Fundraiser for Todd Clinesmith (lost shop in Oregon fires)

[Brad Bechtel]

Todd Clinesmith (www.clinesmithinstruments.com) is famous for both is high quality resonator guitars and his Bigsby inspired electric lap steels. He is a victime of the Oregon fires and lost his shop with everything in it. See bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=361836 for his statement.

Mike Neer has set up a GoFundMe for him to get back on his feet. gf.me/u/yyhm7t if you're able to contribute.

If this is inappropriate, please remove. Otherwise please consider contributing to keeping a fine luthier going.

[Michael Messer]

Oh no, this is terrible news. Poor guy has lost everything.

A friend of mine got a frying pan from Todd a few months ago and it's a beautiful instrument.

This is copied from the steel guitar forum...

Thanks to all who have inquired about me and the Family. Also thank you who have called , emailed or just was thinking about us.
I will send this off with some typos as things are a bit rough and time short at the moment
First off, my family is safe. We evacuated tuesday with not much warning. We are staying with a family member in Douglas county Oregon about 40 minutes from our property. The fires hit hard and fast, growing from 0 to over 70,000 acres in 24 hours . It started about 6 or 7 miles away and got to us rather quickly.

I was able to access the property through a neighboring road on Friday with a sheriff escort. Shelly and I were allowed 1/2 hour to hike in and asses.
My shop burned down. It burned hot and fast. Nothing left but a mess.

My house is still up with burns to the door and in the deck, most everything around it gone including 3 cords of dry firewood about 30-40 feet away. Still the house with dry Cedar siding stands .
Our small barn made it , goats and pigs alive .
Public Utilities are down, and the spring water system will need to be rebuilt.
I am very comfortable with a chainsaw, and have been thinning the place for years. With the lack of rain we had last winter, my wife and I worked weekly, with long days thinning and burning the under story between my house to my neighbors property and into his property as we knew a fire season was likely. With out a doubt, our work saved the house.
Anyways, this is horrible, and not what I want to have happen in life but it's here. I am being pretty positive and hitting the ground running. I have found a few shops to choose from and to rent. Looking into tooling now. I plan on getting back to work with My Clinesmith Frypans, Cast Aluminum Models , Joaquins and bars. All other models will slowly be rebuilt. I plan on starting to fill orders by the first of the new year and hopefully sooner.

This is the only life I know and at about 50 years young I am moving forward with vigor. I ask that folks not be afraid to place orders for any of these models with my usual small deposit. And as usual, I prefer no early payments as i like to work for what I get and hate feeling in debt. I have always been a man of my word and pride myself with good communication and treating every body with mutual respect. Things may hit a few bumps, but I will be moving forward with my best intentions . I will be taking Clinesmith Bar orders, but prefer to start a list and take no money upfront. Please email with any questions , and understand my usual quick communication will be a little spottier , and should be answered with in a few days.Please do not hesitate to get a hold of me, I am busy but you will not be bugging me .

The steel guitar world has been good to me The love and passion I have for steel guitar has always come full circle with support from the some of the greatest people , customers and friends. I thank everybody who has purchased a guitar, inquired about a guitar, or just dream of owning a Clinesmith.
Thank you,
Todd

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Shine On
Michael
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