#46
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Thanks guys...
Thanks everyone.
You all seem to be excited for me which is lovely. I am incredibly fortunate to already have a couple of Tom's guitars - a 00 (in koa) and an OMC (in wenge) that this one will be joining. I will, upload some photos of the finished beast when I have it and also some sound files. Tom will be delivering it in person (again) and he will also do a few tweaks to the other two guitars whilst visiting now that they have settled down. I can honestly say that despite the fact that I have had them for a year nearly I feel a real sense of occasion when I open the Hoffee carbon fibre case and gaze upon whichever guitar I am about to play. They really are works of art - beautifully designed, beautifully detailed and beautifully finished. But the sound is the thing...it just keeps getting better. It's funny really that these instruments are so phenomenally responsive that it is the first time I have noticed the effect that "warming-up" the instrument makes. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty amazing straight out of the case, but play it, hard, for 10 minutes and it comes alive and there is a whole extra dimension - depth, power, delicacy - simply amazing. It's funny isn't it that if you post an question on here saying "what's the best guitar you've ever played" everyone will tell you it's theirs! Whether it's a 1973 Eko made of plywood or a Traugott in Rio they always claim that their's has that certain something. Well, perhaps I should jump on the bandwagon, but with some context. I have been fortunate enough to have some friends with good taste in guitars and deep pockets too, in addition to the guitars I have owned (Martin, Taylor, Sobell, Bourgeois, Lowden, Avalon, Beneteau, Forster and more) I have also had the honour to have played Traugotts, Somogyis, Kostals, Ryans, Greenfields, Olsons, Manzers, Baraniks, Wingerts and everything else (except a Henderson for some reason) and the guitars by Tom are up there with the very best of the best...and in many cases better. All of my friends who have played one of Tom's guitars have been utterly blown away. Not just impressed, but BLOWN AWAY...many of those friends have been so impressed that they have put their money where their mouth is and have ordered on the spot. So, if you ever have the chance to play a Tom Sands guitar...do so, but acknowledge that you mage be raiding your piggy bank! Anyone in the UK who would like to experience it...drop me a line.
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |
#47
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Quote:
I really don't want to comment on the which apprentice is better than the other sort of discussion--they are all different and that's what makes it so fun to play all of them.
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1998 Langejans BRGC Engelmann Spruce / Brazilian RW 2017 Heinonen "Olson" SJ Western Red Cedar / Honduran RW - Build |
#48
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Almost there...
So, here we are...almost delivery time.
Tom will be bringing the guitar round in the next few days and, I am "quite excited" about it! Looking rather splendid I think... More to follow once it's in my hands. It will be really interesting to see how it sounds alongside the OM and the 00. I'll take loads of shots and upload some sound clips too is I have a chance. Thanks everyone for your support and comments...and thanks to Tom for producing what looks like another masterpiece.
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |
#49
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Hi Ads,
Simply gorgeous (as always)! You're a lucky man. I look forward to your comments after Tom delivers it. ;-) BK |
#50
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Beautiful work! Congrats!
I had the opportunity to meet Tom and play one of his OMs at the recent Artisan Show. He let me hoss off to a quiet room and WoW! I was blown away. And such a humble young man. You guys in the U.K. are lucky to have him.
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Life is like a box of chocolates .... |
#51
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Congratulations Adam, I look forward to seeing it in person at some point soon!
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www.michaelwattsguitar.com Album Recording Diary Skype Lessons Luthier Stories YouTube iTunes Guitars by Jason Kostal, Strings by Elixir, Gefell Mics and a nail buffer. |
#52
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Delivered...
So, ladies and gentlemen, yesterday the luthier Tom Sands came to stay and brought my eagerly awaited new guitar.
It is breathtakingly beautiful, the design, the wood, the crispness of finish it is simply faultless. This time I decided to forgo the French polished finish in favour of a nitro finish as it's so much more durable and less prone to those annoying marks for fingernails. I think you'll agree that it is a magnificent looking instrument...now...the sound. Clearly it's not played in yet, so has some "opening up" to do, and it has a nitro finish which, according to Tom can have quite a detrimental effect on the sound, so things are likely to improve over the coming weeks and months. It is also worth saying that it has a tough act to follow (join) as particularly my OM is an amazing guitar...breathtaking...incredible. So...what does this MMD (Modified Modified Dreadnaught) sound like. It sounds incredible. It is every bit the equal of my other guitars already. It has a sweeter tone than the OM, it has an amazing dynamic range, it has a solidity to the sound which is delightful and it feels so much more "professional" than the other guitars. So, the OM and the 00 are incredible instruments but they feel slightly "lucky"...by which I mean that you kind of get the impression as you handle them that they are exceptional but perhaps if you were to buy a Sands guitar it might not necessarily be that good. The new one dispels any of these worries. It feels as if if is absolutely "designed" to be that good...and that EVERY guitar will be of equal brilliance. I cannot articulate just how thrilled I am. I have three of the very best instruments I have ever had the pleasure of playing, let alone owning. I am, for the time being, done with buying guitars as there is little I have seen that can match these, let alone surpass them. I am a lucky man. Should any of you guys want to experience these first hand, just let me know... Here they are as a triptych of magnificence! Thank you all for being part of this wonderful journey with me.
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |
#53
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Lucky Man
Hi Ads,
Your new MMD is simply stunning. I love your description of that guitar and know that Tom is simply growing as a luthier. You've hit the perfect trifecta! Perhaps you can now get Tom to offer a baritone or single 0 model and go for a perfect pentagon. Congratulations and enjoy! BK |
#54
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Congratulations Adam. Can't wait to hear a sound clip!
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#55
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Congratulation Adam! That's some serious guitars, very beautiful indeed. I wonder which part of Yorkshire does Tom settle, would love to visit someday!
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2008 McPherson MG 4.5 Sitka/EIR 2015 Taylor PS16e Sitka/Cocobolo 2017 Gaffney Mod-D Swiss Moon/The Tree 2021 Buendia OMF Swiss Moon/BRW 2022 Isaac Jang OM 2023 Kraut OO |
#56
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What a privilege to have all three....enjoy.
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My YouTube Page: http://www.youtube.com/user/ukejon 2014 Pono N30 DC EIR/Spruce crossover 2009 Pono koa parlor (NAMM prototype) 2018 Maton EBG808TEC 2014 Hatcher Greta 13 fret cutaway in EIR/cedar 2017 Hatcher Josie fan fret mahogany 1973 Sigma GCR7 (OM model) rosewood and spruce 2014 Rainsong OM1000N2 ....and about 5 really nice tenor ukuleles at any given moment |
#57
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Thanks mate, you must be getting excited too.
I have already spoken to Tom about my "big idea"...if he goes for it you'll be ordering one of them as well! 🤔 Quote:
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |
#58
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You're killing me (or perhaps curiosity is)!
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#59
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I am very lucky Jon... 😀
__________________
Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |
#60
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Hi Howard, Ripon is where Tom's now based.
Currently getting his workshop set up and ready to go.
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Current: Tom Sands OMc Sobell New World Martin OM-28 Authentic '31 Mear & Gray OM18 Martin 0-28vs Stephen Eden Crossover Hahn 228 Telecaster National Delphi Resonator YouTube Past guitars from: Mear & Gray, Tom Sands, Stefan Sobell, Dana Bourgeois, Marc Beneteau, Nigel Forster, Peter Abnett, Avalon, Lowden, Martin (vintage & modern), Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, Fender and more... |