Slow Summer? Hot Autumn :-)

I've been missing from these pages for some time. But all is not quiet, and all is not dead :-)

Updates:
Getting 3 Orcas prepped for northern Italy - 1 korina plaintop, 1 quilt, 1 flametop.
At the SHG Guitar show (nov 12th, 2006) we're delivering a BRW neck dolphin that will feature an exceptional quilt top, a "peacock blue" top, BRW pickup rings and p.up tops.
Definitely excited, is the least I / we can say, LOL

Coming up... Nik is chipping away on the "50th Anniversary Goldtop" which will be done in collaboration w/ the fine guys over the Atlantic at RS Guitarworks. Will feature aged hardware and finish (slight crackle on the goldtop, a little nick here and there), a naked fingerboard, 12th fret 56-06 inlay, locking Kluson /TP tuners, TOM bridge.

Getting ready to receive Flying Dolphin #11 - one of the very last of the 25 originally planned. It's going to be a fixed bridge job, w/ BRW pickup rings, covers, gold hardware, inlayed fretboard.

Coming up for 2007:
*Apparently Nik won't be producing any Orcas anymore - if so it will be exclusively on a custom basis (price to be negotiated at each build).
The Orca will be replaced by a 25" scale Dolphin w/ LP styled controls, switch on upper bout, bridge to be determined (TOM or wraparound).
In this vein I'm ordering a 25" Redwood w/ korina body and neck, naked ebony 'board, P90HB p.ups... 3 control layout (V-V-T) and switch in the upper bout. From this prototype we might even see a new production model :-)

Other things I'm considering are a Swamp Ash dolphin, 25.5" scale flame maple neck + 'board, 4+2 headstock, 3 control layout. Pickups: Telecaster "harrybarden" in the bridge position and a P90 soapbar in the neck. Finish will be a classic '57 like 2-tone sunburst on body and headstock face. Hopefully Nik will let me have binding on bottom and top of the body.... ;-)

Plenty of meat cooking over here, as you can see :-) !!