[NGD] My Dream (Guitar)

[OldStrummer]

It's here! The "last mile" was a bit nerve-wracking as it appeared for a day that UPS had "misplaced" it. But at 4:59PM yesterday, the brown truck showed up and after almost exactly 18 months, my custom-made Stephen Holst guitar has made it to its home. I let it sit in the box overnight and then opened it this morning. I was like a kid a Christmas! The first thing I noticed was the case. It's a Gator Journeyman Series Resonator case, deluxe wood with Journeyman Burlap exterior. It isn't custom made, but the fit is almost perfect.

Then, I opened the case and spied the guitar I'd only seen in photos. It was everything I'd hoped for. The size is perfect. The finish is perfect. I tuned up the Thomastik-Infeld George Benson strings and played a few bars. The sound, un-amplified is... perfect.

While I know GAS is never completely cured but only put into remission, all I can say is that I don't think I'll be looking for a new guitar again any time soon. After all, how does one improve on perfection?

[Michael Smith]

18 months is a long time to wait, but it looks like it was worth it!

[phantomman]

18 months is a long time to wait, but it looks like it was worth it!

+1

Gorgeous!

[OldStrummer]

18 months is a long time to wait, but it looks like it was worth it!

It was a long time, but Steve and I were in constant communication, so it never felt like things had fallen into a black hole. I've gone over every square millimeter of the guitar and there's not a thing out of place, missing or incomplete. The attention to detail is amazing! Even the way the guitar is strung (Thomastik-Infeld George Benson GR112s) is fastidious. And the packaging? I've never had to open a box as well sealed and insulated as this one!

Steve is not only a master craftsman, but an artist. Unlike many artists, he's quite easy to deal with, and open to offering recommendations and suggestions.

Yes, it was worth it. There's no price I'd put on this guitar. It was made specifically for me, and I'm going to keep it!

[Don]

Wow! That's beautiful!

[blackonblack]

There is no level of congrats high enough I can say.
it’s gorgeous. Enjoy!

[DanTheBluesMan]

wow

[OldStrummer]

Has anyone had experience with Calton Cases ("The hardest working case in showbiz")? I'm thinking of having a case made for this guy, as its dimensions don't fit a standard guitar case. Kudos to Steve for finding the Gator Journeyman Resonator Case. It's a good fit, but not perfect; there's a little wobble inside, and the headstock area is much longer than needed. Calton has a process for building custom cases for custom guitars. It's pretty involved, but it begins by filling out a very detailed spec sheet, then by tracing its outline on paper, and then photographing the guitar, the body and the full guitar, from both above and from the side.

They aren't cheap. But then, neither was my guitar. I'd like to protect my investment.

[phantomman]

There is no level of congrats high enough I can say.
it’s gorgeous. Enjoy!

Absolutely.....if it were any prettier there'd be a law against it!

[NTBluesGuitar]

I agree with Roger...such a beautiful guitar!