1985
AL#4 p.27 BRB1 p.126 read this article
Nasser Shirazi
▪ Shirazi offers a history of the Persian bowed instrument as well as plans and construction advice. The kamanche is a four-stringed neck attached to a gourd. The plans are a reduced version of our full-scale Plan #9.
1985
AL#4 p.28 BRB1 p.131
Nasser Shirazi
▪ A full-scale instrument plan. See the GAL website for a low-rez preview.
1985
AL#4 p.31 BRB1 p.132 read this article
John Jordan
▪ Jordan describes 14 varieties of rosewood, and 14 varieties of false rosewood. Some max out as large shrubs, and only offer interest to wood collectors. Others are of high interest to luthiers, or should be.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.
1985
AL#4 p.48 BRB1 p.148 read this article
Frederick C. Lyman Jr.
▪ Lyman champions the use of common materials and low sophistication in the production of serviceable, affordable bass fiddles. Mentions Kay basses and the Richard Ennis design in AL#3.
1985
AL#4 p.52 BRB1 p.492 read this article
Frederick Battershell
▪ The reviewer examines what has become one of the main-stay catalogs of lutherie and finds that it’s not only chock full of wood, supplies, and tools, it’s a nearly encyclopedic source of lutherie information.
1985
AL#4 p.11 BRB1 p.99
William Cumpiano Manuel Velazquez
▪ Velazquez fields a number of questions about the specifics of building the nylon-strung guitar, including types of glue, choice of wood, construction design, and finishing.
1985
AL#4 p.20 BRB1 p.114
David Macias
▪ Macias relates an interesting anecdote about the first maple classical guitar he built, then translates a Pujol description of the Tarrega guitar made by Torres.
1985
AL#3 p.19
Paul Wyszkowski
▪ Sixty books and articles dealing with guitar acoustics are rated for legitimacy, clarity, and usefulness.
1985
AL#3 p.42 BRB1 p.92 read this article
Richard Ennis
▪ Rough sketches help describe a fast and cheap substitute for a bass viol. It has no scroll or waist, and a flat top and back.
1985
AL#4 p.8 BRB1 p.96
William Cumpiano
▪ Cumpiano shares a pleasant visit with Velazquez in Puerto Rico where the conversation is all about classical guitars, wood, compensation factors, and balancing the tone of the instrument.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.
1985
AL#2 p.45 BRB1 p.135 read this article
Don Musser
▪ Musser describes two Amazon woods with properties similar to Dalbergia nigra.
1985
AL#3 p.11 BRB1 p.84
C.F. Martin III
▪ The former head of the Martin Guitar Company reminisces about his life as a guitar maker, offers a short history of the company and certain guitar models, and in the process mentions C. F. Martin Jr., Frank Henry Martin, and Mike Longworth.
1985
AL#2 p.3 read this article
Tony Pizzo
▪ Where to get gourds and gourd seeds for building ethnic instruments.
1985
AL#2 p.25 BRB1 p.74
William Cumpiano
▪ Cumpiano discusses wood color and figure on the cellular level.
1985
AL#2 p.41 BRB1 p.46 read this article
Ted Davis
▪ Davis tells of his long, difficult, and ultimately successful quest to obtain logs of red spruce (Picea rubens).
1985
AL#1 p.32 BRB1 p.14 read this article
William Cumpiano Bruce Hoadley
▪ In this interview with well-known author and wood expert Bruce Hoadley, Cumpiano seeks to clear up certain questions about Brazilian rosewood relating to identification and confusion with other Dalbergias and so-called rosewoods.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.
1985
AL#1 p.44 BRB1 p.44
Gregory Jackson
▪ Jackson comments on the basic principle upon which electronic moisture meters work, use of the meters, and why you should not try to cobble together your own.
1984
GALQ Vol.12#4 p.28 LW p.41 read this article
Ted Davis
▪ Hard North American wood also called bois d’arc.
1984
DS#296 LW p.29 read this article
Gregory Jackson
▪ The lowdown on chemically bound water and free water in wood.
1984
GALQ Vol.12#1 p.10 LW p.31 read this article
Nicholas Von Robison Perry Thomas
▪ In 1984 we were already in trouble. What are the odds that things have gotten better?
1984
DS#271 BRB2 p.400
Graham Caldersmith
▪ The “Young’s Modulus” of any piece of wood can be calculated, giving a result measurable in frequency. Comparing the Young’s Modulus of a wood species with unknown qualities with a chart of other species of known characteristics can tell you what to expect before any instrument work is commenced. Here’s how to calculate the Young’s Modulus of any piece of wood you have on hand. With 1 drawing and a sample wood chart.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.
1983
GALQ Vol.11#3 p.25
Ted Davis
▪ Hard North American wood also called bois d’arc.
1984
DS#268 LW p.42 read this article
Roger Sperline
▪ This is one of the first descriptions of this fine wood as a tonewood.
1983
GALQ Vol.11#1 p.8 BRB1p.372
Nicholas Von Robison
▪ Robison offers a convincing, multi-pronged philosophical stance for using natural dyestuffs that should lodge firmly among the luthiers that build ancient instruments or see them on their repair bench. Or anyone else who admires subtlety more than bright pizzazz.
1983
DS#238 BRB2 p.340
Ted Davis
▪ The author began building classical guitars before there was much written help out there, and he evolved his design specs by making a lot of guitars. Some of these have been absorbed into the general body of classical guitar literature, other remain unique. With 14 drawings and 2 photos.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.
1982
GALQ Vol.10#3 p.16 BRB2 p.158
Frederick C. Lyman Jr. Victor Gardener
▪ Gardener was an independent sort from Oregon who built closely in the style of the violins of the classic period in Italy. Mentions Hans Weishaar. With 2 photos.
1982
GALQ Vol.10#3 p.33 LW p.37 read this article
Jan Callister
▪ Another example of what a small specialty lumber company has to go through.
1982
GALQ Vol.10#1 p.18 LW p.34 read this article
Dennis Coon
▪ Tonewoods are required to be nearly perfect, but first perfect trees must be found, felled, and hauled.
1979
GALQ Vol.7#3 p.8 LW p.21 read this article
Michael Gurian
▪ Gurian’s 1979 forecast for the future of lutherie woods was pretty much on the money.
1979
GALQ Vol.7#1 p.29 LW p.39 read this article
Lindsay Hewson
▪ If guitars had been invented in Australia, we’d be struggling to get Sitka to sound like celery top pine.
1978
GALQ Vol.6#2 p.28 LW p.38 read this article
Des Anthony
▪ Tonewood is where you find it, even if you find it in another instrument.
1978
DS#97 BRB1 p.352 read this article
Jimmie Van
▪ Discusses the advantages of cleaning instruments with lemon oil and resealing the finish with carnauba wax.
1978
GALQ Vol.6#1 p.10 BRB2 p.78
Kent Rayman Aggie Rayman Robert Lundberg
▪ Lundberg is a classic example of a man who couldn’t fit into any of the slots society tried to force him into, yet who went on to become an important individual in his field. Lute players of the world couldn’t be happier about it. With 4 photos.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s fifty best articles published before 2010.
1975
DS#19 LW p.5 read this article
H.E. Huttig
▪ Terminology of lumber biz.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.
1974
DS#2 LW p.16 read this article
David Sturgill
▪ Why certain varieties are most often chosen. Harvesting and processing info.