Luthiers Holiday

[DarwinStrings]

Not that the original intention was a holiday but it ended up turning out that way. I would not usually choose the middle of winter to leave Darwin and head for Sydney but some recent news about my mothers health from my sister prompted me to take my 10 year old twins down to see their Grandmother.

The first few days were pretty uncomfy for me in the cold down south (a squirrel collecting nuts for the winter would not have given me a second glance) but after that I seemed to get used to it and while I was still wearing two pairs of socks and Inuit clothes my fear of hypothermia relaxed.

Part one of the Luthier side of the trip was a, well, almost a road trip for me nowadays. From the Sutherland shire to Trend timbers in Windsor. Spending about an hour and a half looking at, smelling, gasping at the prices as well as tapping bits of wood that I had no intention of buying I picked up about 8 necks of PNGRW a stick of Black Walnut and a stick of the lightest bit of Blackwood I had ever picked up. Trend had changed a lot as the last time I was there, they used to have about 5 or 6 metres cubic metres of Sitka, not a splinter of Spruce to be seen there now.

Next it was a few hours at Gerard Gilet's to chat guitar, thank him for the books and grab some Spruce. I had lucked out as Gerard is in the process of packing up and heading west soon. I ran into Beau (Beau Hannam Guitars) there and met Darryl who will be taking over Gerard's Botany shed when Gerard moves out west.

Next on my list was a dinner put together by Strato (my first real Luthier thing) via Trevor Gores place. When I got to Trevor'sI almost forgot about guitars as the "shed" just had me in awe. I did notice a dozen or so guitars on the wall as I walked in but was drawn straight out the back door onto the short floating pier by the view, Pretty much the perfect place for a beer and a deck chair but we didn't have long before we had to head off up the coast to the dinner.

Strato's dinner was a buzz, I got to meet Jeff (Jeffhigh) and thank him personally for answering so many of my questions here at the forum, met and chatted with Paul (Ozwood) who has built as many acoustic guitars in four years as I have in twenty. I also met Derick (Dekka) who I did not recognise from his Avatar. There was a great bit of entertainment mostly played on guitars built at Strato's school, a bit of Cat stevens covers, some classical and flamenco then Derick got up and sangs us a few songs. I won't rave and I am not sure if Derick performs professionally but if you ever get the chance to see him perform then go see him, by the time he was finished I was wiping tears from my eyes and there was nothing sad about his performance.

After the drive back from somewhere around Newcastle to Trevors place I sat down and had a listen to some of the dozen or so guitars on his wall and was very impressed. Trevor was great in that he managed to put up with me grilling him from the passenger seat over the duration of our three hour round trip, not once did he try to stop the car and shove me out. He still offered me a coffee when we got back to his Home at 1.30 am and put up with me for another hour before I rode the inclinator back up Trevor's hill to my car for the drive back across Sydney to the Sutherland Shire.

Jim

Life was good amongst the Luthiers.

[Dekka]

Thankyou for your kind words, Jim. It was good to meet you guys.

[ozwood]

Hi Jim,

It was great to meet you, and I always enjoy Strato's Dinners, you never know what your going to get and it never disapoints, This year was the best so far for me, and even though I have listened to the peircing song at least 20 times it still cracks me up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ1_I02S5VQ

As you discovered Trevors generosity with his time and knowledge is legendery, That bloke is living the dream at the shed.

If your ever down again give us some notice I'm sure Jeff would be keen for a beer and catchup.

Cheers,

[Kim]

Onya Paul for posting the tube link, and Dekka, a big thanks to you mate for 'making' me a grin. Your clever lyrics and performance are very entertaining ...Well done mate..

Cheers

Kim

[Dekka]

[Bruce McC]

As you discovered Trevors generosity with his time and knowledge is legendery, That bloke is living the dream at the shed.

An invitation to visit Trevor at his shed should be on the bucket list of all aspiring guitar builders.

[P Bill]

"....and a good time was had by all." Sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks for the song Decka, I'm waiting for the " Regrets, Where's My Laser? " follow up.

[Trevor Gore]

A LOT of fun was had by all.

Good to catch up with friends old and new. Strato is a legend. ~150 for dinner, all interested in lutherie, in Toronto, NSW? Great guitars, great players - has to be seen to be believed.