Mr. Willie-O, Sir...Thanks for that link, like wow!

Beardsell? No, though I've played a few and spoken to him a couple of times, once when he attended a guitar summit in our fair burg. Brian Taheny's mandolin was killer but I think he dealt it for an old Gibson A or something...at least I don't think he still has it. Beardsell's stuff is wonderful and I really do wish I'd bought a nylon strung guitar of his when I had a chance. Alas, no. However...

I commissioned a new guitar-bouzouki from a new young builder who has taken guitar lessons from me for a few years. We're sorta taking a chance on each other, mutual support and all that stuff. His first guitars are very nice and he's very open to design oddities. The instrument will be walnut (back & sides), cedar (top), ebony (board and bridge), purpleheart & maple (bindings and rossette). Dimensions have been worked out, and I believe he's to start it in April.

Odd stuff? Well, if a guitar-bouzouki isn't too unusual, and the woods not too off market, it'll have a single side port, smaller front soundhole (like a classical), 25" scale length, fretboard inlay to reflect an ongoing theme among my instruments, and other one-off cosmetic stuff like binding colours and such.

Sorry, no blickie, but see www.house-guitars.com for his website id you're curious.

So many instruments, so little time!

Peace, Mooh.