Hello, my name is Terry McArthur. I found that I have a small bit of information about the string bass, cello, violin maker Leroy Geiger. A few days ago I mentioned to a friend that I used to go and watch this bass maker at his trade while I was still in high school. I did a little research and found that while he wrote a guide "How to make a violin" and made wonderful instruments there was little info on him. The time frame is from 1957 to 1959. His small shop was located in the San Fernando Valley at the North/East corner of Nordhoff St. and Sepulveda Blvd. I think this area at the time was known as Granada Hills. Now known as North Hills.
His shop was a converted old house right on the corner which is now long gone. The front area where the living room used to be had a few instruments for sale and an area where guitar lessons were given by Bob Romero. On one visit Bob showed me his brand new Gibson Byrdland. What a treat that was. The back workshop area, perhaps where the kitchen used to be was where the instruments were being built. Far to complicated for my young mind to comprehend. But Mr. Geiger was a very nice man that didn't seem annoyed with me asking questions. He wasn't alone at the task. There was another man that seemed to be his helper and a lady there that I assumed was his wife.
I would visit occasionally and always be impressed with his work. I had built a couple of guitars around that time and did a bit of an apprentice work with Semie Moseley of MosRite fame.
I still make guitars and after talking with my friend and recalling the visits to Mr. Leroy Geigers shop how priviliged I was to have met him.
Hope that this information may be of some interest to someone.
His shop was a converted old house right on the corner which is now long gone. The front area where the living room used to be had a few instruments for sale and an area where guitar lessons were given by Bob Romero. On one visit Bob showed me his brand new Gibson Byrdland. What a treat that was. The back workshop area, perhaps where the kitchen used to be was where the instruments were being built. Far to complicated for my young mind to comprehend. But Mr. Geiger was a very nice man that didn't seem annoyed with me asking questions. He wasn't alone at the task. There was another man that seemed to be his helper and a lady there that I assumed was his wife.
I would visit occasionally and always be impressed with his work. I had built a couple of guitars around that time and did a bit of an apprentice work with Semie Moseley of MosRite fame.
I still make guitars and after talking with my friend and recalling the visits to Mr. Leroy Geigers shop how priviliged I was to have met him.
Hope that this information may be of some interest to someone.
