View Full Version : Excellent Loar Bio Web Page
OregonMike
Mar-16-2005, 6:12pm
Any idea why he departed from the A/F shape for something more like a bowl back shape? Was it the classical musician in him?
Loar Bio Page (http://www.siminoff.net/pages/loar_background.html)
I've seen a few ViViTone guitars. Nothing special as I recall.
OregonMike
Mar-17-2005, 2:28pm
I know there are some Loar trivia fans out here. My question is:
The F5 was supposed to be his pinnacle of acoustic engineering perfection. The ViViTone was created in both acoustic and electric versions according to this site.
Why did he depart so much from the F or even A body style? Was he trying to set it apart from Gibson? Was there some non-compete/legal agreement when he left?
grant_eversoll
Mar-18-2005, 6:03pm
What was the keyboard he designed? I was hopping for a photo as I play Keys much better than I play mando
Charlie Derrington
Mar-18-2005, 6:07pm
I'm sure that for someone to use anything approaching any accepted Gibson shape would not have been tolerated.
I've worked on a few Vivitones in my day. Seems like he reached his pinnacle with the F-5. My opinion, only.
Charlie
johnwilson
Mar-18-2005, 6:08pm
You can see (even buy!) the keyboard on the Loar pages which Roger Siminoff has posted at his website.
Jim Garber
Aug-01-2005, 9:26am
This ViViTone mandolin (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7339329179) just came on eBay.
Jim
glauber
Aug-01-2005, 10:51am
The f-holes are in the back?!?!
glauber
Aug-01-2005, 10:54am
What was the keyboard he designed? I was hopping for a photo as I play Keys much better than I play mando
The description in the Smirnoff site reminds me of a Fender Rhodes.
Tom Smart
Aug-01-2005, 10:55am
From the bio:
"With Lloyd's business failing, Bertha remembers Lloyd being reserved and sullen in his later years. 'Even his enjoyment for a good cigar dwindled,' she remembered.
"On September 14, 1943, at age 57 and while residing in Chicago, Illinois, Lloyd Allayre Loar passed away."
Does anyone know the cause of death? Just curious.
Jim Garber
Aug-01-2005, 12:31pm
The f-holes are in the back?!?!
Not only that but, as I recall, the back is spruce. Don't ask...
from Siminoff:
Vivi-Tone acoustic guitars were unusual in that both the soundboard and the backboard were made of spruce joined on the edges by a thick maple rim.
That is why Bill Monroe chose these Loars to play and why we all play them (or copies) today! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Jim
futrconslr
Aug-01-2005, 12:37pm
[QUOTE]"With Lloyd's business failing, Bertha remembers Lloyd being reserved and sullen in his later years. 'Even his enjoyment for a good cigar dwindled,' she remembered.
Maybe he got a "letter" from Gibson! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
kudzugypsy
Aug-01-2005, 1:28pm
hard to believe isnt it - the guy who invented the F5/H5/L5 comes up with this as his followup. he must have been a really interesting character.
evanreilly
Aug-01-2005, 7:51pm
A most interesting character, around whom swirls lots of mystery and legend.
kudzugypsy
Aug-01-2005, 8:40pm
well at least its comforting to know he wasnt an obsessive neat freak. look at that mess.
i would really like to know what he would use those carpenters saws for in mandolin construction. i know he had a musical saw in his possession, but those look like good ol ripping saws.
futrconslr
Aug-01-2005, 10:41pm
Cool pic......kinda looks like my desk. I had seen this one before. I always thought that was one of his musical saws on the wall.
f5loar
Aug-01-2005, 11:37pm
Check out the stack of Virzi disk in the foreground.
He sure liked them things. Even had stock in the company that made them. Makes sense to put them in everything you can to help boost that stock price up.
evanreilly
Aug-02-2005, 10:08am
That probably is his musical saw in the background; Roger Siminoff obtained it later.
The 'urban legend' was that Loar got a kickback from the Virzi Brothers for every Tone Producer he put in a Gibson instrument.