Friday, March 16, 2012

Apollo Guitars

It all began with my slippery tear-drop-shaped bouzouki and a sore upper back and neck that the strap on my bouzouki makes even worse and the thought that a guitar-shaped bouzouki (a la Andy Irvine) would be so much easier to hold. That's when I remembered Nikos Apollonio, the luthier who made Susie Bowman's "catboat" guitar (a gorgeous instrument that is clamored for and coveted at a session), also, my friend Bob Denton had just taken delivery of a Nikos-made bouzouki, praises for which could be heard all the way from Tucson.

After the initial and rather humorous realization that Nik's shop is in Maine, not Massachusetts ("I'm in Brookline, I'll just drive up to Rockport tomorrow afternoon;" wait, what's this about the ME Tnpk - must be a typo...), and combined with having learned - coincidentally, the day before - of my dear friends Barb and Lee's imminent relocation from Maine to Washington state; also knowing that the impending Vineyard busy season would preclude any traveling until at least next January, I cleared my calendar for the 3 1/2-hour drive/two-day visit to Maine's mid-coast.

It was a wonderful couple of days. This violin maker's daughter found Nikos' shop fascinating - watching the process (and participating in the selection) of preparing the wood and bending the sides for my "gui-zouki" was worth the trip, alone. Playing tunes with Nik (along with being a skilled craftsman, Nik is also a fabulous musician, composer, and all-around great guy), attending a local trad session, and spending time with Barbara and Lee were also among the highlights of my visit. Just being in Maine was a treat - you see, even though I travel every week between Boston and the Vineyard, I never actually go anywhere - my commutes are simply from one bedroom to another, so it was fun breaking away from my well-worn path for a change, albeit briefly.

Nick's web site, here.

Nik on Facebook.

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio



Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio



Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio



Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio
A bell-shaped cittern, in progress.

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio



Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio
Preparing to thin-slice a piece of mahogany which will ultimately become the sides of my instrument.


Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio


Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio



Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio
Milling a slab of spruce, a possible contender for the top of my gui-zouki.

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio


Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio
Examining the spruce. Nik has a deep understanding of wood and which qualities - grain, density - will make an instrument sound in a particular way. This piece was ultimately rejected due to its being water stained.


Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio


Apollo Guitars, Nikos Apollonio, Nicholas Apollonio
A stash of spruce seasons in a sunny window.


Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio
Preparing the sound-box mold.


Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio
Moxie, the curious kitten, investigates.

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio
 
Preparing the water bath. After being boiled for about an hour, the mahogany will be pliable enough to bend around the mold.


Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio
Bending, fitting, and clamping along the way.
Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio
Both sides are now clamped onto the mold.

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio
After a couple of days, the sides will be dry enough to remove from the mold. According to my most recent e-mail from Nik, the end blocks are now in.

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio
Not only does Nik build beautiful instruments, he also plays them beautifully. Here, Nik plays his bell cittern, a full-bodied and rich-sounding instrument that also features outstanding action and play-ability. Nik is an entirely self-taught luthier and has made instruments for prominent musicians (and fellow Mainers) such as Paul Noel Stookey and Gordon Bok.

Apollo Guitars, Nikos Appolonio, Nicholas Appolonio
Lee and Barbara, over in Orland. I've known Barbara and Lee since I was ten years old. Lee, a boatman and woodworker, sent me home with a sweet little wooden model of a Galway hooker, a traditional Irish fishing boat, along with a much-admired (during previous visits) hand-made wooden bench.

7 comments:

  1. Capturing an artisan at his best! Beautiful. I just saw Ale Moller kill with his cittern-like instrument. I can't wait to hear yours. --Fiddling Fool

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  2. Me too - can't wait, it's going to be gorgeous. Nik also has a 5-string fiddle that he made, like yours.

    See you soon, I hope :-)

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  3. Nice. I believe Donal Clancy plays or used to play an Apollo. Also, the Galway hooker is one of my favorite boats. I recently commissioned a painting and the artist added in a Galway hooker with classic orange sails. It was a painting of Ned's Point and it complimented it wonderfully.

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    Replies
    1. I just ordered a GitOm from Nikos-In part because of this blog! Love the pics, Sara well captured! In researching his instruments I somehow came up with an interest in the Galway Hooker boat and just finished a song about her. Now if Nikos will rub some of his great playing majo into my new octave...I may be able to get my finger around the long neck.

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  4. Dear Anonymous - thanks for this. I will soon be picking up my bouzouki, heard from Nikos today, we're discussing details for the sound hole, very exciting. Glad to hear my blog sent him some business; maybe he'll give me a commission. Only kidding - he already charges much too little for his superb work.

    If you're anywhere near or on the Vineyard this summer, stop by - I host a couple of sessions a week in downtown Edgartown all summer long, and the door is always open in between. Give a holler. We'll have a zouk/OM fest :-)

    (whoever you are - but anybody who owns one of Nikos' instruments is already a friend)

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  5. Sara: I know it's been several years since this post of yours, but wanted to let you know that seeing these pictures of Nikos at work are a blessing. He just finished my cittern, and I'm awaiting shipping. I cannot wait to hear how (s)he sings with the first touch of the strings with my own hands. Peace!

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  6. Rob - I continue to love my gui-zouki. I don't play it as often as I'd like, but it's a gorgeous instrument. I look forward to hearing about yours. Thanks for commenting.

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