My problem became one of picking up instruments at shows handcrafted by gifted luthiers. I absolutely fell in love with an instrument displayed by a Florida luthier at the 2002 Folk Alliance Conference. A cedar top beauty with a flamed walnut back, experimental bracing system, misplaced sound hole plus a monitor hole. Played like butter. Haunted me for 14 months -- saw it a couple of times in the last year. Finally couldn't stand it any more and put down an down payment on her last week. I can't take posession until she's 50% paid (hopefully this summer) and probably won't fully own her for a long, long time...Now I dream about her and the anticipation is killing me. You can see a few shots of her here. Scroll down to the 4th row of pictures and take a look at SHADOWFAX.

This is one expensive addiction.

pg