This issue's cover shows the experienced hands of Tom Ribbecke leveling the rim of an arcthop guitar with a pretty-darn-big sanding stick to receive the top plate.
The Chainsaw Lutherie of Tom Ribbecke, Part 3 by Jay Hargreaves
In this issue we wrap up a three-part series on archtop guitar construction by the indefatigable Tom Ribbecke. The article includes details of his nice tailpiece made of ebony, graphite-epoxy, and brass.
Meet the Maker: Bonnie Carol by John Calkin
Bonnie Carol first found fame as a mountain dulcimer player and method book author. She has gone on to build and perform on both the mountain dulcimer and hammered dulcimer, and has recorded five albums of dulcimer music.
Kasha Collaboration, Part 1 by Jonathon Peterson
Boaz Elkayam and George Majkowski are both former pupils of the late Richard Schneider. They recently spent several intense months together building ten Kasha-Schneider-style classic guitars. This is Part 1 of an in-depth two-part series covering the entire process.
Reconciling Structural and Acoustic Design in Violin Making by Graham Caldersmith
After a 16-year absence, Australian guitar and violin maker Graham Caldersmith returned to the GAL National Convention to deliver a lecture on the relationship between structural and acoustic design factors in violin family instruments.
Meet the Maker: Gary Southwell by Cyndy Burton
Gary Southwell is a guitar maker from Nottingham, England. In this issue we meet him and learn a little about his life so far and his special interest in 18th-century guitars. Be watching future issues of American Lutherie for a transcription of his lecture to the 1998 GAL convention.
Calculating Arc Parameters by Jon Sevy
If first-year college math pushed your left-brain functions to the limit (been there, done that) you may cringe at the sight of the simplest equation. If so, check out this article. Modern luthiers build arcs into many of their instruments, and if you don't know how to create them to lay out your own jigs you'll be forever at the mercy of tool suppliers. Worse yet, when someone asks what the radius of your back plate is you can shrug your shoulders and look like an idiot. Let Sevy solve your problem. You can do it!
About the Cello Tailpiece by Eric Fouilhe
Eric Fouile is a maker of fine violin-family fittings. He shares some thoughts on the evolution of cello tailpieces and the ways that they can contribute to, or detract from, the sound of the cello.
Why Lutherie? By Ervin Somogyi
Why do you lutherize? Really, why? Luthiers may be more inclined to look inward than others, but they're no more inclined to talk about what they find there than anyone else. Somogyi's eloquent confession might spark the rest of us into talking more deeply about our art and craft.
Product Reviews by Fred Carlson
Fred Carlson reviews the Chapin Insight camera, designed for viewing the interiors of guitars. Fred reports that it is also great for looking inside your own mouth, etc.
This issue is no longer available individually. Its contents are
included in The Big Red Book of American Lutherie, Vol. 5.
