The Art of Finishing

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:39 am

Paul: You have shown all of is that finishing or refinishing an instrument is surely an art. I thought I would push the envelop a bit and send this work of William Laskin along. When does the designer and luthier take it too far, if ever.

I am not sure that I would know where I was on the fretboard. The functional versus the aesthetic.

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:49 am

All of that is TOO FAR !! Anything beyond triangular pearl inlays is garish, in my eyes.
There is nothing aesthestically pleasing about any of that. Ever seen a Gibson J-45 vine ? YUCK !! It's $2,000 extra for that atrocity.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:07 am

Mr. Laskin's inlay work is some of the best I've ever seen, in technical terms...and some of it might be aesthetically pleasing to some tastes. But none of it belongs on a guitar...that's why god made 'pictures' and walls to hang them on.

I think he's got two careers mashed into one, to the detriment of both...but what do I know, he probably sells a lot of these 'busybodies'...

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:10 am

God made my walls ? I thought it was a bunch of drunken construction workers hiding from the law.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:24 am

I've never felt 'closer to God' than I have in that kind of company...

(Actually, "a bunch of drunken construction workers hiding from the law" is a near-perfect description of the U.S. Antarctic Program...)

icabod · Post by **icabod** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:28 am

William "Grit" Laskin crafts excellent sounding guitars, as I've had the pleasure of mixing them on occasion, at some of the old folk festivals that have come and gone. Always easy to make it sound acoustic thru a D.I., although his inlay work is beautiful, I do agree that there should be limits, but it is definately pesonal taste as well as how prepared the pocket is. All my instruments have the simple dot.Gotta run and go play my happy hour gig, with my elegant 4001c64, and now 2 weeks old.. to all.. have a good gig!

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:38 am

Is this the guy who did the 325 that was heavily inlayed? It was on ebay a while back...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:50 am

Wow! I left for about 90 minutes to work on Melissa's 330, and look what happens...

I think this work is technically incredible. Taste is a very personal thing, and some of it appeals to me, some doesn't.

For a change, I don't agree with Dane! I don't think the art or science of luthiery suffers through this combination. Guitars are not strictly functional, nor are they meant to NOT be played. I've never played one of Laskin's guitars, but assuming he is giving as much attention to sound as to looks, there's no reason why either has to suffer.

Personally, I'm distracted playing my 381. I'd probably pass out playing one of those. Or be stricken dumb or something.

When I'm working on a guitar, sanding away, polishing, fitting fiddly parts, I often find myself in reflection about just why anyone would enjoy the sackcloth-and-ashes part of a craft; after awhile it approaches self-flagellation as a way to spend one's time. If this is so, then Laskin is the holiest luthier on the planet.

Now, back to sanding and buffing and a word from our sponsor, 3M Abrasives Division...

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:08 am

As usual, your comments are full of grit, Perfessor....after some mental self-flagellation, I've tempered my opinion of Mr. Laskin's work somewhat. I guess the best way to put it is: if I were to commission him to build me a guitar (hey! it could happen...just like World Peace...), I'd need to supply him with a design and ask him to tone down the color palette a bit...then I'm sure I'd end up with an axe I could love.

He is absolutely great at what he does, that's for sure...

dannyboy · Post by **dannyboy** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 4:36 pm

I think he's a great artist and I wouldn't mind him doing stuff on my guitars... I'd go as far as 3 or 4 frets on my Ric 650!!!

stubby · Post by **stubby** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 5:18 pm

In the folk world here in Canada, Grit Laskin is a God. His guitars are incredibly gorgeous to hear and by all accounts (I've never actually played one), fantastically playable. One of Canada's great, under-rated folk-singers, Stan Rogers, played Laskin guitars and the recordings done with those are absolutely brilliant, full and rich with a great warm, distinctive sound. I've had the opportunity to hear Laskin guitars live and they are magnificent. Of course, aesthetic tastes are personal so I won't comment on the inlay work. Do a search on Stan Rogers though and look at the Laskin 12 string he plays-not ostentatious at all, class all the way and man, what a beautiful instrument to listen to....