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Video: Making a Foster Guitar (Part 4)

December 10, 2006 by Jimmy Foster

In this video, Jimmy finishes installing the tuning keys. He then begins work on the bone nut. He measures, cuts, and installs the nut, and then he grooves out the nut for the strings. Now the guitar is ready for its first strings and first sounds. Once the guitar is strung and tuned, Jimmy makes the final adjustments to string spacing at the nut, bridge, and saddle. He then adjusts and measures the string height at various places on the guitar neck.

Filed Under: News

Video: Making a Foster Guitar (Part 3)

December 10, 2006 by Jimmy Foster

In this video, Jimmy finished up the guitar sides. You will then see him tapping on the top in order to tune it. Then Jimmy stamps the serial number of the guitar on the back of the headstock. Once that is finished, he trims the F-hole binding and applies another coat of finish to the back of the guitar. All of this is to get the guitar prepared for the spray room, where Jimmy creates the final finish of the guitar. Then he scraped the guitar binding clean. Jimmy then completes the final sanding before buffing the guitar. Once the buffing is finished, Jimmy routes and buffs the tail piece.

Filed Under: News

Video: Making a Foster Guitar (Part 2)

December 10, 2006 by Jimmy Foster

In this video, Jimmy begins to complete the guitar neck. First, he installs the frets. He cuts the frets to size, adds the glue, and hammers them into place. Once the frets are in place and smoothed, Jimmy takes the neck to a buffer, so the frets can be buffed. After the neck is completed, Jimmy begins work on the top. First he must cut out the guitar top from a piece of wood. After the top is cut out, Jimmy adds the X-bracing to the guitar top. You will also see him bending wood to use for the sides of the guitar.

Filed Under: News

Video: Making a Foster Guitar (Part 1)

December 10, 2006 by Jimmy Foster

In this video, you will get an introduction to Jimmy’s shop. He begins making a guitar by using a thickness planar to create a piece of wood that will be used for the guitar neck. Once he applies a finish to the wood, he then cuts a series of necks out the wood. After all the pieces for the neck have been smoothed and cut, the glues them together using a series of vice grips. He then shapes the neck and applies another finish. Now on to the fingerboard. He sands the fingerboard, applies the inlay, and shapes the fingerboard to size. Finally, JImmy making the binding for the guitar neck.

Filed Under: News

Ted Ludwig Interviews Jimmy Foster

December 1, 2006 by Jimmy Foster

Guitarist Ted Ludwig interviews jazz guitar lutheir Jimmy Foster, the most celebrated luthier in the New Orleans area. For the past thirty three years he has made guitars for many of the finest players around the world. What makes Jimmy special among his contemporaries is that he is a brilliant 7 string guitarist as well as a wonderful luthier.

Filed Under: News

Arkansas Foster Parent Club

May 1, 2006 by Jimmy Foster

Arkansas Foster Guitar Club: Teddy Ludwig

These are all students of Teddy Ludwig seen. Thanks to Teddy for being the teacher he is! All of these “Foster Children” sound super! The party was given by our hospitable host, Frank Cox. Many thanks to him also.

Filed Under: News

Paul Simon Playing a Foster Guitar!

December 1, 2005 by Jimmy Foster

Paul Simon with his Foster Performer Series 6-string guitar

Sooner or later, most world travelers reach the same realization: you can’t leave yourself behind. In the most distant locales and unlikely situations, you still carry a lifetime of habits and memories. Yet with any luck, you’ll bring back something lasting: a new perspective on space and light, on how people interact and how ideas fit together.

Filed Under: News

Foster Guitar Players & Artists

December 1, 2005 by Jimmy Foster

Players & Gear John Bagnotto » 7-string guitar St. Charles Avenue Ed Benson » 6-string guitar Performer solid body Rob Block » 7-string guitar Crescent City Elite Doug Bradford » 7-string guitar Crescent City, 7-string guitar St. Charles Avenue Hal Burford » 7-string guitar Performer, 7-string guitar Crescent City Elite (custom) Alan DeMause » 7-string […]

Filed Under: News

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Jimmy Foster (Luthier & Guitarist)

Jimmy Foster (1948 – 2011)

About Jimmy Foster

In Memory of Jimmy

Custom Guitar Models

Archtop Guitars
· The Royale
· The Legacy
· The Fleur de Lis Elite
· The Crescent City Elite
· The Crescent City Classic
· The Avalon
· The Crescent City
· The St. Charles Avenue
· The Basin Street Edition

Acoustic Guitars
· The Prodigy Elite
· The Prodigy

Electric Guitars
· The Performer

*** All models available in 6-string or 7-string configuration

Blog Posts

  • Custom 7-String Baritone Archtop Guitar January 27, 2011
  • Guitar Neck Repair On An Archtop Guitar January 27, 2011
  • Custom St. Charles Avenue Archtop Guitar (6-String) January 27, 2011
  • Gibson SJ Deluxe Acoustic Guitar Repair (Bridge & Face) January 26, 2011
  • Video: Stompin’ At The Savoy May 3, 2008

More About Jimmy

Ted Ludwig Interviews Jimmy Foster
From Sep. 2004: Made for Each Other
From NOLA.com Apr. 2011: Jimmy Foster
Foster Guitars on Facebook

Blog Posts

  • Custom 7-String Baritone Archtop Guitar January 27, 2011
  • Guitar Neck Repair On An Archtop Guitar January 27, 2011
  • Custom St. Charles Avenue Archtop Guitar (6-String) January 27, 2011
  • Gibson SJ Deluxe Acoustic Guitar Repair (Bridge & Face) January 26, 2011
  • Video: Stompin’ At The Savoy May 3, 2008

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