I hope this does not strip open old wounds. But, I need to find John Watkins. I want to get one of his "darn near everything done" Les Pauls. Any help here? I want an electric, but don't have much going for me on doing most of it myself. Your assistance is appreciated.
On another note, I will be selling all of my luthiery dedicated tooling. I am much better at making tools than I am at making guitars. I can still hold my own in "only slightly above average" inlay. I have some health issues(non-fatal)
that limit what time I can spend in my shop and when I do, it is more income producing with the tools than great masterpiece guitars like all of you produce.
I haven't been here for a long time- just a hiatus caused by the illness- I will be here more because I like and respect all of you for yourselves more than the wonderful guitars(of course, they don't hurt your collective image). And if Zach from AK is still around, I finally have a really nice and tuned Stanley # 5 for the price of shipping.
Finally, I am still the USA sole authorized distributor for the liquid U-Beaut finishes- it took until last month to find a customs broker willing to jump through the "hazardous/flammable" issues with Homeland Security with me. The formula has been modified on the "Hard Shellac" to add some plasticizers to add flex and prevent crazing on the thin woods that make up so many stringed instruments.
My highest regards to all, Mike Tobey