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humble beginnings

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Larry Robinson
Posted 2010-05-16 11:17 PM (#3374)
Subject: humble beginnings


Joined:
May 2010
Posts: 13

Location: Valley Ford, Ca.
Hi everyone.
I grew up about 15 miles away from the New Hartford factory. During high school I owned two Ovations, a Josh White and a Glen Campbell 12 string. I played those guitars in coffee houses and restaurants all over the area. After graduating I got to be friends with Jim Rickard, who was the head engineer there, and a guy named Bennet Tolliver who was head of quality control at the time. Bennett was building classical and steel string guitars out of his home, and I wormed my way into an apprenticeship with him for three years. Those were some of the most fun times ever. I've been doing it ever since, so I guess I owe Charlie Kaman a big thank you.
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TRboy
Posted 2010-05-17 10:18 AM (#3375 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings



Joined:
February 2003
Posts: 2177

Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR
Welcome Larry,

It's a treat and an honor to have such a world class master artisan in our ranks....
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MWoody
Posted 2010-05-17 10:21 AM (#3376 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings



Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13983

Location: Upper Left USA
Awesome Story Larry!
Welcome to the board.

If I may post a little history:
Masters of Stone

You look overqualified for our Bottom Feeder Luthier's Guild (I'm the lead Butcher) but it is good to have some real Luthiers around.
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stonebobbo
Posted 2010-05-17 4:56 PM (#3377 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings



Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307

Location: Tennessee
Hi Larry ... I've been very impressed with your work for many years. The Martin millionth pretty much sums it all up and is an incredible piece of art. Not to mention so many other beautiful items that have gone through your hands. I like your little town, too ... love to go through there on the way to the coast. Glad to know that you started in a great place and with some truly fine people.
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Larry Robinson
Posted 2010-05-18 1:19 PM (#3378 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings


Joined:
May 2010
Posts: 13

Location: Valley Ford, Ca.
Thanks everyone. My original mentor turned out not to be such a fine person. I learned just as much about how not to conduct business as how to build guitars from him. Our final split was not pleasant, but it sent me on my trajectory to California. Without him I probably would have gone to the conservatory like I'd planned, and be miserable today.
I attempted to get a custom inlay project going with Ovation a couple of times, but they weren't too interested. I guess there wasn't much call for it.
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Beal
Posted 2010-05-19 8:32 AM (#3379 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch
Hi Larry,
I think we've met a few times over the years. Good to have you join us here. I have appreciated your work and books over the years.
Welcome aboard.
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alpep
Posted 2010-05-19 9:03 AM (#3380 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings


Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10581

Location: NJ
Larry
welcome to the board.

Are you familiar with the blueberry guitars? what is your opinion of the inlay work? Have you seen the video of the workers?
if you search for blueberry guitars in the for sale section you will see a discussion on this. as talented inlay worker I wondered your opinion
thanks
al
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AussieJames
Posted 2010-05-19 10:40 AM (#3381 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings



Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084

Location: Brisbane Australia
Hi Larry,

Welcome as Bill, Al and others have said.
Interesting you knew Jim Rickard.....I have his original Deacon in my collection.
His son Talbot is also a member here.

AJ
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Larry Robinson
Posted 2010-05-19 7:59 PM (#3382 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings


Joined:
May 2010
Posts: 13

Location: Valley Ford, Ca.
First, to Al's question: I just read the comments on the for sale pages and looked over some of the Blueberry website. My brother and a partner used to fix up used cars and resell them. When one wouldn't move for a long time his partner would tell him not to worry - there was an ass for every seat.
I'm not putting them down or endorsing them. I like to make things one at a time and one of a kind, and have found a client base to support that. CNC has a place in the market and evidently these guitars do too. It doesn't mean I'd rush out and get one just because they're inexpensive or decorated. Primarily, it's supposed to be a guitar. If it sounds great and plays well, that's the most important thing.
The workers' plight is another subject, and I'm not qualified to pass judgement on that aspect.

As to AJ's comment about Ricky Rickard's Deacon, I always loved the shape of that guitar, to the point that I started with that outline to make my War of the Worlds electric back in 1984. If I can figure out how to upload a photo here I'll put up a shot of it.
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alpep
Posted 2010-05-20 8:17 AM (#3383 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings


Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10581

Location: NJ
one thing for sure Larry is that I can almost bet you are not sitting on the floor barefoot on a blue tarp doing your inlay work.
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Larry Robinson
Posted 2010-05-20 9:30 AM (#3384 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings


Joined:
May 2010
Posts: 13

Location: Valley Ford, Ca.
True. When I started out it was pretty primitive though.
I had a book about the craft of Japanese sword making, and the shots of guys ripsawing the scabbard wood while clamping it between bare toes was eye-opening. Especially since the technology hadn't changed in hundreds of years. If you offered them a bandsaw they'd look at you like you were crazy.
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Grif
Posted 2010-05-20 9:33 AM (#3385 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings


Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 548

Location: Up North
Welcome Larry.

I checked out the link that MWoody posted, incredible craftsmanship and some excellent photos showing work in progress. I may have to pick up your book now.

Al, give it a rest already.
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alpep
Posted 2010-05-20 2:09 PM (#3386 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings


Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10581

Location: NJ
grif
don't read the posts.

I am sorry if my passion for the worker's cause offends you.
I am sorry that my passion for USA made products offends you
I am sorry if my message board offends you
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tremor
Posted 2010-05-21 7:24 PM (#3387 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings


Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 177

Location: Milford, MI
Oops! Sounds like someone might be on the wrong side of the boss.
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Larry Robinson
Posted 2010-05-21 9:52 PM (#3388 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings


Joined:
May 2010
Posts: 13

Location: Valley Ford, Ca.
Ok, I think I have this figured out.
Here's a shot of the electric I made back in 1984. I started out with the Deacon outline and it sort of got out of control. I wish I knew where it was today.
WoW body e.jpg
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Larry Robinson
Posted 2010-05-21 9:58 PM (#3389 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings


Joined:
May 2010
Posts: 13

Location: Valley Ford, Ca.
Well, that obviously didn't work. How do I stick a photo in here? It's just in my files, not on a URL.
Now you know why I still do everything by hand.
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tremor
Posted 2010-05-21 10:15 PM (#3390 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings


Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 177

Location: Milford, MI
Larry: Most people here use the ING site. I'm not real up on this but have posted pictures through that.

It great to have a craftsman like you on here. Looking forward to your pictures.
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muzza
Posted 2010-05-22 7:55 PM (#3391 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings



Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736

Location: Sunshine State, Australia
The photo needs to be uploaded to the Internet somewhere - anywhere.

Best thing to do is go to the OFC social network site ovationfanclub.ning.com (you'll have to join again) and you can upload photos there straight from your 'poota.

Then you can link to those photos from here. It's really not difficult.
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PEZ
Posted 2010-05-23 9:09 PM (#3392 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings



Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111

Location: Nashville TN.
Welcome
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Larry Robinson
Posted 2010-05-24 2:18 PM (#3393 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings


Joined:
May 2010
Posts: 13

Location: Valley Ford, Ca.
Ok, I joined the OFC and uploaded some shots there. This one is the front of the guitar that I used the Deacon as a starting point. One of these days I'll figure out how to do this so you can see the photo here.

http://api.ning.com/files/pc*j-OzalXisFE5YM4Ml7T678*cPte480gFTl7-4N...
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MWoody
Posted 2010-05-24 4:54 PM (#3394 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings



Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13983

Location: Upper Left USA



Old Bones?
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Larry Robinson
Posted 2010-05-29 11:33 PM (#3395 - in reply to #3374)
Subject: Re: humble beginnings


Joined:
May 2010
Posts: 13

Location: Valley Ford, Ca.
I have to admit, it doesn't look much like a Deacon, but that was the inspiration.
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