About
Our Mission
The Stringed Instrument Makers of Southern California (SIMSCal) is an organization formed to promote association among stringed musical instrument makers & repair persons (also known as luthiers) in Southern California, to further the understanding of stringed instrument building, and to help improve the instrument-making skills of our members.
In support of that mission, we offer instrument-making classes, taught by some of the very talented and experienced craftspersons that we are proud to count among our members. Currently we offer instruction in Steel String Acoustic Guitarmaking, and Solid Body Electric Guitarmaking.
Who We Are
Established in November of 2004, SIMSCal’s membership includes both hobbyists and professional instrument builders. Our members build traditional acoustic flat-top steel string, classical, flamenco, and archtop guitars, ukuleles, lutes, banjos, dulcimers and other eclectic instruments, as well as solid-body, electric guitars and basses. Our goal is not only to provide members with meaningful information about lutherie, but also to promote the practice and tradition of lutherie within our local communities.
Archived by the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress (LoC) archives websites that are selected by subject experts based on subject- and format-focused guidelines and policy. The archives cover a wide variety of subjects and topics, with web content published in the United States and internationally.
The SIMSCal website is archived in the U.S. Library of Congress thanks in no small part to the talent and unflagging high standards of our long-time webmaster and Officer, Dan Greene. Kudos and a thousand thanks.
SCAVM Merges with SIMSCal
In June of 2017, the Southern California Association of Violin Makers (SCAVM), who, for over half a century, held regular meetings and distributed a monthly bulletin to share knowledge and advance the art of lutherie within the violin family of instruments, officially merged with SIMSCal. The wealth of literature and educational materials from the SCAVM library was transferred to SIMSCal. Check the Violin Vault.
The original SCAVM website is still operational, and contains an archive of the association's monthly bulletins, with member-written articles and tutorials on violin-making, repair, and restoration.