Letter to the editor by Ron Fernandez
More information about South American instruments and tonewoods (and toneshells from armadillos). This refers to Suran's article in American Lutherie #45.

The Luthiers Have Taken Over the Asylum
Steel string company honchos Bill Collings, Ren Ferguson, Richard Hoover, Jean Larrivee, and Bob Taylor discuss the development of their guitars, current production techniques, tonewood, amplification, and the immediate future of the instrument. From the 1995 convention panel discussion moderated by Joe Johnson.

The Neapolitan Mandolin by Robert Lundberg
An introduction to the structure and methods of construction of historical instruments, especially the belly. With two pages of notes and bibliography, and a family tree of Neapolitan luthiers from the 15th to the 20th centuries.

Your Most Important Machine by Teri K. Novak, D.C.
A chiropractor (and wife of a well-known luthier) describes how to prevent your shop life from harming your health. From her 1995 GAL convention lecture.

Meet the Merchant: Todd Taggart by Cyndy Burton
The driving force behind Luthiers Mercantile International talks about building a business, supplying an industry, and helping to make a guitar town out of Healdsburg, California.

Alternative Archtop Considerations by Jonathon Peterson
Buzz Vineyard builds archtop guitars with pin bridges and strange bracing, and rosewood backs and sides. What's the result? He tells all to Peterson.

Meet the Makers: Two Gentlemen From Auckland by Carl Kaufmann
New Zealanders Laurie Williams and Nicholas Emery build innovative instruments for the homelanders, though export may be in their futures. They have access to wood varieties that most of us have never even heard of.

Product Review by Harry Fleishman
Fleishman attends Charles Fox's American School of Lutherie and sends back a very enthusiastic report of what he found there.

Out of One Bind and Into Another by Robert Brook
Brook describes a new method of binding scroll headstocks on F-model mandolins.

Sources: Wood edited by Cyndy Burton
A new column is born, kicking off with two pages of places to buy tonewood.

Violin Q&A by Michael Darnton
Darnton discusses the glues he keeps in his shop. Also, setting up the cello.

It Worked For Me
Readers offer tips about repairing a cracked cello pegbox, resetting engraved inlays, template making for autoharp construction, and making fret slot sawing guides.

Questions edited by Cyndy Burton
Members respond to problems concerning vinyl wash coats for lacquer work, soundboard suppliers, and binding f-holes, while other members play stump the Guild.

This issue is no longer available individually. Its contents are
included in The Big Red Book of American Lutherie, Vol. 4.