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Hi All

Manus Lunny got in touch a while ago about building a new bouzouki to replace the one I made for him 20 odd years ago. The old instrument has had a very hard life - years of touring with...

Nice one, I'd come and see you in a pub.

Now get back to work ;)

If at first you don't succeed....

If it is a YouTube video your are trying to upload then click on Go Advanced and then the YouTube link on the toolbar. When you load in the url only load the...

Back in 2014 I wrote a blog post about the guitar bouzouki and its brief history. Well, since then I've found out a couple more things so I've updated the piece:

Guitar bouzouki article

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Hi All

I've just finished building an LBB for a customer in Co. Clare. He already has an SBB which he loves, but this commission was to be a special instrument. He wanted to include some woods...

That question has been discussed here before. If I'm not mistaken, the consensus is:
Yes, he signed every Style 5 instrument during his time at Gibson (June '22 - December '24). Not one Style 5...

Love those "HUP" videos, and the two with Alec Finn/Tony Linnane/Noel Hill are my favourites by far. Interesting that Alec is playing an instrument that is very different from the more ornamented...

John, have you looked at Papadamou? I don't know anything about Matsikas, but these instruments look very good, huge variety of styles, timbers, and price range:...

If you get one that's the same wood as one of your current ones she'll never notice :)). Worked with me last time I bought a bike!

After building 6 archtop guitars and 2 GOM (guitar octave mandolin), it is time to take the ultimate luthier challenge and attempt to build an F-style mandolin. Humbly submitted here will be all the...

I agree about the full contact bridge. Spreads the load across the top and and thus assists the sound.

Hi John - Finishing / spraying / lacquering the instrument is probably the least enjoyable part of the whole process, so when I say I like to do it myself, I don't really, I'd just sooner do it...

Hi Everyone Here's the next instalment.....

The bouzouki is now just about ready for finishing, just a final rubdown with 320 and then 400 paper before getting it ready.

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Hi John, yes it's coming together now. Well spotted, after I took that photo I was wondering if anyone would figure out what the wedge is for !! Well, when I'm cutting the vertical rebate for the...

OK, it's time to fit the purflings and bindings to the body. But before I do that the body will need a good tidy up first. Use a router to trim away the overhanging excess from the top and back and...

OK, the top's all finished now, so I need to get the body ready so I can fit the top. So after cleaning up the edges of the back with the router, it's time to take the body and neck out of the jig....

Gerry was one of the very first buyers of a Sorensen mandolin - perhaps the very first that I sent to Trevor at TAMCO. I was delighted to get pictures of Gerry jamming in a local pub and thrilled to...

I'm saddened to hear of this, he truly was a kind soul. I'm glad I made his acquaintance and picked a few tunes with him at the Monroe Camp. I'm sure I'm not the only one who will miss his presence...

I'm very sorry for you and our loss. My sincere condolences.

Jamie

This is simply terrible news. I came to know Gerry by way of his love for the mandolin and meeting up at Monroe Camp. Gerry was a quietly spoken, true gentleman and I enjoyed his company immensely....

I had many visits from Gerry, he was a great guy. I am very sad to hear about this.

My best wishes to all his family and friends.

Very touching. Best to you and to his family. Perhaps you can share with us a tune that he liked to play. Maybe some of can learn it and keep a part of him present in our music.

Hi John,

I had a chance to meet and pick with Gerry at a few of the Monroe camps. As nice of a guy you could ever hope to meet. My condolences to family and friends. Will pick a Monroe tune this...

Hello John,

I did not know Gerry, but I know one thing for certain about him; he was fortunate to have a caring friend like you. My sympathy goes out to his family and to you. I sense your loss...

155884Oops, don't know what happened there...

Anyway, that was a photo of the bending iron I use. I made this probably 30 years ago out of a piece of 3" steel pipe welded to a bit 8mm sheet so I...