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Letter to the editor by Gila Eban
Eban adds a correction to her article in American Lutherie #8.
Letter to the editor by Richard Ennis
Ennis' letter describes a flattop bass guitar he recently completed.
Memories of Vladimir Bobri by H.E. Huttig
Bobri was an artist and a patron of the arts, a composer and transcriber of guitar music, president of the New York Guitar Society, and editor of Guitar Review. Huttig's admiration for the man is obvious in this salute following Bobri's death by fire.
Remembering Harry LeBovi by 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.
Building the Vihuela and Viola da Mano From Historical Evidence by John Rollins
Recreating these instruments required deep research into antique literature and a search of centuries-old woodcuts and tapestries. Many such drawings and sketches illustrate this long article, as well as photos of instruments by the author and Raphael Weisman. A transcription of Rollins' 1986 convention lecture.
The Hammered Dulcimer: Ancient, Wonderful, and Still Evolving by Sam Rizzetta
Rizzetta is often called the father of the modern hammered dulcimer. This lengthy lecture transcription from the 1984 GAL convention covers the 19th century dulcimer as made in America as well as Rizzetta's entry into field in the 1960s. He carefully explains his own innovations, material choices, and construction techniques.
Violin Q & A by George Manno
Manno fields two pages of questions about building and repairing the fiddle family, from the basic "What kinda glue?" to "What kind of cello bridge to aid projection?"
Building the Tar, an instrument plan and article by Nasser Shirazi
The tar (or Persian banjo) is a classical Iranian instrument, the body of which is carved from a mulberry log and covered in lamb skin. The neck traditionally incorporates rams horn and camel bone. Exotic, fascinating, wonderfully politically incorrect. Some alternate materials are listed for those who can't wait for their camel to die. With photos, 2 sketches, and a scaled down version of GAL Instrument Plan #14.
A Couple More Things About Superglue by Don Musser and Chris Pile
Improve the hold of superglue by adjusting the Ph factor of the wood. Thick super glue and accelerator are introduced. Also, how to find and heal hairline guitar cracks before lacquering.
Jack Batts: An Interview by Jeff Feltman
Intelligent questions and no-holds-barred answers make this long interview with a veteran builder seem too short. All violin articles should be this interesting. Forty-nine years dedicated to wood, glue, and varnish have to teach one a great deal.
American Plucked String Instruments at the Shrine to Music Museum by Joseph Johnson
This is a checklist of what to look for when you get there. Also, a reason to go.
Fret Slotting Jig & Formula by John Schofield
Schofield offers a table saw slotting jig that is simple to use and as accurate as your own lay out work can make it. The drawing is rough, but it's enough. The formula is an alternative to the more common "rule of 18".
The Effect of Bracing on Guitar Resonance by J. and O. Jovicic
Serious research using a classical guitar with four different brace patterns. The experiment started with a simplified fan brace pattern, and fan braces were added for subsequent evaluation. Translated from the French. Part Two is in American Lutherie #12.
'Way Down Upon the Amazon River by John Curtis
A wood merchant relates the difficulties of getting lumber out of the jungle, and why the rain forest isn't being replanted.
Flexible Dulcimer Hammers by Russ Carlisle
These hammers sport a shaft of bamboo. They can be quickly flipped to offer hard or padded hammer surfaces. Make a set. Throw a dance.
High School Dreams by Dave Schneider
A dream comes true. Schneider relates his growth toward a successful lutherie career. He begins with a high school shop program, travels through various repair and furniture jobs, apprentices as a lute maker, and ends up self-employed.
Heatgun Powered Bending Iron by F.W. Fais
Fais' iron uses chromed pipe — must be very pretty. A simple and cheap tool, even if you don't already have a heat gun.
Our Great Spherical Friend, Part IV by Frederick C. Lyman, Jr.
Lyman's quest is to build an inexpensive but musically useful string bass. In this episode he tries to improve a Kay plywood bass. The results leave him ambivalent but hopeful.
Review: A Guitar Maker's Manual by Jim Williams. Reviewed by Cyndy Burton
Reviewed by Cynthia Burton. The reviewer finds the book's layout convenient and the photos and drawings clear. She wishes that more attention had been spent on the final details of set up, but in the end recommends the book.
This issue is no longer available individually. Its contents are
included in The Big Red Book of American Lutherie, Vol. 1.
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