Well, I guess i am feeling really old at age 30 because i just had one of those 10 years ago moments recently.
10 years ago I was a student at Biola University and i decided that i wanted to take a class that would allow me to do something with my hands. I was in love with music and playing a lot of guitar at the time so why not "build a guitar" right? It turns out that OCC, a nearby community college, was offering an applied arts Lutherie class threw the music department. I signed up and went to work. Like i do with many things in life, i jumped in head first, not fully realizing the work, cost and time it would take to finish this ambitious project i was so excited about. I did not have a job, a garage or any real work space as i was sharing a small dorm room. These obstacles aside, i managed to complete 1/2 of my guitar in the two semesters i attended class.
Out of money and time, i did not return for semester 3 and 4 and this beautiful rosewood and spruce guitar skeleton has been living in dust and shadows.
Until NOW! My New Year's Resolution for 2010 is to play my guitar next Christmas and realize and enjoy the effort and thought that has gone into this project. I am now a member of SIMSCal, a string instrument builders club in So Cal, and i have signed up and attended my first guitar building class. We gather at the WoodCraft store in Stanton, Ca. off Beach Blvd. There are 4 students in my class including me and we are all novice luthiers.
I will use this BLOG to help catalog my progress and share my adventure. I can't help but get the sense i will be building guitars with my boys and my grand kids someday. I better figure out what i'm doing huh?
More to come...
Mike
