Man Don,

Those old F-30's are sweet guitars. Easy on the eyes too. I've got big hands and I'm used to playing a wider neck these days (1.75), but I could get real used to that narrow neck for that hummy sound and comfortable size.

My favorite guitar (these days) is either the Santa Cruz Norman Blake model--slope-shoulder dred, mahogany back and sides, spruce top, simple herringbone and ivoroid trim, 12 fret, slotted peghead. I like it for its elegant beauty, great materials and workmanship, but mostly for its sound. To my ear it's the perfect combination of dry, crisp, register, volume, and articulation. Its neck is too fat.

The other, and I'd buy it tomorrow if I had the money, is also a Santa Cruz. It's what they call their VJ. Also a slope dred, mahogany, but in this case it's the ultimate in pared-down elegance. Simplest of trim, clean top. And the sound is more bell-like than the Norman Blake, but it does plenty fine on leads and fiddle tunes, and still has a great register even if that bass isn't quite as boomy. It's neck is a more standard (by modern standards) slim, 1.75, and it plays wonderfully. There's something about the slopeshoulder's style that is more comfortable than a standard dred. The only way I can explain it is that I don't feel like I'm sitting behind the guitar as much. I fit around it better.