I can't really add more to what Will said about Friday, except that it's so good to be around people who are both so good to their customers and so oviously proud of their work - and have fun at the same time. There's no reason in the world for Bill to take us to lunch (and to give me a ride in his amazing Porche - I've never felt a car push so hard against the back of my head!!!). Customer service and pride are alive and well at Collings.

Will, I wish we had waited for you and your wife those last ten minutes. Jamie Kinscherff proved as gracious a host as Bill, in his own way. I find it even more amazing than the Collings factory to drive onto a ranch, pull up a door to a barn and see just a wood shop, but then to see beautiful guitars that come out of it, from the hands of one man. Jamie's guitars are beautiful - wood binding on all, carefully selected to match the tone woods. Thin lines of color in the bindings to highlight the colors of the rosette. And the wood -- he had the most beautiful set of quilted mahogany, and one of his guitars created from it - I'll talk to Ed about how to post my pictures.

Jamie let us play a 12-string he had around. As easy to play as any Taylor (he used to build them for Bob Taylor, by the way), with HUGE sound. And the baritone he was just finisheing for his latest commission - we didn't play it, but it's depth was more to be felt than heard.

We got back to WImberly around 1:00, had a quick bite and a beer, and returned to Kevin's shop. Again, gracious host, generous with time and stories. Kevin let us play anything in the shop, we took plenty of time, passed around several guitars. Kevin knows his business, and knows he's building loyalty. His baby wasn't around Ed, so we had to be content just holding his guitars.

We then drove to my friend's cabin - which really is just a half mile from Kevin's, and spent a nice couple of hours passing our guitars among each other. I wish Len could have brought his, but since Allen had both his D2HA and that sweet little Huss and Dalton C-10ish guitar, and I had my DS2H, there was variety. Allen and I brought our new electrics (and the amp Allen had to just pick up at HCG), but we quickly laid them aside. None of us are that accomplished at jamming, but we gave it a pretty good try - and I have to say, I thought we sounded OK. At the very least, I was comfortable enough with Allen and Len to play, un-self-consciously, with them, and had a blast. My fingertips hurt when I got home, and one of the calluses peeled off.

We will have gatherings in the future. As any of us who have gone can attest, going to the factory and listening to Bill, Brian and Bruce is worth beyond the price of admission. But moving from this very fine electronic community into one of flesh and blood, great guitars and music, is also a very fine thing to do.

Finally, thanks again to those who helped bring this off. I may have made some phone calls and e-mails, but Brian and Kevin made the connections we needed to make it a very special weekend. And I have some ideas for next year to keep the next gathering unique.

David

David, I've made that wrong turn to Wimberley twice now, first time it was my "guide" and Saturday it was the rain, I won't do it a third time LOL. It really is a great scenic road but since it was raining and the fastest turn is 20 MPH and I'm unaware of the rotational characteristics of my wife's Buick hence we were late. I really wanted to visit with Jamie but I'm sure there will be another time. I'm not sure if you heard my wife say we needed a Collings archtop or not but I enjoyed spending some unhurried time with Kevin discussing and pricing various Collings and Froggy Bottoms and options. I was tempted, still am, to buy the Froggy H12 Deluxe that Kevin has but I am so impressed with Collings I think an OM or C10 is in my more immediate future.
Thank you and everyone else who made this event happen this year, I want to put my name in for first on the list for next year and since I'm fairly local I'd be more than willing to help out. Next year I'm either going to chain myself to one of you or attach some type of locator device or better yet get your cell #'s on day one. Two years in a row lost on day two but day one was well worth the trip. Thanks again, Will

David, I want to thank you and all the great people I met in Austin. But most of all the new friends I made will always be cherished. P.S. one of BILLS ARCHTOPS is on E-BAY.Somebody buy it! PEACE

Thanks for sharing the great stories and thanks to David for organizing the tour this year!!! I wish I can join the next year one!

I am more than happy to build a website like the 2003 one in the Forum Homepage somewhere. David, just let me know!!

It sounds like another great time! I'm sad to have missed it.