Just want to add my thanks for a great weekend. You made this New Yorker feel very welcome. Thanks to David for his efforts in coordinating the event, to Joe for a great workshop, to the guys at Quincy's and Hill Country guitars, to Tim O'Brien and Danny Barnes for their great playing and, of course, to everyone at Collings who allowed us the opportunity to meet the great artisans who make these wonderful instruments.

Special thanks to Bill Collings for taking the time to personally redress, file and polish the frets on my Clarence White and to have a new nut made for it. The set up is absolutely perfect. It was kind of the equivalent of travelling to Cremona, Italy around the year 1700 and dropping by Antonio Stradivari's shop and having my violin personally tuned up by the master.

Does anyone who was there recall the name of Bill's assistant who helped with the set-up job. I would like to write a letter to thank him but can not recall his name.

Thanks again.

Jim Murphy

Jim,

I enjoyed meeting you, and jamming on Stormy Monday (along with U-Bone, V-Bone, W-Bone and all the other T-Bone fans). We could have used some horns....

Anyway, see my post of moments ago (Gathering) for photos (as a photobucket album url) of Mr. Strad and his subaltern hammering on your CW. Hope this gives you a bead on the assistant!

Best regards, Mark.

Just wanted to add my thanks to the folks David listed; and also to thank David for coordinating all the details. For this old boy, it was a very memorable weekend and one that I certainly do want to enjoy once again.

Besides, that sunburst CJ at Pat's is still singing to me. Maybe one of these days . . .

Kia Orana....Every one of y'all are kick ass folks. Thanks for your time, your patience, and listening and playing along with my songs.

You are all top notch folks and I look forward to seeing y'all again.

You are all an inspiration for the joy of music...it is great to get together and share the common thread.

Meitaki and Kia Manuia,

Dale

Dale, when is your cd going to be available? I'm already hearing good things about it. I want to buy a copy whenever it is available.

Btw, I was serious about a west coast gathering sometime next year. At Wintergrass like Fred suggested might be fun or maybe something with a smaller more intimate group. You west coasters figure out where and when and let us know!

Allen

Kia Orana, Allen....remember, you can't believe everything you hear....

I've got my varnish dread and mando with Kevin, who is getting them to Jim LaCombe (the great artist who shoots the Collings' ads)...He is doing the photography for my album...I'm sending him a killer yellow surfboard, among various other artifacts...it should turn out great...

Also, I found all 14 of the original 'chicken scratch' when I wrote the songs on the album...Jim is going to photograph them with some artifacts for the booklet in the cd case...it will probably be a 20 pager.

I'm releasing two more cd's at the same time...an all acoustic/instrumental one I did with a plethora of guitars, mandos, violins, ukes, bass, percussion, etc... and a jazz mando/with a killer guitar player...

I'm pretty excited about all three, but the one with the two Collings' varnish and the original lyrics I'm most stoked about.

To answer your question, it should be within the next 6-8 weeks that they should be available, although it almost always seems like it takes longer...no worries. If no one buys them, then I'll have heaps of Xmas presents for years to come!!!

I recorded the album at Sugar Hill in Houston when I was in Texas last week...Unfortunately, I drank heaps of tequilla shots and Shiner Bock at the Continental Club, after a bottle of wine at the San Jose, the night before I had to get to Houston...stayed up until 3:30ish, then left by 9AM....It's a good thing Mick and Keith recorded in that studio, because I was doing a nice impression of Keith the next morning....

Every track was a first take...yep, I could have done them better, but what the hell, it was authentic.

West Coast....anytime.....when the weather is good, I've got heaps of camping space at my house...you are all welcome...

A Spring gathering could be great fun....I'm keen on Winterfest as well....we'll get it all sorted.

Thanks again to you and all the rest for another great time in Austin.

Kia Manuia,

Dale