Re: [CR]Passion for classics--Bikes and guitars and drums

(Example: Framebuilders:Alex Singer)

From: "nath" <ferness261@voyager.net>
To: <rocklube@adnc.com>, <Philcycles@aol.com>
References: <b9.32ea92ca.2c1d1a22@aol.com> <3EEC7A9E.4044@adnc.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Passion for classics--Bikes and guitars and drums
Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2003 09:45:11 -0500
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

This is a topic near and dear to my heart. I've got three vintage Gibsons--a c. 1940 L-50 archtop, a 1942 J-45 that I need to work on, and a 1957 LG-1. (Can you tell I love Gibsons?)

But just as there are some fine frame-builders out there today, there are lots of fine luthiers. Look through an issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine and you'll see lots of names. Some of them are more recognizable--Bill Collings, for instance--but many are small builders who work alone.

And they're doing very good work. In fact, I think the workmanship in high-end instruments is as better today than it's ever been. Gibson acoustics were always a little rough around the edges, and that's something I like about them. (Maybe they're the Paramounts of the acoustic guitar world. . . .) Martins were always more finely made--or at least that's my impression. But there are so many fine builders today, it's hard to know where to begin: Olson, Galloup, Froggy Bottom, Manzar, Lowden, Bourgeois, Benedetto, . . . the list goes on and on. And name-brand guitars such as Gibson and Guild are better now than they were back in the 70s, for sure--maybe as good as they've ever been.

I honestly believe that guitars from the best of these small builders are just as good or better than Martins and Gibsons from the 30s and 40s. The craftsmanship is better, I think, and luthiers are experimenting with various design refinements (bracing, etc.) and using lots of exotic tonewoods that weren't available before. And there's still high quality spruce and cedar available for use on tops--after all, that's the main element of the sound of any acoustic.

Of course, no one's making any prewar Gibsons or Martins any more. But when the current builders are gone, they'll leave far fewer instruments. Fortunately, I think craftsman and artists will be drawn to luthiery in the future . . . just as such folks are drawn to frame-building today. The passion for such things is still with us.

By the way . . . I've recently retired my '57 Gibson from gigs--it's just an LG-1, but even so, it'd be hard to replace. Nowadays I'm playing a '99 Gibson WM-00. In fact, we'll be out twice today for gigs, one in the afternoon and one this evening. So much for a bike ride today . . . unless I get away from the keyboard now, that is!

nath dresser
spring green, wi