| When we were talking to Saul and Gordon at the
NAMM show they were telling us that their annual production for jazz guitars
is around 1200 (and about half that for mandolins)! That number
is roughly what I expect from small-shop high-end North American producers
like Collings & Bourgeois! We were quizzing them about
production methods and they informed us that a bandsaw and an open bladed
cutter/shaper were the only stationary power tools in the facility!
Now THAT is what I call "handmade"!!!
Every once in a while the folks at Eastman
will send us something really unique that isn't even in the catalogue like
the left handed AR810-CE pictured above. Wood that is figured enough
to warrant a clear natural finish is almost exclusively reserved for the
more expensive 900 series instruments, but very occasionally a highly
figured set is utilized in the affordable 800 guitars. This particular
instrument is an absolute STUNNER!!! |
