I guess I'll have to confess that I have a Laskin as my primary guitar, and two Larrivees (one is my backup guitar and the other is on permanent loan to my son). The loaner I bought used from Bob Zentz, many years ago, the other I found in Toronto a few years ago and fell in love with. The Laskin, however, is extra-special to me. About fifteen years ago, I expressed an interest to Grit Laskin, who was here with us at the time, in getting a guitar with a "green man" (Folk-Legacy's logo) on the headstock. He said, sure, he could do that. But the cost of a Laskin was much more than I could afford, and the waiting period for one was at least a year.

Len Domler, of the Greater Hartford Folksong Society and the Sounding Board Coffeehouse, heard about my dream. He got in touch with many of the Folk-Legacy artists, plus the members of the Hartford Society, secretly raised the money, and arranged with Grit to have the guitar made for me. Caroline and both of our sons knew of the conspiracy for a full year, and never did I get even so much as a hint that the plot was afoot. At the Folk-Legacy Festival the following year, Len had me sit down center-stage to begin the second half of the evening concert. Caroline covered my eyes, and Grit brought the guitar out and placed it in my lap.

Well, folks, I went completely to pieces. Really lost it. Blubbered like a baby while "friends" of mine took photos to remind me forever of how little self-control I possess. I have played that guitar in every concert/program we have done since that night. (Even now, just writing about it, I find myself choking up again!)

I might also tell you that Laskin guitars cost a lot less then than they do these days, but even so I could never have afforded one. Grit, you know, was honored with the prestigious Bronfman award last year, the top prize in Canada for outstanding crafts, a well-deserved honor for his superb instruments.

Sandy