Category Archives: instrument building - Page 4

amateur

Posted by on February 27, 2010 No comments

There are few pleasures in life like being an amateur. And I don’t mean that in the way that we have come to collectively view the term. An amateur isn’t a wannabe. Those are two totally different things. An amateur loves something deeply and participates in it for purely personal reasons. I’m not sure why we assume that an amateur doesn’t have to be good at said activity because I have known many amateurs who would put folks who get paid for the same thing to shame. So let’s get our terms together and go back to an amateur being one who is a true enthusiast. The more amateurs in the world the better!

That said, I got a pile of wood last night that I will turn into a guitar. Building an instrument is a challenge that I relish like few others. It forces me to stretch myself in areas in which I do not excel and even better, building an instrument lets me work out some intellectual and physical muscles that don’t get the attention they might in the course of my daily life. I don’t know if a professional luthier sees a pile of wood and gets romantic about it or just goes into the practical aspects of the build the same way that I do with a given problem in my professional life. If so, I’m doubly glad to be an amateur builder because the simple sense of wonder I experience in the sight, feel, and smell of the materials brings pure delight.

sides

With any luck, I will get some things set up today and tomorrow so that at least the sides will be ready to rock in short order. I’m looking forward to carving the braces and tone bars. That means some quality time with some stock and the bandsaw followed by carving. I love carving (especially since I invested in some good tools). My son is already excited to go work in the garage. That’s the bonus to the work: the opportunity to teach my son some traditional skills that will come in handy later in his life.

I truly feel sorry for people whose spare time revolves around the television. Humans are by nature creative. Failing to make something on a regular basis leads to a hollow existence and a lack of internal quiet. If more people could accept that you don’t have to make money at something to create something of value I think that there would be more contentment.

instrumental diversion

Posted by on February 10, 2010 No comments

There are still a couple of weeks until the bits and pieces that will be my next guitar building project arrive. In the mean time, another project that has been on the list for a long, long time has presented itself yet again but at exactly the right moment for execution. Last night a box containing 10 random wooden cigar boxes showed up on the doorstep. Six or so of them would make excellent cigar box guitars. Building one has come up so often that my wife has quit responding to my thinking aloud on the topic. Personally, I think they make a great project on many levels.

First, it’s a musical instrument. Aside from playing one is there a better use of one’s time than building an instrument? I would argue that there is not. Playing, building, listening. All great things to do with musical instruments.

Second, they’re inexpensive to make and thus allow for greater experimentation with far less risk. It’s a box with a stick attached. I can get all kinds of wild with that without worrying about ruining an excellent piece of quartersawn mahogany.

Third, the construction is simple and can be done while watching a little boy in the garage. I won’t have to use the loud saw that he hates and time with the belt sander will be limited.

Finally, I think they’d make excellent gifts. I would love to make a few and just give ’em away to friends. I know a lot of people who make music and a novel object like this one might give someone a kick.

I have a couple of cabinets to finish up this weekend but I’m going to try and squeak out one instrument for giggles. I’m nothing if not ambitious with my weekend time.

As far as recording goes, things are in good shape. The minute that I decided not to pump out a track per week I came up with something in a single hammer stroke that is simple and beautiful. This augurs well for the EP project. More on that as it develops.

non-list post

Posted by on December 18, 2009 No comments

As is the case around the end of the year, some things are slowing down to a crawl and other things are picking up speed. Creatively I have a lot going on but none of it has made it to the blog. Following the release of Nothing Of Consequence I started something in an entirely different vein. It was good to put myself into something different and I’ve gotten together about five tunes. I did a little digging and have found a couple of people who wouldn’t mind singing on a track or two and collaborating with me. That’s really good news as it’s something that I miss. Along those lines, I’m starting up another site to host those collaborations. More on that as events warrant. Which is to say, until I get some free time or there are three or four tracks to share, I’m too busy to build.

Speaking of building, after finishing the lute I ramped up work on my first guitar. I’m down to a few nitpicky bits and it should be strung up shortly! It ain’t pretty, but it’s beautiful. And if I can knock that out before the end of the year it will be quite an accomplishment psychologically. Two instruments and an album in one year is pretty good for someone with a full time job. To be fair, most of it happened in the last half of the year which means that I could have done a lot more. I don’t do new year’s resolutions but if I did it would center around raising the priority of my musical output and upping the ante on building instruments. Maybe I should be all hip and make an end of the year list so that I can track my shortcomings over the next year. I love arbitrary deadlines and mind games, so I might just do that. Let’s see…

1. A new album of solo material.
2. A collection of collaborations.
3. More covers with friends.
4. At least one new instrument.
5. Something super-secret.
6. Come up with a magic bullet for pimping my tunes.
7. More time with the blog (relates to #6).

All of those seem pretty reasonable. But don’t all lists?

completed lute

Posted by on November 25, 2009 No comments

It’s done at long last. The label inside is dated December 2008. No one has to know that it wasn’t strung until November 2009, right? I’m excited. Once I remember how to play the lute, I will record something just to prove it works. Here’s to hoping it sounds as good as it looks (if you aren’t nitpicking all of the things that I am because I know where to look).

completed lute

completed lute

loving the work

Posted by on August 14, 2009 No comments

Les Paul died yesterday at the beautiful age of 94. Regrettably, I never saw him perform live. Being a guitar lover like I am and having spent so much time with music technology it’s impossible not to take a moment to show some respect for the man who brought us the solid body electric guitar (though I never really cared for the Les Paul as I am more of a philistine Strat guy) and multitrack recording. Those two things right there get him on the top 10 list, but in the interviews with him what made him truly remarkable was his love for doing what he did.

I have a profound respect and jealousy for people who are in love with their day jobs. Make no mistake, I enjoy what I do and I believe I’m pretty good at it. That said, I do it more because I have a knack for it and enjoy the problems than because of a deep and abiding passion for it. Les Paul had that passion and drive.

He was still playing live. Still granting interviews (check out http://fretboardjournal.com/ for an interview with him a couple of issues back – great stuff!). Still making and loving music. His ethic and approach are an inspiration and he’ll be sorely missed by those who appreciate what he brought to the art form.

Maybe I should pick up a Les Paul custom in his honor.

But I don’t think I’d want to explain the credit card charge to my wife.