R.I.P. Bob Schneider

**mandopete** · Oct-16-2011, 11:27am

I just found out from a friend of mine in Portland, Oregon that luthier Bob Schneider passed away last week. I don't know the details, but I believe cancer was the cause. I first met Bob at the Darrington Bluegrass Festival shortly after he had built his first F-5 mandolin and you tell he had skills. He was a really great guy and I enjoyed hanging out with him at Darrington whenever I saw him.

**Spruce** · Oct-16-2011, 11:35am

Originally Posted by mandopete

...but I believe cancer was the cause.

Yes it was...
This is heartbreaking news...

**amowry** · Oct-16-2011, 4:04pm

That's terrible news. Bob a great guy, and I always enjoyed chatting with him. My condolences.

**Spruce** · Oct-16-2011, 4:20pm

Originally Posted by Spruce

Yes it was...

Actually, I don't know this to be true...
But I do know that he was in the middle of the battle...

**fatt-dad** · Oct-16-2011, 4:31pm

I barely knew him, but kind of did. What I know is I liked him and am sorry about this terrible news.

RIP and God bless to the family.

f-d

**taterpicker** · Oct-16-2011, 6:25pm

This is very sad news. Bob loved bluegrass and loved building and playing mandolins. I had the opportunity to play with him a few times in Tallahassee and got to know him pretty quickly. He was a good player and a great person. He will be missed by many. Condolences to all his friends and family.

**TDSmith** · Oct-17-2011, 3:44pm

Really sorry to hear this. I noticed his website was down a few months ago and wondered what was up. Didn't expect this, though.

I'd never met Bob, but had spoken to him on the phone a few times. I bought #60 from a Cafe member a few years ago and Bob was kind enough to dig through his files and tell me all that he remembered about the building process, etc. Very kind of him to do that for someone he never met. He liked hearing that one of his mandolins would be living in Maine.

He built a fine mandolin and seemed like a really good person. He'll be missed.

**Links** · Oct-17-2011, 3:53pm

Very sorry to hear! I own one of Bob's mandolins and never got around to calling for some of the details that he might have had records on. I do know that he was a very skilled craftsman and built an excellent and reasonably priced mandolin. I think Bob may have been a retired engineer.

**Ski Pal** · Oct-17-2011, 6:04pm

Yes, Bob was a retired Civil Engineer who worked on water and wastewater engineering projects. He was a skilled craftsman and began by building musical instruments, a Ukulele, as a teenager. He took great pride in his workmanship and was a really wonderful person. May his memory be for a blessing. He will be greatly missed by all who have known him. He was a good friend.

**barrangatan** · Oct-17-2011, 6:41pm

Terrible news... I've only read about Bob and his beautiful creations here on the cafe and never had the privilege of playing one. But his name always sticks out in my mind as one of the greats. My sincerest condolences to his family.

**scgc.om** · Oct-18-2011, 11:53am

I'm saddened to read of Bob's passing -- he seemed so young . . . .

I, too, met Bob at Darrington. Later, we were in a mandolin class together at Sorrento BG Camp in BC. He bought his faithful dog during Camp that year at the Farmers Market across the "street" [actually the Trans Canada Hwy].

I remember him as a fine fellow and a maker of fine mandolins. He was very kind and had a gentle nature.

RIP friend

**Keith Newell** · Oct-18-2011, 9:32pm

I am sad to read about Bob's passing. I knew him and had been to his shop (both new and old) and traded technique info with him. I played with him a few times and looked forward to seeing him at Rivercity bluegrass and other venues. I have been out of touch with him for a good bit and now really regret it.
keith

**Patrick Gunning** · Oct-21-2011, 12:00pm

Wow, this is very sad news...

I met Bob at Wintergrass, when I had barely started playing the mandolin and was still a teenager. I picked on a bunch of his mandolins there and at Darrington, and he was always a class act and a great builder.

He built a orange/blonde blend F4 mandolin that is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen.

A good friend of mine owned a Scheider F5 and we played a bunch of music together. That was a sweet mandolin as well. I only have one recording that he and I did with that Schneider mandolin (I'm playing a Flatiron bouzouki). I actually played this for Bob on an iPod at a festival once, and he seemed to like it. Attached below.

My thoughts are with him and his family, and I'm sure his mandolins will be ringing out for a long while yet.

**SchneiderNephewDavid** · Oct-30-2011, 10:36pm

Hello,
It is true that Bob Schneider has lost his battle to cancer on October 12, 2011. He fought for 12 years and was with all of his loving family members.
Yesterday, we laid him to rest next to his parents Merwin and Daisy in Roseville, California.
It is heartwarming to read the loving comments on this thread. I am going to print it for my mom (his only sister) to read.
There will be a tribute for Bob at the Muddy Rudder in Portland on November 2, 6:00-8:00pm. Myself, and his family members will be flying up from San Jose meet his friends
I was humbled to receive his mandolin "number 11". He wanted it thrown away, because it wasn't up to his standards. It is a beautiful specimen, but there is neck damage. I don't know how the damage happened. It is a beautiful piece that is not quite finished. The bridge and strings have never been installed. I have attached pictures and I am looking for some help to complete his last works.

David Gonzales
His loving Nephew

**Spruce** · Oct-31-2011, 10:52am

Hi David....
My condolences for your family's loss...
Bob was a friend, and this is a great loss for all of us here on the Cafe...

Sorry I won't be able to make the service....
In case you need good pictures of one his mandolins, I'll post a few here...

That mandolin looks like it needs a reneck--not an easy task...
It can be done, though, and should be....
Let me make a few inquiries for you...

**Pete Martin** · Oct-31-2011, 3:02pm

Bob was a very good guy and a very good builder. I got to play with him a few times over the years and Carol and I spent a fun weekend in Portland with him and some friends a few years ago.

I played a number of his instruments over the years as my wife, a number of friends and a number of students own them. The F4 as shown in Spruces pics is a wonderful mandolin, looking and sounding. Wish I would have been there when that one went up for sale.

RIP Bob.

**Spruce** · Nov-01-2011, 12:02pm

Originally Posted by Pete Martin

Wish I would have been there when that one went up for sale.

I never put it on the block, Pete...
It's one Bob made for me from some really special woods, and it's my go-to instrument for "that" F4 sound on tape...
Great design all the way around....

**Pete Martin** · Nov-01-2011, 2:16pm

Where did you get those Handel-like tuners? They look great.

**Jeff Budz** · Nov-01-2011, 4:05pm

That is a beautiful mandolin, really love the finish, the tuners, the inlays, the wood. Bob was obviously a very talented luthier, sorry to hear of his passing, condolences to his friends and family.

**SchneiderNephewDavid** · Nov-05-2011, 8:51pm

I have just returned from beautiful Portland. Bob’s family and closest friends were there with my Mom (Bob’s only sister) at the Muddy Rudder where they honored his life and memories (thank you Mark). There was a table-full of his mandolins on display which was awesome. Not sure how far these mandolins traveled, but that was special. Very special was Billy White (I hope the last name is right) playing Bob’s “gamer” mandolin for several tunes. Thanks to all for making our Schneider memories unforgettable.
BTW, at the festivities, I met a friend of Bob’s that hooked me up with a Portland local luthier Kerry Char who knew Bob very well. He has offered to help me complete Bob’s #11. I am a piano guy that may just learn how to strum.
I have attached a few pix for all to enjoy.

Schneider Nephew David

**mandopete** · Nov-07-2011, 10:37am

Originally Posted by SchneiderNephewDavid

Very special was Billy White (I hope the last name is right) playing Bob’s “gamer” mandolin for several tunes.

That was probably Bill Wyatt, a good friend and excellent mandolin player. Thanks for posting these pictures, looks like some very good memories all around!

...and that's banjo wizard Peter Schwimmer on the mandolin in the band photo. Looks like Mark Klaussen on guitar and John Melnichuck on fiddle too (I don't know the other folks).

**barrangatan** · Nov-07-2011, 2:45pm

Thanks for the pictures David and the update. Looks like a very fitting tribute to a master craftsman who'll be missed for many years to come. If/when you have Bob's #11 finished, please post some pictures. Best.

**punkpicker** · Jan-31-2012, 1:02pm

Wow, I just read this. Such sad news. He was a kind man.
I have one of Bob's F5 mandolins and have often thought about getting one of his F4 hybrids built.

Sending sympathy and well wishes to all his family and friends.

Alana