apartmentluthier Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Haven't heard a peep from Michael for nearly a month. We are all suffering withdrawl symptoms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddycreek Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 I was wondering the same thing myself. I'm fairly new to the board and he was one of my favorite advice givers. Michael are you there????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMORI Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Someone mentioned that he was on a "violin tour". Whatever that means. But, I think I have recently detected some waning of interest in this forum from some of the more "senior guys". Maybe it has become a bit boring answering and discusssing the same questions, albeit asked differently, over and over and over.....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesRist Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 I frequent another site called FerrariChat.com and to give people some breathing space there's a HUGE "Off Topic" section. That's where longer term users spend more of their time because as you said, there's only so many times you can go over the same ground. You should try that here. Best! Wes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Holmes Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 We probably all need a break every once in a while. I'll bet Michael pops in again after a while... when a subject comes up that interests him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesRist Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 It's none of my business Jeffrey, but y'know what I would do? I would send an invite directly to other makers around the country listing the benefits of posting and being involved in this site. I think it has raised the profile of not just Michael's work, but others that have been mentioned. I guess it's just the 'business man' side of me coming out. Hope you don't mind. Best! Wes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 I don't want to be argumentative, but I don't think Michael's "profile" as maker ever enters into the equation regarding his postings on Maestronet. On the one hand, I don't think it gets him more customers, and on the other hand, his posts don't carry the weight they do because he is a what he is as maker. It's his extensive experience in many areas of lutherie on the one hand (apart from making) and on the other his intellectual ability to interpret, organize, and communicate his knowledge. Also, I think he is a compulsive teacher, in the sense that his involvement with his subject makes it practically impossible not to talk about it. Speaking from my own perspective of half-a-lifetime of teaching: students need teachers, but teachers also need students - but, as has been suggested, they need breaks at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andres Sender Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Jacob's already said part of this very well, but: Wes, not all makers are created equal. In my experience the ones who have knowledge at the level Michael does usually don't have time or inclination to post much or at all on the web. As to beneficial effects of such posting, I gather the consensus is that for makers at Michael's level the benefit to them is effectively: none. Michael wasn't here because of your supposed 'benefits', he was here because he had some crazy rare love of sharing what he knew where it was most needed. That he managed to sustain that in the face of the shameless mental slovenliness and outright rudeness he often got in return was even more amazing than the fact that he had it in the first place. As for the sort of maker who might answer the cattle-call you suggest, I'd trade as many of them as you can turn up for one MD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skreechee Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Hmmm, I liked Michael - he helped me a lot this first year of learning and I hope he has not gone for good but I don't like the attitude some members have on here. All this mud throwing isn't nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chronos Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Quote: Wes, not all makers are created equal. In my experience the ones who have knowledge at the level Michael does usually don't have time or inclination to post much or at all on the web. In fact, I recall Michael suggesting that some makers felt he was sharing too much of what he knows with the rest of the world. Frankly, I doubt there are many professional makers willing to share so much of what they know. I hope he wasn't kidnapped by the Secret Order of Violin Orthodoxy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Weaver Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 I haven't been here as often lately but an entire month without Michael is distressing. His insights are the most insightful and entertaining I have encountered on this board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Holmes Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Hey ya'll! Michael's not dead... As I said, he's probably just taking a break! Wes; There are several makers I know who follow the board and some post every now and again. As far as the effect of posting on this forum goes, I'm sure there are indirect benefits for those of us in the business, but direct ones are difficult to quantify. While I have had site referrals from the M-net home page, I can't think of a large restoration I've pulled in, or a rare consignment, or a sale that can be directly credited to the discussion board. On the other hand, I'm busy enough as it is, so I don't want to pull in large restoration projects or sale inquiries unless they are deadly serious (although a Strad consignment might be nice!). Also, I moderate the forums on a volunteer basis. I'm not a partner in Maestronet. I think those of us who participate do so because we enjoy it... and take a break for a while when the fun goes out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_W Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 Quote: I frequent another site called FerrariChat.com and to give people some breathing space there's a HUGE "Off Topic" section. That's where longer term users spend more of their time because as you said, there's only so many times you can go over the same ground. You should try that here. Best! Wes This website used to have something like that--"The Soapbox", but if I remember correctly things got too contentious there and the moderators chose to close it, and some posters left the Maestronet Forums in protest or something. It's interesting to me that it had such problems; I also participate in other forums that successfully maintain "off topic" sections without the high emotions that this one seemed to generate! Maybe naming it "The Soapbox" was just asking for trouble... -Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken_barlow Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 A Darnton-free pegbox does seem weird, and I'm a fan of his postings too. But there are other top makers who are still posting regularly (eg the one with the bonny bairns!)and are equally generous about sharing their hard-earned expertise with us galoots. Actually, though,I think the board as a whole has gone a bit dead. I personally miss postings from other relative beginners like Seth Leigh, which I also found interesting. It's actually very helpful to hear about problems other beginners have encountered and how they overcame them. That doesn't seem to happen so much anymore. Also, the 200 posting limit on searches has diminished the "Archival" quality of the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMORI Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 I must say that in the 8 months or so that I have been participating in this forum I have not seen too many "high emotions". Maybe I am not perceptive enough or a member long enough to have seen it. Although, there are certainly going to be differences of opinion, that is the nature of this "off beat" passion of ours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guta Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 Here is an easy way to liven up the board. Just try posting a strongly felt but controversial opinion. Any volunteers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Tucker Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 I Strad were born today, he'd probably change the design of the violin somewhat... Plus, he'd probably own every power tool available. (and use them) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Tucker Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 Guffaw! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guta Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 Current research indicates that Del Gesu made only the scrolls for his violins- the rest was done by apprentices--- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HongDa Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 I remember things getting pretty lively when ISOC was around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Tucker Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 Ahh, here we are, back to the original topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsr Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 Dunno...but being a learner...I miss his pithy and educational comments. Last I remember he was informing all of a luthiers meeting and encouraging them to appear. Sure hope he has not abondonded this forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Option1 Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 Add my name to the list of those who miss Mr Darnton's doses of reality. He possesses a great ability to sum up a situation and define a sensible direction. Oh and I also enjoy his superb photographic skills. His photographic essay on making a viola is one of the best of this type of essay (on the construction of anything) that I've ever seen and a must read. It's still up on his site and even as someone who'll most likely never craft an instrument it's an essay that still fascinates me. Having said all that, I certainly understand his desire to take breaks from posting. I just hope he'll be back again in the not too distant future. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy_Gallo Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 Post deleted by falstaff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauricio Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 Pegbox without Michael is like "American Idol" without Simon. Not fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.