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Hi Steve, just wanted to let you know the bridge you sent arrived about 2 weeks ago. It has been fitted and over the last couple weeks I have had a chance to try it at a handful of gigs, both acoustically and mic’ed up. Its really sounding great, I am experimenting a little bit with action to find that sweet spot where the mandolin really barks when you chop, if you get what I mean. So far I’m really liking the results and am very happy to have bought this bridge. I also love the tonegard, it really helps to let them mandolin resonate and just lets it sing for tremolo, especially with double stops. Again, thank you for your time and help.
T. Scott, Ireland
Hi Steve,
I just wanted to let you know that I received the new bridge & extra saddle today and was able to fit it properly this time. It sounds FANTASTIC. I almost can’t believe the difference it made for the tone and volume. It finally makes this instrument sound like it should. Before it always felt like there was a filter on it or something. The saddle on this one seems to be quite a bit higher than the previous one (that broke) but it’s still quite a bit lower than the original one so I was able to finally achieve the action I wanted when I put it all the way down (1.3mm on Bass side, 1.2 on treble side). So not only it sounds like a new instrument, it also feels and plays like one. I’m a strong believer in trying to get every instrument as close as possible to its potential even if it does not have a 10k price tag. I finally feel like I’ve achieved that with this one.
Thank you SO much! Please keep doing what you’re doing and I’ll check regularly to see if you guys put out any new stuff (maybe mandolins? :D)
P.J Van de Maele
Cheers to you and your team!! Excellent work! I couldn't be happier with everything. Neck finish looks killer and playability is on another level! Truly inspiring. I cannot thank you enough.
I cannot say enough good things about The X. It is infinitely playable, easy to look at and very pleasing to the ear. If I ever got any actual playing skill, I could probably take over the world with this thing. Thank You Sir.
I have been lucky enough to spend some time at Steve’s shop playing several of his reso’s. Man these guitars are great. The construction is impeccable and the tone and volume are as good as it gets on the custom front. These guitars will surely be flooding the scene as soon as people get to hear them. I own a E model beard but my next purchase will be one of Steve’s guitars. If you get the chance don’t pass them up.
The mandolin came in yesterday and I just got it from the office today. This is an outstanding instrument. The sound is even more than I expected from the videos online. I haven’t gotten a chance to play it a whole lot but the more and more I play, the better I like it. You and your crew are very talented in this art and business you run at making great high quality instruments at a darn good price. Will report back after some much anticipated playing time. Have a good one.
Traveler #25 is a masterpiece, truly the “Presidential Model.” It arrived safely via USPS, rested overnight, and awakened today. Where do I begin? The woods are beautiful, and the finish and binding bring out their character. It sparkles. The binding, by the way, is extraordinary. Gold hardware complements the woods and finish, and the scalloped tailpiece lends itself perfectly to the shape of the mandolin. It is an aesthetic celebration. The tone is phenomenal, and the low, easy setup allows me to bring out the tone as if the instrument were already played in, that’s how refined it is already. When you mentioned that it is very easy to play you understated it: the radiused fretboard and setup give it an effortless feel. I love the way that #25 nestles in my hand; I need to look to see that it’s really there. Traveler #25 embodies the Zen of mandolin playing, and you are the Zen Master. Thanks, Steve, for your creation.
The little Traveler has arrived. Wow! It is so small for producing such a GREAT sound. I must say it leaves my Weber Y2K standing in the dust . I tried a couple of dozen different pick weights and materials till I adopted a couple that seem to work best with the Traveler and, as fortune would have it, my old Tone Guard fits her like a glove. Superb job Steve. The frets are quite nice. Top nut to tailpiece. She sings so sweetly. AND I believe you will find a niche with the celtic crowd as the Traveler just loves to play fast and Irish or Scottish. I am so glad I chose the satin finish and the gold clamshell tailpiece. It’s understated and elegant. I am highly happy and my wife likes it too. It was ‘the sound’ that originally drew us to the instrument. Now that I have one, it still is the sound. How wonderful. As we go along I will have some other requests.
I’ll ask you about them later. Thank you for the gift and extra strings. Take care Steve and thanks again. Your friend Bruce.