I'm starting this new thread to list those who contribute to the Foundation. Some may be past or future HG.net Forum users as before, some are just being generous to our cause, and this is a public thank you. Since the mass email announcement this week, we have inspired a few old and new folks, including: Supporting
Muriel Anderson (who needs no introduction)
Chris Bucklen (so excited he forgot he has just done it a couple months ago)
Ken Bonfield (a fine 6-string and bari player who STILL doesn't own an HG, but supports our work here...ps: he's an old East Coast buddy of Frank Doucette)
Erik Hofmann, from France, who has built a couple modern theorboed guitars whilst simultaneously restoring antique gutiars and researching guitar history (with new book in the works)
Patron
Neal Rudy (Gathering attendee and multiple HG owner)
Veronica Merryfield (a builder who is still in the brainstorming stage for her first HG. I met her up at the GAL convention in 2006 where she (and Jason from the Fretboard Journal) kindly helped me set up my HG exhibit.)
Both Neal and Veronica are past HG.net patrons, making a second generous contribution. With Veronica expressing interest in a periodic donation, we have instituted a new system, wherein we will track and highlight multiple donations. Here is how it is explained on the Donations page:
HTML clipboardFeel free to make additional donations any time you wish. We will add an asterisk (*) symbol next to your name to denote each additional donation in that level. If you reach 10 accrued donations, we will move you up to the next category of donors. This is for the benefit of those who wish to support the Foundation but do not always have funds to do so. We have chosen not to put a limit or strict schedule on any "installment plan," but leave it to your discretion and ability to make donation payments when and how you can.
Thank you all! __________________ Gregg Miner, editor, Harpguitars.net
A big thank you to Tom Blackburn for a new Patron donation! Tom is searching for his first harp guitar. I'm trying to talk him into HGG7 as the place to window shop....
And grateful thanks to Claude Laflamme from Quebec for a Patron donation. Claude is a fingerstyle player still getting accustomed to his new Doolin-copy instrument built by luthier Michel Pellerin (images here).
Thanks also to Mark Dropkin from New York for his Supporting donation. Mark is shopping for his first HG and one of several potential shoppers lately whom I've been trying to convince to make the pilgrimage to HGG7. __________________ Gregg Miner, editor, Harpguitars.net
A new Foundation Benefactor has just made a substantial donation: Franco Ghisalberti, whom readers should know well from his incredible efforts in collecting information, documents and photos on harp guitar virtuoso Pasquale Taraffo and also the Italian harp guitars of Gazzo and many others. Thank you, Franco - you have indeed ensured that this work will be available to all for many decades - and likely centuries - to come!
Thanks to Melle Weijters from Amsterdam for a Supporting Donation. I see that Melle is a fretless electric guitar player who also plays a nice Gibson Style U. Welcome!
Just received a Supporting donation from Canadian luthier Tony Karol, currently working on two HG builds...thanks, Tony!
And thanks also to Graham McDonald for a Supporting Donation (2, actually)! Graham (from Australia) wrote The Bouzouki Book and more recently The Mandolin Project, which includes plans & instructions for building some of the more popular mandolins and also a nice history chapter. He's working on an expanded edition of the latter (with more harp-mandos, I hope!).
Also received additional Supporting Donations from Bob Hartman, Chuck Thompson and Joe Giacoio (who played in the HGG concert this year) - much appreciated, guys!
P.S. Joe, your email is bouncing back - please register for the Forum with your own password.
Originally Posted by Gregg Just received a Supporting donation from Canadian luthier Tony Karol, currently working on two HG builds...thanks, Tony! < snip >
So Tony is finally getting around to his harp guitar builds, good for him! I was about five minutes away from sending him a deposit when Gregg posted the Noble (that I quickly purchased) up for sale on Harp Guitar Music 2 years ago. I just read through my correspondence with Tony over his HG's. I don't want to spoil the surprise so I will let Tony describe his instruments. However, I can tell you that he's putting a new slant on an old design. I'm still tempted to get one of his. The main reasons I didn't before was that after everything was said and done the Noble came in a little less then the Karol would have cost me. The big plus was that I didn't have to wait eight months. (It just seemed like it.)
__________________ the Dreamer
(a.k.a. Dreamin' Stephen)
Living life on the edge. Less crowded, better view.
And "Bad Drew Baldwin" officially joins us with a Supporting Donation. Thanks, pal! For those of you who missed it, Drew and his buddy Juke Joint Johnny were HGG7 featured performers and alone worth the price of registration. They need to be touring...what chops! What songs! What nerve!
Originally Posted by Gregg Thanks to Scott Sanford from Islip, NY for a Patron level donation! Scott will be showing up Sunday at the Gathering with his Mike Brittain HG.
Very short stay with you all... What, 1300+ miles for 3 hours... And the flu as a result. What dedication....
Unfortunately, the Brittain had sustained significant damage from an earlier FedEx mishap, and the repair has failed again. Looks like I will be harp-less for a while...
Thanks to Charles Johnson of the long-established Mandolin World Headquarters for a new Supporting Donation! And Scott Burwell for his Patron Donation. You'll be hearing much ado about Scott in the future, I have a feeling...suffice it to say, he is a new (and already amazing) harp guitarist, a new friend (to SB and myself, but also to many who met him at the Gathering), and the brains behind a new instrument that is soon to rock (and change) our world.
Apologies to David White (De Foite Stringed Instruments in the U.K.), who I omitted in the previous note. A generous Patron Donation received. Thank you!
