Artisan Master  # 073

Body: 1-pc. Golden Koa
Neck & Fretboard: Old-growth Brazilian Rosewood
Pickups: Koa covered Lollar P-90s
Bridge: Thorn 1-pc. tremolo
Nut: Koa with brass "string inserts"....cool.
Purfling and 12th Firesun: 14K Gold
Color: Natural

I'll cut right to the chase, this guitar is breathtakingly beautiful to look at. The chatoyance of the body rolls and flutters like a kite in the wind. As you slowly shift it the curl flashes on and off catching your eye in random places across the carve. The neck is pitch black, smooth as silk and the extra rolled frets and fretboard edge make it feel like a well used 50's Strat. Bling time...14K purfling, side dots, 12th fret, even the trem-claw is gold plated. The frets are the same golden-colored alloy as Dane' and Mike's, a nice detail.

Tone. I think I've used the "grand piano" reference more than once in describing a tone report. This fits it to a tee. The lows are very present, not boomy, but rather tight and solid. The rosewood neck provides the midrange spike and the Lollar's vintage clarity adds the perfect amount of definition and articulation on the high-end. Strumming a 6-string chord is like listening to a string-quartet. It's very full, rich, clear, and BIG.

Eric, you've done so much for me and for all the guys on TNDP, here's to everything...I hope you love it, your good friend -

Ron