[Joel Teel]

Steve…
One of the most difficult aspects (for me) of being a luthier, is being able to be objective about my own work. For six months I spend hundreds of hours looking at the development of an instrument (including performing my own finishing work)…and upon its completion, I simply can’t look at it with the same eyes that I look upon another luthier’s completed guitar. Because of being involved in every aspect of the process, my mind focuses on every teeny-tiny imperfection…things I know will never be noticed by anyone else. I realize that it’s totally irrational, yet I can’t escape the trap which my mind has created for myself. It takes me about three months to “un-remember” these things, and to truly be able to embrace and love a guitar that I’ve built.