Tony Duggan-Smith's Blog

1965 FENDER FRETLESS P-BASS FOR SALE

2011-12-08T05:28:00.000-08:00

This fretless P-bass belongs to friend David Hayes and is available directly from him. It was originally a fretted instrument and was converted many years ago but could be switched back with the help of a decent luthier if desired. This is a cool if funky instrument with a ton of mojo and a great past that is looking for a new home and more stories to be part of!

Here are some pics and snippets of David's history with this bass.

Pics include one with Luke Gibson (singer-songwriter formerly w Luke & the Apostles)while playing a series of folk festivals across the country, from Sudbury (Northern Lights) to the Gulf Islands.

Another photo shows David playing with a '30s/'40s swing/jump blues (by way of Tom Waits) group called Cahoots. He's pretty sure this was one of their gigs downstairs at the ElMo.

Also a picture with Colin Lindens band with whom David played extensively.

THE HISTORY OF THIS BASS AS REMEMBERED BY DAVID

"I had owned a '67 Fender P, sunburst, great shape, in the late '60s. In '72, needing money because I planned to go to York University, I sold it. A year or so later I looked for another one & found this '65 FenderP for a reasonable price because it was very road-worn. The finish had been badly worn off in many places & 2 of the tuning pegs had been damaged. I always saw my basses as player's instruments so, after consulting with instrument repair whiz Steve Dark, I decided to replace the tuning pegs with Schallers (they have proven to be terrific, superior to Fenders) & generally cleaned it up. I sanded it & stained it a natural blonde. The pickups were repaired a couple of times, the pots cleaned, but otherwise the bass is original except for the tuning pegs and pickguard.

At that time, I was playing with Red Rider, which was made up of some high school friends. (This was pre-Tom Cochrane.) We played clubs like the El Mocambo & a few that were big at the time but long gone (The Junction Tavern at Gerrard & Jarvis, The Midwich Cuckoo further south on Jarvis, the infamously rough Knob Hill Tavern in Scarborough that was a big rock club in that era...) The bass in these days had a white pickguard & I played it first through a lovely all-tube Ampeg V-4B with folded twin-15" cabinet, then replaced that with a somewhat lighter Acoustic 370 & the 301 reflex 18" cabinet.

I left Red Rider in late'77 (Tom Cochrane joined a few months later). I had decided to study journalism at Ryerson University but before I started I played with what today would be called a "roots" band. With Cahoots, we played '20s, '30s & '40s swing, jump blues, etc. While at Ryerson I replaced Terry Wilkins as Colin Linden's bassist. I loved Terry's fretless sound so helped Steve Dark remove the frets on my Pbass' rosewood fretboard. At that time I had made a custom mahogany pickguard. (It didn't last long. The wood cracked at the spot of most stress, near the input jack.) I replaced it with the black pickguard that's on the bass now.

With Colin Linden I toured around Canada & played a couple of showcases in New York (with a heavy-duty custom road case I had made for airline travel). In Toronto, Colin & his Group du Jour, as we were called, were regulars at Larry's Hideaway, Hotel Isabella, The Edge, The Rivoli & other venues. Colin loved the sound of my Pbass. Paired with an Acoustic 370 amp & a honky single 15" (Altec Lansing 421-8H) cabinet built to the specs of an Ampeg Portaflex cabinet, he said (admiringly) that it had the sound of an angry goose honking.

As of the mid-'80s, when I had to officially stop working with Colin because of time constraints, I've been a busy working journalist. Today, I play in a hobby band called 3 Chord Johnny & the '65 Fender P has been well looked-after. No falls or other damage over all these years. Sounds lovely through my current rig, a MarkBass P501 & David Eden 2x10" cabinet.

Price $4200

Interested? E-mail or call me and I'll pass your info on to David!

tonyds@pathcom.com (416) 699-7082

The Larrivettes resurface!

2011-12-04T12:11:00.000-08:00

Here is an homage to the Larrivettes who skated by night and built guitars by day! Sure there are no skates, pads, pucks or even ice in these pictures but behind each of these steely stares lies a committed player willing to 'go the distance' no matter the foe, even when our biggest obstacle was a serious lack of talent, other than George of course who was poetry in motion!

Picture courtesy of David Wren.

Movie Art for 'DEAD MONDAY'

2011-11-22T04:41:00.000-08:00

Used Instruments of interest available soon!!!

2011-11-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

I have a couple of cool instruments arriving from the States soon one being a rare (1 0f 31) Martin transition tenor guitar known as the Carl Fischer model. This was a modified 2-18T with a 14 fret neck joint that was built in the months leading up to the creation of the first OM guitar. At the time these instruments were like attempts in a new direction and once the OM was established they stopped making them. It is a fantastic sounding and feeling instrument that I discovered by accident while in Dallas. I had never seen one like it (12 fret neck joints are the norm) but it was it's sound that sold me more than its scarcity. Anyone interested in Tenor guitars and in my neck of the woods, should try it. It's a dream.

The other guitar is a 1959 Gibson LG-3 in excellent shape and is one of the very good ones. I get to play lots of these and they can be small sounding or big. This is the latter and I'm sure it will end up in the right hands very soon.

Used Alleva Coppolo custom colour LG4 bass!!!!

2011-11-05T10:59:00.000-07:00

This is an 'as new' bass with only one brief owner with all nitro finish in custom colour, 'plum crazy'.

I will be posting photographs soon but as a taster, it has a rosewood board with dot markers, active preamp, very nice neck and absolutely no issues! Those looking for one are aware of the waiting list and this is a great example you can get right now!

It is $4200 with original gig bag and is for sale by a client. SOLD TO FIRST ENQUIRY!

Visit D'Antone Guitars at G-base.com!!

2011-09-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

http://www.gbase.com/stores/dantone-guitars

Here is the link to some of the used guitars for sale right now. There are more which include a 1961 Martin Mandolin, the Manzer Algongquin archtop mentioned in an earlier post and a couple of show guitars of mine which made an appearance at the last Montreal Guitar Show and that reluctant or not, I must sell to make room for the next series waiting to come into reality!

If you have any questions feel free to drop me a line! Have a great October!

Tony

Toronto welcomes Norwegian musician Jacob Matheus

2011-09-02T19:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes roaming the world and looking for the right instrument takes you to a place where an instrument has been built and is waiting for its perfect owner. The very gifted Norwegian guitarist and composer, Jacob Matheus, recently took a four day diversion on his way back to Berklee (Boston) to try out some of my archtop guitars here in Toronto. Knowing that he had a few days to audition these guitars, I arranged with some good friends to set up some jams with wonderful local players so that Jacob could get a sense of how the guitars would respond in a real combo environment. As it turned out he had singled out one instrument early on, so that simplified the process even more. What I found fascinating and different from many previous clients, was that Jacob was primarily interested in hearing how the guitar responded purely acoustically sans amp for his entire stay! Amazingly although he was playing beside an acoustic piano, a synth, electric bass and electric guitar, he was always clear as a bell. Jacob has fantastic technique in many areas and especially in coaxing out great tone while playing at maximum acoustic volume. It blew everyone away that every note he played was heard.

Kudo's to you Jacob!

In the end Jacob headed off back to Boston with a fully carved blonde archtop that had been made as a show guitar four years earlier. It was the perfect guitar for him and the experience was great for both of us. Thanks Jacob for the deciding to come to Toronto and I look forward to hearing all that you create with this instrument. Anyone who gets the chance to hear this great young artist will recognize the depth of his musicality.

I want to thank Monte Horton(guitar), Matt Horner (piano), John Yelland (bass), Terry Logan (keys and guitar), Marcus Ward (BBQ, support/friendship and love of guitars) as well as Marcus's sons Jordan and Nigel and Jordans equally talented bandmate, Jonathon Plytas for making Jacob feel welcome during his stay.

Summer is pretty much over and here's to a magnificent and colourful fall for all of us!

Tony

2011-07-21T07:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome to D'Antone Guitars! It is a sort of 'umbrella' name under which I will be marketing both used instruments (vintage and luthier built) as well as some of my own instruments. Those who know me already know that I have been doing high end restoration on instruments for as many years as I have been building them. This has been invaluable in my own education as a builder as you come to understand the choices made by great builders going back generations and which ones have stood the test of time and also those that although they may have had a positive impact on the instruments performance in the short term, have failed over time. I have learned that you cannot be judgemental on what could be perceived as a 'flaw' because an instrument capable of making great music in the short term is just as valid as one that will last three hundred years. It's 'life' is in the 'moment' just as the music that is played on it is but I digress!

Here are some instruments that are available right now. They are all fine guitars that have crossed my path one way or another and include the occasional used instrument of my own. I haven't listed every guitar that may be available but if you are looking for something in particular, you can certainly let me know. Also for higher resolutions pictures contact me and I will happy to send them to you. I can be contacted at:

tel: 416 699 7082

e-mail: tonyds@pathcom.com

website: http://tonyduggan-smith.com/ (soon to be updated to D'Antone)

Vintage 1952 Gibson SJ-200 Acoustic Guitar #A94XX FON 5707-18.

This very light instrument is in exceptionally fine condition as well as being extremely rare. One of only 112 shipped that year, this one has a very early '52 serial number and the factory order number does not yet have the Z prefix that began in '52. The guitar features a sunburst finish, single X-braced spruce top, beautifully figured solid maple back and sides, multiple bound top and back, vibrant crown pearl inlays on a bound Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, 'mustache' bridge with pearl inlays and a large '50s neck profile that fits comfortably in your hand. There are some usual minor signs of binding shrinkage and the bordered pickguard is starting to gas in a few small spots as seen in the pictures. It has a common short back crack running from the end block, a tiny one at the heel block and a short one in the waist area. There is also a small side crack in the upper waist. All cracks have been glued and cleated. The bridge is original and features an intonated saddle using the original existing saddle slot. Overall this is an incredible vintage guitar and rare to find in this condition. It sounds fantastic with full, rich tone, plays great and comes with the original brown hard case with green lining. Also included is the rare original hang tag with the handwritten serial number and stamped for SJ-200. Perfect for the Gibson aficionado this guitar epitomizes the classic Gibson Jumbo tone and feel and would be equally at home in the hands of a player or collector. I should mention to any songwriter reading this that you will find inspiration distilled into every chord you play!

Price: $11,500US

2000 Borges Barndance

Bought from Kim Sherman at Cotten Music last year. It's a great sounding, light and resonant interpretation of a Gibson J-35, with indian rosewood back and sides and Adirondack top. With waverly tuners, bone nut and saddle and it's short scale, it's kind of a cross between a Gibson J-35 and an Advanced Jumbo. Condition is excellent, with light finish crazing (apparently due to temperature fluctuations in his old space). Very minor scuffing on the back and a tiny ding in the headstock. There's plenty of saddle - it's barely been played in the 10 years or so since it was built - and it was recently set up by Julius Borges himself. Price: $4,300US

1995 Tony Duggan-Smith 7/8 sized Archtop Guitar

Built at Linda Manzers shop during Tony's many years there, this is a unique 14 1/2" instrument with 21 7/8" scale that can be played in standard tuning or tuned up a whole tone. In excellent condition , it is a completely hand carved instrument featuring highly figured german maple back and sides, an Engelman spruce top, ebony appointments, handmade Kent Armstrong pickup and under saddle transducer. With a rich complex tone expected in Tony's instruments, this guitar is ideal either for a serious young player or anyone looking for a different tonal texture to add to their palette. Comes with hardshell case. Price: $6,300US

1929 Martin 0-18K #36XX3

Original finish with neck reset, replacement transition belly bridge (for intonation) original bar frets one small repaired top crack and new replacement Waverly tuners. This is a magnificent example both structurally and acoustically. With nicely figured Koa, it has typical wear for its age and has thankfully never been top coated. Recently seen and played at the Montreal Guitar Show by both musicians and builders it was a great vintage reference instrument amongst so many new luthier built guitars. A fabulous and surprisingly versatile guitar, it comes with new hardshell case. Price: $4,400US

MORE INFO ON AVAILABLE VINTAGE GUITARS!!!!!

2011-06-20T08:17:00.000-07:00

Besides the beautiful SJ-200 I have two other instruments available. One is a killer 1929 Martin 0-18K with original bar frets and original finish. It has one minor top crack that has been repaired, a neck reset done and also a replacement bridge that was switched to the 1930 belly style for intonation reasons. The original finish is scuffed and marked but the sound is so good that the idea of refinishing or top coating for cosmetic reasons just seems ludicrous. One look at this guitar tells you that it was loved and played. I don't have pictures of it yet but I will have it at the Montreal Guitar Show along with the SJ-200. The second instrument is a Borges Barndance in excellent condition and these are pictures of it attached here. Feel free to contact me for more information on any of these instruments and I am hoping to have the new site up and running in the next few weeks.
contact: tonyds@pathcom.com
Oh and come to the MONTREAL GUITAR SHOW!!!!!!

Watch out for my new site with vintage guitars available!!

2011-04-08T06:43:00.000-07:00

That's right, there is a new site being assembled right now that features both my instruments and a revolving supply of vintage and used handmade instruments under an umbrella name (to be revealed)
Here is a taste of some of those instruments! They include the SJ200 mentioned before, the extremely rare 1935 Gibson E-150 lapsteel and an early Linda Manzer Algonquin archtop guitar. There will loads more specs as well as other choice pieces appearing soon (including an excellent Borges flat top) so if any of them peak your interest, just contact me at my regular e-mail address: tonyds@pathcom.com

Tyler Fair duet with Tyler Eigsti

2011-03-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

Here is link to a live rendition of 'Alone Together' featuring Taylor Eigsti on piano and Tyler Fair on one of my laminate archtops. Tyler is a very cool up and coming jazz guitarist in the States and is active with the the Advanced High School Jazz Intensive.

http://soundcloud.com/ttdfair/alone-together-w-taylor-eigsti

2011-03-14T16:13:00.001-07:00

Superb 1951-52 Gibson SJ-200 available!!!!

2011-02-22T06:13:00.001-08:00

This is an absolutely stunning guitar! Not just as a 'looker' or piece of American Music History but as a player. This is the lightest jumbo Gibson I have ever picked up and the fact that it is built as a fine musical instrument and not as a door stop like some of the latter J-200's, all adds to its amazing tone and volume.
The tone, clarity and phenomenal mojo of this guitar conjure up all kinds of questions about the body of musical work that it has participated in. From the moment I had it in my hands, I realized this was as good as it gets.
It had a couple of cracks in the back and one in the upper waist that have been cleated and the bridge has been reglued. Like most instruments of this age, it has also had some kerfing and a couple of brace ends reglued over time. There are a couple of minor breaks in the body binding (common) but nothing structural.
I am advertising this for a friend because I see an instrument of this caliber so rarely and am happy to be part of finding it a good home. It also come with its original case which needs a little TLC.
For more information (serious interest only please)just e-mail me at: tonyds@pathcom.com

Sarello Videos and Guitar updates

2011-02-15T05:59:00.000-08:00

Here is one short film of a piece being performed on the Sarello I built for Mark Korven.

http://vimeo.com/18804319

Others can be found at http://microfilms.ca/home/Welcome.html

This is a small production company started by Mark Korven and myself to produce short films. Those who know us both know that we have a rich background in the film industry and microfilms gives us both the chance to explore themes that intrigue us, both performance based and narrative. I will add new project links as they are completed!

On a completely different note I will be listing guitars available on this blog shortly. These will include a few of my show guitars as well as some incredible vintage instruments that have come along. The first one is a 1951 Gibson sunburst SJ-200 which is one of the most amazing guitars I have ever played and I generally have little interest in them as 'instruments'. I found it among several from the 1950's and it was far and away the best of the lot. It is the lightest one I have ever picked up and is built as a real musical instrument and not a door stop!
I will be posting pictures soon but feel free to contact me prior if interested. The first serious person to see and PLAY it will not be able to resist!

Pictures courtesy of David Wren!

2010-07-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks David for the cool pix and please notice that there are no butts or ashes in the ashtray!

Montreal Guitar Show update!!!!

2010-06-09T19:05:00.000-07:00

So here are a few shots of the guitars in lacquer....... I can't believe that in three weeks the necks will be glued to these bodies, they will be fretted, pickups installed, tailpieces, bridges and pickguards made and attached and with a little luck and no sleep, sounding like guitars...... or I'll be in a pine box on my way to the hereafter!

2010-05-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

So here are a few of pictures of the two show guitars ready to be routed for binding. The small one gets koa binding and the larger maple binding. Colours are still to be decided but I like birdseye maple when the colour has some strong yellows in it as seen in the close up of one of the backs! Both guitars have a lot of figure in the maple but I don't want either of them to be natural. This is a guitar show they are going to and they want to scream from the table!!! "look at me....look at me!!"

As a complete aside, there are rumours of a new Pukka Orchestra project to be undertaken! With Graeme Williamson living in Scotland and Neil Chapman and I at least both in Ontario, it would be a wonderful creative sidebar in our lives! I'll keep those interested updated.

Mark Korven and his Sarello!

2010-04-28T05:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.markkorven.com/Whats_New.html
Here is a link to Mark Korven's site and a little more information on the Sarello. Poke around the site and you'll see and hear what a clever and talented bloke Mark is!

More pictures to come soon on the two show guitars. The backs are on both and the tops almost ready to brace and glue on! I've been busy with a couple of major neck resets and refrets but another 'build window' is about to open up!

Accidental art from guitar making

2010-04-04T06:33:00.000-07:00

Process Art has always appealed to me. Like clues left behind of a journey and purpose.
It has played a central role in much of my own art since I was a kid although I didn't realize it at first. The first Art School I went to was in Canterbury, England studying sculpture. It was a pretty traditional school at heart but somehow it had become a magnet for some very cool people. Characters like Ian Drury (Blockheads) and David Thompson (drummer and sculptor) were our teachers and there was some fantastic art being created.
One of my personal faves was a series of paintings by a girl who used her naked body as a brush, dipping herself in paint and then rolling across the canvas in various poses. That will always be my clearest introduction to 'process' as art.
As I was taking Sculpture I was expected to buy my own materials and learn the skills of the trade. The problem was that I also wanted to visit Greece and Scandinavia during my holidays and the only money I had was my materials, food and lodging grant. I had to eat and sleep, so my material budget became very very small. In fact all I could afford was paper and string. I was also able to buy a few panes of glass that I would use over and over for the next couple of years.
To be honest I think my teachers kind of wrote me off as a lost cause at least until we got a visit from an artist having a large retrospective at the Tate Galley in London. He was the first person I ever met who actually took what I was doing seriously. Seriously enough to offer to trade any piece of his in the London show for one of mine. I took him up on it and then he suggested I apply to NSCAD in Halifax Nova Scotia, which I did and subsequently went to several months later, leading to dozens of adventures.....
All this to say, here are some pictures taken yesterday during some fairly boring sanding stages of guitar building that never the less included some nice visual moments that I wanted to share.
More again soon.........

'Faraway' micro movie

2010-03-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=img8SYSZD5w

Check this out!
I was one of the producers on this poem/movie performed by Kate Marshall Flaherty.

Update on two guitars in progress

2010-01-20T11:18:00.000-08:00

16" Guitar

Here is a picture of the spectacular birds-eye laminate back (which has amazing curl as well) and the seasoned German spruce top roughed out. I do all my carving by hand, no CNC or duple-carvers here! These parts are paired up with solid birds-eye sides which are ready to bend and a three piece birds-eye maple neck which has been glued up (wide centre rosewood strip). Other parts like fingerboard/tailpieces/bridges depend on whether I go with ebony or rosewood for the tailpiece, bridge and pickguard. Keeping those options open at this point.

14 1/2" Guitar

Here are pictures of the curly maple laminate back and the solid curly maple top also roughly carved out. This is the guitar which will have the channelled block (Spanish cedar and mahogany mix for weight) running between the top and back. The core section is made and runs uncut from one end of the guitar to the other. Both ends are glued directly to the top and back at either end and then there are corresponding fitted braces throughout the arches on both top and back. This part is labour intensive!

Both tops in progress

This is a glimpse into the carving process. Once the underside of the block is established then the perimeter is thicknessed to create a consistent edge to work from. Then some bulk is removed so that the top can sit in my carving jig without moving about. Then I get to work on the inside bowl to within about 5% of its finished dimensions. I'm about 40% of the way right now using my two little hand planes. I made a bunch of these planes a few years ago for Linda Manzer and myself and a few extras which are in the hands of a few builders and guitar collectors. I've included a close up of one of these planes. We each have two of them because they heat up as they are being used and you can switch back and forth.

Hand Plane

More details to follow......................

Laminate Guitars in the Works

2009-12-25T07:36:00.000-08:00

I've been getting a lot of e-mail researching laminate archtops. Linda Manzer and I are in the process (albeit slow process) of making our own laminate material. In the interim I am starting two laminate archtops on spec using wonderful Finnish material from over 45 years ago. The tops will be decided after I have the frames finished and backs attached. I will either use laminate tops or if someone is interested, I will carve a solid top for at least one of them.
One will be a full size 16" model, 14 fret neck joint with X brace and single pickup with ebony appointments and the other will be a 14 1/2" model with 15 fret neck joint, spanish cedar channeled block for feedback control and two pickups with exotic rosewood appointments including tailpiece as seen on the archtop on my site (unless the guitar is sold prior to completion with customer mods). I will post pictures on the guitars as they come along. The materials for both of them are superb and assuming I do my job right, they'll be a nice pair when they are done!

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have on these or any other instruments.

Also the Sarola (or Sarello) is in finishing now and will be something to behold once complete. In keeping with it's unique nature it is getting a finish that will be a work of art in itself. Mark Korven, the owner, played me a few recorded pieces done while the instrument was missing a large side section but strung up. Once done I will be sure to upload some pieces!

So I hope you all have a fantastic New Year and take care of one another! - Tony

Cool article on my good friend Hari Sihvo

2009-12-25T07:33:00.000-08:00

http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/738123--the-healing-powers-of-a-good-guitar

Article says it all!!

Sarola continues.....

2009-09-07T08:03:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of recent pictures of the developing Sarola.... It has already gone through another upheaval since this picture a week a ago but I will save that for later when it is back together. The instrument has been in a modular configuration throughout the process so I can keep taking it apart for any changes to the neck attachments. Eventually it will all be glued together and the cutaway side glued in. Right now I have eight sympathetics coming through the fingerboard like a sarangi with friction pegs..... This picture however has 12 'symps' with steinberger tuners, which proved to be too heavy and had an adverse affect to the tone. You have to try to find out!

Gerard Mcvay composition

2009-07-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

Hi Tony,

Feel free to post this on your web site. It is an original composition from 1991, played on the laminate archtop you crafted in 2007. I love the resonance and sustain of this fine instrument. The guitars action is effortless.

I am playing on this clip with Tomastik medium gauge strings through a Acoustic Image Focus amp connected to a 12-inch Raezer's Edge cabinet.

Cheers,

Gerard

2009 Montreal Guitar Show!!!

2009-07-11T15:26:00.001-07:00

Here are three of the five instruments I had with me in Montreal for the amazing Montreal Guitar Show which wrapped up on July 5th and was an incredible success for all those who participated and all those that ran the event with the precision of a swiss watch!
Congrats to all for such an amazing event.
Special thanks to Bill Garrett who performed a beautiful mini concert at the event with my guitars. He is a class act. He was originally going to accompany Hari Sihvo who had to bow out with health issues but is ready to give it a go next year when he is back in fine form!!
Thanks to all who stopped by my table at the show and played my instruments. That is what
they are made for and there were some real virtuosos that took the time to play them. I will resist dropping names and appearing cheap and opportunistic!
Another highlight for me was an interview for an upcoming book that takes a look at the field of instrument making from an anthropological perspective.
I look forward to reading this in depth perspective on the craft when it is out there for public consumption. Thanks to Kathryn Dudley for taking the time to look into our world!

Well that is all for now but I am sure there will be more news to share soon. have a wonderful summer!

Sarola in the Works

2009-04-20T07:21:00.001-07:00

Here is Mark Korven checking out the 'Sarola' while we can still get inside through the cutaway and modify bracing and add reinforcement for upcoming sympathetic strings.
This is a hybrid of a cello and the traditional indian sarangi. Eventually I will have links to soundfiles of the very talented Mark playing this instrument as well as more pictures. First though it must be completed!!!
I will be picking up from where we are now, once I have the guitars being built for the 2009 Montreal Guitar Show prepped for finishing. Phew... what a busy spring.

Pre spring adventures

2009-03-24T18:16:00.000-07:00

Tony Duggan-Smith - Mark Kett - Pat Metheny - Linda Manzer - Joe Yanuziello

Taken in New York in late January at the release of the limited Manzer/Metheny guitar series on which we all worked in various capacities.

Linda Manzer- an incredible feat of building!
Pat Metheny - R&D and inlay designs
Mark Kett - all the fabulous inlay work
Joe Yanuziello - the superb finishing job on the guitars
Me (Tony) - planing, fretting and set ups (not sit ups)

Paul Simon was one of the first customers to buy one and the event was very well received with wonderful musicians attending including the very talented Steve Cardenas. Congrats Linda!!!!

Also had the chance to spend some quality time with good friend, Carol Kaye of Kayos productions talking about guitars, music, life and everything in between. She is a class act and anyone serious about promoting their entertainment careers in the USA should seriously consider her services, assuming she has time!

Now back to work on a prototype 'Sarola'. Half cello - half sarangi, this hybrid will be strung up any day now and my shop readied to plow ahead with three new guitars for the fabulous Montreal Guitar Show in July. Pictures to follow!