The GAL Steel strings and others stringed instruments

[TimS]

During the convention builders has an opportunity to have their instruments played one after the other to allow all those present to compare volume, tone etc. All the guitars including the unusual shaped one sounded very responsive. I didn't get an opportunity to takes images of the classical guitars but I would say that the Euro spruce & rosewood ones sounded consistently good.









Here are some other instruments of interest.







Who is this dude burning up the strings?

[Kim]

Who is this dude burning up the strings?[/size]

Oow, oow, I know, I know....but that would be cheating so I will leave the tub of wombat fat for someone else

(But it may be an idea to change the file name so rat bags like Hesh wont go look'in.)


What a fantastic experience that must have been Tim, some great folks, fantastic guitars and wood and sooo much to learn and listen to, I am soo jealous.

Still, if it could not be me, I am glad it was you M8

Cheers

Kim

[Lillian]

Would that be Graham?

[Bob Connor]

Looks like you had a great time Tim.

I recognise Mark Swanson doing the playing but who is is the other bloke that looks like he's about to hold up a score card out of 10

[TimS]

Bob I believe that is Mike Doolin (luthier/player)

[TimS]

Hi Lilian

Yes that is Graham. By the way if I had been more adventurous I would have popped up to see you. Ah well next time.

regards

Tim

[graham mcdonald]

The other bloke in the pics with Mark Swanson is Mike Doolin. a delightful person all round and one of the most innovative builders. Damn good player as well. (and that is me with the little guitar bodied bouzouki)

I can heartily recommend the GAL convention for four days of stimulation and ideas. If, like most of us you live in relative isolation as a builder, just being around several hundred people who do the same thing is a great buzz

cheers

graham

[Lillian]

I'm really sorry I was not able to attend. Next time around I'll be there. I spent the weekend either seriously drugged or banging my head on the wall waiting for the drugs to kick in. I had broken a filling and gotten something wedged in the crack so the nerves were exposed. Didn't get to see a dentist until Tuesday. I was not fit for company to say the least.

Next time I'm taking the week off and enjoying myself.

[kiwigeo]

Do you look like this Lillian???

[Lillian]

Yes I did after the root canal. Never had an injection into a tooth before. Hope to never have another one.

[WaddyT]

Wait till they do the roof of the mouth injections for pulling uppers. Whole new meaning for white knuckle dentistry. Then, some months after the pulling, I had a bone spur form in my gum, and it hurt like crazy. I went in, he looked at it and rubbed it with his finger. Said, "Hmmm, I can take care of that in a second." He got a ball-pein hammer and a flat tipped punch, set the punch on the spur, and you know the rest. The pain was excruciating, but short lived. He sent me on my way, saying "No charge!" If only he knew!

[Lillian]

OUCH!

[Larry Davis]

Lots of new convention 2008 photos up on the GAL site....


http://www.luth.org/convention/2008/index.htm

[Kim]

Thanks for posting the link Larry, very interesting and it's good to see so many names and faces together, even in some instances one can't be too sure who is who

Anyhow, here's some we do know. Tell me Larry, did the black limba in that lovely guitar next to out mate Steve Kinnaird come from you??



Here's Graham doing us proud.



And here is our favourite Aussie Tonewood supplier Tim Spittle (yeah yeah that's him the guy with the dark curly mop of hair and big smile) he's living it up with some of the who's who of GALchemy such as our other good friend Jeff Yong



Cheers

Kim

[Larry Davis]

Hi Kim, alas that was not my limba however I have cut a bunch from time to time. I'm lucky enough to be only a couple tables down from Steve and it's always a visual treat. I'm not sure where the future for limba in acoustics might be, but I think it has great potential for Flamenco construction.

Couple interesting (to me) experiences was chatting with a customer about some Makore sets and I (as always) pointed out the Makore was a long favorite of Dana Bourgeois at Pantheon Guitars. I glanced to the customers side and guess who? Dana!! We've never met before and I was truly embarrassed getting busted name dropping. He happily bought up the remaining Makore and ordered another 20 sets from the shop. I think Makore will become a top alternative wood choice.

Another "highlight" was Robert Ruck stopping by to chat. (If you're not sure who Robert is there's a good interview in the spring edition of GAL's "American Lutherie") Robert's a neighbor and has been in the shop and we've chatted about my acrylized woods. he's very keen on doing some bending tests for sides as well as trying some for backs. He thinks the added mass density might elevate some woods like maple up to where classical builders want their woods to be. Robert is a fascinating person to chat with about old school building and his keen interest in innovative materials and methods.

I still haven't cut into any new ziricote, but am spending a lot of time getting my fishing gear, gold diving gear and camping gear ready for a trip soon

[TimS]

And of course here is Larry

[Stephen Kinnaird]

Tim, that's a good shot of Larry, doing what he did so often: sign autographs.

Kim, that set of Black Limba came from Bob Cefalu. I think myself
fortunate to have scored that particular set.

Larry, the visual treat is all mine, M8. (Larry has such cool stuff for sale
that it makes one weak in the knees just to see his stash.)

Enjoying the pix guys!

Steve

[Larry Davis]

OMG, I didn't see that photo coming or I'd duck under the table

Thanks to Tim, I can now properly pronounce, "g'day"

The Angel step maple in Steve's guitar is one of the best examples of that figure I've ever seen....bar none!!