I'm moving to a bigger shop, need some help

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estebanana

Posts: 9354
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

I'm moving to a bigger shop, need so...

I've made a deal to move to a larger more raw work space that will suit my guitar making and be better for my health. I need some help raising the money to get in. If you ever thought about getting a guitar from me it would be a great time to commission a guitar. The landlord likes what I'm doing and is very supportive, he's going to let me break the up the move in costs over a few months, but I'm still not able to swing it alone.

The space is in Alameda CA about three miles from my current location in Oakland. It's four times as big as the small studio I have been suffering in the last few years. I've been building and repairing in a room that is 9 feet x 12 feet with a small annex for the band saw. I've got so much work to do I can't lay out repair projects and building projects at the same time and it has been choking down my production, not to mention morale. There is also a bad air system here and I have been breathing too much dust. Over the last year I've had respiratory problems. All this needs to change and change fast.

In the new space I will have room to set up enough free bench space to teach guitar making tutorials at night and on weekends. I'm going to put together classes for reasonable rates to learn rosette making and other practical guitar making techniques. And I will open up the shop for private or group lessons in guitar making. It's been an aspiration of mine for some time to be able to teach some of the parts of guitar making that I am good at. And I may be able to host guest guitar makers to teach tutorials in areas that they specialize in. I'll also have more room to lay out repair work.

If you are able to donate a small amount I would be deeply appreciative and will apply any donation towards repair, guitar making lessons or the commissioning of a guitar. I'm going to open up the offer one more time for a Port Orford guitar at a special price. I'll take three more orders for this kind of guitar. You can see the details here:

http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=168349&mpage=1&p=1&tmode=1&smode=1&key=

I will also take commissions for any other guitars right now and if you contact me personally I will work with you on prices. If you guys can help me out I may be able to keep a line of flamenco prices reasonable for a hand made guitar because I'll have enough space to build a few at a time and work faster. I've taken people in and coached them in different parts of guitar making and never asked for money so I'm calling in my good karma over the years and asking for some help and opening up the possibility for reasonably priced formal classes.

Thank you for reading through,

Stephen

contact me at:
stephen.faulk@gmail.com

my phone number is here:
http://www.stephenfaulk.com/

_____________________________

https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2012 19:52:42

TANúñez

Posts: 2559
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
From: TEXAS

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

quote:

I've been building and repairing in a room that is 9 feet x 12 feet with a small annex for the band saw.

I feel your pain, my previous shop in my previous home was roughly that size. Since we moved into our new home in January, I haven't been able to build. I'm going to have to convert another small room into a shop again. I have plans to build a big shop above our garage in the new home as we have plenty of room there for an addition.

It's hard to breath and work in such a small environment and when things get cluttered as they often do, I can't seem to concentrate. I'm too much of a neat freak!

_____________________________

Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2012 20:08:34

Jeff Highland

Posts: 401
Joined: Mar. 5 2010
From: Caves Beach Australia

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

Good luck on this Steven .
Sounds like a very positive move despite the initial difficulties.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2012 20:15:56

estebanana

Posts: 9354
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

Thanks, I'm just going to take a risk because I know it will work out.

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https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2012 20:20:27

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

Stephen, good luck. I'm also moving to a new shop next month as I've been sharing a space with another guitar maker for 2 1/2 years. Luckily business is good so I think I can do it all without a loan but it will probably mean working some 60+ hour weeks to keep my output up and cash coming in while setting up...
Anyway good luck and if I could afford to order a guitar from another luthier yours would be my first choice..

_____________________________

Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2012 20:27:47

estebanana

Posts: 9354
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

Thanks Andy, quite a statement!

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https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2012 20:30:06

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

Good luck Stephen. I might be moving far away soon. The reason is not the economical crisis but something a LOT more important

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Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2012 20:54:11

estebanana

Posts: 9354
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

It's difficult to find spaces that support guitar making, good luck Anders. I had to jump on this one in a split second they go fast.

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https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2012 21:23:42

paul.troutfisher

Posts: 161
Joined: Feb. 16 2011
From: Danville, CA

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

quote:

Good luck Stephen. I might be moving far away soon. The reason is not the economical crisis but something a LOT more important

Sounds like a women.

Stephen,

Alamenda is great. I'll have to come down and take one of your classes. Congrats!

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troutie

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2012 22:39:52

estebanana

Posts: 9354
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

You're in Danville? That just up the road. Lot drier out there.

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https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2012 23:02:53

paul.troutfisher

Posts: 161
Joined: Feb. 16 2011
From: Danville, CA

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

Yep in Danville, but still gets wet in the winter. i need to find a way to button up my shop more. I built these cool sliding barn doors. They look great, but don't seal well.

I too hope to someday teach luthier classes in my shop. It would be a way of staying social and making a little money on the side once I retire. I'm turning 50 this year, but with three kids to put through college it will be a long time before I retire. But that is my long term plan; make furniture and guitars. I have 15 years to learn this trade, assuming I can retire at 65, I think I can.... I think I can.....

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troutie

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2012 23:17:25

Gummy

Posts: 495
Joined: Nov. 27 2005
From: North Carolina, USA

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

It must be a woman with a nice sailboat...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2012 0:55:58

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

quote:

Sounds like a women.

Kind off. But the other way round. My wife has ALS

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Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2012 7:37:41

machopicasso

Posts: 973
Joined: Nov. 27 2010

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

Ah, man, I'm very sorry to hear that. Good for you for sticking by her side.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2012 10:13:50

ralexander

Posts: 797
Joined: Jun. 1 2010
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

Stephen - I'm so glad to read that you're taking this opportunity. It's clear that you've been suffering for a while and something needed to change. You seem to be getting busier all the time, so at the very least you should have space to work and be feeling good about your success instead of physically and creatively cramped. I'm excited for ya - best of luck getting moved, if I was local you can be sure I'd be there to lug some boxes!

I'm sending you an email now...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2012 11:54:37

paul.troutfisher

Posts: 161
Joined: Feb. 16 2011
From: Danville, CA

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

Crap - I'm so sorry.

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troutie

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2012 13:11:07

Stephen Eden

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

Damn man I wish I could help out to! If I wasn't getting ready to sell my place and buy a new place I would for sure offer a loner.

I am almost sitting in the same boat my shop is alittle longer than yours but I am blessed by very high cielings. Saves alot of room to hang all of the guitars and also to build tall shelves.

Teaching guitar making can cirtainly be a pretty lucrative business. Stephen Hills courses are always booked up way in advance. at 3500 EUROS a place you don't need a calculater to tell you thats some good money for 4 weeks work! Which is also extremely fun too!

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Classical and Flamenco Guitars www.EdenGuitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2012 14:36:29

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

This with my wife. Yeah, its not so good, but lets keep it out of this thread. I´m sorry Stephen.

Stephen. You´ll find a way. If you have work, then dont bother, things will be sorted out. I hope you get a couple of those moving orders so that you can be running again.
When I move somewhere else, I might start working with something else, still having a workshop and still building instruments, but maybe less and having something else to kind of giving a helping hand when its needed. Anyways, it can be a good thing to get out of the workshop and seing something else and not only be mr. guitarmaker.

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Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2012 15:39:18

estebanana

Posts: 9354
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

Here's a picture of part of the new shop.

Thank you for all the support and especially to the Foro's own Juan and Jason Y. who came over and helped me move tools and wood from old shop to new shop.

Thank guys I could not have done it by myself.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (1)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 9 2012 1:31:44

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: I'm moving to a bigger shop, nee... (in reply to estebanana)

Nice workshop with Lots of space.

The dilemma is always that space is good, but requires more heating, dehumidifying air cleaning. My ideal workshop will have a pretty small assembly room and a rough room with a big door inbetween.

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Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 9 2012 6:52:05