How right you are "cat", I guess I see Martin like some favourite uncle who got caught in a raid on a brothel. I'm a trifle embarrassed at his predicament, but I remember all the good memories. Ed.note: This is the stupidist analogy you have ever come up with!

When I first visited the factory in Nazereth PA. in 1968 I expected to see little old German-American craftsmen hunched over benches using old world methods and secret varnishes. One look at the giant spray booth cured me of that. That's when I realised that the folk boom meant "BOOM". I did get some nifty souvenirs though..Coffee cup, bumper sticker and ash tray. (whoo, THAT shows you how long ago it was)

I'm fortunate to be friends with Grit Laskin, and visiting his shop is a wonderful experience. Although everything is state of the art, Grit still works alone and creates amazing instruments. Many go direct from his shop into museums around the world. (perhaps because of his reputation as a creative inlayist as well as luthier) He is THE rennaisance man of his time. Singer, Songwriter, Novelist, Photographer, luthier, comedian (2nd funniest guy I know) and during a social visit here, he fixed all of our door-knobs with his Swiss Army knife!