JEFF SAYS...
6/22/08
The new Website is here! But.......where are the guitars for sale we've been promising? A few weeks out at this point is the answer. We've been retooling, reorganizing, and generally rethinking our production process in order to keep the instruments for sale coming on a consistent basis once they're available. We aren't sacrificing anything as far as quality or the premium materials we use, just working out ways to keep 'em rolling to eliminate wait times for available guitars. I've also been doing research for original design guitars we'd like to be building early next year. These new models would be an amalgamation of all the things in an instrument that I like and have found to be inspiring and will include new body styles and different construction than what we've been offering in the past. I hope to have a few prototypes by fall so stay posted. People who have seen me play live recently have asked my why I wasn't playing an Original Senn and this "research" is the reason. Testing many different vintage designs with electronic twists and physical changes or substitutions, it's fun "work" and the stage is the best place to test these ideas and theories. For now though we'll be concentrating on production of Fullertons and Pomonas. Fullertons will be first available with a batch of Pomonas to follow. If your not sure which is which the Fullerton is the double cut and the Pomona the single cut. We'll also be offering some fun different finishes and hardware from time to time so be looking for some outside of the box finishes and looks.
Remember that this is an election year so make sure you're registered to vote, do your research, and take part in Democracy. This is our country, our government under our stewardship and that means you too. Prices are skyrocketing due to high gas prices so conserve and be proactive not just a consumer. As Americans we're some of the fattest, gas guzzlingest (my word), materialistic folks inhabiting this planet. Not a great rep for sure so stop and think about these things. Turn your damn car off while you're waiting or eating at Sonic. Walk somewhere if you're able, most of us are and man...how many of us really need a V8 Hemi for transportation? You won't actually need a new T.V. in 2009 to watch all those informative and educational reality shows just some new gadgets to encode to your existing T.V. Our landfills are full of disposable electronics already. Why add more because of our desire for the latest and greatest?
O.K., I'm off my soapbox. Remember this is the "Jeff Says" page and I spend a lot of time by myself in a shop (well, by myself when Chris is busy in the office). I'll be the first to admit that I'm not always entertaining but the world doesn't revolve around guitars and gear...........wait a minute..........did I really write that?.......too much lacquer!
3/3/08
The Internet!
Ah.... yes, the internet. Thanks to Al Gore we can access the answers to any and all questions ever posed by man or women on any subject at any time. Information, markets, entertainment, weather... you name it, it's out here on the internet. I would be no exception as my business is largely internet based. If this sounds a bit sarcastic well I have to admit I have a love hate relationship with all this instantaneous technology. What ever happened to encyclopedias or dictionaries or that other thing called a thesaurus?
There is a plethora of great information on the worldwide web regarding guitars, players, and builders. There are many experts that are readily available to lend their advice and opinions based on extensive experience. There are also the other "experts" that are more than willing and available to give you their opinions and ideas about what is good, bad, cool, or not so cool. There seems to be a lot more of the passive aggressive, wannabe, could have been, big fish in their own cyber pond type "experts" on the net these days. Every other day I get a call or email from a friend or client telling me someone in some guitar chat room is praising or bashing my work. I really don't mind people who don't "get" what I do or don't relate to the art form. Being a guitar player since I was very young, (I've been playing for 35 years for all you information junkies) I can also understand when a player isn't inspired by my creations. Hey, we all like what we like and it's all different especially when it comes to sound and feel. But what really gets to me is the folks (I'm being kind here, insert whatever word you want for "folks") that have all the opinions and information based on pictures, hearsay, or just their own conclusions. It's funny that most of the negative remarks are made by players that have never seen or played one of my instruments in person. I once had a very young man order one of my instruments on the telephone. He admitted that he had only played one vintage guitar in a style I build and that he had never owned any of my competitor's or contemporaries' instruments either. He received his guitar and was very happy...........or so he told me. A few weeks later a friend called me and said "hey, check out this website, there's a guy with one of your guitars putting your work down". A few days later my curiosity got the best of me and I checked out the site and the young man's posting. He seemed happy with the guitar's sound and playability but was talking about the fact that the artwork (aging, relic work) was not as realistic as he hoped it would be. He went on to say that he had owned a piece by another respected builder (one of the same builders he told me were too expensive and that he never owned) and that guitar was much more realistic looking. Of course he no longer owned that guitar as it became "worth too much money", how convenient, no proof. He then went on to profess his experiences with many, many vintage pieces. If you didn't know better you'd think this guy knew his stuff when reading his post. Funny thing is, the same guy called me a few weeks later wanting another instrument.
In conversation I mentioned him previously owning the competitors guitar and asked him how mine compared to which he responded "Oh, I never owned one of those but they look cool." I guess he 's only an expert on that particular website and not in real life.
What I'm trying to say here, and being long winded about it as usual, is be careful of some of the information you find out here in cyberspace. There are a lot of players who will say what they can to boost their own ego or appear cool enough to be on a particular website. Some of the information out there is golden and I encourage research on any product you buy through the internet, especially instruments you can't see or touch, but remember that you're only seeing one side of a story or statistics which can be manipulated to the provider's fancy. If you only saw one Picasso in your life and hated it or thought it was bad does that mean that you hate all his work or that all of his creations are bad? I'm saying this not only for myself, but for my contemporaries who I wholeheartedly support in their efforts to create outstanding instruments. Investigate, but be cautious and discerning as to who or where you information is coming from.
And don't get upset, I'm in no way comparing myself to Picasso…he was much shorter.
Cheers,
Jeff
1/2/08
Happy New Year To All!
It's 2008 and we're finishing up our orders from last year. As soon as those
instruments are on their way we will be starting to build stock for sale on the
site. This way we can build what we want when we want which will help us create
more inspired guitars without deadlines. This is exciting! I was fortunate to
play quite a bit last year but the touring definitely got in the way of many
completion dates. Our new marketing plan will keep us from having customers
wondering "where's my guitar and why is it taking so long?". I hope 2007 was
good to all of you in music, love, and life and that the new year is even
better. Presidential elections are this year so tune in and be involved. Vote!
Apathy is not what made this country great. Recycle something. Walk or ride a
bike somewhere you'd normally drive your car. Help someone, many need it. It's
2008! Two more years to the Space Odyssey! Where's my flying car and my jet
pack?
Cheers,
Jeff
