Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello Luthiers,

I'm coming out of deep lurkdom here to tell you all what a great guitar Lance built for me. It's the Cat guitar that Lance has posted about here in the recent past. The guitar was delivered in its beautiful Ameritage case last Wednesday and it travelled with me to my family Thanksgiving gathering. Over the next two days it got lots and lots of play and compliments many from several nephews and my sister-in-law. I was allowed to play it briefly. Since returning home and changing strings I have played it daily and am just amazed at how lucky I am to have had Lance build this guitar for me. The mahogany/Carpathian spruce combination produces a beautifully balanced and sweet tone. The setup is perfect. And, of course, the workmanship and attention to detail is phenomenal.

But I'm not posting this just to crow about my great new guitar. What I want to do is tell all you luthiers (of which I am not one) how much I admire your dedication, craftsmanship, and the spirit of generosity and cooperation that you exhibit toward each other. Two years ago I took delivery of a custom Dudenbostel guitar that I had waited 8 years for. Rather than be discouraged that the wait was so long, when it was over I was disappointed that the whole process of collaborating with a luthier to build a special guitar was now over. So began my search for another builder and another guitar. And I made the right choice for me.

As you may remember from Lance's posts, my new guitar has a headstock inlay done by Paul Bordeaux. It's a beautiful tribute to my feline friend, George, who was one of the canaries in the coal mine killed by the melamine contaminated pet food last year. Losing George way before his time was a very difficult event for my wife and me. When I had the idea of an inlay representing him, I wasn't sure how Lance would take to the idea. Messing up that classy, simple ebony overlay on the headstock. But he couldn't have been more encouraging and coordinated with Paul to come up with an inlay that just knocked my socks off and that I treasure. Similarly, when I asked Lance to try to do an unfinished "speed neck" like the one Lynn Dudenbostel did for me, I wasn't sure how Lance would react. Not to worry. If that's what I wanted, that's what I would get. And he and Lynn consulted about the technique involved to produce just the neck I wanted. Again, that spirit of generosity and cooperation. Really impressive.

So I just want to say to all of you folks, feel good about what you're doing. You're making a lot of people happy and helping bring the beauty of music to a troubled world. I know you're not getting rich and famous (most anyway), but you are doing really meaningful work. There's a scene in Robert Bolt's play, A Man for All Seasons, where Sir Thomas More tries to convince the overly ambitious Richard Rich to be a teacher. He tells Rich that he would be "a fine teacher - perhaps, a great one." Rich fairly spits out, "And if I was who would know it?" The words of More's reply have remained with me for decades and are applicable to all who do their work and do it well:



Thanks, of course, to Lance for my guitar. And thanks to all of you for your passion and dedication to your craft.

_________________
Mark Cashman

Mark
Hats off to clients like yourself!
Nelson

Mark thanks for a view from the players side. After all that's where it's at.
You picked a good one when you picked Lance.

_________________
Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Mark, What a nice tribute! Play it till there are blister on your fingers, and spread the music!

Way to go, Lance! That's the positive end of customer service.

Dennis

_________________
Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Thanks Mark!
I am so glad you are happy with your guitar! It was hard to let go and that "Speed neck" is in the words of LynnD, "The Bomb"

_________________
Support the OLF! Bookmark our STEWMAC link Today!
Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Mark--

I just had to chime in. As another of Lance's clients, I gotta say how thrilled I am to hear you like your guitar! I've played numerous guitars but never found "MY" sound until I got the first guitar Lance built for me. I know you've got a winner there!

John

I do work for Mark, so one day I may get to see it for a setup or something.
I am glad you are enjoying it as we have spoken about it several times.
Way to go Lance!
Best, Evan

_________________
http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com