Luthiers' Cruises

IMPORTANT NOTICE!

We have some very sad news: Due to the untimely death of Thomas Humphrey, the Luthiers' Cruise has been cancelled for this year. We are going to regroup and offer a similar Luthiers' Cruise in 2009, with Michael Gurian, Michael Millard, and William Cumpiano.

Sign up for our newsletter to receive further information on the next one!

Mailing List

First Name:

Last Name:

Email Address:

 

*************************************************************************************************************

Master luthiers Gurian, Millard and Humphrey will offer our group talks and demonstrations on the art of building acoustic stringed musical instruments. But you don’t have to be interested in building a guitar (or other musical instruments) yourself to appreciate their insights! Musicians will learn what guitars match their unique style(s) of play. Guitar collectors will learn what features of a guitar most impact long term value. Everyone will learn the myths and realities of caring for an exquisite wooden instrument. And if you also have an interest in building guitars, what better place to ask your questions than among these fellows?? Michael Millard and Thomas Humphrey are often considered among the top 5 current builders worldwide for acoustic steel string and classical guitars, respectively. And Michael Gurian started them both in lutherie, as he did so many other top luthiers today, including William Cumpiano and Jonathan Natelson – authors of the single most respected lutherie book in print, Guitarmaking, Tradition and Technology.

Luthiers' Cruises offer a truly unique venue. Unlike guitar shows, trade shows, festivals, and lutherie instruction, on a Luthiers' Cruise, you have the opportunity not only to meet some of the greatest hand made guitar builders in the world, but to spend time with them in a fun, relaxed and intimate setting. On this cruise, for example, you'll be in an informal and stunningly beautiful setting - the Alaska coastline - and have a largely unstructured environment where conversations can twist, turn, and head in delightfully unexpected directions.

On a Luthiers' Cruise, you can spend an entire week with a small circle of the best guitar makers in the world. You can ask all your burning questions, like: What wood combinations and body styles make the sounds that you like most for your music? What does it mean to “voice” a guitar top? How does a guitar’s finish impact its sound and playability? Is there any decent Brazilian rosewood still available? What’s the future of other tonewoods? Is there a tradeoff in sound when adding inlay to a guitar? Can Uncle Joe’s hand-me-down guitar be fixed, and is it worth it? What was it like to build Paul Simon’s all-time favorite guitar? Did Carly Simon really ride her motorcycle into the elevator at an early Gurian factory??!

Oh, and by the way, this particular Luthiers' Cruise is an historic event you won’t want to miss! This is the first time since approximately 1973 that all three of these guitar makers have been in the same place at the same time!!! This reunion has all the makings of not only profound lutherie insights, but great story telling as well!!!

Celebrity Cruises “Infinity” will leave Seattle, Washington on August 29, 2008, and return on September 5. Aside from eating like royalty and learning from our expert luthiers, we’ll stop in Alaska at Sitka, Juneau, Ketchikan, and then in Victoria, British Columbia. En route we’ll be viewing Hubbard Glacier and traveling the Inside Passage.

Space is very limited, so you should reserve your spot on the Luthiers’ Cruise now!!!

Click here to sign up immediately (you will be redirected to a secure registration form on our Cruise Planners^SM website). Or you can pick up the phone and call Michelle Coffee toll free at 1-877-952-8055.

But don't miss the boat - there are a limited number of cabins available for a limited time only!!!

Mailing List

If you would like to receive information about this and other upcoming Luthiers' cruises, enter your email below to join our mailing list.

Email Address: