Thanks for the link Todd
You gave a great interview John with a good dose of much needed basic education for the general public.
I think that's precisely the kind of information needed to be put out there to allow those with the curiosity and intellect to consider, to reach an understanding of how great the distance between the diametrically opposed philosophies of commercial guitar production, and artistic guitar creation....In one word that delineation is defined by the small workshop builder in his 'craftsmanship' and is revealed to those with appreciation for skill by an intimate understanding of what they do with care, attention to detail, and individual artistic expression...With that, a custom built guitar is a very special thing, and for those players with the tenacity to fight their way through the wall of commercial marketing fluff to reach that understanding, they offer wonderful value for money.
On that point, when you stop to really think about, in terms of true value for money there's very little left in this world which can compete with a hand built custom made guitar....After all, what else can one buy for 'any' amount that can be appreciated for it's own physical form as a work of art, but can also challenge and inspire ones own creativity and artistic expression through music? What other material object will grow with its owner through the passage of time to develop a sole of it's own and become far more than its form as it transforms from an appealing box made of pretty woods, glue, and strings, to become a partner in life's journey? What else can someone buy that will become 'that' old friend, the one with whom a person will share 'every' emotion and who has witnessed the highest and lowest of them through it all, yet, can always be trusted to remain discrete, to only every share the hurt and darkest of them in riddles that can never be deciphered, but at the same time, in language which all understand well enough to sometimes have them cry and laugh with a tear.
Hey Monet...eat ur heart out mate..our canvas is spruce
Cheers
Kim