ksdaddy Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 About 12 miles from me lives an old couple, he a Harvard graduate that taught music at the local college, she an artist/luthier. Yes, luthier. They're both seemingly well into their eighties (I didn't ask). They brought me her mother's violin that refused to stay tuned (bad peg fit, plus I straightened the warped bridge) and also a lute shaped classical guitar with very ornate rose, carved headstock and bridge.... oh lord it was a piece of work. I'll post pics tonight. On the back of the headstock was her name and '1963' when she built it. I was dumfounded and awestruck. It basically had one open glue joint at the heel of the neck and a wobby peg (it uses violin pegs). She'd remind you of Ruth Gordon in "Harold and Maude" for any movie buffs. His belt wasn't QUITE up in his armpits but close. So this morning before work I dropped off the instruments and made the mistake of entering the house. The living room was probably 25' x 35' and LITTERED with instruments. Harps, dulcimers, mandolins, balalaikas, violins, guitars, a banjo, on and on and on including some I couldn't identify. Stacked up like firewood, leaning against any vertical surface that would contain them, some resting on others.... And stacks of paper, Notes, notebooks, artist supplies, books, records, tapes. Just filthy with stuff. Ever go into a museum and you almost get dizzy trying to drink it all in, and then just when you think you've seen it all, more pops up? That's what I went through. As to guitars, I didn't take the time to root & dig but there were mostly old classicals. There were a couple old parlor guitars over in the corner with what looked like old ivory tuner buttons but they were stuffed in a corner and I wasn't quite prepared to ask if I could snoop. Maybe some other time..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarstrummer Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I would bet that they would love to have you ask to hear them play sometime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Scott, maybe you should ask them if they'd adopt you? :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted April 10, 2008 Author Share Posted April 10, 2008 I don't know how long I'd last. She's a crazy old violin lady and you know how they are. Kinda cool despite that though, she still wears her hair long and dresses all black 1950s beatnik style (snaps fingers rapidly). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Well... you know..... any good luthier will make house calls.. you know a month or so from now, stop in to see now your handy work is holdin' up.. and while you're there it's easy to segue to any number of instruments they have in stock. This will give them a chance to talk about something that is important to them... (anxiously waiting for pics) Curious... why is it that this Gibson forum has only a fiddle for an icon? Gibson gettin' back into the fiddle business? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Player Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Sounds to me like a lifetime of potential repair work all stacked up in one place for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarstrummer Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Sounds to me like a lifetime of potential repair work all stacked up in one place for you! Are you trying to depress ksdaddy? He said they were both well into their 80's. A "lifetime" of repair work may only be a couple of weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted April 10, 2008 Author Share Posted April 10, 2008 If one's demeanor is in any way connected to longevity, she'll outlive us all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I hope you don't mind me hijacking the conversation and getting off topic... But ksdaddy it's been preying on my mind for quite some time. I've been admiring your avatar and I do see the resemblance so I wondered.. Is that a Simpsons character?, if so which one? If not did Groening have you sit for a portrait? I think it's way cool. Enquiring minds want to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maninblack Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 KSdaddy got himself Simpsonized. http://simpsonizeme.com/# Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted April 10, 2008 Author Share Posted April 10, 2008 Exactly right. I did have to modify it just a tish. There are many MANY options and styles you can use. I think they basically start with a half dozen basic models based on gender and age group, then it's up to you to customize. I did have to modify mine a little... the stock hairdo I chose had two strands of hair on top when I clearly have eight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I tried the simpson thing....it didn't work....just kept analyzing my photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted April 11, 2008 Author Share Posted April 11, 2008 Yes, that site is pure crap, I was just lucky mine went through. Seems like I've tried it several times with several pics of me (scary thought!) but finally one went through. Try a different pic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarstrummer Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 I tried the simpson thing....it didn't work....just kept analyzing my photo I tried it too, but it didn't work for me either. I thought that perhaps my photo was so ugly that I broke their system. I now realize that it may have actually been your photo that broke it, onewilyfool. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted April 11, 2008 Author Share Posted April 11, 2008 Here's the lute thingie: Beatnik Greensleeves Axe It's a lot prettier than it sounds or plays. But I sure couldn't make it, at least not all that carving! Maybe the Flatiron version.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarstrummer Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 That's really something. When did she make it? I wonder if she even used any modern tools? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted April 11, 2008 Author Share Posted April 11, 2008 She was performing with a group that was doing a lot of old music.... not sure what you'd call it but thees and thous and lady fairs and all that. She wanted to look the part so she peeled the veneer off a blonde birch door for the top, sides and back. Not sure of the source for the rest. That was in 1963. There's actually an unfinished one (or something like it) in her living room. Looks like something you'd see in an old Orville pic, neck and rims, no top or back at this point. I think there was a top there with a partially carve rose. She did mention something about having a bandsaw down cellar but not a shop per se. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted April 12, 2008 Share Posted April 12, 2008 Wow...what a beauty. I seldom do, but I love meeting people who do the most unexpected things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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