I just wanted to let the mudcatters know, who responded to my thread about selling my Gibson, the epilogue to my story. Your responses were so kind and I appreciated them very much. Here's the rest of the story:

The next evening, after I posted the thread, there was a PM from a mudcatter saying they agreed with everyone that I should keep my Old Friend. They went on to say that in memory of assistance they had received several years ago, they wanted to lend me the money to buy a new guitar, thereby, keeping my Gibson. This individual has asked that I not reveal their identity and I will honor that request, but I did want people to know that this is the heart of what makes up the mudcat community. I really cannot express in words how I felt that day and continue to feel to this day.

Well, I started again looking at and playing guitars. I visited every store in Charlottesville, VA, and West Chester, PA, and played every guitar I could get my hands on. I played Martins, Seagulls, Alvarez, Ovations, Guilds, Gibsons, Collings. I played big guitars, medium guitars, little guitars. I played fat guitars and skinny guitars. I played guitars with pick-ups.

In the last year, I have picked every guitar player's brain that would give me 10 or 15 minutes of their time. I put questions on the mudcat, on the Flatpick L list, and a few other guitar forums. I learned about different types of woods; laminated vs. solid; neck widths vs. neck profile; what different makes, types, and gauges of strings would do. I spent hours on the phone to Elderly, talking with their salespeople and asking a million questions.

At one point, I had to stop and organize all that I had learned, to make a final decision.

I discovered some very important aspects of my personal needs, regarding a guitar. The most important, however, was discovering that I actually can play a guitar that is larger than my B-25 and has a 1 11/16" neck width at the nut, rather than a 1 1/2" neck width. (This is how I learned about neck profiles.)

I played a lot of Martins, from vintage to new, D-1's to custom D-42's, solid mahogany to mahogany and spruce. I had finally settled on a Martin D-16GT (gloss top). Then I got this PM, from a friend, who asked me to please find a Larrivee dealer and play one, before I bought the Martin. His reasoning was that, if I hated the Larrivee, at least I would never "wonder." I love you, catspaw!!!

I found a Larrivee dealer in Pensacola, which is 180 west of Tallahassee. I called and we made a date to meet the next Saturday. I asked my dad to go along. I figured, since he bought my first guitar (Gibson LG-1), he should be along for this one.

We left very early Saturday morning and arrived at the store (Blues Angel) just as they were opening. The store owner, Jim, put me in a back room with a Larrivee D-05, Larrivee D-0something/Rosewood, and a Martin D-28.]

I compared them chord for chord, note for note, string for string. I compared the resonance of each instrument. I held them and cradled them for comfort and playability. I checked neck widths for comfort and speed. Here's the result of my comparison, with the thought that we all hear and feel different things, in this type of situation:

I didn't like the Martin D-28, at all, and couldn't keep it in tune.

The Larrivee Rosewood dreadnought has a beautiful, dark, brooding, booming sound, and I can fully understand why bluegrass flatpickers like rosewood. But I don't think it's good for singing, for me, anyway. I had a hard time finding the "place" to sing with it. I hope that last statement makes sense to someone else besides me!

The Larrivee D-05 has the most beautiful guitar voice I've ever heard. It is clear and bright and warm and boomie. The resonance is unbelievable. It was comfortable cradled in my arms and the neck width is perfect. I would play and then just sit back and listen to the overtones.

It's also just plain beautiful to look at. It's solid wood; South American mahogany sides and back; Sitka spruce top; flame maple body binding; ebony fretboard and headstock; thin thread of sterling silver around the headstock; "Larrivee" written in mother-of-pearl on the headstock; abalone around the soundhole. Gloss all over.

Catspaw was right; I brought it home with me.

I feel as if I've slipped into the well of decadence ... two wonderful guitars! I enjoy coming home and just playing for hours. I'm not neglecting Gibson, but, you know, I've to get Larrivee broken in before The Getaway in October.

Oh, and, Bert ... now you don't have to worry about coming back as Gibson and being nestled under spaw's or mick's armpit.

So, again, thank you all for your kindness and showing me what I was about to give up and that I did have alternatives.

I love you all ...

jenny