Official Luthiers Forum!

Of course everyone else can look. Take a look at what George Rizsanyi, one of our Canadian luthiers is planning to build.

Here is the heading of the link, checkout the pages of this site and let me know what you think.

Kind of like a patchwork guitar of Canadian culture.

Anyway, here's the idea

We are building a guitar using pieces of wood, bone, steel, shell and stone from every province and territory of Canada — each piece with its own story to tell.Rod True38751.8798263889

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Canadian Culture??? Isn't that an oxymoron?
George has been at this project for a couple of years. I think he even got a grant to travel around the country picking up interesting bits & pieces.
Pierre Trudeau's favourite spruce canoe paddle will make a bunch of the braces.

Hmm, calling a guitar "remarkable" before you've even built it seems kinda optomistic.

reminds me of a comment made by a member of the oxford debating team visiting australia back in the '80's, during the trudeau(sp) government;

   "pity the poor canadians; they should have had the best of all worlds: french food, british culture, and american administration. but alas, what did they end up with: british food, american culture, and french administration!"

Ouch! That's hurts like the truth Michael! Ahhhh, but we do have a HUGE sense of humour.....I guess we need it! Oh ya and we also have the mighty beaver!

Shane

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Canada

Serge Poirier38754.2836342593

Sorry. no post.Alain Desforges38752.7630671296

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

[QUOTE=Daniel M]
George has been at this project for a couple of years. I think he even got a grant to travel around the country picking up interesting bits & pieces. [/QUOTE]

Oh, I didn't know that. Well, he should realy get on with it than. Still, a cool idea.Rod True38752.6401041667

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Alain...your comment went beyond what we consider to be aceptable behavior. It was a cheap shot and I, for one consider it offensive.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

No! Stop! No politics, no taking offense, no humble apologies, no, no, no!!!

I agree JJ. Alain, Michael & Serge there is no room here for political views, no mater what you believe.

Lets just keep the political views out of it.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

    I was able to meet and spend a little time with George and his sidekick...whose name escapes me now...back when I was working at Martin Guitar. He was a friendly, fun guy with some strange ideas about guitar construction. One that stands out was his unique neck joint in which a Martin made mortise and tenon were used and then two very large wood screws...no, not bolts, but screws...were driven through the neck block and into the heel of the neck. No threaded inserts r bolts, just good old fashioned screws driven in.

    I notice from the article now that he is a self proclaimed "Master" builder. 'Nough said for me to look forward to a glimpse of this beauty in the making.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

no, not bolts, but screws...were driven through the neck block and into the heel of the neck

Yup, I've seen these. #8 Robertson screws...

A lot of what I know NOT to do, I've learned from working on his guitars, of which there are a handful in these parts. Clean workmanship, very nice finish(when new), really good sound, but many less-than-stellar structural details. Guess if yuo can spell a good yarn, the government grants will roll-in. So, that's where my tax dollars went...

Seems everyone that self-proclaims themselves a "master" never achieves such. "Master" should be a term left for others to tack onto those whose work stands the passing of time, -after- they have passed.

Then there's the guitar maker who was refered to as 'super genius master'. Uh, yeah... sounds super real good, man.

   

MMMMMMM,

interesting photo

enough said

I've Repaired a couple of Beneteau guitars that used a Martin Dovetail and only 1 #8 Robertson screw. No glue. In both cases though they had held just fine and were only needing a neck reset after 25-30 years. I a;so find these self proclaimed titles interesting but even more so running into people who are "Certified Luthiers" having take a course and built one guitar. At one festival I was showing my guitars at I had a fellow come up to me and tell he he was a "Luthier" "Oh really, so where are you building out of" I asked. Turned out he had taken a "Luthier Course" and received his certification but hadn't built a guitar since. When he found out I hadn't taken formal training anywhere he looked down his nose at me and said "oh, so your not really a luthier than"

I should mention that I have talked to Mark Beneteau and he no longer uses robertson screws. Now he does a But joint polt on with Threaderd inserts. Don't want anyone to get the wrong idea.

Hi richard,

I think Grit Laskin is still using the dovetail and single wood screw to hold it method. He defintiely has used that for a while.

As for these guys with their "luthiers certificate" - exactly who has the right to give out such a document anyway. I know of no legimate organization or school that does such a thing here in Canada.

BTW - I got mine in a box of Cracker Jack !!! I am still hoping for a Race Car drivers license though. I mean how tough can that be, they're only driving in circles, right !!! And all that prize money - one win and I could really get some good wood.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I know deJonge uses a dovetail with a single bolt/threaded insert. There are a lot of Canadian guys (including myself) who do this as a result of taking the deJonge building course.

I think the "luthiers certificate" is something that is earned with time. You don't get it after building 1 or 2 instruments. Like the title "master luthier" and so on, it should be given to you by someone else.

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

oh, never mindRod True38754.8449074074

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Tony, I agree about the Luthier thing but there are "schools", at least one here in Canada that advertise that you receive your certification. About a year ago I saw an add in the paper from a Music store in the nearby city where they advertised that there was a "Certified Luthier" on Staff. I decided to stop in and meet the fellow when I was in Town and it turned out they had a guitar instructor on staff who had taken one of these courses, built one guitar, and got his piece of paper. So they can now advertise that they have the only Certified Luthier in the region. I agree that Luthier is a title others must give you. I spent the longest time just saying I build guitars, I still ussually say that, even when people were refering to me as a luthier I still would say no I just build guitars. Finally one Musician Said "Richard, accept it, you're a Luthier". Shortly after that there was a Newspaper article written entitled "Richard Harvey, Luthier of the North Shore" so I decided I could start using it. Stll seems a little presumptuous since there is no clear description of what a Luthier is.

Well said Richard.

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

[QUOTE=arvey] there is no clear description of what a Luthier is.[/QUOTE]

Well, actually, there is: Someone who builds stringed instruments. That probably should be qualified by specifying it as someone who builds the complete stringed instrument, as opposed to the guy who just bends the sides in a factory.

According to the dictionary it someone who makes stringed instruments. But that should include repair as well.

So.... If you can call your creation a stringed instrument, than you are a luthier. Now, maybe we should have ranking under the term luthier.

Private Luthier True, reporting for duty Sir.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

[quote]So.... If you can call your creation a stringed instrument, than you are a luthier. Now, maybe we should have ranking under the term luthier.

Private Luthier True, reporting for duty Sir.
[/quote]

So where would 'Master Bathroom Luthier' rank?

is there a term for janitor luthiers, unwilling to work in a Master bathroom shop ?