Dear Mudcats--

Thanks much! I'm glad to know that y'all don't believe I'm goin' nuts!

I'll definitely ask our luthier (who is also a phenomenal bluegrass picker) about the extra large frets. My "performance" guitar is an 2009 Martin OM-21, which I got because my right shoulder was killing me playing fast rhythm on the likes of Rawhide (even back when I was only at about 100 bpm). That problem went away completely and instantly with the small-body instrument.

Last month, however, the cats knocked the bowed psaltery off the bookcase, and it struck my guitar, making a gouge and a small split, so it's going into the shop once I get through this next batch of gigs. I'll check on the fret change then.

I know "it's a poor craftsman who blames his tools," but I've found that sometimes the "journeywork" of becoming a master of a craft necessitates learning when to use a different and/or better tool to improve the quality of the work.

Thank you also for the reassurance that the twitching is probably part of the anatomical process of development. I think if it was caused by serious overwork, it would have started back when I started this focused drive for speed and accuracy. I guess my concern is that it might develop into something I can't control when I'm awake--like a tic or something.

In any case, I'll keep at it, and hopefully bigger frets will be an option that improves things!

Thanks again--Mudcats forever!

V