2019 LUTHIER WORKSHOPS
Industry leaders offer their expertise on a variety of topics. Advanced guitar styles, luthier tips, new technology, guitar maintenance and repair, social media marketing.
Tickets are $30 per class*, and must be purchased in addition to Exhibition entry.
All Classes will take place at the Exhibition on June 29 & 30 at Creekside Community Centre. Finalized classroom locations will be posted day of the show.
SCHEDULE - June 29, 2019
10:30 - 11:30 am - Nicole Alosinac - Guitar Set-up 101
11:45 am - 12:45 pm - Gypsy Rye Bear (Luthier) & Jacob Seyer (Musician) - Modern Bracing and Modal Tuning
1:00 - 2:00 pm - Jeremy Hamm - A Survivor’s Guide to Building a Business in Luthiery
2:15 - 3:15 pm - Robert Godin - The Foundation of Great Acoustic Sound and Playability
3:30 - 4:30 pm - Robert Bustos & John Regehr - Modern Guitar Finishing
4:45 - 5:45 pm - Doug Kauer - Introduction to Electric Guitar Building and Design
SCHEDULE - June 30, 2019
10:30 - 11:30 am - Nicole Alosinac - Guitar Set-up 101
11:45 - 12:45 pm - Jason Verlinde (Fretboard Journal) - Marketing for the Modern Luthier
1:00 - 2:00 pm - Mike Miltmore - Modern Acoustic Guitar Design and Innovation in a Traditional Industry
2:15 - 3:15 pm - Karim Hourani - Introduction to Violin Making
3:30 - 4:30 pm - Meredith Coloma - Introduction to Guitar Making: Acoustic
4:45 - 5:45 pm - Gypsy Rye Bear (Luthier) & Jacob Seyer (Musician) - Modern Bracing and Modal Tuning
June 30, 10:30 - 11:30 am
"Guitar Set Up 101" - Presented by Nicole Alosinac
One of the most challenging aspects of working on a stringed instrument is the procedure known as the “setup.” The setup determines the instrument’s “playability” and can make all the difference between a player loving their guitar or being left frustrated by the instrument. With literally thousands of setups under her belt Nicole will explain the 6 steps of setting up a guitar that will help you understand what goes into creating a great set up. All levels and all questions are welcome. Sold out last year, we are offering two classes.
This class was sold out last year and the feedback was excellent. We’ve decided to present two classes this year!
Dip your toes into the world of Chladni patterns, spectrum analysis, falcate bracing, lattice bracing, carbon fibre reinforced braces and much more. Understand how using these tuning methods in conjunction with modern bracing techniques can alter the quality of sound possible with the classical and steel string guitar in terms of volume, sustain, projection and clarity. Not only will you get to see the modern top bracings up close and personal and the tuning techniques demonstrated, you will also get to listen to the instruments demoed by musician Jacob Seyer.
Jeremy Hamm, owner of Hamm-tone Guitars & School of Lutherie in Winnipeg will walk and talk through his experience in guitar building and repair. From setting up the initial shop, earning customers trust and maintaining it; he’ll help starting luthiers get some insight to what it takes to build a business and keep the lights on.
Presented by Robert Godin, Owner and Founder of The Godin Guitar Company , Godin, Seagull, Art & Lutherie, Simon & Patrick, Norman, and La Patrie guitars
An enlightening and informative Master Class about how guitars are crafted to achieve great acoustic sound and playability. You will learn the importance and impact of using different woods to achieve different sounds and tones, along with the reasoning behind different scales, neck and headstock designs -- practical information you can use to evaluate your guitar and future guitar selections. Robert will also showcase some of the innovative and non-traditional guitars in the Godin guitar lineup. Robert’s knowledge and passion for the craft are infectious. You will never look at guitars the same way again.
The final stage in guitar production or restoration is critical to the tone, durability and playability of the instrument. With 50 years of combined experience the former head Guitar Finishers at Larrivee, John Reghle and Robert Bustos provide world class finishes for world class luthiers.
This course is aimed at individuals with no prior experience, who have a desire to build their own musical instrument. Students will receive an overview of electric guitar design and construction, the skills necessary to be competent in the craft.
Today, marketing is more than just guitar magazine ads and boosted Facebook posts. In this workshop, Fretboard Journal founder (and professional story teller) Jason Verlinde will help luthiers (established or new) learn how to better tell their story, find their tribe of customers and grow their business. Expect plenty of case studies of what’s working (and what isn’t) in 2019, a Q&A session and a lot of marketing ideas you could implement immediately at little to no cost.
“If the car business was like the guitar business, we’d all be driving Model T’s.” Mike Miltmore
Join Riversong owner Mike Miltmore for a discussion about his many innovations in acoustic guitar design and manufacture. You’ll learn about Riversong’s propriatory thorough-neck, diffuser disk, straight sting pull, owner operated neck angle adjustment, two octave fret board (24 frets), double reaction bridge and much more. Mike will also touch on the growing pains associated with expanding a local business into into a multinational.
The workshop will briefly cover the step-by-step process of constructing a violin; from blueprint, wood, shaping and body assembly to varnish and final setup. It will also display moulds, templates, jigs, and tools used throughout the process.
June 30, 3:30 - 4:30 pm
This course is aimed at individuals with no prior experience, who have a desire to build their own musical instrument. Students will receive an overview of acoustic guitar design and construction, the skills necessary to be competent in the craft, a tool list to make your first guitar and an overview of tone-wood options.