[FrankCousins]

Firstly I would like to say hello from Scotland, as this is my first post! I have lurked for a while, mainly following posts about Rory and Taran Guitars, but more on that later.

Like many, I became a little obsessed with guitars in my teens back in the 80s, played a lot at University in the early 90s, although mostly indie stuff in a band with now long term friends, but always loved acoustic music of all descriptions.

At 17 (1986) I worked all spare hours to save for a decent acoustic guitar, and armed with what was then a fair budget of £750 headed to London and scoured Denmark street for my first 'proper' instrument... I settled on a small bodied Gibson style body by UK maker Tom Mates... £699 + £49 for a Hiscox case, £2 to spare!

In around 2008, I met classical Luthier David Whiteman in a guitar shop in Worthing, West Sussex, when I still lived down in England. A lovely man who is building some amazing concert grade classical instruments as well has having restored many amazing Torres and Hauser guitars.

He agreed to let me come and make some sawdust in his workshop, and over next 2 years I built flat top you see in the picture (German Spruce and Macassar ebony, koa bindings etc)... I still have that and its not fallen apart yet!

I began collecting wood and tools for an eventually set up a small workshop in my cellar (basement) when we moved up to Scotland.

I was working on an electric bass for a friend of mine (for old university band) when I need advice and access to a thickness sander.... So I identified Taran and Rory and called up to ask if he would help me out for a small fee etc.

That was in 2010. We met and as others have said, its like talking to an old friend, the common love for all things guitar, although we also shared an interest in decent Malt whisky ;-)

We spent a fair amount of time talking in a what was then a tiny workshop and I got to strum and pick some of his early guitars.

I was impressed. They were still developing tonally, and Rory would not mind me saying they were very good, but at that stage you probably needed to be a very good player to get the best from them. What was however world class, was the quality of the build, the attention to detail and craftsmanship was at a level I had rarely seen, absolutely stunning.

I knew I would have to own one one day.. when kids grown up, bills paid etc... :-)

Over the last 10 years, I met up with Rory 2 or 3 times a year usually when I need advice on a few things, or a few years back when he built me a beautiful custom Springwell mandolin (I should add I could not play a mandolin, but wanted to learn and this was such an inspiration to do so) when they were aligned to my more modest budget ;-p

But more importantly, I got to play his instruments as he developed as a luthier... hearing the improvements, and this is Rory all over, asking me for feedback. Now I must come clean and say I am not a very good player. I strum along and pick a little but too many bad habits and bad style and not much progress in the 30+ years since my teenage years, yet Rory was asking me! I felt humbled, but I had at least played some great instruments including several I never got to own... but should have sold the children to ;-) ) But that is Rory all over, humble, kind, and always open to understanding how all players respond to his guitars regardless of heir ability. He began sending instruments on a road shows to professional players for feedback one of which ended up with Martin Simpson... and the rest is history as they say

Then Rory build a few instruments for the Holy Grail show in Berlin a few years back and I got to play them.... For me this was the signal to get my pennies together. One instrument stood out that was simply stunning, malaysian blackwood Tirga Beag... I should bought it... but alas no funds at the time (big house restoration ongoing), but I placed a deposit and managed to bag a build slot for 2021 ;-)

I met Rory just over a week ago as the build will start later in August with an anticipated Delivery at year end (Hopefully a Christmas present for myself)

Because of my rubbish playing we are going for the Oreval as this larger model will suit my needs a little better.