Dan Erlewine is a luthier. He built "Lucy" for Albert King. He also wrote the book on guitar repair. That's not hyperbole, he wrote the book. The Guitar Players Repair Guide, now in its 3rd edition. So, me emailing him about a problem was almost like, in comparable terms, a starting guitar player emailing Eric Clapton about how to play guitar.
So imagine my surprise when he emailed me back. Within about 45 minutes.
Anyway, I was having problems setting the intonation on this bands guitars. They play in what's called Drop D tuning, which is where you tune the lowest string, the E, to D. I could set the intonation correctly on all the other strings, but that one. And I couldn't figure out why. And that drove me nuts. I asked on a few guitarists forums, but nobody seemed to give me a straight answer (one jackass actually responded with "set the intonation." No kidding. I wonder if he even read what I was asking). So, finding that Mr. Erlewine's email was on his site...I said "screw it" and went straight to the top, as it were. I mean, what would it hurt? And like I said, about 45 minutes later, he responded.
I feel much better about it now. He was candid and helpful. He made me realize that at the time, there wasn't much I could have done, and that what could be done might very well be outside my scope of expertise, which is true. I felt so bad because I felt I had failed my friend that called in the favor, and the band he was working with. He assuaged that, and I'm still feeling confident I can be a competent guitar tech.
He's the man, and thank you once again, Mr. Erlewine for your help.
Generous man, humble man, approachable man. Genius.
ReplyDeleteAnd good on ya for going straight to the top.
How's the Queen? She's all good? Give her my love.
Hi! I am a beginner hand drummer, and I am in awe of those who can play any instrument well, but one of the things that shocked me about the music crowd is how much they share - even more so than the blogging crowd.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, a lot of it is to do about showing respect.
I have the privilege of being exposed to a number of top players and THEY sometimes engage ME in conversation about music, and even answer questions about techniques that I struggle with and they mastered years ago.
I am not surprised my your "hero's" response, but also I think it' because if you are contacting a "hero", ne would normally think carefully before doing so - we usually want mutual respect, not to be a suck-up or be dismissed.
I think it reflects well on the way you approached him, and you were probably humble yourself!!! LOL ;)
I hope you enjoy your passion - I get so much joy out of mine!
How lovely to be treated with such respect and dignity by a man so eminent in his field.
ReplyDeleteNow, if only you could get everyone else who actually knows you to take you a little seriously..
Titter.
David -
ReplyDeleteShe's good, and will do.
And yeah, incredibly approachable. We exchanged a few follow up emails as well. I am completely in awe. He could have easily ignored it, the modern day equivalent of "go away kid, ya bother me" but he didn't. He's the man.
ozlady -
ReplyDeleteI actually did sort of gush over him in my first email, saying how much I love his book and how easy it was to follow and read, etc. So in hindsight, who knows how he took to that.
Carol -
ReplyDeleteShaddup. :D
I'm guessing there's a reason he GOT to the top, and it wasn't by being a smartass on message boards.
ReplyDeleteAlas, there's no help for me then, either, under that logic.