Diversity amongst luthiers and music equipment compnies?

BoesPronounBass

BoesPronounBass

Commercial User
Jan 7, 2022
61
88
801
Chicago area
www.feather-guitars.com
Disclosures
Owner/operator of Feather Guitars LLC
#1
Hi all,

First I know this can get political… please if that’s your point move along and do not post. My goal here is absolute positivity and celebrating excellence and different stories that may not be shared as often. Not to make a judgment call on anyone or any industry… feel free to do that elsewhere if you would like haha…

I was wondering if anyone knows of some good examples of diversity of representation amongst luthiers and music equipment makers. I read a fascinating article about Jerry Lawson the black engineer that rarely gets the credit he deserves for bringing video game cartridges out which blew up the industry.

I’ve been talking with more builders and whatnot recently and sort of noticed the white male trend here(some different backgrounds for sure though). Artists get focus when it comes to celebrating some representation but the behind the scenes I think is getting more appreciation these days as people think about how things work (or don’t when supply chain collapses) and making things is getting more respect. With that I wanted to ask if anyone knew of good examples outside the norm of luthiers/builders in the US here that fall outside of the white male prevalence?

Also, being black history month would be great if anyone knows some great stories to share about black luthiers or builders or makers.
 
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#3
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#7
Linda Manzer is one of the greatest luthiers on the planet imho.

linda_manzer_suga_cover_475px.jpg
 
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#11
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#16
As a general note, I've been in this business a long time, and much of my work has been doing custom subcontract for other Luthiers. As a result, I have worked with, am friends with, and know of many pro and hobbyist Luthiers in the Southern California area. I know most of them, honestly. I can tell you that we are a fully diverse group, in race, culture, gender, education level and emotional maturity. And the mix is pretty close to the mix of the general population of this area. Definitely not an exclusive club. We Luthiers are passionate creative people, and we're thrilled to meet and work with anyone else who shares our passion.

If you want to spotlight some particular Luthiers as examples of our diversity, that's fine. But please don't try to present us as some kind of restrictive group. Because we're not.
 
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#17
Bruce Johnson said:
As a general note, I've been in this business a long time, and much of my work has been doing custom subcontract for other Luthiers. As a result, I have worked with, am friends with, and know of many pro and hobbyist Luthiers in the Southern California area. I know most of them, honestly. I can tell you that we are a fully diverse group, in race, culture, gender, education level and emotional maturity. And the mix is pretty close to the mix of the general population of this area. Definitely not an exclusive club. We Luthiers are passionate creative people, and we're thrilled to meet and work with anyone else who shares our passion.

If you want to spotlight some particular Luthiers as examples of our diversity, that's fine. But please don't try to present us as some kind of restrictive group. Because we're not.
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know any harp makers in SoCal? hook me up! :) i'll pretty much build anything with strings, -well, except pianos.
 
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#18
Someone was giving away a small piano (the kind you typically see in a home, against a wall, don't know if they have a specific name),.... and I couldn't help but wonder if any of the larger strings could be used on a bass-shaped-object,... if it was made structurally sound enough to support them, of course.
Arie X said:
know any harp makers in SoCal? hook me up! :) i'll pretty much build anything with strings, -well, except pianos.
Click to expand...
 
#19
I always got a giggle that Alembic is basically run day-to-day by three smart women: Susan Wickersham, the co-founder along with her husband Ron; Mary, her sister, and Mica, Susan's daughter and now head of the company.

I always said when I had dealing with them, where would I be without them ? Just the best there is, can't say enough good about these ladies.
 
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