There seems to be an increasing list of people who alternate/subsidise/ whatever one with the other.
This occurred to me on an earlier thread, after a mention of Pat Sky.
Australian mandolin makers Stephen Gilchrist, Peter Daffy and Paul Duff are all good players, but I think the making subsidises the playing rather than vice versa.
I'd say the percentage of instrument builders who are players is greater the percentage of players who are instrument builders. I'd be willing to bet a large sum on it.
Most of the real talent in Britain since 1970 has gone into making musical instruments and home brew.
The rapid turnover of the second and sometimes the first keeps the wheels turning and ensures that recondite rural haunts are plentifully stocked with lairy, peculiar artisan types who will probably continue in their work unperturbed by the prostration of the polity and economy; and no bad thing, either.
I'm just an amatuer builder, but take time and care and they are really nice, comfy and sound great. Four guitars, with another in the works, and just finished a 26 string harp.
There is something really nice about raising an instrument from infancy...from a bunch of wood and hardware, strings, polishing it, understanding what makes it tick, and then playing it. It's really addictive.
We have a talented musician in our group who plays beautiful tunes on his artistically crafted bouzouki, mandolin, and guitar. I was amazed to find out that he builds all his instruments as well.
I consider myself a musician and an instrument maker - I don't do much else, so what else can I call myself? But there are plenty of people who don't consider themselves musicians who play much better than me and there are people who don't consider themselves instrument makers who make better instruments.
2 of the attendees at our local session are instrument makers. One makes his own fiddles (coveted by excellent fiddlers in our area), and the other makes many different stringed instruments (all great looking and great sounding in his hands).
A local musician and builder is Keith Beechey, who both builds and plays his own harps, not just celtic but also South American. And you can hear him this month live at Barnet Folk Club with Richard Cryan.
Pete Stanley, now very much an eminence grise, restores and builds banjos, as well as having been playing them for 50 years !
I am also so old I remember Stefan Sobell playing a folk club gig.
a few that spring to mind who i've sat with (and what they build) include Brendan Ring (uillean pipes / elder reeds), Brendan MacCauley (flutes), Barrie Lockwood (bodhrons) and Keith Calton (okay . . . cases then); and Aidan Burkes dad, who dosn't play, made him a fiddle which he plays to this day
How many musicians are instrument builders ?
How many musicians are instrument builders ?
There seems to be an increasing list of people who alternate/subsidise/ whatever one with the other.
This occurred to me on an earlier thread, after a mention of Pat Sky.
# Posted on March 5th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
now that is a great question all together especially when you consider the 'chicken and egg' senario within 'id it
# Posted on March 5th 2009 by lisaniska
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
fish lay eggs
# Posted on March 5th 2009 by llig leahcim
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
Australian mandolin makers Stephen Gilchrist, Peter Daffy and Paul Duff are all good players, but I think the making subsidises the playing rather than vice versa.
Don Morrison who made my resophonic mandolin always has a series of entertaining musical projects on the go
http://www.donmo.com/Music/Home%20.html
# Posted on March 5th 2009 by Bren
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
e.g. Marcus Hernon plays and builds flutes:
http://www.marcushernon.com/
# Posted on March 5th 2009 by brotherstorm
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
I'd say the percentage of instrument builders who are players is greater the percentage of players who are instrument builders. I'd be willing to bet a large sum on it.
# Posted on March 6th 2009 by cjp
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
Most of the real talent in Britain since 1970 has gone into making musical instruments and home brew.
The rapid turnover of the second and sometimes the first keeps the wheels turning and ensures that recondite rural haunts are plentifully stocked with lairy, peculiar artisan types who will probably continue in their work unperturbed by the prostration of the polity and economy; and no bad thing, either.
# Posted on March 6th 2009 by nicholas
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
What about the three Irish box builders Searson, Clancy and Connolly? They are all good musicians as well.
Michael Searson - Cairdin
Paddy Clancy - Paddy Clancy
Martin Connolly - Kincora
# Posted on March 6th 2009 by upmine3
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
Hammy Hamilton?
# Posted on March 6th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
I'm just an amatuer builder, but take time and care and they are really nice, comfy and sound great. Four guitars, with another in the works, and just finished a 26 string harp.
There is something really nice about raising an instrument from infancy...from a bunch of wood and hardware, strings, polishing it, understanding what makes it tick, and then playing it. It's really addictive.
# Posted on March 6th 2009 by irisnevins
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
I can think of three fiddle players I know in my area who are professionally trained luthiers, and also a luthier who plays violin in an orchestra.
# Posted on March 6th 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
We have a talented musician in our group who plays beautiful tunes on his artistically crafted bouzouki, mandolin, and guitar. I was amazed to find out that he builds all his instruments as well.
# Posted on March 6th 2009 by Merry Mary
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
"fish lay eggs"
Most fish lay eggs. Some are viviparous.
# Posted on March 6th 2009 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
Yeah, splitting hairs their. The revelance is that there have been eggs around for a heck of a lot longer than chickens.
# Posted on March 6th 2009 by llig leahcim
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
I consider myself a musician and an instrument maker - I don't do much else, so what else can I call myself? But there are plenty of people who don't consider themselves musicians who play much better than me and there are people who don't consider themselves instrument makers who make better instruments.
# Posted on March 6th 2009 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
2 of the attendees at our local session are instrument makers. One makes his own fiddles (coveted by excellent fiddlers in our area), and the other makes many different stringed instruments (all great looking and great sounding in his hands).
# Posted on March 6th 2009 by vonnieestes
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
A local musician and builder is Keith Beechey, who both builds and plays his own harps, not just celtic but also South American. And you can hear him this month live at Barnet Folk Club with Richard Cryan.
Pete Stanley, now very much an eminence grise, restores and builds banjos, as well as having been playing them for 50 years !
I am also so old I remember Stefan Sobell playing a folk club gig.
# Posted on March 7th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
My regular session is mostly populated by luthiers.
A pipemaker, 2 violin makers and myself (whistles) are regulars, others attend from time to time.
Traditional instruments are often not generally available - it makes sense that enthusiasts are often forced to fill the gap themselves.
# Posted on March 9th 2009 by Mozle
Re: How many musicians are instrument builders ?
a few that spring to mind who i've sat with (and what they build) include Brendan Ring (uillean pipes / elder reeds), Brendan MacCauley (flutes), Barrie Lockwood (bodhrons) and Keith Calton (okay . . . cases then); and Aidan Burkes dad, who dosn't play, made him a fiddle which he plays to this day
# Posted on March 10th 2009 by lisaniska