b'To claim to actually make guitars, none of the workof emperors new clothes in guitar making, some of should be done outside your own control. That isthem in extra, extra large sizes. fundamental to me.Tone is not a quantity in the sense of more tone There seems to be a new business model. Buy theor less tone. It is more like a recipe, a list of all most perfect looking wood, get a fancy website,the different ingredients, the partials, overtones or make lots of unsubstantiated claims, call yourselfharmonics that make up the whole sound. Volume a luthier and charge stupid amounts of money. Itis the quantity of sound, tone is the quality.Thats works, but only for the maker, not the customer. another Bucknall one-liner.There are other ways of getting noticed as well - itsSignatures and priceseasy to make a guitar with a huge immediate sound, all volume and attack, but very little tonal content.Gordon Giltrap came to stay for a while in 2002 All you need to do is make everything light, shaveand I suggested making him a signature guitar. every brace down and the end result is a drumIf anyone should have a Fylde Signature then GG with strings on. Some people call it voicing, I callhad to be first. I made an upgraded version of the it shaving wood off.Or if Im feeling particularlyAlchemist with a wide fingerboard. It worked well, harsh, shaving tone off. and he still plays it, although hes had I think four Lots of people will be impressed, particularly atmore instruments from me since then, and he has first hearing, in limited situations like exhibitionstaken delivery of another just as I am writing the and shops, but it doesnt impress me. Volume is theupdates to this book. I could say a lot more about most obvious part of a guitars sound, but it is notGordon, but he is hogging this story already.the most important. I like to build guitars that willOK, just one more. I met up with Gordon and last, sound great to start with, pure and balanced,his band at the height of their success with but that can be worked hard, and will then open upHeartsong. We all went for a curry after the show, and sing, not shout. I dont like people who shout,and nobody had any money to pay the bill. Thats and I dont like it in guitars either. There are a lotshowbiz.Skills shared: Jonathan WoolstonJonathan is one of several people who joined me at Fylde and discovered a huge talent while they were there. He took a Violin Making Degree from the Newark School I, then to Canada and eventually to the Manhattan workshop of Jacques Francais and Rene Morel, where he learnt that a certain Mr Bucknall was not the only boss who required speed Skills shared: Justin Stretch and effort as well as fine workmanship. Jonathan married another violin maker, Justin Stretch is also from Maoriand now shares his time between his heritage and has travelled all roundown studio in Cambridge, and the Royal the world to study guitar making. HeAcademy of Music where he helps came for a months trial, and stayed atmaintain and restore their collection.a local Guesthouse, where the ownersThe picture shows him with one of had a picture on their wall of theirthe most famous violins in the world, nephews wedding in New Zealand.made by Guarneri del Gesu in 1743, Il Justin recognised the photo - he hadCannonne, once owned by Paganini. been at that wedding. I do love a goodThis is serious high-level work; to be coincidence. allowed even to handle such a violin is a Justin isnow back in NZ, where he hashuge compliment.The other violin is a rights to rare local timbers and Paua shellcopy made by Jonathan which is another and is finally going to use his experiencepart of the compliment.to good effect.105'