2022
AL#147 p.7
Ralph Novak
▪ The pandemic has taken a toll on many aspects of life. Novak keenly feels the loss of in-person interaction with luthiers, and looks forward to the upcoming GAL Convention.
2022
AL#147 p.42
John Calkin Peggy Stuart
▪ Peggy Stuart is not famous as a guitar maker, but her life story is one that every luthier under age fifty should hear and think about. She was one of “Sloanes Children,” struggling to make a guitar from that early book back in the dark ages of the middle 1970s. She discovered the GAL and soon attended conventions and wrote articles as her skills improved. But she ultimately saw that she would not be able to support herself as a luthier, and turned to law school. If you making a living building instruments in these days of milk and honey, thank your lucky stars and the Guild of American Luthiers.
2019
AL#137 p.22
Cyndy Burton Joshia de Jonge
▪ Joshia de Jonge was a sensation at the 1998 GAL Convention when, as a young female luthier, she brought a nicely-made and fine sounding instrument to the classical guitar listening session. It helped to have grown up in a guitar-making family. And now that she has left her parents’ home and shop, she is raising guitar-making sons. Mentions Geza Burghardt; Linda Manzer; Sergei de Jonge; Eric Sahlin.
2006
AL#87 p.14
Staff
▪ GAL conventions can wear you out physically while they build you up as a luthier and human being. If you’ve never been, you need to go. This coverage shows what you missed this time and what you might expect during the next. With a multitude of photos.
2006
AL#86 p.54
C.F. Casey
▪ Luthiers probably believe that quality instruments made in the Western Hemisphere all come from North America because that’s all they hear about. Not so! The Puerto Rican lutherie scene may be small but the luthiers are just as intense about their craft as American and Canadian builders. So what’s a Puerto Rican tiple, anyway? You better read this to find out. Just don’t confuse it with the Martin or Colombian tiple—Puerto Rican luthiers have their pride, too! With 5 photos.
2006
AL#85 p.44
Alan Carruth
▪ A few people have long struggled to expand the violin family from four members to perhaps eight. There isn’t airtight agreement here. But the family is growing. This description of the 2005 convention seems to explain how successful the new sprouts on the family tree might be,. With 1 photo,
2005
AL#83 p.10 BRB7 p.362
Jonathon Peterson Pierre-Yves Fuchs
▪ Fuchs went through cabinet making school and violin making school on his way to becoming a gold medal bow maker. He is traditional and opinionated, and will make you believe that there might be cosmic influences involved in making an excellent bow. Intuition, that is. Tradition, experience, and a good feeling about your work in progress. Science guys may pull their hair out, but most of us would rather have good intuition than a good grounding in physics. With 3 photos.
2005
AL#83 p.44 BRB7 p.380
Todd Rose Jay Hargreaves
▪ Bass maker Hargreaves is hardly a stranger to AL readers. Here he stands on the other end of the interview as he discusses his work as well as his affiliations with Michael Kasha and Richard Schneider.
2005
AL#82 p.26 BRB7 p.312
Jonathon Peterson Charles Beare
▪ Beare is the captain of a violin restoration firm, a competition judge, and a man thoroughly versed in the intricacies of vintage violins. He has known all the experts of his life time, and he has formulated many strong opinions about old fiddles and the various fields that use them to do business. You’ll find him interesting even if you aren’t a violin person. With 9 photos.
2004
AL#79 p.22
Bon Henderson
▪ If you were there you know how cool it was, and if you weren’t, you’ll have to make do with the 80 photos collected here.
2001
AL#67 p.22
Bon Henderson
▪ If you weren’t there you can still get a feel for the show. It’s worth it. With 86 photos.
1999
AL#60 p.36
Jonathon Peterson
▪ Healdsburg has become a Mecca for makers and fans of custom guitars. If you weren’t there you don’t have to be square, these 15 photos and Peterson’s crisp text will clue you in on what you missed.
1998
AL#56 p.5
Brian Burns
▪ Burns is a member of the thriving Northern California Association of Luthiers, and he offers advice to others about how to start a successful lutherie organization.
1998
AL#55 p.65 read this article
Woody Vernice
▪ These are two picture books of guitars made by luthiers who attended the Healdsburg Guitar Festivals in 1996 and 1997. The reviewer finds that the pictures are too little, but that luthiers looking for new ideas may browse through them endlessly.
1998
AL#55 p.20
Staff
▪ If you weren’t there, too bad. But you can begin to imagine what it was like from this extensive coverage. With 66 photos.
1997
AL#52 p.6
Jonathon Peterson
▪ Though only 2 years old, the Healdsburg show has become culturally and commercially important, as well as a luthiers’ information exchange. Peterson interviews organizers and luthiers who set up displays. The spread of 19 photos is an even split of personalities and close-ups of interesting guitars.
1997
AL#50 p.48
Jonathon Peterson
▪ Here are 17 photos of knockout instrument work.
1996
AL#47 p.28
Staff
▪ Healdsburg is quickly becoming Guitar Town, USA. This festival featured displays, lectures, and tours, not to mention fun. With 12 photos.
1995
AL#43 p.34
Staff
▪ An in-depth description of the 1995 Guild convention in Tacoma, with 73 photos.
1994
AL#40 p.14 BRB4 p.86
Alan Carruth
▪ Impressions of lectures given on the first day of the GAL 1992 convention in Vermillion South Dakota, held in conjunction with the Catgut Acoustical Society.
1994
AL#38 p.26 BRB4 p.20
David Riggs
▪ Sometimes German instruments can look downright, well, German! Not the ones that Riggs captured on film, though. Perhaps the whole world is now one big melting pot.
1994
AL#37 p.50
Frank Bolger
▪ The Bay Area Society of Stringed Instruments Craftspersons puts on its first exhibit. This organization is now called NCAL.
1992
AL#32 p.30
Staff
▪ This convention flashback offers 3 group photos and a description of all the conventions squeezed into a paragraph apiece.
1992
AL#31 p.34
Staff
▪ Journeyed to South Dakota with 300 fanatics to talk instruments. This is a quick wrap-up with 35 photos.
1992
AL#31 p.41
Staff
▪ The turnout at this convention was 65 builders and merchants.
1992
AL#31 p.45
Staff
▪ Mattingly was a super-supporter of the Guild and of free information exchange. Donations to the GAL can be earmarked for this fund, which has been used to bring specific speakers and exhibitions to Guild conventions.
1991
AL#25 p.34
Phillip Lea
▪ Lea offers the lowdown on an important regional instrument show.
1990
AL#23 p.34
Bon Henderson
▪ A short description of the major GAL event, spiced up with 36 photos.
1990
AL#23 p.39
Staff
▪ Sixty-seven builders and suppliers turn out to show their wares.
1989
AL#18 p.43
Jonathon Peterson
▪ Peterson continues his enthusiastic reports about an annual event in an intriguing setting.
1988
AL#15 p.36
Tim Olsen
▪ Editor Olsen offers his usual keen synopsis of the central GAL event. Fun for all, with 29 photos.
1988
AL#15 p.45
Bon Henderson
▪ A long time GAL staffer offers an “outsider’s” view of the convention. How is this possible? Read it for yourself!
1988
AL#14 p.53 BRB2 p.67
George Manno
▪ Manno offers a recipe for a golden-red varnish for use on new violins.
1988
AL#14 p.54
Jonathon Peterson
▪ Peterson is a devoted fan of this organization, which disseminates educational information about forestry related topics and provide the forest products industries a “place where they can put their best foot forward.” The Center’s Handmade Musical Instrument Show is the chief draw for luthiers.
1987
AL#12 p.20
Tim Olsen
▪ This article offers 7 photos from a Portland instrument exhibit and a listing of Portland builders and repair people. The next six articles on this list are also by or about Portlanders.
1986
AL#8 p.44
David Macias
▪ Macias describes a pleasant festival of lectures, discussion, and music.
1986
AL#7 p.34
Tim Olsen
▪ Editor Olsen highlights the events of the GAL’s 10th convention, which was held near the Guild’s headquarters city of Tacoma, Washington, in 1986. With 20 photos.
1986
AL#7 p.40
Staff
▪ This is a who’s who of the people who starred in the GAL’s 10th convention halls.
1986
AL#7 p.42
Bon Henderson
▪ Henderson provides an insider’s view of convention life outside the halls.
1985
AL#3 p.22 read this article
Lawrence D. Brown
▪ Brown comments on trends in lute making toward Baroque instruments, all-gut stringing, larger body sizes, and lower pitches.
1985
AL#3 p.26
Dick Boak
▪ Coverage of the 1985 regional GAL meeting is presented with 29 photos.
1985
AL#2 p.35
Mark Humpal
▪ The 1985 annual exhibition of instruments from the area around Portland, Oregon. Some of the people involved are Paul Schuback, Jeffrey R. Elliott, Robert Steinegger, William McCaw, Ken Butler, and Robert Lundberg.
1985
AL#2 p.38
David Macias
▪ Brief overview of the 1985 event. 5 photos.
1985
AL#2 p.40
Jim Williams
▪ Brief overview of the 1985 meeting of the Association of Australian Musical Instrument Makers. Attendees included Graham Caldersmith, Alistair McAllister, Greg Smallman, Mark Lewis, and Gerard Gilet.