Can it be? That time so soon? Yes friends it is, it’s time for the last scheduled weekly news page blog update post of the year. And what a year it has been! As always, thanks for taking the time – this will be a few words on a last minute available bass, an old friend and the magic of good from bad, the workshop winter break and what 2020 is looking like, the pushing of my book A Craftsman’s Path, and our Holiday wishes to you!
NOTE: During the break I can be contacted as usual but most likely will be slower to respond, as the phone will not always be on and I won’t be checking the computer every day. But I am here for your questions AND ORDERS (don’t wait ‘til spring, I might be quoting 2021 by then); best to call 512-395-5126 (no texts) and verbally leave your number in your message if you’d like a call back. Please don’t assume I have your number because you called or that I have it with me. Thanks!
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It’s all about the ripples. Here is a “flood wood” bass, being much loved and well used. Before, and after… though “during” would be more correct, as it is on its journey through life. May it go long and far…
Our little town will never forget late 2015 and the personal stories of those directly affected by the flood. It all comes down to that, aside from the convenient bridges and ancient trees by the river we look at in passing in moments of wonder but generally take for granted on our way past to somewhere we have to get. Something we have to do. Someone we have to be. And then, they’re gone – like the empty places at the table, to be thought of as how things used to be. Life is not safe and nature is harsh; sometimes the forest burns as part of a greater balance – but that doesn’t ease the hurt, it merely punctuates the loss.
And then, given time, new blooms come; nature heals itself and looks long and rolls on in cycles. A big-headed little kid sits on phone books in grandpa’s old chair at the table. New love and good times, like the water that swept through in the night and took, now seeps in just as unstoppably through the cracks of damage and somehow we evolve and heal; we carry on. Some living a little differently perhaps, but if we’re here we walk on into the new springtimes that somehow come from the endings of other chapters. You have to look, sometimes really hard… but given time beauty comes from tragedy. “Had that never happened, I would never have been a part of this now” is a realization awkward to reconcile, but gifted a lifetime to look back on, definitely to be noticed in its patterns.
We couldn’t fix the tragedy that happened to those people, those bridges, those trees. We couldn’t even help much given the scope of things – but we all did what we could. I was given a position on this field to play some combination of magician and alchemist – take intangible thoughts and ideas and bring them to life in word and music; take materials and make them sing as wood and wire into others’ lives. And so after a time, we got a plank of Blanco river cypress hundreds of years old, a token piece of how things used to be, and built it into a handful of instruments now long out and spread widely, singing into others’ lives and gifting good vibrations. The best possible outcome for a piece of wood in my perspective, especially wood that has been through and represents so much… and a way to turn the life within it and what happened into something beautiful.
This client sent us pictures just to show us how much music has been made, and shared, and spread outward from this one piece of Wimberley, Texas cypress. There are others, many others with other stories; and there are more ripples than that tree or any could have ever imagined, than this little workshop could have ever planned on, than this builder could have ever dreamed. Take comfort in the ripples you help, even if you never see them – find your faith in that they are there; find peace in the doing where you can; seed a springtime and transcend what has been lost.
It is winter break time, a little longer this year – part of me taking better care of myself as who I am, not as who I was when this run all started at 28 with a tiny music shop in Melrose, Massachusetts. If I’m to drive on through tomorrow, I have to seed that garden now. I’ll also be smearing myself across the spectrum a bit with some music happening and more books, battling technology every step of the way to get it done the way I’m driven to using processes I enjoy. The same way I like Birdsongs to happen – a little tech precision where it does it best but a whole lot more organic handwork somewhere beautiful with real knobs and handles, tape and tools – manifesting a vision. We’ll see how far I get and what comes out. For now, I’m not done yet in here, there a few more to finish up and get out.
For 2020 when we get going? Everyone on the clipboards for the spring and fall batches knows we’ll give 110% to making them very satisfied. So we’ll get the workshop running again sometime in February with new blades, belts and bits and the sunshine and birdsong pouring in through the workshop windows and open doors. Good music will be playing, good people will be served, good work will be happening, and good instruments will be made. All good vibrations in as many forms – it does exist and they do spread, and they go out through our lives into others’ to bring something to their springtimes.
You’ll see the builds page come back to life, along with the Facebook posts and weekly Friday news page updates on March 1st. If you’re a waiting client, you know this is all already factored into your build time estimate, and really a good break will help me hit it like the wild woodgnome I am when it’s time to and give you my highest. There’ll be lots of fun in the workshop for sure, with a handful of lap steel guitars finally getting finished up and slipping out some oddball “Scott” builds here and there, some beautiful D’Aquila Guitars action, more inventory builds,.and few other surprises too.
Speaking of surprises, SD Curlee & Birdsong got mentioned in a Reverb video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXwQkzvcCmc
That’s fantastic, thanks so much Reverb!
Since the ol’ news page will be quiet for a bit, I suggest on YouTube the train riding videos of ranoutonarail, the food travel of Mark Wiens, and the overland adventures of primaloutdoors; on Facebook, Weird Secondhand Finds That Just Need To Be Shared is a fun feed (launch up a bad pun or two for me); in real time, write a song – heck, get that album together you’ve been meaning to, whether it’s just for the kid or to spread over the globe (that’s one of the things I’ll be doing). For reading? MY BOOK from Amazon.com – A Craftsman’s Path! https://www.amazon.com/Craftsmans-Path-Your-Tools-Build/dp/1724518534
Buy a few, five minutes in you’ll think of someone who needs it and you’ll give it away. Thoughts, perspectives & advice about and from the path of a craftsperson - it’s the best seed I could come up with. Above all else - take your time to get and be healthy and centered and to maintain that, share your highest with others, and rock on. Have a wonderful Holiday season however you celebrate, merry Christmas and happy new year to you. Thank you for being with us! All the best from our circle to yours.
Thank you for the opportunity to be of service,
Scott Beckwith
Head cheese & nutty professor
Birdsong Guitars
SD Curlee USA
D’Aquila Guitars