I was wandering around at the festival and a guitar caught my eye. The woods were something I didn't recognize. The luthier was A.J. Lucas. I asked him what the woods were. It turns out that the back, sides and bridge were English Yew. They looked like a softwood. He said that Yew is a conifer and was local to where he lives (he's British). Turns out the top was Douglas Fir that he salvaged from an old door. I had to play it. On the first strum I knew that it was an extaordinary instrument. I can honestly say that I have never hear this kind of overtone and sustain in any other guitar I have ever played. The guitar was an unusual looking guitar (in my opinion) because of the woods, but the sound was like other dimensions just opened up. It was balanced with sining trebles, a big bright base and all the mids there. It didn't change as you played up the neck and I couldn't get over that sustain. Every festival I've been to, there always seems to be a favorite guitar above the rest for me. This time this unexpected one was it.
Douglas Fir? I asked a few other builders what their thought was on it. They almost all said that it makes a great sounding guitar, but you can't sell them. "People think they're buying a 2X4 !"
Anyway, I'm sure there were many more there as good, but that's one that I found that sang to me.Another one that really got me was Brock's dreadnaught. Although I didn't play it much, I could tell that thing would pretty much be a monster if you stepped on it with a pick. It had a really bright Mahogany tone that seemed to be screaming to be driven. Now I wish I had. If I were a rich guy I would have walked away with that one.
