Gateway Area Luthiers Assembly 2012

[Bryan Bear]

It is always fun to meet fellow makers. Some folks from St. Louis and the surrounding area are slowly forming an instrument makers group which will try to meet annually. I have enjoyed our two meeting so much that I thought I would post some pictures here to inspire you guys to seek out MIMFers and other luthiers in your areas and have get togethers.

Most of the people in our group happen to know each other from another forum. I'm kinda lazy so I will just be copying some of my posts over there. I want to be careful to not step on toes or violate forum rules so I will be omitting parts of the posts so as not to be "advertizing" for anyone. As such, the pictures and text will likely not flow well and feel a bit piecemeal. The point is to inspire other gatherings (maybe even gatherings within driving distance of my house. . .).

Charlie, if I break any rules written or implied, please remove this and accept my apologies.

[Bryan Bear]

I made lots of friends at these gatherings, I really hope I get names right and matched up with displays properly. I didn't take very good notes. Here are some shots in no particular order:

Thomas Rein gave an informative demonstration on how and why he graduates soundboard thickness on his flattops. He also had one of his L1ish guitars that sounded AWESOME (I hope I have a picture of it somewhere [stay tuned]).

John Ressler also gave a demo on neck carving. I'm quite sure this demo was helpful to those who haven't yet tacked neck carving. I know I would have benefited from it before I stumbled through the trial and error process.

*****picture missing because bone headed Bryan didn't take one*****

Michael Boggeman gave a second neck carving demonstration. This time it was neck carving with a pin router. One of the great things about getting new and experienced makers in the room together is that it really reinforces the notion that there are many ways to accomplish your projects, all you have to do is decide what works best for you and your goals.

[Bryan Bear]

We had a rep (from bandsaw blade company who's name has been removed by BB) who was particularly helpful to me when we discussed blade options to get max value/performance from my uber cheap little 14" bandsaw. He also added to the pool of attendance prizes (more on that later). We also had a display from a luthier supply business who will not be named here on MIMF. I'm not sure if our gathering was big enough to have these businesses decide it was worth attending or not; it never hurts to invite them. . .

(name removed by BB) Who's company makes t-shirts and promotional items was good enough to make out shirts for this event. I neglected to get a picture of one and mine is in the laundry right now, but some of us are wearing them in the pictures to follow. Here is his table next to (other forum's) own Wudwuker and his offering of Mando-Linds and the "Purpleheart Build" that I was excited to get to meet in person.

I may have forgotten to get a picture of the event shirt, but I did get a picture of this shirt done by (name removed). I had to buy it! If anyone wants one, ask Charlie if it is okay to disperse the contact info. . .

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[Bryan Bear]

This little beauty was built by Bob Long. The customer who owns this lady was nice enough to lend it back to him for this gathering.

As folks were arriving, I met the gregarious Chris Oliver out front and chatted with him as I helped him unload. It didn't take long to realize that I was going to enjoy talking to him. Here are the instruments he brought. If my pictures were of better quality, you would notice that one of these is a (1947?) Martin. This was a guitar he restored after it was found in a flood! Judging from the before pictures, It was in the flooded basement of a Johnny on the spot.

Also pictured are Keith Osterberg (left) and the back of Ken Jeffs (notice how nice the event t-shirts look from behind).

Chris Askins provided me with my very first opportunity to play (read butcher) a multiscale guitar. Also pictured is his purpleheart electric. One of the neat things about an annual gathering is getting to see work in progress one year and finished product the next; this electric turned out as beautiful as I pictured it last year.

Here you can also see that the shirts look nice folded. Man I botched this job!

[Bryan Bear]

Last year, the winner of the largest instrument (fullsized harp) contest also brought the smallest (mando). This year's smalles instrument was Craig Finnegan's tenor ukulele, pictured here with one of his classicals. The WRC uke top pictured is made from an enourmus utility pole, the top of which he "re-appropriated" from a utility installation. Craig was good enough to donate a guitar sized top set from this log as an attendance prize (too bad I didn't win).

Here you see Craig taking Michael Boggeman's archtop for a spin. I don't remember him squatting on the wall to play this but this how it must have gone down as my computer refuses to save the version of this picture rotated 90 degrees.

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Being played on the wall or properly displayed on a stand, Michael Boggeman's guitar was a thing of beauty.

[Bryan Bear]

Last year I had the honor of befriending Ken Jeffs (a truly great guy), this year I had the honor of sharing a table with him. Here you can see his display of tools and jigs and the in-progress reso box made with woods he selected with Jerry Hibdon's help last year. You can also see the in-progress L-00 cutaway that I brought. If the look on my face is one of humbled awe, it is because of all the other instruments on display, all of which made me look like I don't have lights in my workshoppe. Please note that (obviously) I did not take this picture which happens to be the best shot of the t-shirts we have yet to see.

Ken was good enough to share his table with me even though it meant he had to put his reso on the floor. This is another example of an instrument that I got to see partially completed last year and hear this year.

Jerry Hibdon brought along some of his work as well.

[Bryan Bear]

Somehow, I didn't get to actually talk to Keith Osterberg, thankfully I was able to connect with him via facebook. Here are some of the instruments he brought along.

This reso-mando of his really inpired some rumblings in my "things to build someday" file.

The table next to me displayed some beautiful work by Paul and Kyle Burner. I took one look at their bubinga guitar and started looking for an open table somewhere else to move my display. . .

[Bryan Bear]

Here we see the L1ish guitar made by Thomas Rein that I mentioned earlier. This one was really lovely in all respects.

Here Mr. Rein and Mr. House are discussing who knows what. I'm sure that I should have been eavesdropping though, as I'm sure I could have learned quite a bit!

My very favorite part of the day was the bluegrass jam that broke out. Here we see Chris on mado, Hutch on guitar and Ken pickin' the reso. Keith would later join in on mando and the jam started to grow.

It was bittersweet when the jam broke up. It seams the only thing that can break up a luthier's jam is announcing attendance prizes that include tonewoods. . .

[Bryan Bear]

If you set up a group meeting of your own, I highly recommend trying to find a music shop, hardwood dealer or luthier shop to host you. We were lucky enough to have a tonewood processor host us. The following pics are just to make you all jealous as we were granted special access to pick through the wood in the warehouse.

Just some of the back and side sets:

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And one of the many shelves of neck blanks:

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[Steve Senseney]

Looks like a good time was had by all!

[Darrel Friesen]

Looks like a well organized set-up Bryan. If it wasn't at the other end of the continent, I would have liked to have been there.

[Mark Swanson]

Cool! it would be fine if you'd like to post the name of the tonewood place. It's just good to know what you're looking at!

[Bryan Bear]

Thanks Mark, I wan't sure. It is Hibdon Hardwoods here in St. Louis. It is a pretty neat operation and we got the full tour. Exotic logs come in, guitar wood comes out. They sell individual sets and supply larger operations. I happened to notice I was standing next to a palate of neck blanks labeled to go to Collings. . . They even gave us a demo of running whole logs through the bandmil, sadly they did not let me drive it.