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The list below is proof that individuals and manufacturers can act with integrity in a free market economy, by respecting intellectual property rights:

Rik Akashian
Algebra Teacher
SELF-BUILD NOT FOR PROFIT

"I love your site. I'm especially impressed with your "thinking outside the box" as they say nowadays. I'm a teacher with summer vacation coming up in a few weeks, and I'd really like to get started building my first bass. I've never built a guitar, and I've never even owned a bass, but I can't imagine paying for a bass knowing that I could have made it better, or at least more to my specifications, had I started from scratch.

So after spending a lot of time researching on the web and thinking up mod ideas, I realized that Orchid has the best combination of features that I want to try out, and it'd be great if I could get some coaching on how to accomplish some things.

Since this would be my first build, I want to keep it as simple as I can, and since I am currently poor, I'd like to keep it as inexpensive as I can. Another important spec is that it take as little time as possible, so that I can get it done! :) I'm thinking of this really as a "prototype" experiment using many of the Orchid ideas. So in many senses, I guess it's not really "Orchid" anyway - I'm imagining the end result to be slapped-together collection of whatever I can find, badly-cut, with a botched finish, but with approximately the same shape. I'm not gigging with it - heck I can't even play bass yet - so my main goal is for it to look and sound good enough to get a go-ahead from my wife and others to keep experimenting.

Actually I gather that I may really be trying to make the one you're making for Monster. I'm figuring to go headless, and I'm considering how to make the tuners. I like your lever idea a lot, and I'm also considering those by "Scott" from Redeemer. I may also want to try going thru-body with the tuners on back, and maybe that would be the deciding factor?

So much of the advice I'll want to ask in the next weeks would be on shortcuts that would benefit me as a first-timer. I'll be interested to ask you about how much compromise I'll be introducing by using Lowe's and thrift stores as my main sources for various parts, and maybe pick your brain about where I might source other substitutes.

That was longer than I intended, so I'm behinder than I care to be. Thanks for your inspiration, and I hope you have some moments to assist my intro to the craft. -rik akashian

ps. In San Diego (for your map)"

Bill Teitge
Hobbyist Luthier
SELF-BUILD NOT FOR PROFIT

"Hello, Rick. My name is Bill Teitge, I'm pretty much a hobbyist luthier these days and I'm very interested in the trapezoidal neck construction you invented. I think it would be fair to let you know more about me before hand, as one should at least properly introduce themselves, and since I have read about you on your website it's my turn.

I started in lutherie in 2003 when I attended the Brian Galloup School of Lutherie in Big Rapids, MI. I had an illusion that I could run my own business after I got out, so I made around 30 guitars between the time I opened my small scale shop in 2003 till 2005. I closed because I just wasn't making enough money to live, and about a year later I got a job with a semi-famous guitar manufactuer in WI. It really wasn't what I called guitar building, more like placing wood in various CNC machines and gluing them up and spraying them with some amazingly poisonous finish. Did the guitars sound great? Sure, but it wasn't for me, too much automation.

Anyhow I moved back home and I'm just doing a job to make the money to live and spending what time I can building for friends & family (my brother-in-law is a mad skilled Jazz Cat) and for myself. I only charge them for parts and supplies. It's my way of getting quality instruments to people I KNOW can not afford good guitars and basses, yet can play very, very well. Honestly its been the same 3 people or so, but still!

Soon I'm planning on a cool bass for myself, I would really like to try the trapezoidal neck profile design. Like I mentioned, this would only be for me and would be touted as a personal prototype and not offered to anyone, as I work for free and that wouldn't be fair to you.

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to learning from you!

Bill

PS: I totally agree with your political opinions, I'm voting Ron Paul this election year even if it's a protest vote. It's nice to see a Paul supporter boldly proclaim their support on their site!"

Craig Gorsuch
CAD Specialist
SELF-BUILD NOT FOR PROFIT

"Stumbled across your site while looking for replacement parts for my bass...  (Need a replacement neck for my lefty Peavey Foundation, which they don't offer parts for anymore.)  Hoping to rebuild it to a 6-string thru body.  I digress...

Saw the Orchid bass and was floored by it's design.  Absolutely beautiful!  Then I looked at your Lever Tuner design...  Again, floored!

You are obviously doing what you enjoy, and producing quality instruments.  If I had enough skill in the woodshop, I'd be making my new bass from scratch.  As it is, I'll be using the "kit of parts" from various manufacturer's.

I honestly wish I had the money to have you build "Lefty".  As it is, I'm in the early planning phases (prior to counting my $$$) and doing some preliminary design.  I've attached a PNG of "Lefty" for you to see what you've inspired.  At best, this project will likely not be started until next year.

Maple neck with purpleheart accent stripe
Ebony fingerboard
Alder body wings with Black Walnut veneer (from my black walnut tree that died in the front yard a few years ago)
Inverse, in-line headstock (for additional tension on the heaver strings)
Black hardware

Thank for your time and attention...  If and when I begin this project, I'll be certain to keep you abreast of my progress.  Enjoy the holiday weekend."

Tom Lubelczyk
American Music Revolution
SELF-BUILD NOT FOR PROFIT

"I am a bassist that toys around with making basses, until recently it's mostly been pulling basses apart and piecing new ones together, but I am starting to make them from scratch. I somehow stumbled on your site the other night and I am very intrigued by your trapezoidal neck design. I have had my share of hand and arm problems due to playing (upright too) in the past, so I am always on the lookout for new designs that are body friendly, I also like interesting looks as well. Anyhow, I saw that you like people to ask for permission to copy your designs, so I was wondering if you don't mind if I try to copy it in one of my upcoming creations. Don't worry I don't sell instruments just make them for myself.

"I do have a few of my creations on one of my myspace page. 'The Millennium Falcon,' the 'Jazz Bass' and the 'License Plate Bass' are things I've done. They are on my myspace page. You must keep in mind that mostly was going for pickup combinations and not beauty (especially on the 'Millennium Falcon) and also that these are pieced together not made from scratch. I have been toying around with things for a while, mostly sketching ideas and doing research, but now I'm finally putting my money where my mouth is and starting to make stuff. Thankfully my dad is a master craftsman and can help me with woodworking advice and he's been hooking me up with wood too, but all in all I'm still learning. The one thing I can offer, however, are my musical efforts. If you go to Americanmusicrevolution.com you can download all of my compositions (for free)."