News
Congrats to all of the winners of this year's Northwest Solo Classical Guitar Competition and a special shout-out to Lucas Victor who won second place in the youth division using one of my guitars!
In other news, I got bridges glued on two guitars today for the upcoming Northwest Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit. I still have a final French polishing session to do, but take great care in protecting the initial bodying layer so as to avoid as much unnecessary fussing as possible!
Well on my way to finishing up two new guitars for the Northwest Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit in Portland at the end of this month. Very excited to get out of town for a few days and see some old friends. Here is a link to their website:
http://www.nwmusicalinstrumentshow.org/
In other news, I impulsively got this harpsichord earlier this week. It's an old Zuckermann kit that a local guy put together. It has a few issues and isn't the prettiest thing to look at, but all in all is great sounding little instrument. Also, not everyone has the luxury of having a full-sized harpsichord in their bedroom!
Got the fingerboards glued on to the two newest guitars this week. Today is fretting and final sanding. Almost there!
Moving along with a couple new guitars. Got the bindings and purlfings glued in. I'm going with a much simpler appeal than usual. Elegant and not too busy.
Spent the day getting new Concert model ready to brace up in the coming days. This one has a Hauser style rosette that I've changed a bit to make my own. Very happy with how it turned out.
In other news, I was fortunate enough to hear David Russell play a few pieces up close while trying out one of my guitars after the masterclass this weekend. Really special. He and his wife are super charming and generous people. (Thanks to M. Partington for the photos!) The concert at Benaroya the night before was wonderful too. I really enjoyed the Mompou as well as a pretty crazy transcription of Bach's keyboard Partita BWV 825.
Getting ready for several more guitars here at the shop. I'm working on two new Torres models. One with Indian rosewood and the other Peruvian walnut back and sides. I'm also starting up two new Concert models with a slightly modified plantilla. In other news, I made up a new batch of tiles for a Hauser style rosette. A bit smaller and with Macassar ebony in place of walnut. More photos to come soon!
Strung up two new guitars today. One Concert model and one Torres model. German spruce tops, Indian rosewood back and sides, Honduran mahogany/Spanish cedar necks, ebony fingerboards, cocobolo head plate veneers and Gotoh premium tuners.
The latest Torres model got strung up today and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. Extremely resonant and lyrical. It has an excellent balance of warmth, elasticity and detail. The Brazilian rosewood back and sides are particularly striking, but unfortunately very difficult to capture on camera.
Guitarist Stella Kosim stopped by the shop to record a couple pieces on her new guitar. She's just finished her degree here in Seattle at the University of Washington with Michael Partington and also studies privately with Jorge Caballero. Great playing Stella!
Glued up a bridge on the latest Torres model a few days ago and got these new Alessi tuners in the mail. Very excited to get this one strung up.
In other news, I've also been putting in some long hours in the shop recently to get two new guitars ready for finish. Here are a handful of photos just prior the first seal coats of shellac.
