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We were pleased and honored to have Ervin Somogyi come to conduct our first annual Masters Class this past February. We had an unique opportunity to learn from a knowledgeable guy who made us think and laugh. There were 19 attendees and we all came away with a greater understanding of how to evaluate a stack of wood and get the most out of it once the wood was selected. |
| About Ervin Somogyi | |
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Ervin Somogyi is a professional luthier and woodworker of thirty years' standing, whose work is known and respected internationally. His guitars are increasingly recognized as the best recording instruments available and are sought by professional acoustic guitarists who wish to make and preserve the highest quality of recorded and performed sound. Mr. Somogyi has made guitars for Will Ackerman, Bola Sete, Martin Simpson, Alex de Grassi, Michael Hedges, George Winston, John Denver, Mark O'Connor, Mike Marshall, Pat Donohue, Ed Gerhard, the California Guitar Trio, Steve Erquiaga, and others. |
| Ervin Somogyi's guitars have received a number of honors over the years. He was named in the Best Luthier category for 4 years in Frets Magazine's national poll; has had a guitar judged as "best sounding" in listening tests conducted at Boston University at a Guild of American Luthiers' national convention; has had a guitar awarded first prize at the National Fingerpicking championships; has had an instrument displayed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC; and has had his guitars played in Carnegie Hall and the White House. | |
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While
musicians who play Somogyi’s guitars do so in widely different
musical styles, idioms and genres, they unanimously agree that Somogyi’s
instruments are much better than they sound. In addition to the above
listed recognition's, Somogyi has been awarded the prestigious Corrigan
Prize given annually by the American Federation of the Conceptually
Impaired and the much acclaimed Silence Is Golden trophy of the National
Association of the Tone Deaf. Somogyi's instruments are used exclusively
at the prestigious Conservatory of Music at Gallaudet University.
Archeologists at a dig in Oberunterschweinheim, Bavaria, recently
unearthed a perfectly preserved petrified wood Somogyi guitar; its
discoverers were of the opinion that it was the best rock guitar they’d
ever seen. |
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Finally, Somogyi's unique artwork is inspired directly by his three decades of lutherie work. Regarding this body of art, the consensus among the doyens of the National Endowment is that Somogyi's artwork, if not the artist himself, is well hung. When the Pope was given one of Somogyi's artworks to include in the Vatican collection he was heard to mutter: “Deo Santi, En Veritas De Gustibus Non Disputandum Est”. {Good God, there's no arguing with taste"} |
