Musical Musings
If I had a blog, I would call it “Musical Musings” or some other big kinda name so folks might stop in and see what’s up, here in Southern West Virginia, from a Luthier’s point of view.
My name is Raven J. Ravary, and I am just about finished making a website called Infinity Archtops, with the constant help of my old buddy Tiny, who makes the improbable seem mundane. It is a different set of skills that he demonstrates, and a great deal of patience. Together we hope to present my instruments to the world in a favorable light.
I have never written, or even read a blog before. I don’t know where to start. I can certainly ramble on for hours about the art of Lutherie, with several digressions into very specific corridors, but just jumping into the middle of a conversation that’s been going on for centuries is a little weird. Maybe I should just go with the level truth about what’s up at Infinity this week…
I am shipping out a new Baritone Archtop Ukulele to a client in Florida, and have just finished making the shipping box. Sound a bit boring? Not to me…, it’s yet another important but small step in a big long line of them. Lots of small steps. But this parting act is special. It is a small challenge to find some strong material, size it up to your needs, and cut/ paste your way to a good, solid box, but all the while you get to reflect that the journey of creation is over for this one.
The frets are polished, the electronics work, and the hand rubbed finish is glowing like a lantern. The tuners stand ready for duty and everything is as nice as it will ever be. All I have to do is close the case and slide it into the box, with the structural foam stiffeners, and tape it shut. Oh, Happy Day!
I can’t wait to get back to the bench and begin again…
I have the wood picked out, and the model. I am trying to put aside some time. I want to make an Octave Mandolin again. The last one sold too quick. I didn’t get to play it very much at all, and then it was gone. My buddy Ryan got that one, and has been smiling ever since. He brought it back… to have me put a pickup into it a few weeks ago. He thought that his setup at gigs would be easier ( with a pickup, he would no longer need a second microphone), it would make him more mobile, and I have to say that particular octave mandolin sounds even better with some amplitude.
But it is rare for me to see my instruments again after they leave. So, this latest Baritone gets the sentimental treatment as it goes out of my sight and into the case for the first big time. Hopefully it will have a long and beautiful life. And stay in tune. And…be a good friend. I try to tell myself that’s going a bit too far, but that’s the ultimate goal, isn’t it? If that lucky Baritone somehow gets into the right hands, to find expression through the singular interaction between player, wood and strings, then memories and magic are the only possible outcome.