This issue's cover shows a fine example of the inlay work of Canadian luthier Judy Threet. This peghead inlay design by Judy Threet is called "Looking South." Get it? If you are at the north pole, you are always looking south!
French Polishing with Eugene Clark by Cyndy Burton
Want to know how to French polish a guitar? Eugene Clark tells you how it's done in this issue. He'll show you how, and even help you try it, and our National Convention this summer.
1997 Tokyo Musical Merchandise Trade Show by Ervin Somogyi
Ervin Somogyi attended a recent musical merchandise trade show in Tokyo, and reports some interesting observations of lutherie and culture. The photo shows bay-area luthier Taku Shakashta in the office of Yoshiaki Kakuta.
Meet the Maker: Judy Threet by Cyndy Burton
We meet Judy Threet and find out how one goes from being a philosophy prof to being a maker of steel-string guitars.
It's Called a What? Some Thoughts on the Irish Bouzouki by Graham McDonald
Advice about building an Irish instrument with a Greek name from an Australian in an American magazine. You could get jet lag just thinking about it. McDonald covers the construction of the entire instrument (his neck joint is really slick) but the focal point is his top construction. He steams thick flat plates in the oven and bends them into an arch until they set. After joining there is a minimum of carving yet to be done. All this is in the name of saving time and timber.
Meet the Maker: Joseph Curtin by Tim Olsen
Joseph Curtin is a well-known violin maker in Ann Arrbor, Michigan. In this issue we visit his shop and talk about science, varnish, business, wood, and all that fiddle stuff. Come to Tacoma and hear Joseph talk about New Directions in Violin Making at our National Convention!
Crazy Like Charles Fox: Guitar Making Jigs for the 21st Century, Part 3 by John Calkin
Here's the third and final episode of John Calkin's look at guitar design and production ideas from Charles Fox's American School of Lutherie. In this episode John goes back to his own shop and revolutionizes it with some Fox concepts. The photo shows a little idea of his own, a low-cost dished work board.
This issue is no longer available individually. Its contents are
included in The Big Red Book of American Lutherie, Vol. 5.
