'Faraway' micro movie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=img8SYSZD5w

Check this out!
I was one of the producers on this poem/movie performed by Kate Marshall Flaherty.

Update on two guitars in progress

16" Guitar

Here is a picture of the spectacular birds-eye laminate back (which has amazing curl as well) and the seasoned German spruce top roughed out. I do all my carving by hand, no CNC or duple-carvers here! These parts are paired up with solid birds-eye sides which are ready to bend and a three piece birds-eye maple neck which has been glued up (wide centre rosewood strip). Other parts like fingerboard/tailpieces/bridges depend on whether I go with ebony or rosewood for the tailpiece, bridge and pickguard. Keeping those options open at this point.

14 1/2" Guitar

Here are pictures of the curly maple laminate back and the solid curly maple top also roughly carved out. This is the guitar which will have the channelled block (Spanish cedar and mahogany mix for weight) running between the top and back. The core section is made and runs uncut from one end of the guitar to the other. Both ends are glued directly to the top and back at either end and then there are corresponding fitted braces throughout the arches on both top and back. This part is labour intensive!

Both tops in progress

This is a glimpse into the carving process. Once the underside of the block is established then the perimeter is thicknessed to create a consistent edge to work from. Then some bulk is removed so that the top can sit in my carving jig without moving about. Then I get to work on the inside bowl to within about 5% of its finished dimensions. I'm about 40% of the way right now using my two little hand planes. I made a bunch of these planes a few years ago for Linda Manzer and myself and a few extras which are in the hands of a few builders and guitar collectors. I've included a close up of one of these planes. We each have two of them because they heat up as they are being used and you can switch back and forth.

Hand Plane

More details to follow......................

Laminate Guitars in the Works

I've been getting a lot of e-mail researching laminate archtops. Linda Manzer and I are in the process (albeit slow process) of making our own laminate material. In the interim I am starting two laminate archtops on spec using wonderful Finnish material from over 45 years ago. The tops will be decided after I have the frames finished and backs attached. I will either use laminate tops or if someone is interested, I will carve a solid top for at least one of them.
One will be a full size 16" model, 14 fret neck joint with X brace and single pickup with ebony appointments and the other will be a 14 1/2" model with 15 fret neck joint, spanish cedar channeled block for feedback control and two pickups with exotic rosewood appointments including tailpiece as seen on the archtop on my site (unless the guitar is sold prior to completion with customer mods). I will post pictures on the guitars as they come along. The materials for both of them are superb and assuming I do my job right, they'll be a nice pair when they are done!

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have on these or any other instruments.

Also the Sarola (or Sarello) is in finishing now and will be something to behold once complete. In keeping with it's unique nature it is getting a finish that will be a work of art in itself. Mark Korven, the owner, played me a few recorded pieces done while the instrument was missing a large side section but strung up. Once done I will be sure to upload some pieces!

So I hope you all have a fantastic New Year and take care of one another! - Tony

Cool article on my good friend Hari Sihvo

http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/738123--the-healing-powers-of-a-good-guitar

Article says it all!!

Sarola continues.....

Here are a couple of recent pictures of the developing Sarola.... It has already gone through another upheaval since this picture a week a ago but I will save that for later when it is back together. The instrument has been in a modular configuration throughout the process so I can keep taking it apart for any changes to the neck attachments. Eventually it will all be glued together and the cutaway side glued in. Right now I have eight sympathetics coming through the fingerboard like a sarangi with friction pegs..... This picture however has 12 'symps' with steinberger tuners, which proved to be too heavy and had an adverse affect to the tone. You have to try to find out!

Gerard Mcvay composition

Hi Tony,

Feel free to post this on your web site. It is an original composition from 1991, played on the laminate archtop you crafted in 2007. I love the resonance and sustain of this fine instrument. The guitars action is effortless.

I am playing on this clip with Tomastik medium gauge strings through a Acoustic Image Focus amp connected to a 12-inch Raezer's Edge cabinet.

Cheers,

Gerard

2009 Montreal Guitar Show!!!

Here are three of the five instruments I had with me in Montreal for the amazing Montreal Guitar Show which wrapped up on July 5th and was an incredible success for all those who participated and all those that ran the event with the precision of a swiss watch!
Congrats to all for such an amazing event.
Special thanks to Bill Garrett who performed a beautiful mini concert at the event with my guitars. He is a class act. He was originally going to accompany Hari Sihvo who had to bow out with health issues but is ready to give it a go next year when he is back in fine form!!
Thanks to all who stopped by my table at the show and played my instruments. That is what
they are made for and there were some real virtuosos that took the time to play them. I will resist dropping names and appearing cheap and opportunistic!
Another highlight for me was an interview for an upcoming book that takes a look at the field of instrument making from an anthropological perspective.
I look forward to reading this in depth perspective on the craft when it is out there for public consumption. Thanks to Kathryn Dudley for taking the time to look into our world!

Well that is all for now but I am sure there will be more news to share soon. have a wonderful summer!