This week, we talk to visual artist James A. Willis. Why are we talking to an artist on the FJ podcast? Because Willis has plenty of guitar and music-related projects under his belt. He’s at least partially based in Nashville, where he’s served as the “Artist in Residence”...
La Conner Guitar Festival. Photo: Isaac Jang
Tony McManus tries one of Issac Jang's acoustics. Photo: Isaac Jang
A view from above at the luthiers' displays. Photo: Isaac Jang
Petros Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Mitchell Paulson Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
French builder Bouchereau Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Bent Twig Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
James White Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Wilborn Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Randall Kramer Guitars, from Truckee, California. Photo: Isaac Jang
Guitarmaker David Haxton from Seattle. Photo: Isaac Jang
Humphrey Amplifiers. Photo: Isaac Jang
Paul Woolson of Woolson Soundcraft. Photo: Isaac Jang
Argyle anyone? One of the more noteworthy guitars at the show (no small feat) was this instrument by Paul Woolson.
Henriksen Amplifiers. Photo: Isaac Jang
Darrell Jennings of American Music Furniture. Photo: Isaac Jang
Guitar Masterworks from Hawaii. Photo: Isaac Jang
The iconic guitars of Steve Klein. Photo: Isaac Jang
LED soundhole rosette from Steve Klein. Photo: Isaac Jang
More artistry from Steve Klein.
More artistry from Steve Klein.
Steve Klein and Bruce Petros, hamming it up. Photo: Isaac Jang
Portland, Oregon's Halland Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Canada's Indian Hill Guitar Company. Photo: Isaac Jang
Bruce Sexauer. Photo: Isaac Jang
FE Tellier Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Closeup of a rosette on one of Gage Halland's (Halland Guitars) instruments.
The archtops of Brown Guitars.
Guitarmaker Maegan Wells. Photo: Isaac Jang
John Carrigan at Curly Creek Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Bryan Galloup of Galloup Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Closeup of Bryan Galloup's guitar.
Bremerton, Washington's Irvin Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Charles Fox Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Jeff Letain of Letain Guitars, from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Photo: Isaac Jang
DL Noble Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Josh Humphrey of JBH Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Roy McAlister. Photo: Isaac Jang
Linda Manzer. Photo: Isaac Jang
Sheldon Schwartz of Schwartz Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Closeup of a Schwartz guitar's soundholes. Photo: Isaac Jang
Northern California's Joe Dragony Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Tom Ribbecke of Ribbecke Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Greg German of German Guitars. Last year due to a shipping mistake, Greg's guitars never arrived at the La Conner show. It was great to finally see them in person.
Chicago's Caton Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Luthier Sam Guidry. Photo: Isaac Jang
Butch Boswell of Boswell Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
GR Bear shows off the falcate bracing he employs on his steel-string guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Where'd the soundholes go? Eric Weigeshoff of Skytop Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
A panel discussion on the modern lutherie movement featuring Tom Ribbecke, the FJ's Jason Verlinde, Bryan Galloup, Michael Gurian and Charles Fox. Photo: Isaac Jang
Bend, Oregon's Rebecca Urlacher of Urlacher Guitars.
Vermont-based musician Paul Asbell performs on an Isaac Jang-built six-string. Photo: Isaac Jang
Peggy White Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
John Walker Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Phoenix Guitar Company. Photo: Isaac Jang
Tyler Wells. Photo: Isaac Jang
Tyler Wells only brought one guitar to the La Conner show, but it was a real showstopper.
Luthier Isaac Jang.
Washington State's Curly Creek Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Canada's Bouchereau Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Cris Mirabella of Mirabella Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Seattle's own Steve Andersen. Photo: Isaac Jang
Edmonton's Dion Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Tim Frick Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Closeup of Frick's archtop with a goldfoil pickup.
Brent McElroy of McElroy Guitars. Brent is based in La Conner and, along with his wife Shirley, was the driving force behind this show. He did a spectacular job curating and running the show.
Chace Miller Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Texas' Marchione Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Kinnaird Guitars. Photo: Isaac Jang
Beyond the guitars, Lame Horse also brought out a banjo.
Lame Horse Guitars.
Lame Horse Guitars' headstock.
Halland Guitars.
Notable Woods had a wide array of tone woods on sale for aspiring and established builders.
The Fretboard Journal's Jason Verlinde talking with Meredith Coloma from the Vancouver Guitar Festival, the Pacific Northwest's next big guitar event.
Let’s face it: If you’re a guitar collector, chances are at some point you’ve had to make an excuse or two to your family about your habit. That bright orange case in the corner? Why, yes, it is new… I needed a flight case for our forthcoming Summer vacation…...
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