2024
AL#152 p.3
J.R. Beall
▪ J.R. Beall had the original idea for the Guild of American Luthiers. Now nearing ninety, he takes a look back on the whole project.
2023
AL#150 p.5
Rad Brashaw
▪
2023
AL#150 p.5
Martin Moen
▪ An Australian retiree has made a cello, and intends to make more.
2023
AL#150 p.44
William-T. Crocca
▪ A group of mature woodworkers set themselves the challenge of designing and presenting a two-day class in which kids and families can build a StewMac uke kit. It involved setting up twenty workstations. The class was a success, and everyone went home with a strung uke in the white.
2021
AL#142 p.5
John Calkin
▪ Two luthiers trade cigar-box guitar builds.
2020
AL#141 p.3
Dan Erlewine
▪
2020
AL#141 p.4
Staff
▪
2020
AL#141 p.4
Tony Pizzo
▪
2020
AL#141 p.5
C.F. Casey
▪
2020
AL#141 p.3
Jim Marsh
▪
2020
AL#139 p.38
Sjaak Elmendorp
▪ Holland had a lutherie boom in the 1970s, too. Arie started out as a carpenter, but moved into lutherie after an injury. Today he makes steel string guitars and a variety of other instruments. Mentions Roger Siminoff, Irving Sloane, Arthur Overholzer, Cees van Loon, Vox Humana, preparing cow bone, humidity control.
2019
AL#138 p.2
Steve Kinnaird
▪ The author praises the GAL’s ideals of inclusion and openness.
2017
AL#129 p.66
Jeff-Lee Manthos
▪ A trained violin maker takes a thoughtful look at this luxurious picture book cataloging the fine violins of deceased American makers. Mentions Rembert Wurlitzer, Rene Morel, William Salchow, Simone Sacconi, Thomas Metzler, Freelan Stanley.
2014
AL#118 p.6
Michael Gurian
▪ Long-time maker of purfling and marquetry material Michael Gurian ponders retirement and invites contact regarding the future of his business.
2011
AL#106 p.5
R.M. Mottola
▪ The Savart Journal is an open access online journal featuring research articles on all aspects of science and technology of musical instruments.
2006
AL#88 p.64
Ervin Somogyi
▪ The Northern California Association of Luthiers built a public display of how guitars are created. This is the story of how it came about. With one real long photo.
2001
AL#67 p.22
Bon Henderson
▪ If you weren’t there you can still get a feel for the show. It’s worth it. With 86 photos.
2000
AL#61 p.55
Cyndy Burton
▪ This is a list of lutherie schools in the USA, Canada, and the British Isles, followed by a list of organizations, periodicals, and publishers of interest to luthiers.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.
1998
AL#56 p.5
Brian Burns
▪ Burns is a member of the thriving Northern California Association of Luthiers, and he offers advice to others about how to start a successful lutherie organization.
1998
AL#55 p.20
Staff
▪ If you weren’t there, too bad. But you can begin to imagine what it was like from this extensive coverage. With 66 photos.
1997
AL#52 p.62
Cyndy Burton
▪ A short list of new books, videos and cyber-stuff, as well as a list of organizations and periodicals with a lutherie bias. Seems like no matter what instrument you want to build there are some official folks who want to help you. Hurrah!
1995
AL#43 p.65
Ervin Somogyi
▪ Recognizing the accomplishments of the volunteer work of NCAL (Northern California Association of Luthiers) with a special award, the Swiss Army Banjo.
1995
AL#43 p.34
Staff
▪ An in-depth description of the 1995 Guild convention in Tacoma, with 73 photos.
1994
AL#40 p.14 BRB4 p.86
Alan Carruth
▪ Impressions of lectures given on the first day of the GAL 1992 convention in Vermillion South Dakota, held in conjunction with the Catgut Acoustical Society.
1994
AL#37 p.50
Frank Bolger
▪ The Bay Area Society of Stringed Instruments Craftspersons puts on its first exhibit. This organization is now called NCAL.
1993
AL#36 p.26 BRB3 p.410 read this article
David Golber
▪ The chief difference between the Hardanger and a normal violin is its use of sympathetic strings, though other differences abound. Ornate decoration is also usual. Golber offers a good description of a typical Hardanger and how to set it up.With 9 photos and a number of drawings.
1993
AL#34 p.4
Ervin Somogyi
▪ Somogyi was burned out of house and shop during the Oakland Hills Firestorm. He describes his plight and how the Crafts Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) helped rescue him. If you need such help, or if you would like to contribute to CERF, Somogyi tells how.
1993
AL#33 p.40 BRB3 p.298 read this article
John Curtis
▪ Curtis is a wood dealer and a founder of WARP (Woodworkers Alliance for Rainforest Protection). Here he examines international law, species extinction, conservation, and local economies in the Third World. Oh yeah, and the American luthier’s place in this scheme.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.
1992
AL#32 p.32
Staff
▪ This is a salute to the Guild’s most loyal members.
1992
AL#32 p.48 BRB3 p.262
Jose Romanillos
▪ Scholarship on the trail of a vanished instrument.
1992
AL#32 p.24
Bon Henderson
▪ Read about how dreamy-but-enthusiastic-hippie-types built a strange little newsletter into an organization of international respect.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.
1992
AL#32 p.25
R.E. Brune
▪ A man who witnessed the very labor pains that preceded the birth of the GAL recaptures the details and makes a dire prophecy.
1992
AL#32 p.26 BRB3 p.258
Todd Brotherton Tim Olsen
▪ Olsen is the leader of the Guild, though he would strongly resist being called the boss. Sometimes it seems that people are led to where they can best serve, regardless of the path they might have chosen for themselves. Tim doesn’t make instruments any more, but through the GAL he shines a light upon all of us who do. This interview is proof that, often, people are even more interesting than you suspect. Mentions Deb Olsen, Bon Henderson, J.R. Beall, Bob Petrulis, Leo Bidne, Harvey Thomas.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.
1992
AL#32 p.30
Staff
▪ This convention flashback offers 3 group photos and a description of all the conventions squeezed into a paragraph apiece.
1992
AL#31 p.34
Staff
▪ Journeyed to South Dakota with 300 fanatics to talk instruments. This is a quick wrap-up with 35 photos.
1992
AL#30 p.54 BRB3 p.446 read this article
Michael Darnton
▪ Darnton examines the use of various woods for tuning pegs, discusses the differences among Italian, German, French, and English methods of building fiddles, runs down a list of violin societies, and dismisses the use of supplier-prepared violin varnishes.
1990
AL#23 p.34
Bon Henderson
▪ A short description of the major GAL event, spiced up with 36 photos.
1989
AL#18 p.43
Jonathon Peterson
▪ Peterson continues his enthusiastic reports about an annual event in an intriguing setting.
1989
AL#17 p.37
James Flynn
▪ Perhaps we shouldn’t be amazed by the seemingly large interest in various ethnic instruments and the music they produce. It seems that it’s easier to change countries than it is to change music. This organization publishes a quarterly newsletter, holds conventions, and offers scholarships to young musicians.
1988
AL#16 p.56
Todd Brotherton
▪ Todd Brotherton remarks about the growth of the Guild, and encourages all members to support the GAL by contributing articles.
1988
AL#15 p.36
Tim Olsen
▪ Editor Olsen offers his usual keen synopsis of the central GAL event. Fun for all, with 29 photos.
1988
AL#14 p.53 BRB2 p.67
George Manno
▪ Manno offers a recipe for a golden-red varnish for use on new violins.
1988
AL#14 p.54
Jonathon Peterson
▪ Peterson is a devoted fan of this organization, which disseminates educational information about forestry related topics and provide the forest products industries a “place where they can put their best foot forward.” The Center’s Handmade Musical Instrument Show is the chief draw for luthiers.
1987
AL#12 p.65
Tim Olsen
▪ The GAL is 64 issues old, counting all its publications.. Editor Olsen lists the qualities that have made the Guild successful.
1986
AL#8 p.52
Tim Olsen
▪ This is the last in the series combining GAL history with a listing of Quarterly back issues. Quarterly was the GAL publication preceding American Lutherie. Volumes 11 and 12 are described.
1986
AL#7 p.58
Tim Olsen
▪ Editor Olsen again describes a number of Quarterly back issues, volumes 10 and 11 from 1982 and 1983.
1986
AL#7 p.34
Tim Olsen
▪ Editor Olsen highlights the events of the GAL’s 10th convention, which was held near the Guild’s headquarters city of Tacoma, Washington, in 1986. With 20 photos.
1986
AL#7 p.40
Staff
▪ This is a who’s who of the people who starred in the GAL’s 10th convention halls.
1986
AL#6 p.48
Tim Olsen
▪ Editor Olsen submits more GAL history and describes available back issues of the old Quarterly, the previous GAL publication.
1986
AL#5 p.6
James Flynn
▪ Flynn sends a picture of six Guild members at the Balalaika and Domra Association of America.
1986
AL#5 p.44
Tim Olsen
▪ Editor Olsen gives a brief history of the GAL and describes the back issues of Vols. 6 and 7 of the GAL Quarterly that were then available.
1985
AL#3 p.22 read this article
Lawrence-D. Brown
▪ Brown comments on trends in lute making toward Baroque instruments, all-gut stringing, larger body sizes, and lower pitches.
1985
AL#3 p.26
Dick Boak
▪ Coverage of the 1985 regional GAL meeting is presented with 29 photos.
1985
AL#2 p.40
Jim Williams
▪ Brief overview of the 1985 meeting of the Association of Australian Musical Instrument Makers. Attendees included Graham Caldersmith, Alistair McAllister, Greg Smallman, Mark Lewis, and Gerard Gilet.
1975
GALNL Vol.3#5,6 p.19 BRB2 p.48
Laurence Libin
▪ Luthiers who deal in restoration and re-creation of old instruments may find that museums may harbor help that is otherwise unavailable, and you may not have to visit the museum to avail yourself of its services. Libin discusses what museums are usually prepared to do to help researchers, and how to deal with museums when you need their help.
This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.