The collecting of links to relevant sites has been around since the internet began (well before www). It still suffers from the same problems; relevance, lack of completeness, and obsolescence. Having said that, link lists are still the best way to corral the information necessary to efficiently navigate the internet, and with a bit of work satisfy this need. When they are started (this is March of 2012), they tend to be either incomplete, tentative or poorly organized. As time passes, if they are well maintained, they become more useful and usable. Let’s hope that happens here.
We’ll start with links to link-lists compiled by others, keeping in mind the above.
Link Lists Complied Elsewhere
(Well, what would you call it?)
- G.A.L. Links & Resources – Organizations, Publications & Periodicals. Link List from the Guild of American Luthiers.
Luthier Associations
- The American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers. Recognized and qualifed professional makers working in the USA and Canada.
- Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans (ASIA). Quarterly magazine, conferences, instrument shows. Their focus is on guitars, banjos, mandolins, and all other sort of fretted stringed instruments.
- The British Violin Making Association (BVMA). Quarterly journal
- The Galpin Society. A (British) society for the study of the history and construction of musical instruments. Annual journal.
- The Guild of American Luthiers
- Guitar Foundation of America publishes Soundboard magazine, annual conventions and competitions.
- Hardanger Fiddle Association of America dedicated to preserving Norwegian music, dance and vocal music.
- Historical Violin & Viola da braccio Research and Reconstruction if you like violins then this is the page for you.
- International Society of Folk Harpers and Craftsmen. Publishes Folk Harp Journal.
- Lute Society of America quarterly magazine, annual journal, meetings.
- The Lute Society (of England) Quarterly, Lute News and annual scholarly journal,The Lute, plans and tablatures.
- Luthier Built connects players of string musical instruments with independent instrument makers and restorers.
- Luthier’s Interactive of North Texas (LINT) meets 6x/yr. covers construction and repair of stringed instruments.
- Luthier’s Library is a growing database providing a consistent, comprehensive and affordable source of detailed measurements, photos and information about instruments from private collections and museums.
- New Violin Family Association. Focus on violin octet, drawings available, concerts, music, newsletter.
- The Sacramento Valley Luthiers Guild organization for sharing of information and promotion of local luthiers.
- SoundWood/Fauna & Flora International action organization dedicated to the preservation of trees used for instruments. Publishes newsletter Fauna & Flora News.
- Southern California Association of Violin Makers. Monthly meetings and bulletins; periodic exhibitions.
- Stringed Instrument Makers of Southern California (SIMSCal) holds quarterly meetings in Los Angeles/Orange County area.
- Tremolo, dedicated to mandolin, balalaika, guitar and related musical instruments.
- Viola da Gamba Society of America non-profit organization dedicated to the viola da gamba in the U.S. and abroad.
- Violin Makers Association of Arizona International monthly journal VMAAI, annual convention; violin making competition.
- Violin Society of America (VSA) Journal of the Violin Society of America and quarterly newsletter; meetings and competitions
- Violinnetwork – get more information beyond your imagination about violin,viola,cello,bass and also violin makers,violinists and violin teachers.
Periodicals
- The Strad monthly magazine, violin family information for players, makers, and historians.
- String Letter Publishing, Inc. publishes Acoustic Guitar and Strings magazine.
- Vintage Guitar magazine.
Forums
Wood Conservation
- African Blackwood Conservation Project (ABCP). Nonprofit organization. On-line newsletter.
Other
- The American Musical Instrument Society (AMIS). Promoting the study of all aspects of the history, design, construction, restoration, and usage of musical instruments in all cultures and from all periods. Produces an annual journal.