Official Luthiers Forum!

With 2 weeks left till I spend most of August in Wisconsin with friends - I find I have stopped doing any actual building or testing finish techniques or anything more than cleaning up some dust.

Lots of mooning over other builders output and fondling my wood stash - but, little else.

If this is the summer doldrums, I must have built right through it last year!

At this point, I think I see how a person could go from a newbie builder to an ex-builder without ever gaining a feeling of competence.

PLEASE tell me it's just a phase.

Two weeks is plenty of time to build some jigs or make a few bridges or glue up and shape a few necks. That way you'll be ready when you come back from cheese land.

    I have some simple advice for you, just stand up and act like a MAN!

     

    Actually I have been dragging myself, and that's no small feat as I just barely move as it is! It been extremely hot here in SoCal and I think it has taken a while to get adjusted! So it's probably a phage!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

It's just a phase, Jimson. I've gone through them too. Piddling around in the shop, not getting much of anything done. Hanging out at the OLF way too much . . .

As an artist, I realized at a young age that it was difficult to sustain output before I'd start to feel burned out. Didn't matter what it was -- visual, music, writing. So, I would often find myself taking extended breaks to sort of recharge my creative batteries. Still do. But one has to know when a break becomes avoidance, and often I have to force myself back into the groove to get things flowing again.

I've found that the best way to work myself through the doldrums is just to start on something. In lutherie, if I can just start on some aspect of a build, doesn't really matter what it is, it works for me. Before I know it, hours have passed, and I'm feeling productive again cuz I'm getting stuff done.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Jimison, where you going to be in WI? If you are in the Mad town area, look me up.
I'm kind of like Michael where I try to listen to my mind/body telling me it needs a break. Otherwise it gets tough to get out of bed in the morning.
Here's what I'd do in your situation: Clean your shop. Organize your shop. Get it all shined up and ready to do some serious building. When you get back it will be a refreshing place to come to.

Hi Paul,

I have had your card up in my shop since I met you at Healdsburg last year. (I've already borrowed a couple of your binding ideas)

My best friends in the world are a couple from Middleton right next to you so I plan to look you up -someday. This trip I will be driving through the twin-cities over to Door County then back down and over to kick back on Hiawatha Lake up by Minocqua (Manitowish Waters) for two weeks before flying back to Seattle.

I'm really looking forward to it - so, don't let it get too hot!