2024
AL#151 p.67
GAL-Staff
▪ Frank Ford was an icon of the instrument repair field and an overachiever when it came to sharing information with this fellow luthiers. He presented at several GAL Conventions, and had legions of friends and fans.
2024
AL#151 p.67
William Eaton
▪ Frank Ford was an icon of the instrument repair field and an overachiever when it came to sharing information with this fellow luthiers. He had legions of friends and fans. Eaton worked closely with Ford for many years, and takes this moment to praise his name. Mentions Richard Johnston, Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery, Joy Imai.
2024
AL#151 p.67
Dan Erlewine
▪ Frank Ford was an icon of the instrument repair field and an overachiever when it came to sharing information with this fellow luthiers. He had legions of friends and fans. Erlewine brought Ford to the GAL Convention, and they became a team which was a fixture at the next several gatherings. Dan takes this moment to praise Frank’s name.
2024
AL#152 p.66
Jeffrey-R. Elliott
▪ Kent Rayman was a kind-hearted giant of a man who was helpful and influential in the Guilds earliest phase. Kents lutherie mentor remembers him here with fondness and respect.
2023
read this article
Herbert Family
▪ Chris Herbert was a guitar repairman in Colroado. Mentions Denny Stevens.
2022
AL#147 p.68
Steve Klein
▪ The GAL remembers an early supporter and author, who was also an influencial innovator of electric guitars. Plus he was a super-nice guy and mentor.
2022
AL#147 p.68
Beau Hannam
2022
AL#147 p.67 read this article
Ronald-Louis Fernandez
▪ Janette was a sweet Scottish lass, the wife of luthier/dealer Ron Fernandez, well known in guitar circles and a regular at GAL Conventions.
2022
AL#147 p.68
David Bolla
▪ The GAL remembers an early supporter and author, who was also an influencial innovator of electric guitars. Plus he was a super-nice guy and mentor.
2022
AL#146 p.64 read this article
Federico Sheppard Kevin Aram Josep Melo Mónica Esparza
▪ Romanillos was a towering figure in the lutherie field during a long and productive career as a maker and scholar. He was also a generous mentor and friend to many guitar makers. Four of those makers share fond memories of him here. Many more will miss him.
2022
AL#146 p.68 read this article
Staff
▪ G.D. lived in Yamhill, Oregon, built a wide variety of instruments, was the repairman and proprietor of the Newburg (Oregon) Music Center, and was a regular attendee at GAL Conventions in Tacoma
2022
AL#145 p.64 read this article
Staff Cyndy Burton Jeffrey-R. Elliott Woodley White
▪ Jon was a member of the GAL staff for over two decades. He wrote many articles, and did all the photography for Robert Lundberg’s landmark book Historical Lute Construction.
2022
AL#145 p.67 read this article
Rick Rubin Michael Elwell
▪ Buzz was a very early GAL member who made beautiful and unusual mandolins and archtop guitars.
2021
AL#144 p.68 read this article
Michael Yeats Dan Compton Mark Moreland Chris Brandt
▪ Wesley Brandt was a luthier in Portland, Oregon who reached a rare degree of quality in his work with early instruments. Four friends mourn his sudden passing. Many more will miss him.
2020
AL#141 p.5
Victoria Tierney
▪ Includes a nice watercolor portrait of Mark Tierney.
2020
AL#139 p.61 read this article
Ronald-Louis Fernandez
▪ Felix Manzanero was a classical guitar maker and collector in Madrid. He spent twelve years in the shop of Jose Ramirez II, starting at age fourteen. Felix was a friend of author Ron Fernandez’ father, and then a lifelong friend of Ron; they visited each other’s homes in Spain and California. Mentions Seiko Sesoko, Laurindo Almeida, Manitas de Plata, Sabicas, Segovia, Paracho, German Vazquez Rubio.
2020
AL#140 p.60 read this article
Juan-Oscar Azaret
▪ Pioneering guitar maker, guitar designer, acoustics researcher, and author Graham Caldersmith has passed away. If you knew him, perhaps from his attendance at GAL Conventions, read this affectionate remembrance. If you didn’t, read it to find out what we’ve lost. Mentions Carleen Hutchins, Jim Williams, Greg Smallman.
2019
AL#137 p.60 read this article
Tom Ribbecke
▪ Fred Campbell was a fixture on the lutherie scene for decades, specializing in finish work. Many of his friends will recall that he was notably forward in his appreciation of his Scottish heritage.
2019
AL#137 p.61 read this article
Tim Olsen
▪ Leo Bidne was great example of the restless rabble from which the GAL arose in the early 1970s. He was a curious and persistant teenager who, without instruction and with slim resources, managed to make guitars. Leo was member of the GAL Staff in its formative days.
2018
AL#135 p.60 read this article
Federico Sheppard R.E. Brune Peter Oberg
▪ Good ol’ Bob Ruck was part of the dozen or two friends whose talent and commitment formed the basis for the American Lutherie Boom. He was always way ahead of the curve, and as they developed, his fine classical guitars provided inspiration for others of his generation. Three friends who knew him well share their appreciations. Article mentions Hart Huttig, J.R. Beall, John Shaw, Ervin Somogyi, Manuel Barrueco, Neil Ostberg, yoga, tai chi.
2017
AL#130 p.62 read this article
R.M. Mottola
▪ Jim Mouradian, shown here with his son Jon, ran a guitar repair shop and made electric basses. He was a generous and happy mentor to many.
2017
AL#130 p.63 read this article
R.M. Mottola
▪ Kyvelos was a world-respected maker of middle Eastern ouds. See his detailed step-by-step article on oud construction in American Lutherie #94 and American Lutherie #95.
2017
AL#130 p.60 read this article
Tom Bednark
▪ Tunquist ran the huge circular saw on which most of the wood for Martin guitars was cut in the 1940s, ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. He is remembered by Tom Bednark, an early GAL member.
2017
AL#129 p.56 read this article
Cyndy Burton Marc Silber Brian Burns Michael Gurian Jay Hargreaves R.E. Brune Jeffrey R. Elliott Federico Sheppard
▪ Eugene Clark (1934-2016) was one of the earliest and most influential pioneers of the American Lutherie Boom. Mentions Manuel Ramirez, Domingo Esteso, Santos Hernandez, Jon Lundberg, Freddie Mejia, David Rubio, Michael Gurian, David Santo, Lucien Barnes, Freddie Mejia, David Serva, Warren White, Manuel Velazquez, Manouk Papazian.
2017
AL#130 p.59 read this article
R.E. Brune
▪ Cooper was an early member of the GAL as well as a maker of large and detailed airplane models. He wrote what was at the time the only book in English about making a lute, based on the work of the Hauser family. He’s fondly remembered by R.E. Brune, who built lutes from that book in the 1970s.
2016
AL#128 p.65 read this article
James Westbrook John Doan
▪ Guild members knew Jim Forderer as the guy who brought an RV full of important antique guitars to the GAL Conventions and let us play them. Disabilities advocates and Neil Young fans knew him as the co-founder of The Bridge School. Sometimes the angels don’t look like angels. Maybe all the time.
2016
AL#127 p.71 read this article
Deb Olsen Chris Herrod Alan Carruth Fred Carlson
▪ Ouch. It’s tough to lose an old friend like good ol’ Don Bradley. Maker of frequency generators, keeper of llamas, attender of GAL Conventions, super great guy.
2015
AL#124 p.62
Robert Miller
▪ Victor Pfeil was an old-school violin maker in the 1920s when he invented and then patented an electric solid body violin using a coil pickup.It did not set the world on fire, and Victor continued to make and repair violins for a few more decades. Author Robert Miller was a young man who knew Pfiel at the end of his career.
2014
AL#119 p.71 read this article
Ervin Somogyi
▪ Steve was a guitarist, luthier, scholar, author, and experimenter who was a GAL member for twenty years and a regular at our conventions. He will be missed. Steve Newberry (Jan 2, 1928 – Aug 8, 2014).
2014
AL#118 p.71 read this article
Beverly Maher
▪ New-York-City guitar dealer Beverly Maher remembers her old friend and colleague Manuel Velazquez who recently passed away at age 97.
2014
AL#117 p.71 read this article
Harry Fleishman
▪ Remembering Ken Goodwin, luthier and guitarist. 1948-2013.
2013
AL#115 p.71 read this article
Staff
▪ Remembering Gene Stephenson; machinist, guitar, mandolin, and violin builder. 1932-2013.
2013
AL#113 p.70 read this article
Chris Herrod
▪ Remembering Darlene Eddinger (1958-2012) who was the purchasing manager at LMI for 25 years.
2013
AL#113 p.71 read this article
Ken McKay Tim Olsen
▪ Remembering Frederick C. Lyman (1925-2011) WWII veteran, art painter, bass builder, and free jazz musician.
2012
AL#111 p.71 read this article
Deb Olsen
▪ Deb Olsen remembers Joe Johnson, (1954-2012) the first curator of the Shrine of Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota and the founding curator at Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon, Georgia.
2011
AL#108 p.70 read this article
Mike Ashley Robert England R.E. Brune David Laplante Charles Vega
▪ Remembering Joseph Wallo (1921-2009) Internationally known maker of the finest in concert guitars.
2011
AL#105 p.69 read this article
Jonathon Peterson Eric Meyer Ed Geesman David Kerr Hiram Harris
▪ Five luthiers remember Jess Wells, (1953-2010) builder of viols, lutes, fishing rods, and pipe organs.
2010
AL#101 p.71 read this article
Tom Ribbecke
▪ Tom Ribbecke mourns his friend and respected colleague Taku Sakashta, maker of world class guitars. (1966-2010).
2009
AL#100 p.71 read this article
Veronica Merryfield David King
▪ Remembering David Minnieweather (1964-2009) a bass maker and player.
2009
AL#99 p.70 read this article
Harry Fleishman
▪ Remembering Dennis Stevens (1944-2009) who was revered in the jazz community and made fabulous steel string and classical guitars.
2009
AL#99 p.71 read this article
Rick Davis
▪ Remembering Rob Girdis (1953-2009) who studied with Anthony Huvard at Huvards Northwest School of Instrument Design. His guitars were notable for detail and artistry in color and form.
2009
AL#98 p.71 read this article
Harvey Leach
▪ Remembering Lance McCollum (1958-2009) builder of guitars and specializing in those with piano-like tone.
2008
AL#95 p.70 read this article
Stephan Connor
▪ Remembering Thomas Humphrey (1948-2008) renowned as an innovative contemporary creator of classical guitars. With one photo.
2007
AL#92 p.70 read this article
Chris Dungey
▪ Oregon violin maker Gardener was an influential luthier who lived a very long life. He is famous for mentoring younger luthiers in the skills of selecting and cutting trees (see “Logging Luthiers,” BRB2 p.446 AL#24 p.13). It always hurts when another member of the tribe passes on.
2007
AL#90 p.3 read this article
Bruce Harvie
▪ People die every day; that’s the way of the world. But it still hurts to see one of our lutherie family join the departed, especially one so young and talented. Sullivan was a Northwest builder known mainly for mandolins, but he made many other fine instruments as well.
2007
AL#89 p.3 read this article
Richard Johnston
▪ A long-time repairman well-known in the Bay area of California passes on.
2006
AL#88 p.3 read this article
Bruce Harvie
▪ Ted Berringer was a prolific and unfettered amateur builder with an impressive 55 years of experience in the art. He was a long-time GAL member and frequent attendee at GAL Conventions. Here’s and affectionate goodbye to a really likable guy.
2005
AL#81 p.3 BRB7 p.299 read this article
Eric Meyer
▪ Another member of the tribe moves on.
2003
AL#74 p.6 BRB7 p.32
Philippe Refig
▪ Bouchet (1898-1986) was one of only a handful of guitar makers that kept the craft alive previous to the “lutherie boom” we are now enjoying. His small output belies the influence he had on the classical guitar. The author knew Bouchet and has written a charming, if too short, biography. With 1 photo.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.
2003
AL#73 p.3 BRB7 p.7 read this article
Rodney Stedall Stuart Deutsch Larry Baeder Anne Ludwig
▪ South African luthier Pistorius died way too young, but don’t we all. Here a few of his friends remember him.
2002
AL#72 p.3 BRB6 p.397 read this article
Jay Hargreaves
▪ Remembering George Majkowski (1929-2002) who began his career at IBM, later turned his attention to building harpsichords and guitars, and served as one of Richard Shneider’s assistants.
2002
AL#71 p.3 BRB6 p.348 read this article
Pauline Dickens James Jones Graham Caldersmith
▪ Dickens did R&D work at Bell Labs in his day job, and was among the first to look at the functioning of the guitar from a mathematical vantage point. He was known for his inquisitive mind and willingness to share his knowledge with others.
2001
AL#66 p.5 BRB6 p.165 read this article
Jonathon Peterson Jean Gilman Lora Lundberg Schultz Dorothy Bones Ben Lundberg Michael Yeats Gunter Mark Cyndy Burton Jeffrey R. Elliott
▪ Lundberg was perhaps the foremost lute maker in America, a champion of building lutes in an historical manner, a longtime member and supporter of the GAL, and author of the landmark book Historical Lute Construction. Family and friends take a deep look at the significance of his life and work. With 10 photos.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.
2001
AL#65 p.5 BRB6 p.204 read this article
Paul Fischer
▪ Born David Joseph Spinks, Rubio was an Englishman who adopted his Spanish nickname. He became a well-known maker of classical guitars, early instruments, and violins.
2000
AL#63 p.3 BRB6 p.88 read this article
Tim Olsen
▪ Nick was a multi-faceted friend of the GAL and instrumental in its on-line existence. He was a frequent AL author, especially on the subject of botany.
2000
AL#63 p.3 BRB6 p.71 read this article
Tim Miklaucic
▪ Current patriarch of a guitar-making dynasty dies at the age of 47.
1998
AL#55 p.3 BRB5 p.213 read this article
Roger Sadowsky
▪ Sadowsky remembers Irving Sloane as a Renaissance man, and surely just the work he did in the lutherie field would qualify him for that. He designed and produced tuning machines, a slew of hand tools, and three instruction books that no doubt continue to be the worthy introduction many of us have to the world of lutherie. He was also Sadowsky’s father-in-law. This small remembrance is as nice as any man has had.
1997
AL#49 p.3 BRB5 p.37 read this article
Jeffrey-R. Elliott
▪ A well-known teacher and maker of controversial classical guitars passes on.
1995
AL#42 p.3 BRB4 p.151 read this article
Gila Eban
▪ One of the world’s best luthiers passes on.
1993
AL#35 p.44 BRB3 p.500 read this article
Bruce McGuire
▪ Overholtzer is cussed and discussed, but he had an undeniable influence on the American classical guitar scene. He built Spanish guitars in a very un-Spanish manner.
1993
AL#35 p.62 BRB3 p.502 read this article
Ray Mooers Betty Truitt
▪ Robinson was a prime mover in the resurgence of the folk harp.
1993
AL#35 p.63 BRB3 p.503 read this article
John Monteleone
▪ Remembering Mario Maccaferri, creator of guitars made by Selmer of Paris and made famous by Django Reinhardt, major contributor to the field of injection molding plastic, and overall self made man.
1993
AL#34 p.61 BRB3 p.499 read this article
David Wilson Peggy Warren
▪ Remembering Hammond Ashley, aged 91, advocate of fine music and fine musical instrument making.
1992
AL#31 p.67 BRB3 p.501 read this article
R.E. Brune
▪ Remembering Hart Hutting II, an avid aficionado of flamenco and selfless contributor to the GAL since it’s inception.
1992
AL#31 p.45
Gila Eban
▪ Eban salutes a man whose generosity helped many persons on their quest for the good life as luthiers.
1991
AL#25 p.5 BRB3 p.505 read this article
Chris Hanlin
▪ Announcing the passing of luthier and mentor Bob Mattingly.
1989
AL#19 p.23 read this article
H.E. Huttig
▪ Farewell to a jazz guitarist/repairman.
1987
AL#10 p.8 BRB1 p.360 read this article
Fred Calland
▪ LeBovit was an aficionado of the violin all his life, a maker of fine violins, and a self-made recording engineer, all of which he did on his own time while working for the US government. Calland recalls a dynamic individual who touched many important lives.
1983
GALQ Vol.11#3 p.10 BRB2 p.154
H.E. Huttig
▪ The author visited Hauser in Germany in 1966. This short biography and remembrance adds a bit of humanity to a man who is usually only thought of in terms of the guitars he left behind when he died. With 2 photos.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.