"Creating beautiful music, one instrument at a time."
I'd say the difference between me and other builders is that I listen to what my clients want. I take care to ask the right questions, to find out why they like their favorite guitar...if they have one. It's really all about the relationship with a client. Only after that process, can I really begin to create a guitar that my client is going to want to keep and play every single day. One that feels good in the hands, one that has a playability and character that not all instruments possess. -- Mark V
In this pic, you see a project starting to come together, and getting ready for paint. I only use pure nitro cellulose lacquer. I spray thin coats, as this allows for a guitar that resonates and feels like an extension of you, and not a piece of plastic.
I went with Midnight Wine for the finish above. The guitar has the previously mentioned birdseye maple neck and the total package is only 6 1/2 lbs of comfortable, light weight guitar that resonates and sustains. Much attention is paid to frets, action and the final setup of the nut slots and pickup heights to achieve a certain level of performance and feel that you just cannot get from a store bought guitar.
Above is the guitar that I specially built for Mr Walter Trout, blues musician, who was with John Mayall and Canned Heat, before setting out on his own many years back. A wonderful guitar, near 6 3/4 lbs of 150 year old douglas fir, and a one piece hard maple neck. The neck was custom made for Walter, due to his preferences. The same meticulous attention to detail is paid to each client's needs.
Most of the musicians I have met and talked with, have all told me one thing: "It's so difficult to find that one guitar...the one that just fits and plays, without tons of setting up, tweaking, replacing most of the parts, etc." I'm here to change all that. --Mark V