THURSDAY November 20, 2014 Vol. 29• No. 93 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T.
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Life imitates life: Nichol defies the odds on the ballot, too Hard work on campaign trail paves way to landslide victory
Comox Valley luthier Reuben Forsland is building this guitar for rock ‘n’ roll legend Slash (inset), former lead guitarist for Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver. MAIN PHOTO BY RENEE ANDOR, INSET COURTESY SLASHONLINE.COM
Slash commissions local luthier Renee Andor
Special to The Record
A Comox Valley guitar maker, with just seven years of experience, nabbed a huge client for one of his custom-made creations — Slash. Luthier Reuben Forsland, 41, says he’s blown away that the former lead guitarist for Guns N’ Roses chose him out of eight luthiers from around North America, many of whom have 30 to 40 years of experience. “I was really excited,” the owner of JOI Guitars says with a grin. “To be this young ... and also this short into (my) career, this is really a good thing ... this is opportunity ... who knows what
in W AWS o t R ter LY D n H E T N MO
Comox guitar crafter creating custom-built instrument for worldrenowned musician
can happen.” The guitar is a birthday present to Slash from his wife Perla Ferrar. The choice of who would make the six-string acoustic guitar was narrowed down to luthiers who could offer a very rare kind of Honduran mahogany; Forsland was one of just eight in North America. “It’s very, very good sounding,” says Forsland. “It’s one-of-a-kind.” The wood certainly is oneof-a-kind as it comes from one
particular tree, which was cut down in 1965 in a Honduran jungle. The tree fell into a deep ravine and stayed there until the early 1980s, when it was quartered then removed. Most of the tree was made into furniture but, because the sound is exceptional, the furniture is re-used for instruments; the piece used in the body of the guitar Forsland is making used to be a table. Forsland was also chosen for his style, which features an array of unique materials. The top of Slash’s guitar is made from 3,000-year-old glacier spruce and the tuners are made from petrified whale vertebrae.
... see LUTHIER ■ 7
road in Area B during the election campaign. “I go back every year for an MRI, and my oncologist shakes his head and says, ‘You’re still Scott Stanfield defying the odds and we don’t Record Staff understand why.’ I just figure Rod Nichol has returned to the big fella doesn’t want noththe Comox Valley Regional Dis- ing to do with me just yet.” During the campaign, Nichol trict board — this time reprepromised to be vigilant about senting a different area. In Saturday’s election, the protecting rural lands and former Area C director unseated sensitive habitat. He is also Jim Gillis by earning 73 per cent concerned about expanding budgets, high costs of the vote in Area of planning and B (Lazo North). unequal water costs Nichol earned 1,143 in his area. votes while Gillis “They (residents) garnered 417. He realize they have to will be sworn in at pay for water. The the inaugural board majority of people meeting Dec. 11. in Courtenay and Nichol, 63, had Comox pay a flat served a term in the rate. That’s all the late-1990s, shortly people in Area B after retiring from a want is to be treated career in the RCMP. the same. It’s a reaIn 1978, when sonable request…To newly married to ROD NICHOL surcharge people in his wife Lynn, he one small area and was transferred to the Valley as an RCMP dog han- not everybody is wrong.” Nichol also feels strongly dler. With his dog, Lance, Nichol received specialized training to about an “antiquated” handling provide avalanche rescue ser- of waste in the CVRD. “The fancy term today is vices on the Island. “Best partner I ever had,” he landfill,” he said. “It’s a garbage said of Lance. “He’d do anything dump.” He notes a plan for a rubber for me. All he wanted was a pat liner underneath the landfill to on the head.” During his first term in office, catch leachate, which will be Nichol suffered a “brain bleed” pumped and treated. “That’s going to leach forever. due to a mid-brain tumour — which could not be removed The liner is only guaranteed because it was wrapped around for 20 to 25 years. Then what happens? We are going to leave heart and lung nerves. He underwent two months a disaster to our children and of “high-density radiation,” and their children to deal with it, was given three or four years simply because we, for some reason, refuse to look at new to live. But 16 years later, he’s alive technology, waste to energy.” and well — playing golf and ... see NICHOL ■ 11 healthy enough to walk every
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