A builder of steel string, classical, and flamenco guitars since 1971, William “Grit” Laskin is the first musical instrument maker to receive (in 1997) Canada’s prestigious Saidye Bronfman Award For Excellence In Craft. He apparently couldn’t decide whether to be a guitar maker or an artist. Thankfully, the two directions were not mutually exclusive.
▪ bio current as of 2015
2015
AL#123 p.24
Steve Denvir Sergei de Jonge Grit Laskin Linda Manzer David Wren
▪ Remembrances of long-ago days working in Jean Larrivee’s Toronto shop by guitar makers who are now considered some of the best in the world.
2015
AL#123 p.29
Grit Laskin
▪ Larrivee’s bracing pattern might have come from his classical sensibility; the Martin method didn’t make sense to him. Laskin has been doing it Larrivee’s way for forty years.
2011
AL#107 p.68
Grit Laskin
▪ How to install a beveled armrest on the left side of the lower bout.
1999
AL#59 p.39 BRB5 p.402
Gordon Gray Grit Laskin
▪ Laskin is a well-known maker of masterful guitars and a groundbreaking artist in inlay concept and design. He’s also a novelist and a recording artist. If the 9 photos of his guitars and inlay work don’t inspire you, you’re certainly from an old school of lutherie.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.