| Famous Guitarmaker Internet World Headquarters This summer a fabulous get together was held in California. For those of you who were unable to attend, we offer you a peek at what you missed. |
The Healdsburg Guitar Makers Festival
by Jay T. Hargreaves
| In the middle of the Sonoma wine growing region, about an hour north of San Francisco, the town of Healdsburg, California was host to its first guitar makers' festival this summer and I was fortunate enough to attend! Sponsored by The American School of Lutherie, Luthiers Mercantile International, Ribbecke Guitars, and String Letter Publishing, the festival was held August 21 to 23, 1996 and was part of a string of guitarmakers' activities. |  From left, collector-builder Marc Silber, one of the 1st classic makers in the US (started in the early 60s) Eugene Clark, and American School of Lutherie instructor, Charles Fox |
Guitar by one of the students at Richard Schneider's Lost Mountain Seminar, held at ASL (American School). Boaz Elkayam, maker |
Before hand the American School of Lutherie held its month long series of guest seminars and just after the festival, Richard Schneider taught his Lost Mountain Seminar.
The exhibition and symposiums took place at the beautiful Villa Chanticleer and the evening concerts were held at several other interesting locations in and around Healdsburg. |
The Gallery of Guitars Exhibition was three days of top notch guitarmakers showing off some of the finest handbuilt guitars from around the country. There were many different types of guitars present; Archtops, Steel-strings, Classicals, Basses, lots and lots of guitars. The Festival Catalogue was a surprise hit among the builders, with quality photos and a blurb about each, it was great being able to get everyone's signatures and will be a most prized memento from this festival. (If you'd like to acquire a copy for yourself, it is available from Luthier's Mercantile Intl., Inc. The cost is $10.00 plus S/H.) |  The Luthier's Art |