What do we do?
Just curious. I know I'm a relative "newbie" here to the site, but I feel like I've already made some real good friends in a very short time and hope to keep adding to the list.
I know we all love to: build guitars, play guitars, look at guitars, discuss guitars and occasionally the music we make on them. But that's all I know. I've always found the cross section of society that we musicians (and builders) make up, pretty interesting, and I'm just curious about what some of us do for the "day gig".
Some of you may be lucky enough to do this full time or even make a living playing music, but I'm sure most of us aren't. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking to get "too" personal. Company names and such are not necessary or asked for. Just curious what you might call your "profession", and I thought it might be a good way for some of us to get to know each other just a little bit better. If this is too "off topic" or if no one is interested, I apologize for the intrusion, and the written results will speak for themselves.
So here goes: I'm a printer. Technically, I work in what is called the prepress department. Been in the business for almost 40 years (I'm 57 by the way). The people in my department PREpare the files and documents for the PRESSes. I got into it by accident as a part time job back when I was in college (a LONG time ago) to make some money so I could by a Fender Rhodes electric piano. Found out I liked it, the pay wasn't too bad and it was even somewhat creative.
Back in the old days it was all cameras, film and chemicals. In 1991, the company I worked for at the time decided to get one of those "new fangled" Macintosh computers and I was selected to see if I could make it work for us. This was back in the early days of what was then called "desktop publishing". Computers were expensive and slow at the time. An 8 megabyte RAM upgrade cost over $3,000 and that was a HUGE amount of RAM at the time. In the mid '90's our first gigabyte hard drive for file storage was ONLY $1,000 ($1 a megabyte) and we thought that was SO cheap at the time.
Anyway, I'm still at it after all these years, and I haven't looked back since. In between times, I've been lucky enough to have been married for almost 35 years, raised a beautiful daughter to adulthood and her own marriage (still waiting for grandbabies!) I've played in a couple of very good semi-pro bands (blues/rock) and have had my share of good times doing that. In more recent years I've been concentrating on just improving my playing, doing a little home recording when I can and building up my guitar collection (about 17 as of last count - not including the ones I've built myself).
Well, That's what I do. How about you?
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Thanks for the story... I wish all the whiners in the world who have it "easy" could get a handle on how blessed they are and appreciate them. Gratitude keeps us with perspective....
you da'best,
Wichita Sam
mark "Stumpy" quigley said:
i started as a baby in ohio. quickly grew through taht stage an d worked as a cook through high school. moved to waco tex after high school and be came a chef a the hilton hotel there. got marruied, moved back to ohio and cooked for a fe yrs. then ran a muinature golf course for 40-5 yrs, moved to indiana to work for a small familty owned luber yard. work there for ten yrs till my first heart attack at 39 yrs old. took it easy for a few yrs had a few more small heart attcks then bypass surgery in 1989. worked part time at a bowling alley for 5 yrs. then went to work at home depot for 6 yrs. had to retire because of failing eyesight and couldn't drive. kidneys failing, left leg lost duem to MRSA in hospital, but other than that i;m great. but let it be said, if it wasn';t fior God in my life, i would be miserable.
im lookm forward each day looking to make at least 1 person laugh or smile and learn to deal with their problems. most of us think we have roblems, but when we look around, there is always someone who has it worse than us.
i look forward to getting into the shop daily whether i only get 1 neck cut, 1 guitar strung, or 1 amp circuit soldered up every day with me being leagally blind, i'm still grateful i can get out there.
i started as a baby in ohio. quickly grew through taht stage an d worked as a cook through high school. moved to waco tex after high school and be came a chef a the hilton hotel there. got marruied, moved back to ohio and cooked for a fe yrs. then ran a muinature golf course for 40-5 yrs, moved to indiana to work for a small familty owned luber yard. work there for ten yrs till my first heart attack at 39 yrs old. took it easy for a few yrs had a few more small heart attcks then bypass surgery in 1989. worked part time at a bowling alley for 5 yrs. then went to work at home depot for 6 yrs. had to retire because of failing eyesight and couldn't drive. kidneys failing, left leg lost duem to MRSA in hospital, but other than that i;m great. but let it be said, if it wasn';t fior God in my life, i would be miserable.
im lookm forward each day looking to make at least 1 person laugh or smile and learn to deal with their problems. most of us think we have roblems, but when we look around, there is always someone who has it worse than us.
i look forward to getting into the shop daily whether i only get 1 neck cut, 1 guitar strung, or 1 amp circuit soldered up every day with me being leagally blind, i'm still grateful i can get out there.
Worked in marketing for 12 years. Lost my job and fell back on cigar box guitars and my music. Kept on going even when things were tight. Now I recently hired a manager and I'm looking to tour in 2011-2012!
I am a photographer by trade. Ran my own portrait studio for 20 years or so. Now I do tech support for high end digital cameras. I've done all kinds of photo processing and finishing. We did all our own film developing, printing (color and black and white) mounting , canvas mounting, retouching (by hand with colored pencils and lacquer!) custom framing and had a one hour photo lab too at another location.
Have a 17 year old son by my first wife. Current wife is the head of photo dept. at local college. We have 2 dogs, 2 cats. We like to travel when we can. I had never been anywhere before meeting her. She has turned me on to the rest of the world! Paris, Hawaii, Malta, Italy,Aruba, California (that's almost like another country!) NY (Ditto).
I play blues harp, washboard and sing in a 3 piece blues band called "Blues Committee". I also love to build CBGs and other weird instruments.
Besides music, my other passion is Bonsai. I have a little Bonsai garden beside the house and have about 25-30 Bonsai trees in various stages of development. Nice place for morning meditations.
My start with CBG making/playing came in a very similar way to Mark's. Found one of John McNair's vides (wonder if it was the same one) on YT. Thought I might buy a CD, then decided that I might be able to go one step better and learn to play, so looked at eBay for instruments. Then thought that if I could learn to play one I could almost certainly make one. Found this site and that's it.
Originally studied viola and harpsichord at the Royal Academy of Music. By the time I got to the end of the course (I was there for five years) I had decided not to be a musician after all and went into making bows (for violin, viola and cello). For those who don't know, bow making is really a strange combination of woodworking, engineering, jewellery - there is quite a bit of silver or gold on a decent bow - and skills specific to making bows. Did that for eleven years and a combination of boredom with endless workshop work and being allergic to the wood prompted me to stop.
A few unsuitable jobs followed (me unsuitable for them or the other way round I'm not sure). Worked for a short while with a friend making flutes but that was more workshop stuff so I didn't intend that to be long term. Fell into a full time course in photography.
Since 1997 I've been working as a commercial photographer. I also teach photography and image editing. This IS my last career. I intend to be a photographer until I get board with breathing air.
Discovered CBG's around last September and had my first one finished in November. Can't make many as the wood is still a bit of a problem. I thought it was only pernambuco (from which bows are made) that was giving me congestion and some breathing difficulties but it seems to be other woods as well. I just need to manage where and when I work quite carefully.
This is a great site and a wonderful community. Long may it flourish.
My name is Mark and I started this new addiction last March after watching one of John Mcnairs' videos on youtube.I was kind of shocked when John got in touch with me wanting to buy one of my resonators. I have built 25 since last March and sold all but 7 of them. Just started 26 a week or so ago. I am a sheet metal fabricator by trade, been doing that for close to 30 years. I also do wood working as a hobby, building cabinets and hutches and a 40 foot bridge across the creek in our backyard. I have been married for almost 34 years ( wife has been a printer for the same 34 years). We have one son who is a drummer, which comes in handy. We played our first outdoor festival last June and had a blast. I am glad I stumble upon this site. I have meet alot of very helpful, supportive people here.
I'm a 28-year-old mall maintenance man. Still on my first job, which most of my friends can't say. I don't have a computer at home, so I come to parents' house every day to use the computer, and get dinner, because Mom's a much better cook than I am. When I'm home, I read a lot, or watch movies (no TV antenna/cable either), or build guitars.
Well, I'll keep this going. I'm a 42 year old stay-at home dad (13 years). Before that a kitchen manager at a cafe. Sold real estate, jewelry and toys. Needed something to do part -time and worked seasonally for a yearbook publisher (prepress- since that seems to be a common thread through here) and after that started buying and selling antiques from home.
Finished college when I was 31 and my oldest was 4. Now he's 13 (too damned smart): my daughter is 8 ( wants me to build her a cb fiddle, Darn you Charlie Daniels) and the youngest is 3 (whoa I'm to old for this. He likes to help build by drilling holes that aren't needed into cigar boxes)
I've spent the last 7 years making movies, some shorts and some features. I also am a photographer doing actor's head shots. Here's my IMDB page if you're interested-- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2799323/
My best CBG story would be when a guy from church brought over a friend to introduce me to him. I had my 4th build on the kitchen table needing strings.. The guy saw it and went crazy for it.
Guy says, "How much do you sell these for?"
My wife, "Oh, this one is going to be $150."
Me, "No, no..."
Guy says, "I'll take that one."
I sold it to him in my kitchen and my wife got double of what I wanted for it if I wanted to sell it. Of course she took her cut -- HALF!!!
Well, I tried to make it interesting and I'm trying to post more on the Nation, Not good at this random posting stuff.
That is really cool stuff.... as far as the manufacturing environment, it seems to be that it you show them a finished simple three or four stringer and then a "kit" with the basic compoenents prebuilt, then they can figure out building up the compoenents for assemble into finished CBGs.... I'm sure you can handle it, but I'm always willing to lend a hand if I can.
the best,
Wichita Sam
BTW, I've done several "student" workshop environments and I can say that we always underestimate what kids can do... - WS
Rich Gillen said:
I'm a semi-retired business guy, worked in the medical device industry most of my career. Born in New Jersey, then lived in: Upstate New York, Minnesota, Mexico City (Mexico), San Diego, Paris (France), Berkeley, Santa Barbara...and White Bear Lake, Minnesota. BA in English, MA & PhD in Organizational Psychology - all from Univ of California, Santa Barbara. I now teach classes in business settings in Critical Thinking, Emotional Intelligence, Logic/Rhetoric, Erotetic Logic (the logic of questions), and Group Dynamics and Organizational Leadership.
Played drums in bands with buddies through my 20s and 30s. Also, been plucking guitars for years but with a little more effort the last 5-6 years after my wife gave me a nice Ovation for Christmas in 2005. Picked up a Paul Reed Smith Hollowbody for a steal a couple of years ago, and that really prompted me to start playing more. The CBG connection was a fluke. I was looking around for a used Dobro online just a few weeks ago and found a link to building a CBG.
I'm now designing a Project Leadership workshop in which CBGs will be built by teams in a manufacturing simulation. The idea is that teams will build CBGs from materials...have to figure out how to organize the work, divvy the resources, etc.
The end product of built cigar box guitars will be used by a Music Teacher in his 3rd grade curriculum. He emphasizes the engineering aspects of music in 3rd grade...unbelievable what he's doing at that level. So the CBG really plays into the basic engineering of an instrument and its relationship to musical scales, etc. That should motivate the teams in the business setting...often workshops like this use nonsense products as vehicles for the team interaction. Hopefully this will matter much more.
Any inputs on that workshop will be greatly appreciated. And thanks to all here for your encouragement and inspiration. Though many of you weren't around in those days of the 60s, much of what occurs here (thanks Shane) reflects what we were hoping for in terms of communities. I'll have to make sure that Stuart Brand (Whole Earth Catalog and Inventing the Future at MIT) knows about this world.
Wow - just saw that this old thread had been bumped back up again. Thanks to all the latest entries. More computer graphics guys' too. It is a small world after all! I first posted this a long time ago because I felt it it would be nice to know a little more about what all of us do when not building stuff and how we all got into it. Please keep it going. I love reading this stuff! Take care - T
Replies
Mark,
Thanks for the story... I wish all the whiners in the world who have it "easy" could get a handle on how blessed they are and appreciate them. Gratitude keeps us with perspective....
you da'best,
Wichita Sam
mark "Stumpy" quigley said:
i started as a baby in ohio. quickly grew through taht stage an d worked as a cook through high school. moved to waco tex after high school and be came a chef a the hilton hotel there. got marruied, moved back to ohio and cooked for a fe yrs. then ran a muinature golf course for 40-5 yrs, moved to indiana to work for a small familty owned luber yard. work there for ten yrs till my first heart attack at 39 yrs old. took it easy for a few yrs had a few more small heart attcks then bypass surgery in 1989. worked part time at a bowling alley for 5 yrs. then went to work at home depot for 6 yrs. had to retire because of failing eyesight and couldn't drive. kidneys failing, left leg lost duem to MRSA in hospital, but other than that i;m great. but let it be said, if it wasn';t fior God in my life, i would be miserable.
im lookm forward each day looking to make at least 1 person laugh or smile and learn to deal with their problems. most of us think we have roblems, but when we look around, there is always someone who has it worse than us.
i look forward to getting into the shop daily whether i only get 1 neck cut, 1 guitar strung, or 1 amp circuit soldered up every day with me being leagally blind, i'm still grateful i can get out there.
enough preaching lets hear more.
Worked in marketing for 12 years. Lost my job and fell back on cigar box guitars and my music. Kept on going even when things were tight. Now I recently hired a manager and I'm looking to tour in 2011-2012!
Follow your dreams!
shane
I am a photographer by trade. Ran my own portrait studio for 20 years or so. Now I do tech support for high end digital cameras. I've done all kinds of photo processing and finishing. We did all our own film developing, printing (color and black and white) mounting , canvas mounting, retouching (by hand with colored pencils and lacquer!) custom framing and had a one hour photo lab too at another location.
Have a 17 year old son by my first wife. Current wife is the head of photo dept. at local college. We have 2 dogs, 2 cats. We like to travel when we can. I had never been anywhere before meeting her. She has turned me on to the rest of the world! Paris, Hawaii, Malta, Italy,Aruba, California (that's almost like another country!) NY (Ditto).
I play blues harp, washboard and sing in a 3 piece blues band called "Blues Committee". I also love to build CBGs and other weird instruments.
Besides music, my other passion is Bonsai. I have a little Bonsai garden beside the house and have about 25-30 Bonsai trees in various stages of development. Nice place for morning meditations.
My start with CBG making/playing came in a very similar way to Mark's. Found one of John McNair's vides (wonder if it was the same one) on YT. Thought I might buy a CD, then decided that I might be able to go one step better and learn to play, so looked at eBay for instruments. Then thought that if I could learn to play one I could almost certainly make one. Found this site and that's it.
Originally studied viola and harpsichord at the Royal Academy of Music. By the time I got to the end of the course (I was there for five years) I had decided not to be a musician after all and went into making bows (for violin, viola and cello). For those who don't know, bow making is really a strange combination of woodworking, engineering, jewellery - there is quite a bit of silver or gold on a decent bow - and skills specific to making bows. Did that for eleven years and a combination of boredom with endless workshop work and being allergic to the wood prompted me to stop.
A few unsuitable jobs followed (me unsuitable for them or the other way round I'm not sure). Worked for a short while with a friend making flutes but that was more workshop stuff so I didn't intend that to be long term. Fell into a full time course in photography.
Since 1997 I've been working as a commercial photographer. I also teach photography and image editing. This IS my last career. I intend to be a photographer until I get board with breathing air.
Discovered CBG's around last September and had my first one finished in November. Can't make many as the wood is still a bit of a problem. I thought it was only pernambuco (from which bows are made) that was giving me congestion and some breathing difficulties but it seems to be other woods as well. I just need to manage where and when I work quite carefully.
This is a great site and a wonderful community. Long may it flourish.
Well, I'll keep this going. I'm a 42 year old stay-at home dad (13 years). Before that a kitchen manager at a cafe. Sold real estate, jewelry and toys. Needed something to do part -time and worked seasonally for a yearbook publisher (prepress- since that seems to be a common thread through here) and after that started buying and selling antiques from home.
Finished college when I was 31 and my oldest was 4. Now he's 13 (too damned smart): my daughter is 8 ( wants me to build her a cb fiddle, Darn you Charlie Daniels) and the youngest is 3 (whoa I'm to old for this. He likes to help build by drilling holes that aren't needed into cigar boxes)
I've spent the last 7 years making movies, some shorts and some features. I also am a photographer doing actor's head shots. Here's my IMDB page if you're interested-- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2799323/
My best CBG story would be when a guy from church brought over a friend to introduce me to him. I had my 4th build on the kitchen table needing strings.. The guy saw it and went crazy for it.
Guy says, "How much do you sell these for?"
My wife, "Oh, this one is going to be $150."
Me, "No, no..."
Guy says, "I'll take that one."
I sold it to him in my kitchen and my wife got double of what I wanted for it if I wanted to sell it. Of course she took her cut -- HALF!!!
Well, I tried to make it interesting and I'm trying to post more on the Nation, Not good at this random posting stuff.
Rich,
That is really cool stuff.... as far as the manufacturing environment, it seems to be that it you show them a finished simple three or four stringer and then a "kit" with the basic compoenents prebuilt, then they can figure out building up the compoenents for assemble into finished CBGs.... I'm sure you can handle it, but I'm always willing to lend a hand if I can.
the best,
Wichita Sam
BTW, I've done several "student" workshop environments and I can say that we always underestimate what kids can do... - WS
Rich Gillen said:
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