Many years ago

Michael F. Lazar
Luthier
Hand crafted classic concert guitars since 1980
St. Albert, Alberta Canada

Many years ago, my Dad and I went shopping for my first "real" guitar. It was significant because my parents were finally ready to admit that this wasn't just a fling with another instrument for me - I was as serious about this as I was about finishing my piano degree. While at the store, I tried a number of good instruments. Finally, while I was playing one in particular, my dad looked up from the book he was reading to stave off the boredom, and said "Wow, that guitar even makes YOU sound good!" I knew that was the one. I still have that guitar. Since then I have had a number of other guitars, that came with good experiences and bad, but it wasn't until I got my current guitar that I had that same feeling. It was like coming home.

A little over a year ago, I decided that I wanted Mick to build me a guitar. I had played his son's guitar, and loved it, and it was time to bite the bullet. So I waited, somewhat impatiently, for my "baby" to be complete. Once I had the guitar in my hands and played it for an extended period of time, I realized that this was the most responsive instrument I had ever owned. It would do anything I wanted, and I had never before experienced that. During a recent recording project, the engineer came into the room during one of my breaks, and told me that my guitar had "some wicked dynamics". Indeed. I have never owned a guitar that can produce as much volume as this one, nor have I ever had one that could produce such sweet and gentle sounds. It's as if it's an extension of my heart and soul. Whatever I'm feeling inside can be projected to the audience. It's a wonderful feeling to know that you have this kind of instrument - an instrument that will let your audience feel, that will draw them in, and say what you want. It has become a very special event when I allow one of my students to play it, in order to demonstrate something - they count themselves among the privileged few to be allowed to play my guitar. I have to agree.