uploading more pics! I took almost 500 pictures when I was in San Francisco. Check out page 2 of this thread (http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...=205642&page=2) for the updated pics with Jason and the shop.

The story does get better! :D including my final wood choice found here:

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=206439

Fantastic pics Eric! Great stuff!

Michael, your guitar is stunning. looks even better in person! :D

I don't doubt it my friend!

I also found a sandal made by Michi Matsuda:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran054.jpg

I was able to hold some of Jason's guitars that were being built. Here is one:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran029.jpg

and here is Michael Watts guitar with a wedge. where did the soundhole and rosette go???

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran026.jpg

Ervin was around too and we were able to sit and have some tea and just talk about guitars and his philosophy behind his building. Here is me, Jason, and Ervin in the kitchen!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran009.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran007.jpg

Ervin was happy to show me some things he was working on:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran348.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran347.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran346.jpg

After Jason strung up Mike McKee's guitar, I was able to take a look at it and play it real briefly to get a feel on Jason's signature tone:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran362.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran363.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran351.jpg

Ervin was in the room tinkering when I was playing Jason's guitar:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran364.jpg

and one of the most humbling experiences I've had as a guitar lover is having the master sit back and listen to my music:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran365.jpg

and Ervin was listening too....... :D

Eric

this is a fantastic trip and experience. glad to be able to follow along. have to say if I hung a guitar in the kitchen there would be trouble. thanks for sharing all of this. Can't wait to see your ultimate prizes.

jeff

Haha I love the glasses next to the sandal
Thanks for sharing, looks like a great trip and experience

Awesome photos. This thread is a real joy. All these guitars are really something to see (I wish I could hear them all too). Maybe it's that I've just finished reading both of Somogyi's books but there is something magical about the aesthetic of the OM with the partitioned rosette that I really love. It's probably best if I never lay my ham fisted hands on one... but I do dream. Although, Michael's Kostal build thread about the modified dread combined with the wedge has certainly captured my imagination.

I may never build guitars. Heck I'm not likely ever to play them all that well either but I do really enjoy playing and learning about them. Specifically seeing these build threads is really inspiring. I love to see people honing their skills and working at the pinnacle of their craft both as players and builders. Great stuff, thanks for posting and keep it coming

one of my favorite threads in a long long time. please, keep on sharing

...thanks Eric... I almost cried :) It has been a pleasure to see Somogyi environment...

did I say I got to play the Andamento?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran035.jpg

It truly was an amazing guitar and the detail on the Andamentos that Jason is working on is flawless:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran015.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...sanfran014.jpg

and now the part that was one of my favorite parts of the trip..... playing with the wood!

Out of over 40 sets of wonderful brazilian, I ended up picking out 4 final sets. You might have remembered my Polls in which I narrowed the 30+ sets down to 7 sets and then another thread with 6 sets and a combination of the winners for 6 sets to choose from. Out of that final poll for 6 sets, I narrowed them down to these four sets:

1

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...20Braz/278.jpg

2

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...20Braz/183.jpg

3

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...20Braz/256.jpg

4

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73...20Braz/186.jpg

I understand that on paper (or on a screen) things can be picture perfect. Even if a piece of brazillian is perfectly quartersawn and the most sought after, each piece of wood is different because its so organic. Four sets of wood will yield four different qualities. So did I go with the highly sought after quarter sawn woods that ideally would make the best guitar??? :D

wow~..so figured back & side? yey..

have you finished reading the book yet?..let me borrow it sometimes..:)

You have these two giants helping you, and you're asking US? :lol:

All I can say is again, congratulations. This is going to be a very special guitar, even more than this thread is a GREAT thread!

cotten