Woodgrain
Master Luthier Carlo Greco’s dusty workshop sits two stories and two thousand miles above 48th Street through an unmarked, glass door, one flight up a rickety staircase from an accordion maker.
Carlo was the General Foreman of Guild Guitars from 1959-1977. A classical guitar builder from Italy by way of Argentina, he traveled to South American to select hard woods for Guild, and hand-built guitars for John Denver, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Jerry Garcia, and Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler.
Stepping into his shop is like stepping back in time. Four gentlemen in their seventies move slowly and patiently behind the counter, sanding, filing and carving to the the delicate strains of an accordian through a tiny single speaker.
Three times, now, Carlo Greco has repaired my battered Martin DXE15,: painstakingly steaming the top from the sides, patching, bonding and sanding the cracks, then bracing and regluing the seems. Three times, now, the guitar has been reborn in his steady, knowing hands.
There are tiny cracks and bruises, sure, but I like it that way; my guitar looks worn, used, and loved.
“How much you pay last time?” Carlo asks in a thick accent.
“I don’t remember,” I admit. “One hundred? One-fifty?”
Carlo scribbles detailed notes on my receipt:
Martin Acoustic
Fix Top Crack
Put Support Under
And Set Up
$100
I am effusive in my gratitude. He smiles, and sends me on my way.
“Go play, Benny. Go play!”
July 15th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Why not a film or at least a short film about Carlo? You could interview customers and the man himself. I would love to see something more about him. This description has already made me want to go to his shop. Lots of film makers have to step away from the big project they have been obsessing over in order to breathe creatively - do a small project about which they are passionate in order to refill the tank. The timing is so perfect. People are coming to terms with the fact they don’t know how to make anything on their own and the people who do are dying off.
Just a thought.
xo,
KF
July 15th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Funny/prescient you should mention that! Abbi and I have discussed the very same thing every time I come home from Carlo’s! There are two truths: 1) I’m afraid to ask and b) I’m afraid to tackle another documentary (what with “Mister Rogers & Me” half-done). At the same time, I’m afraid he isn’t long for the world. Certainly his values aren’t. As always, Madame, you provoke me in the best ways!