April 1998 Meeting Photos
Frank Ford, 4/5/98; Photos by FF, 4/5/98
Today's meeting was a memorable experience, for sure!
We had a good size group, considering that we don't often meet in the South Bay:
We counted about 30 in the shop.
Our fearless leader, Brian Burns, presided with his usual style and grace. Here he's pointing out the advantages of model airplane wheels as part of a router table hold down fixture:
Our host, Bill Chapin gave a demonstration of his INSIGHT guitar inspection camera:
Bill says he's been working with electronics all his life, so it was a natural for him to explore electronic solutions for guitar repair diagnosis.
Fred Campbell, who shares Bill's shop, shared his techniques for finish preparation:
And gave us a tour of his nearly completed refinishing facility and new spray room:
That's famed Los Angeles guitar maker, Roy Noble, staring at the camera! Roy often flatters us by driving up to our local meetings.
Christy Soong brought some of her latest samples of bone products from China:
She's showing some goodies to Randy Allen
You won't believe the items that come next.
Chuck Erikson, the Duke of Pearl brought some samples of the computer inlay work that he and Larry Sifel are producing:
Just look at this inlay:
It's paua abalone inlaid into solid mother-of pearl. Look closely, that's a 0.010" pearl border AROUND the abalone. Let's zoom in really close:
Dang it, Chuck, this just ain't fair!
Everybody's favorite builder of unusual instruments had something to show:
This is Fred Carlson with yet another unique creation. He calls it a "guitarangidegamba." (I hope I spelled it right.) This maple instrument has a redwood top and six strings set up for plucking or bowing. Ten sympathetic steel strings run under the fingerboard and 14 harp strings cross diagonally under the bridge. The sympathetic and harp strings can be set up to buzz like a sitar, giving this instrument an amazing sound.
Francis Kosheleff spent a few minutes pointing the various appointments and features his balalaika, and played a bit so we could hear it as well.
Then he completely blind-sided us and stole the show. He said that in addition to being a fine traditional Russian balalaika, it also served up a tasty drink of vodka:
He poured out several cups of his special quince-infused vodka for us to enjoy. Do you believe it? This crazy instrument holds nearly a gallon!
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