I've been told that there is only one person that carves the tops and backs on 381's. Is this a true statement or just another of those urban myths?? If it is true has it always been the same person since the introduction of the model??
Thanks for any info....
Carving a 381
Moderator: jingle_jangle
Mark; we should also mention that by "carved",
there is not some old world "Gepetto" craftsman
with granny glasses and a smock doing this carefully with a chisel or scorps[carving tools].
It's done by either overhead pin router, table shaper, or CNC routing machines.Am I right about this one, John Hall? In any case, it's a more labor intensive guitar to make than say, the 360,
though some similar operations, such as the internal chambering, and binding grooves, are shared.Because they use their best grade woods for this, I assume the most competent woodworker in the shop is doing these.
there is not some old world "Gepetto" craftsman
with granny glasses and a smock doing this carefully with a chisel or scorps[carving tools].
It's done by either overhead pin router, table shaper, or CNC routing machines.Am I right about this one, John Hall? In any case, it's a more labor intensive guitar to make than say, the 360,
though some similar operations, such as the internal chambering, and binding grooves, are shared.Because they use their best grade woods for this, I assume the most competent woodworker in the shop is doing these.
No Dick did not carve these guitars,he performed many functions .
I will bet that who ever ran the shaper did them ,just as any other guitar.
I'm sorry to say this ...but I don't think any one special worked on it .Once you know how to operate the tools ...you work on what ever is being made.ALL the staff has been trained to do their jobs.
You start at the bottom and work into the rest of the operations.
The thing about this model is the grade of wood.The rest of the guitar is the same as the rest.On the line there is no distinction.They all must be made to spec and all must be completed and assembled.
Some workers take more pride in certain areas and on certain guitars ...but that is a personal thing and we all like/love different models.
I will bet that who ever ran the shaper did them ,just as any other guitar.
I'm sorry to say this ...but I don't think any one special worked on it .Once you know how to operate the tools ...you work on what ever is being made.ALL the staff has been trained to do their jobs.
You start at the bottom and work into the rest of the operations.
The thing about this model is the grade of wood.The rest of the guitar is the same as the rest.On the line there is no distinction.They all must be made to spec and all must be completed and assembled.
Some workers take more pride in certain areas and on certain guitars ...but that is a personal thing and we all like/love different models.
So you too want yours "ALAPWOB"?!?!
-
Joe_Michael
Thanks again for the response, Mark. Don't be sorry about anyone special working on the guitar, it sure hasn't changed my opinion of it; it is something special. Unfortunately, I had a six string 381 a few years ago and got rid of it; my current one is a 12 string and I really believe it's a keeper, I won't make the same mistake I did on the six string. I'm just now armed with some information about the maker(s) of these guitars so I can have a better conversation with my local Ric dealer who told me the story about "one carver for all of the 381" models.
When I worked at the plant ,there were so few of these going through production ,I think they could be counted on one hand.
They all seemed to have the best quality wood(at least the most figured).We talked about the idea of making they lighter,by using a wood like alder or poplar in the center /for the sides.
I thought that using an old steel tailpiece would add to the sustain factor.And the consensus was ...get rid of the control plate,keep the upper guard and install the controls from the rear.Real show off the wood.But hey ...I don't run things there,never did ,never will.Just a fantasy idea from the guys on the line.
They all seemed to have the best quality wood(at least the most figured).We talked about the idea of making they lighter,by using a wood like alder or poplar in the center /for the sides.
I thought that using an old steel tailpiece would add to the sustain factor.And the consensus was ...get rid of the control plate,keep the upper guard and install the controls from the rear.Real show off the wood.But hey ...I don't run things there,never did ,never will.Just a fantasy idea from the guys on the line.
So you too want yours "ALAPWOB"?!?!