Official Luthiers Forum!

How many of you remember a short-lived 16 page newsletter entitled String Instrument Craftsman published by Guitar Player Magazine in the late 80's? Edited by Jim Hatlo, the publication maybe lasted 20 to 24 issues, as I remember. I wrote a lot of articles for it back the day. Notables such as Roger Siminoff, Bob Benedetto, Michael Dresdner, Bill Cumpiano, Ken Donnell, Ervin Somogyi, and other known and lesser known professionals (like me) wrote articles for builders and repairman. It was a strictly a "how to" kind of publication, offered by subscription.

I had a full set (as a subscriber and contributing author), but foolishly gave them away over the years to young bucks coming up who sought help from me. I was only too happy to oblige. Now the internet is full of more disinformation and outright lies than actual competent advice from experienced professionals and serious amateurs. Now is a great time to bring back the information contained in String Instrument Craftsman for a new generation - but an online version or perhaps re-issued in a compilation.

If you have any old copies you can loan me, or to Dick Boak at Martin Guitars please contact us. I was recently loaned 5 old issues from my business partner and former author Mike Metz of Thesis Audio Service. I had them scanned into PDF files and put on a flashdrive to make them easy to email (Conor Searl got copies the other day). I sent the 5 files to Dick to get the ball rolling. Eventually, Dick would like to gather all the issues on a PDF so they could be put up on the Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans website.

Please help us out in this project if you can. It would be a real tragedy for this vital information to simply disappear forever. Let's resurrect it for all posterity, so we can leave a true legacy for succeeding generations of luthiers.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I see you're on !st page 1st issue! Not much else online, sure you've looked.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

this is terrific

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Cool! Great idea.

Pat

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Pat

I've got 1 thru 14 except #4. which do you need?

That was before my time but this would be very cool. I still have my old LMI catalog, the 3 ring binder ones, and I STILL flip through those for good information once in a while.

I currently have issues #3, #8, #10, #11, and #13 scanned into PDF files on a flashdrive.

John Hall is clued in on this project.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Chris,
PM me your email address and as I scan the ones you don't have into PDFs I'll send them to you. You can decide how to distribute them from there.

Outstanding, Carl - thanks so much!

If anyone here would like me to email the 5 issues I have on flashdrive, just PM me. They are 16 pages in each file, and I've found that mailing them off one by one works best. I'll share them with anyone.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I’d like to see a copy, Chris. I’ll pm my email.

Thanks for doing this.

It wasn't before my time, but I still have my old LMI catalogs, and think I still have my old Lewis Luthier Supplies catalogs too. And old Gurian price sheets, Euphonon price sheets, early Stew Mac (banjo stuff only) catalogs, Allied Traders.... Somehow I can't bring myself to get rid of these. Not that I can place my hands on all of these right now though--Just moved most of my books from Knoxville to NC, and haven't gotten to sort through them yet.

Great project!

Dave

Still getting PM's about this. Will send this afternoon - 5 separate emails, OK?

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Fine by me, and thanks again.

So far, that's 9 OLF'ers who have received the first 5 SIC files. And Dick Boak....

Anyone else, welcome.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I think that's 14 at this point. If you haven't gotten the 5 I sent you, let me know. I'm trying to keep track.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Just got a message from Dick Boak at Martin - he has acquired all issues of SIC and is currently scanning them for use on the ASIA website. This is exciting news.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Yes, that is great news. Thank you Chris and Dick.

Let's not forget to thank Carl....

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

And, thank you to Carl.

Mighty nice of y'all
Thanks

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

I received my copies, VERY interesting reading, thanks Chris!

Rob

So glad to hear ya'll are enjoying these 5. More are coming. I've sent out to 15 folks so far. Spread the word.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I'm interested!

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

PM me with your email address... For five 16 pages PDF Files sent in five separate emails.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Done!

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!