes for an interesting tale....

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

and people love a juicy story, don't they? I do too, but ASIA is working very hard to reclaim some past ground.

How Rick managed holding all of this together all by himself for years is a mystery to me. Now that I am involved I can tell you it takes a LOT of time to get the magazine out, coordinate the advertising, etc.

Bill has been working to assemble a great team of volunteers. Jim Samuel is doing a great job as publisher, I have been working on marketing (primarily ad sales up to this point), and Paul Dempsey has been building the web site and laying out the magazine.

This is a big effort and I can tell you that there is a sincere effort on ASIAs part to put some fresh ideas in place.

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

ASIA is moving in a great direction. They have some great new talent involved in the leadership, (and I don't exagerate) and I suspect you will see some great changes. The Guitarmaker is already starting to come out with more regularity. I like both organizations, but to be honest, I like the focus of ASIA the best. Everything has a place and a purpose.

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

I find ASIA to be more useful, but I belong to both. Seems like a small price to pay for all the information I have gathered over the years.

_________________
Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Here's the short (and very undetailed) story: Both organizations are non-profit. ASIA's leadership changes frequently and has been all-volunteer, except for the executive director, which became a (part-time) paid position in the mid-'90's (volunteer before that). The GAL's leadership NEVER changes (the founders), and the staff is paid. ASIA was formed, in part, out of dissatisfaction with the GAL system, and also to give people back east an organization they could feel more a part of. There was great contention when this split happened, and it almost destroyed the GAL; but by the early to mid '90's, I think most of the big boys and girls were members of both groups.

The benefits of both: fellowship and information (which leads to inspiration!).

The GAL has been consistant over the years in getting its quarterly publication to members. So was ASIA, until Dick Boak resigned as their (volunteer) executive director and magazine editor. A series of unfortunate events (and lack of dedicated volunteers!) nearly did them in, but that seems to be changing in a big way.

I don't think you can go wrong joining either group.

Just for the record, i had *NO* IDEA this was a contentious question!!!
(I warned you guys about me & questions!)
(And Brock - I certainly meant no offense about the marketing: I was
referring to how hard it's been to put the two orgs into perspective)

It's just that throwing money around with my eyes closed makes me
nervous, and I wanted to get some sense of what each org offers its
members. So, at the risk of starting another fire, Brock, what is included in
an ASIA membership?


[ edit: Carlton, thanks for that brief intro to the issues - I understand better
now ]chmood38646.7322222222

I am a member of Both and both are good. Better though I believe is what we have here and at MIMF. I have gained more this way but will keep my memberships in both organisations. I have been a member of Asia and then Gal and then back to Asia, now both. I find that when I was a member of only one I felt I was missing something.

I took no offense at any comments. There has just been a lot of "talk" about ASIAs past and my remarks were essentially aimed at looking at the future, not the past.

Carlton. Currently, all senior positions at ASIA are voluntary.

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Hey Brock,

I didn't know that all of the ASIA people were volunteers. Give my thanks to yourself and the rest of the crew for doing a great job. I just joined this year, but really like the magazine.



Thanks

Bill Moll is essentially the engine that is driving this. Jim is doing a fantastic job, but Bill is really the ** force ** that is driving a lot of that.

He occassionally logs in here, but I will pass the comments along.

Thanks. :-)

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Hey Charlie,

I joined ASIA at the beginning of this year and then just recently joined GAL. I am proud to support both. But for me it was just being able to get access to the premier industry journals. I can be a research junkie and I also do a lot of travelling for the day job. So to be able to have these journals makes me feel like I am still linked to lutherie when I am on the road. One benefit of each group is that if you join, say, now! you will get the journals that were sent out for the entire year. (joining both would get six very interesting mags plus two more near the end of the year). There just isn't any other place to get this type of information, except through questions on this forum and MIMF as Richard stated, IMHO.

Shane

_________________
Canada

An ASIA journal (#53 for those of you keeping track) is at the printer now, and should be mailed sometime soon, and another will be published before the end of the year.

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

okay, so the message I'm getting here is that each of the two magazines is
worth the price of membership by itself, that GAL is general lutherie, ASIA is
focused on guitars, and the rest is gravy.

Is that close enough? would it be fair to say that both mags/organisations
is an essential part of the ongoing conversation (with the forae, schools &
videos) that is modern lutherie?

That pretty much says it, Charlie. It's all good.

Actually, Guitarmaker (ASIA) had a Mandolin issue a year or so ago, and I think they would probably like to expand their horizons. It's not to say they restrict their focus to guitars.

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

I was speaking in general, Don - and I certainly won't hold a mandolin issue
against anyone

Now, if you'll pardon me, I've got an OLF/ASIA package to pick up, and a Big
Red Book, too!

Alot of pro luthiers and amateur builders are members of both organizations and attend both org's conferences. It has evolved to the point that each groups conference is in alternating years, ASIA being held on the East Coast and GAL on the West Coast although GAL wasnt always Tacoma based.

Both organizations publications fill a important role as no matter how long you have been building there are still alot of things to learn. Personally I like the difference in cultural and management styles in both groups and focus on the positive things each being to us as a community of luthiers and not on any negative stuff that happened in the past.

The mix of types of instruments has varied over the years as well...some years at GAL Classical guitars are much more prevalent (because of great builders like Jeffrey Elliot, Greg Byers and Eugene Clark all being the northwest) and at ASIA has had a greater representation of archtop builders with people like John Monteleone, Linda Manzer, Tom Ribbecke and others.

It would not be of any value to rehash the contention and acrimony that caused the split that created ASIA years ago but even long term tensions have been worked out over the last few years.

Publications like GALs plans and books like their Red Books are really useful to all builders regardless of whether you ever attend their conference. I know Colin has built Lutes and if it had not been for GALs publication of Robert Lundberg's important book on Lute construction (It is to Lutes what Cumpiano's book is to Guitars) I would never have had a clue and the privelege of building a Lute. If you are interested in that type of instrument you should try to build one some day as they are fascinating instruments and are amazing how light and lightly build they are.

Asia's publication, despite some issues like frequency of issues has always maintained a high degree of professional publishing quality and while Rick is no longer driving the magazine, I am thrilled that Jim has stepped in to take over along with Brock with great marketing expertise and Bill Moll's organizational skills.

Both groups are healthy and thriving but with the infusion of OLF people at this years ASIA symposium it has added a new level of excitement and promise for ASIA because of the synergies of what Lance and Brock have built with OLF and bring to ASIA.

Way to go Lance and Brock. Do you guys ever sleep?