I’ve received some nice compliments from a couple of listeners regarding the quality of the recordings, so I thought I would share how the album got recorded and mastered. At the end of this post, I’ve made a list of the equipment I used in case you’re interested. First, you should know that I amContinue reading “Behind the scenes of the “Strumming Stories” album”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
A Mysterious Howe-Orme Mandolinetto
Everything about this repair was interesting! The client contacted me after a referral from Gryphon Strings up in Palo Alto, one of the best repair operations on the West coast. The patient was nearly identical to other Howe-Orme instruments I’d seen online and in museums, but unlike every other one I’d ever seen, this oneContinue reading “A Mysterious Howe-Orme Mandolinetto”
Octave Mandolin
Starting a new build – based on the design of the Regal Octofone from 1928, but x-braced instead of ladder braced. More pics to come!
“Strumming Stories” Album releases on 12/21/2022
My first album is being released on streaming services, including Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and the rest, on December 21, 2021. A link to pre-save for Spotify is here: https://show.co/PmEAWGj The album contains ten original tunes written mostly during the Covid pandemic, and the genre is folk/roots/acoustic. Although the relative isolationContinue reading ““Strumming Stories” Album releases on 12/21/2022″
Travel Guitar
After the debacle of the last build, I decided to try again with a different design – a small-bodied acoustic that I could travel with. Something with a removable neck. The result is this Peruvian walnut and Sitka spruce parlor model. The lower bout is only 12″ wide but the scale length is the sameContinue reading “Travel Guitar”
California Guitar Update
So sometimes things don’t go right. This guitar suffered a fatal injury when I dropped a large router bit on the top of the body, damaging it beyond repair. I was able to save the neck with inlay, so there will be another attempt at some point. When these things happen, it’s important to takeContinue reading “California Guitar Update”
“California” Guitar
About five years ago I had an idea to build an acoustic guitar from “local” wood – from California. I live in southern CA, and instead of going on a hunt for usable lumber in Los Angeles, I was happy to learn that Luthier’s Mercanitle, up in Healdsburg in Sonoma County, had just what IContinue reading ““California” Guitar”
Custom Anderson Archtop Refret
The customer at first requested that I level the existing frets, but after closer examination we determined there were several frets in the first and second position that were too dented. Leveling the frets would shave too much off, so he opted for a refret, or replacement of the frets. This is a custom guitarContinue reading “Custom Anderson Archtop Refret”
Acoustic Bass, Guitar
Update – 2021 – This project, started almost five years ago, sadly didn’t survive the move to our new (old) home. I plan to salvage the back and sides and make a new top, but it will have to wait. ———- I run a traditional music jam twice a month and depending on the attendance,Continue reading “Acoustic Bass, Guitar”
Mandolin Prototype #2
So awhile ago I came up with this little cut-a-way guitar-style mandolin design, and made a carved-top model, but what I wanted to do with this one was to use a conventional flat-top. The f-hole version I built first sounded amazing right after being strung up, but in time the top sagged and the toneContinue reading “Mandolin Prototype #2”
Woodsong Strings 