Classical Guitar Festival Experiences, Part 5

Rudeness is a weak man’s imitation of strength.

Eric Hoffer, American philosopher

A young man approached my table and asked me a few questions about guitar construction, but before I could answer the questions he answered them himself. I knew he was young and excited to be talking to guitars, but it was rude for him to talk over me. So I asked him how many guitars he had made.

“None” was his answer.

“None? The answers you just gave to your own questions makes me to think you had made at least ten guitars,” I replied.

“I have read a lot about guitar making. Now, which tone wood really is the best for a guitar top, spruce or cedar?” he asked.

“Let me answer that with a question to you. If you have a molecule of wood and, oh, dissect it, is it possible to separate the lignin from the cellulose in that piece of wood without destroying either element?”

“What?”

“Okay. Can you tell me the difference between an angiosperm and gymnosperm?”

“Huh?”

“Let me make this simple. What are the functions of the xylem and phloem in a tree?”

“What in the world do these questions have to do with guitar making?”

“You have to love forest first in order to make quality guitars. To know a forest is to know the trees and all the plants, animals, insects and other living things that make the forest a living breathing entity. If you aren’t interested in what makes a forest work then you need to re-evaluate your connection to the guitar. Now, I have made more than a few guitars so I can answer your questions, or…”

The young man was smart enough to realize he was starting to annoy me and moved to the next table. 

I later learned that this young man was in the guitar competition at the festival and was very rude to several of the judges. He was asked to leave.