B.I.G.IV Sept 1 thru 3! WIN A $15,000 guitar!

[Lonzo]

.. an adjusted fee for participation is in order - seeing you didn't raise it this year - with galopping inflation and all -
also - please let me know what/how I could possibly help to make it more agreeable for Kathy and you Tom - as long as BIG can continue !

My trip home turned out to be a story of how a guitar should be treated:

After a couple of days with my best buddy in New York I flew out with Delta - they let me ask the purser if I could take the guitar as carry-on - and they let me. 1st they checked if some compartments in business were free - they weren't - but then the nice stewardess said they'd be putting the case/guitar in one of the crew beds as they wouldn't use those on the flight (to short with < 7h) anyways. 10 mins later she came to my coach seat all the way back (na, no business this time /on private expense ;o) and showed me a cellphone pic of the case in bed, nicely buckled up and secured -
A huge shout out to Delta - all very friendly and accomodating - customer service as it should be! (similarly -without the bed part though) - I got to take the guitar as carry on on all the other legs with KLM and Lufthansa - luckily so - as my checked bag didn't make it - only today, 11 days after returning - it finally was delivered - but the guitar was safe throughout ! ... and believe me - more than once was I envying the guitar in its bed while I was trying to sleep (unsuccessfully so) !

The week after my return was very busy with a bunch of visitors in the office -
only yesterday I got around uploading some of the videos I made -
for those interested- go to youtube and search "BIG IV 2023.." and you should find them.

So far I have 12 or so up - the demo Tony McManus did for Kinnaird guitars and the demo Fog & Toad did with Joel's Two Hands Guitars -
More to follow as I get around uploading them - mostly some of the performances both of Tony and Christie...

Thanks again to all for making BIG such a very positive experience !
Take care, Klaus

[Racerbob]

Hey, glad you and that 12 string made it home in good shape. Looking forward to seeing you next year.

[Steve Kinnaird]

Klaus, thanks for posting your story of safe travels. I was worrying about your trek home, so it’s good to hear that they treated you so well. I’ve never heard of a guitar being pampered like that—that’s a “stop the presses” story for sure. Hope to see you next year!

Originally Posted by Lonzo

.. an adjusted fee for participation is in order - seeing you didn't raise it this year - with galopping inflation and all -
also - please let me know what/how I could possibly help to make it more agreeable for Kathy and you Tom - as long as BIG can continue !

My trip home turned out to be a story of how a guitar should be treated:

After a couple of days with my best buddy in New York I flew out with Delta - they let me ask the purser if I could take the guitar as carry-on - and they let me. 1st they checked if some compartments in business were free - they weren't - but then the nice stewardess said they'd be putting the case/guitar in one of the crew beds as they wouldn't use those on the flight (to short with < 7h) anyways. 10 mins later she came to my coach seat all the way back (na, no business this time /on private expense ;o) and showed me a cellphone pic of the case in bed, nicely buckled up and secured -
A huge shout out to Delta - all very friendly and accomodating - customer service as it should be! (similarly -without the bed part though) - I got to take the guitar as carry on on all the other legs with KLM and Lufthansa - luckily so - as my checked bag didn't make it - only today, 11 days after returning - it finally was delivered - but the guitar was safe throughout ! ... and believe me - more than once was I envying the guitar in its bed while I was trying to sleep (unsuccessfully so) !

The week after my return was very busy with a bunch of visitors in the office -
only yesterday I got around uploading some of the videos I made -
for those interested- go to youtube and search "BIG IV 2023.." and you should find them.

So far I have 12 or so up - the demo Tony McManus did for Kinnaird guitars and the demo Fog & Toad did with Joel's Two Hands Guitars -
More to follow as I get around uploading them - mostly some of the performances both of Tony and Christie...

Thanks again to all for making BIG such a very positive experience !
Take care, Klaus

[theEdwinson]

Klaus, I'm so glad to hear that your travels back to home went so well. We've all heard too many heartbreaking stories about how it went so wrong for other people. So it's very gratifying to hear that everything is well with you and your new Kinnaird guitar. And since you are the very embodiment of these B.I.G. events, with your ebullient personality and the tremendous enthusiasm and humor you share with all of us, of course we all wish you well, and look forward to seeing you again next year, if good fortune permits.
And thanks a million for documenting and posting so many of the high points of the weekend!

After I returned home, I dove in the deep end of the guitar-pool again, all loaded up with fresh inspiration, and immediately started a new build (on my dime), which I will share a little later. I have big plans for this year, and these guitars don't build themselves, so I will be pushing the boundaries out a little further, this next year, and spending a lot of quality time in the shop.
I also have two other major projects going concurrently, so I am very busy generating some content to share on the further adventures of the Edwinson.

Much gratitude and appreciation again to Tom and Kathy for hosting this excellent event and welcoming us into their beautiful home for three days of camaraderie and celebration. Truly the highlight of the year!

[Lonzo]

Thanks Steve !
Always good to extend my vocabulary reading one of your eloquent (and very nice) posts ;o) - being a chemist I at least guessed correctly about the bubbling/boiling part

Very excited to hear about your new & enthusiastic build plans and looking forward to following what you might share!

.. a few new videos up today. A random mix of gigs- for reasons that could harm business of some I only dared uploading one of Tony gigging- but he is in 2 more together with Christie.

None of this can get close to experiencing BIG in person… but better than nothing I guess ;o)

[cigarfan]

Klaus, a BIG thank you for all the photos/videos. I appreciate your efforts more than you know. Now I know what living a vicarious B.I.G. feels like.