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ASSOCIATION OF STRINGED INSTRUMENT
CASA GRANDE, AZ · EIN 232564321 · Form 990EZ · FY2022 · NTEE S41 · Community Improvement · Micro (<$100K) · www.asiartisans.org
revenue
$23K
expenses
$16K
net assets
$25K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

TRAINING/SHARING STRINGED INSTRUMENT BUILDING/REPAIR

profile · synthesized from sources

The Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans (ASIA) is a professional trade organization founded in 1988 for luthiers and stringed instrument repair technicians. It fosters a community of artisans dedicated to hand craftsmanship in stringed instrument making and repair, emphasizing knowledge sharing and professional development. The organization supports its members through networking, educational symposia, and publications.

named programs · 2 · from sources

what they call their work

ASIA Symposium
Biennial educational gathering for luthiers and repair technicians featuring presentations, workshops, vendor exhibitions, and networking opportunities; held at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania
Guitarmaker Magazine
Quarterly publication included with membership, providing technical articles, tool and book reviews, and member content related to stringed instrument craftsmanship
activities · 2 groups

what they do

  • Biennial Lutherie Symposium & Workshop Program 17 activities
    • Facilitate Networking and Business Opportunities
      Facilitates networking and learning opportunities for new companies with experienced builders and provides opportunities for businesses to meet customers and suppliers at its symposia.
    • Facilitate Networking and Business Opportunities
      Facilitates networking and learning opportunities for new companies with experienced builders, and provides opportunities for businesses to meet customers and suppliers at its symposia.
    • Facilitate Networking and Business Opportunities
      Provides opportunities at its symposia for new companies to network with experienced builders, and for businesses to meet customers and suppliers, handle tools, and learn about lutherie.
    • Facilitate Networking and Learning at Symposia
      Facilitates networking and learning opportunities for new companies with experienced builders, and provides opportunities for businesses to meet customers and suppliers, handle tools, and learn about lutherie at its symposia.
    • Facilitation of networking and business development
      Supports networking between emerging and experienced builders, and provides opportunities for lutherie supply businesses to connect with customers and suppliers, handle tools, and promote services at symposia.
    • Host Biennial Symposia
      Organizes biennial symposia for stringed instrument makers, repair technicians, and hobbyists, featuring presentations, speakers, workshops, and opportunities for members to display products and for suppliers to sell goods.
    • Host Biennial Symposia
      Organizes biennial symposia for stringed instrument makers, repair technicians, and hobbyists of all skill levels, featuring presentations, speakers, workshops, and opportunities for members to display products and for suppliers to sell goods.
    • Organization of biennial symposia for stringed instrument makers
      Hosts a biennial symposium for guitar builders, repairers, hobbyists, and professionals, featuring member attendance (e.g., 215–250 participants), gallery displays, supply vendors, auctions (e.g., $13,000 raised), and events held at locations such as East Stroudsburg University.
    • Organize Biennial Symposia
      Organizes biennial symposia for stringed instrument makers, repair technicians, guitar builders, and hobbyists of all skill levels. These events include presentations, speakers, workshops, opportunities for instrument display, and a marketplace for lutherie supplies, attracting approximately 215-250 members.
    • Organize Biennial Symposia
      Organizes biennial symposia for stringed instrument makers, repair technicians, and hobbyists of all skill levels, featuring presentations, speakers, workshops, and opportunities for networking and product display.
    • Organize Biennial Symposia
      Organizes biennial symposia for stringed instrument makers, repair technicians, guitar builders, and hobbyists of all skill levels, featuring presentations, speakers, workshops, and opportunities for members to display products and for suppliers to sell goods.
    • Provide Lutherie Workshops
      Offers workshops at its symposia on various lutherie techniques, including fretwork, inlaying, sharpening tools, building guitars consistently, removing guitar necks, and using UV-cure epoxy for repairs.
    • Provide Lutherie Workshops
      Offers workshops at its symposia on various lutherie techniques, including fretwork, inlaying, sharpening tools, building consistency, neck removal, and nut/saddle repair.
    • Provide Workshops and Learning Opportunities at Symposia
      Offers workshops at its symposia on various lutherie techniques, such as fretwork, inlaying pearl, sharpening tools, building guitars with consistency, removing guitar necks, and using UV-cure epoxy for repairs. The symposia also facilitate networking and learning for new companies and provide opportunities for businesses to meet customers and suppliers.
    • Provide Workshops at Symposia
      Offers workshops at its symposia on various lutherie techniques, including fretwork, inlaying, sharpening tools, building guitars with consistency, removing guitar necks, and using UV-cure epoxy for repairs.
    • Provide Workshops at Symposia
      Offers workshops at its symposia on various lutherie techniques, including fretwork, inlaying, sharpening tools, building guitars consistently, neck removal, and nut/saddle repair.
    • Provision of educational workshops at symposia
      Offers hands-on workshops and classes at its symposia covering specialized lutherie techniques such as fretwork, inlaying pearl, sharpening tools, UV-cure epoxy repairs, and consistent guitar building, primarily documented from the 2017 event.
  • Member-Focused Digital & Print Archives 12 activities
    • Create Member Gallery Pages
      Builds gallery pages for members, including high-quality digital photos, text, and links to their websites.
    • Develop Online Resources
      Transforms Guitarmaker Journal into a fully searchable online archive and converts back issues of its magazine to PDF format for online access, while also publishing news and reviews online.
    • Develop Online Resources
      Builds gallery pages for members with photos and text, publishes news and reviews online, and is transforming Guitarmaker Journal into a fully searchable online archive by converting back issues to PDF format.
    • Digital archive conversion of historical publications
      Converting back issues of Guitarmaker Magazine into a fully searchable online archive and preparing them in PDF format for digital access, continuing through early 2025.
    • Maintain Member-Exclusive Online Content
      Provides members with access to members-only website content, including a member locator, reviews, and photo galleries. The organization also builds gallery pages for members featuring high-quality digital photos, text, and links to their websites.
    • Maintain Online Member Resources
      Builds gallery pages for members with photos and text, publishes news and reviews online, and is converting back issues of Guitarmaker Journal into a fully searchable online archive.
    • Maintain Online Resources
      Builds gallery pages for members with photos and text, publishes news and reviews online, and is converting back issues of its magazine into a fully searchable online archive.
    • Member gallery and online resource access
      Builds online gallery pages for members featuring 6–15 high-quality photos, text, and website links, and provides access to members-only content including back issues, a member locator, reviews, and photo galleries.
    • Publication of Guitarmaker Magazine and digital content
      Produces and distributes the quarterly Guitarmaker Magazine to members, along with online news, reviews, and digital back issues in PDF format. The magazine is transitioning from a PDF-based publication to a fully searchable online archive.
    • Publish Guitarmaker Magazine
      Publishes the quarterly Guitarmaker Magazine, providing members with four annual issues and access to back issue PDFs and other content online.
    • Publish Guitarmaker Magazine
      Publishes the quarterly Guitarmaker Magazine, which was available as a PDF until early 2025 and is being converted into a fully searchable online archive. Members receive four annual issues and access to back issue PDFs.
    • Publish Guitarmaker Magazine
      Publishes the quarterly Guitarmaker Magazine, providing members with four annual issues and access to back issue PDFs and other content online.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$23K
Contributions & grants——
Program service revenue$23K100%
Investment income——
Other revenue$108
expenses
Total expenses$16K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$15K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$25K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$25K
2 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue -51.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

board members · 5
  • BRIAN ITZKIN — BOARD MEMBER
  • GLENN LASALLE — BOARD MEMBER
  • JAIME AULSON-MYERS — BOARD MEMBER
  • JOHN READ — BOARD MEMBER,WEBMASTER
  • TONY DIDOMENICO — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 22

who they work with

  • Acoustic Guitar Magazine Partner — Provides new members with a one-year free subscription to Acoustic Guitar Magazine.
  • Aulson Inlay Partner — Jamie Aulson from Aulson Inlay has benefited from networking and learning from experienced builders at ASIA symposia.
  • Aulson Inlay Partner — Jamie Aulson from Aulson Inlay has established invaluable bonds and learned from experienced builders through ASIA.
  • Blues Creek Guitars Partner — John Hall from Blues Creek Guitars provided a testimonial about how ASIA helped him acquire information and advance his career.
  • Blues Creek Guitars Partner — John Hall from Blues Creek Guitars received help and information from ASIA members.
  • Blues Creek Guitars Partner — John Hall from Blues Creek Guitars received help and information through ASIA.
  • East Stroudsburg University Partner — Hosted the 2019 symposium.
  • East Stroudsburg University Partner — Hosted the biennial symposium in Pennsylvania.
  • Gruhn Guitars Partner — Greg Voros, Repair Dept. Manager at Gruhn Guitars, highlights ASIA's role in the lives of stringed instrument makers and repairers.
  • Gruhn Guitars Partner — Greg Voros, Repair Dept. Manager at Gruhn Guitars, highlights ASIA's role in the lives of those making and repairing stringed instruments.
  • LMI Partner — Chris Herrod from LMI uses ASIA Symposia to meet customers, learn about their needs, and establish relationships.
  • LMI Partner — Chris Herrod from LMI uses ASIA Symposia to meet customers, suppliers, and learn about lutherie.
  • LMI Partner — Supporter of ASIA and exhibitor at the symposium.
  • Martin Guitars Partner — Michael Dickinson from Martin Guitars has grown skills and met knowledgeable people through ASIA.
  • Michael Dresdner Partner — Chosen to launch the concept of ASIA and facilitate the development of its mission and bylaws.
  • StewMac Partner — Matt Brooker from StewMac is a luthier who benefits from ASIA membership.
  • StewMac Partner — Matt Brooker, a luthier from StewMac, benefits from ASIA membership.
  • StewMac Partner — Matt Brooker, a luthier from StewMac, provided a testimonial about the benefits of ASIA membership.
  • Vintage Guitar Magazine Partner — Published an article about the symposium written by Dan Erlewine.
  • frets.com Partner — Frank Ford from frets.com provided a testimonial about the value of meeting and interacting with other professionals through ASIA.
  • frets.com Partner — Frank Ford from frets.com values meeting and interacting with other professionals through ASIA.
  • frets.com Partner — Frank Ford from frets.com values meeting other professionals through ASIA.