Official Luthiers Forum!

I have a real ignorant question...

What are the URL's for ASIA and GAL? For obvious reasons, when I enter the names in Google, other things come up hmmm... I wonder why?

BTW, what is GAL?

OK Real ignorant questionS... what can I say?

Steve Brown

Steve,
There are no ignorant questions.
GAL is Guild of American Luthiers and they can be found here: GAL
ASIA is The Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans and can be found here: ASIA
Tracy

GAL = Guild of American Luthiers
http://www.luth.org

ASIA = Assoication of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.guitarmaker.orgBrock Poling38480.0084143519

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

We must have been typing the same thing at the same time...

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

[QUOTE=jwsamuel]
My goal is to develop the guitarmaking into a part-time business that I
can turn full-time when I build up enough money to retire from my
regular job (NOTE: after you reach 45 years of age, you call it retiring
instead of quitting).

Anyway, that's it.

Jim[/QUOTE]

You and me both.

_________________
Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

I think a member of the editorial board should be a beginner. Perhaps a person who is building 1-4. I find, at times, that the author of a post or article assumes that all understand terms or instructions. In fact, at least as far as I am concerned, I don't always understand all terms or the instructions given. The beginner/editor would review all articles dealing with construction to ascertain whther the article can be understood by members who are not acquainted with the process, tool, jig, etc.
I, if needed, will volunteer for the position.

As a brand new member here as well as with ASIA, AND a wannabe guitar maker (I own a lot of expensive wood) I heartily concur with the need for some newbie sensitivity in articles.

I am by trade a knifemaker, and I've seen the magazines in that industry lose their focus on the craft of knifemaking while chasing factory advertising dollars. I see no real reason why both needs can't be satisfied, particularly if some of the wonderful dialogs that take place on internet forums such as this are transcribed into print. That doesn't happen in knifemaking; it could here. I could easily envision a symbiotic relationship by having a regular column in Guitarmaker Magazine that was simply, "The Best of OLF" which would transcribe 2-3 of the most helpful threads in the preceding period. (Might be hard to pick - there are many.) The magazine acquires virtually free content, and the forum gains wider exposure to those who read the magazine, including additional guitar makers who would contribute to forum content. Win/win.

OK, now I'll sit down, keep quiet, and try to be a good little newbie. I hope to meet many of you at ASIA next month. Great forum, BTW.

I just went to the ASIA site, and can't find the contents of the current Guitarmaker issue. I'm guessing I just cvan't find the page. Got a link?

Mario,

I don't believe that information has been posted. Rick is tied up with Symposium right now and, frankly, I think most of us have given up trying to keep the old site "perfectly" up-to-date, when the new site is so close to being ready to up-load.

Ah, okay. I was just wondering what topics had been covered in this year's issue(s). Not important....

Jim, shoot me an e-mail at ''luthier_ca*at*yahoo.com'' when you get a chance. I have articles nearly ready, and ideas for plenty more....

[QUOTE=tl507362] Steve,
There are no ignorant questions.
GAL is Guild of American Luthiers and they can be found here: GAL
ASIA is The Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans and can be found here: ASIA
Tracy[/QUOTE]

Pardon me but I reserve the right to ask as ignorant a question as I please!   

Thanks for the info!

Steve Brown

I have been a vocal supporter of ASIA in my neck of the woods for a long time. I have also offered many suggestions over the years to ASIA of how they can improve their operation. I’m glad to see that there are others who have had similar ideas to my own. ASIA is a “member run” organization of sorts. I’ve been a member for a long time and even though I have had a couple of articles published in Guitarmaker I don’t feel like I have much of a voice in how ASIA is run. The success of ASIA still depends on the ASIA Board making good decisions and leading the organization to its successful future. It finally looks like ASIA is on that path. As for GAL, it is well organized and well run. I’m sure that that the “aging staff” of GAL will figure out a way to keep it going for many years to come.