Annual Pot Luck Dinner at Ed Schaefer's

 
Ed Schaefer hosted our third annual pot luck dinner at his home and shop in Fort Worth. We had an excellent turn out of about 35 with several new faces that decided to become LINT member. There was plenty of food and a good time was had by all.
The swap meet had an usually large and varied selection of goodies. Steve Kinnaird brought a fine selection of binding and bridge blank stock which sold very well. Several tools changed hands and there were choice bits of rosette material and hardware.
We saw several fine new and old instruments from our members. Below is new member Matt Jacobs showing off his first. It is OOO body, EI rosewood back and sides, englemann top, mahogany neck, paua purfling, MOP eagle and maple fret marker, ebony fingerboard, amboyna burl end graft. Yet another exceptionally fine first guitar

Joining us for the first time Chris Barker showed us an instrument that he built several years ago.

It is called a Vihuela de Mano..... a hand plucked vihuela. Vihuela was a Spanish Medieval generic term for Viol. There was a bowed viol, a viol played with a pick and one like mine. The vihuela was Renaissance Spain's answer to the lute. By the end of the 15th Century Spain had been occupied by the Moors for 700 years. Ferdinand and Isabella kicked them out. For more on this unusual instrument click here.
Mike Daugherty showed us his Flamenco Negra made of mahogany back, sides, and neck. It has a three piece laminated neck and a cedar top. The Fingerboard of ebony is fretted using a 650mm scale and the bridge is rosewood. The inside is sealed with black lacquer. The guitars' shape, bracing and strutting system is duplicated from Edward Freeman' "Eduardo" guitars. The finish is clear lacquer colored with amber aniline dye.
Jim Whelan brought his second, a good looking Koa. We hope to see the finished instrument in December. Ed Schaefer showed us a recently completed quilted maple archtop that may end up with well know Austin musician Eric Johnson.
To wrap up the meeting Ed gave us a presentation on his finishing techniques. Anyone that has seen his instruments can see that his finish is as good as it gets. Thanks Ed for this valuable information and for being such a gracious host.