Busy week

What can sailor do if there is no wind?

This has been busy week for me. We had a gig with Huojuva Komppi last saturday, and after that I went straight to Hanko with my friends Natalia and Kari. We were there late in the evening, and in early in sunday morning we left Hanko to Helsinki. Weather was nice, warm and sunny, but wind could be little stronger. We took our friend Martin's boat to winter storage. We arrived to Helsinki at monday, and I stay there till tuesday.

I didn't forget my luthiery studies, althought I took two days off school. In Helsinki I visited at Millbrook, which is wellknown instrument and instrument parts supplier. Our boar was at Pohjoisranta, and it was near that shop. I also visited at Kitarapaja, which is also good guitar shop and distributor of Martin guitars and ukuleles. I went there pretty early at morning, and there were no other cusomers. I talked with with staff about guitars, and I got nice and interesting presentation about different brace systems what Martin Guitars has used during last 100 years. I also bought interesting book about Martin Ukuleles and their history. At Kauppatori I met a lady, who was selling spectrolite jewerly. Spectrolite is very beautiful gem, that can be found only in Finland. Lady gave me two rounded pieces, that I promised to use as fretboard dot. Or try, if I can grind it.
I went to school at wednesday. I worked with my Jazzmaster templates, and then we got visitors. Two old and honorable luthiers came in. Dr Rauno Nieminen and Mr Matti Nevalainen (Flying Finn Guitars) came to cut some fine wood that was stored in our wood storage. I have I admired those woods with my school mates, but we were told not to touch them. Now we heard that those woods are property of The Finnish Music Foundation and Mr Nevalainen will make instruments from out of them to foundation's instrument bank.
The MES instrument bank acquires, receives, maintains, borrows and leases professional instruments and other music production equipment. The instruments are on display on the MES instrument bank's website, where they can conveniently be booked for studio recording, concerts or personal training. Sound samples have been recorded and uploaded onto the website so that you can choose the right instrument.
The MES instrument bank supports high-quality Finnish instrument building by ordering new instruments from Finnish manufacturers. The 'Suomisoittimia Suomipuusta – Finnish instruments from Finnish wood' project is the bank's special project, made possible by funding from the Finnish Cultural Foundation through its special support in 2017-2019. Those  gentle men are both former teachers of our department. They told us interesting things about wood, heat treatment of wood and luthiery. It is good to hear many perspectives on things.

Spectrolite in maple

At school I took piece of maple and embbed one piece of spectrolite in it. And it works! After I embbed it, I started sanding it and it was beautiful. I showed it to Mr Nevalainen, and he liked it too. I I think I will order more spectrolite for fretboard dots.

Luthier Kai Seppälä from Aurora Guitars

Thursday we had visitors again. Luthier Kai Seppälä from Aurora Guitars came to give his master luthier examination to our teacher Tero and master luthier A-P Paasonen from Jasesoi Musical Instruments. We had the opportunity to listen to this event and ask questions. It was very interesting to hear how he has repaired 57' vintage Gretsch neck joint if somebody has fixed it with epoxy before. There was some other interesting cases too and that was very educational for us. Kai told about his job as a luthier, what he do that, how he do that and why he do that and we can ask questions and he answered to us. There is no better way to learn than listen professionals. I met him two weeks ago when I was at ukulelefestival and try his nice Kanalele ukuleles. His spouse was also with him. They have both graduated from our school years ago and they are both fine luthiers and nice persons.