gillymor wrote:

> When I choose an instrument it is first and foremost about sound and playability but I appreciate musical instruments as functional art forms as well.

Yes I have the same view. My particular Martins are basically plain(ish), factory built instruments and although of course they are built by skilled workers and have an intrinsic good aesthetic / attractive look, they are not fancy and I own them for the sound they produce along with their playability. My small-luthier acquisitions are something different - beautiful creations in their own right that also sound nice, as well as being the expression of the skill and personal design flavour of a single luthier, plus a point along their particular journey (they will not be building exactly the same way in say 2010 as opposed to 2025). Also if you have met or have had some personal interaction with the luthier (or seen their place of operation) that makes for a richer experience as well. Plus of course (although this is not the case for my instruments, which have either been purchased from a luthier's existing stock or I am not the original owner) one can have a say in the design choices to get something unique or otherwise individualised if a non-standard instrument is desired - as well as perhaps a warm fuzzy feeling that you are supporting local, or not so local, artistic enterprises.

I know one can do the same from e.g. the Martin Custom Shop as well so that would no doubt be an equally worthwhile experience.

People buy works of art to hang on their walls. We are lucky, we can also buy works of art/craftsmanship that also produce beautiful sounds.

- Tony