Got my baby back from the repair shop and all is well

 
This has been sitting in my closet doing nothing for years because it needed repair work and I always put off doing it because I didn't know how viable it was, what the cost would be etc. I got it for a song in 2000 or so, it was made for me by the father of a friend. This was one of his first attempts at making a guitar so it's a little rough around the edges. I bummed around southern Spain with it for a bit and so it's a little battered and bruised. It has a strong cedar smell which takes me right back to that time in an instant. But the sound...oh man.
 
I took it to 30th St guitars and in the end the repairs cost more than I paid for it....about $300. The frets needed doing, the neck needed seeing to, but the main problem was the bridge which was coming away from the top and was also ready to snap in half. It's had extensive work on it which I won't go into in detail but suffice to say I had to wait a while for it...but boy was it worth it. The thing plays and sounds like a dream. It sounds incredibly loud and bright but also very balanced, not too bassy. The guy who worked on it was basically in awe of its sound and construction. This thing sounds like it's amplified even when it's not. I can't wait to see what it sounds like recorded, so when I get the time I will post some examples. Just so very pleased to have my steel string up and running after all these years, I think my nylon string is going to be severely neglected for a while. 

LOL! I just thought it would look cool against the silver of my (admittedly mini) fridge....
 
Well one thing I've learned tonight is that I am severely out of practice with this steel string acoustic lark....it's been a lot of years and my fingers are getting tired very quickly with the heavy strings and I feel like I cannot fingerpick anymore. Oh and I really need to get my right hand callouses back, or at least start growing my nails again. I did however manage to get a little groove going and recorded a bit of it...there's a good few bars before I break down and give up. I'm going to have to start doing hand strengthening exercises again....
 
https://soundcloud.com/sharke-1/guitar1