An Interview with Steel String Guitarmaker Dana Bourgeois by Gila Eban
This interview took place while Bourgeois was designing acoustic guitars for Paul Reed Smith, an enterprise that never came to fruition but which led to Bourgeois starting his own company in Maine. He talks about his early days as a luthier and his association with Eric Shoenberg.
Waterglass vs. Calcium Silicate by John Chipura
This is a wood treatment shoot-out. Waterglass is a controversial ingredient in violin finishing. Chipura makes a case for using calcium silicate instead.
Finding Pickup Phase with a VOM by Ralph Novak
Novak finds a simple method of getting electric guitar pickups in phase.
Windows in Time: An Interview with Collector and Harp Guitarist John Doan by Jonathan Peterson
Doan describes his collection of oddball zithers.
Meet George Smith by Jonathon Peterson
Smith is a veteran builder of many instruments who prefers to specialize in guitars and harpsichords.
Violin Q & A by Michael Darnton
Topics include sharpening a peg reamer, dealing with fingerboard tear out, tailpiece set up, pitching the neck, and staining the bridges.
A Visit with Maestro Jose Yacopi by Roberto Blinder
Blinder interviews an Argentine instrument maker about his career, his guitars, wood, and strings.
The Swahili Kibangala: An Instrument Plan by James Hillier
The kibangala is a seven string, four course instrument carved from solid wood that utilizes a skin head. The plan is a shrunken version of our full-scale Instrument Plan #28.
An Inexpensive Bow Winding Lathe by Gary Fish
Fish converted a sewing machine to wrap bow handles.
1990 Convention Rundown and Wrap-up by Bon Henderson
Thirty-six photos spice up a short description of the major GAL event.
List of Convention Exhibitors
Sixty-seven builders and suppliers turn out to show their wares.
Historical Lute Construction: Practicum Part Five by Robert Lundberg
In this segment Lundberg prepares the bowl for removal from the mold, fits the neck and the countercap, reinforces the ribs, and fits the belly to the bowl. From a series of 19 articles.
Lutherie in Romania by Gabriel Petric
Issue #23 takes its second glimpse at instrument making in a strange land and finds that the concerns of luthiers are the same the world over.
Review: Constructing a Bluegrass Mandolin by Roger Siminoff. Reviewed by David Riggs.
Riggs used Siminoff's F-model book to build an A-model mandolin. His review offers building tips from his own experiences, as well as recommendations for changes in the book.
A thrifty Wooden C-Clamp by C. "Fret" Casey
Make your own laminated maple c-clamps.
Questions edited by Cyndy Burton
Three luthiers relate their experiences about building with cherry. Other topics include instrument plans from the Ashmolean Museum and a short bibliography about parchment roses.
This issue is no longer available individually. Its contents are
included in The Big Red Book of American Lutherie, Vol. 2.
(excluding any of the Historical Lute Construction articles by
Robert Lundberg which are available in a book by the same name)
