Again this year, Fred Carlson is designing and producing a set of spectacular and whimsical original lutherie-related cloth woodcuts in full color which will be used a stage dressing for our lectures and concerts. They will then be donated to the GAL Benefit Auction and signed by the artist. Here are a few black-and-white previews to whet your appitite. Check back later to see if we have added further installments to the series.

Click on any drawing for a larger image.

A is for Autoharp

Starting with A here's the Autoharp for you
It may drive you crazy, it might really bore you
But the traveling musician will play it with pleasure
and it's fuel efficient, 5 miles per measure!

B is for Banjalope

Out on the West Texas prairie
The Banjalope wanders, unfretted.
In captivity they can be scary
But they really enjoy being petted.
The rare, fretted ones pictured here have five strings;
If you fret them and pet them, the Banjalope sings.

C is for Cellalaika

Kinda like a balalaika, kinda like a 'cello
You gotta like a Cellalaika, 'cause the sound's so mellow.
You can hike or ride a bike to far Northeast Sibeerie
Where at night the Cellalaikas sound so soft and eerie
Kinda like a balalaika, kinda like a 'cello
You gotta like a Cellalaika, 'cause the sound's so mellow.

D is for Doghouse Bass

D is for Dog, as in Doghouse Bass
Fur and fleas flying all over the place
The bass player howls along with the beat
and dances as though he has four left feet.

E is Earola

When a plectrum or bow is applied to its string
The Earola produces a delicate ring.
Some call the tone eerie,
Some claim it invincible;
It's designed on quite sound anatomical principles.
F is for Flamingo Guitar

Oh, Flamingo Guitars! When you hear someone play
You can't stay in your seat, you jump up, shout"Ole!"
And twirl 'round the room like a dancing flamingo;
It's much more aerobic than croquet or bingo
And when those Flamingo Guitarists get going
Just when they might stop, well, there's no way of knowing.
They might play a week, maybe 8, 9 or 10 days
On Flamingo Guitars, the guitars with "duende".

G is for the Guy-o-lin

G is for the Guy-o-lin
Some folks don't take it serious
They feel it's sound
So muscle-bound
Could never be mysterious

But if Guys, instead of waging war
All took up playing Guy-o-lins
Their sound would soar
From shore to shore
And free the world from violence.
H is for Hanjo

Let's have a big hand for the Hanjo
An instrument everyone loves
More favored by far than the banjo
It can even be played wearing gloves!

The Hanjoist's fingers pluck soft at the strings
So lilting the melody lingers
And when nobody's looking, the Hanjoist sings
As he picks at his nose with its fingers.

 

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