Lare Williams

If anyone would have told me a year ago that I’d no longer be using my Martin HD-28 as my main guitar I’d have laughed at them and called them a liar. That was before I found the McKnight Guitar booth at the 2005 IBMA trade show. Tim’s guitars were a little “odd” looking with the soundports & the non-traditional headstocks. I think that’s what drew me to them initially. I picked up a few different models and I was immediately sold on the soundport idea…..I could hear myself…..a problem many bluegrass guitar player suffer from especially in Jams. WOW. Then I started to notice the craftsmanship. It was flawless. You can really tell the difference when a guitar is hand made with care & attention to detail. In fact, a good friend of mine (Tim Scheerhorn of Scheerhorn Resonator Guitar building fame) said to me “that guys a heck of a builder, go check out those guitars.” What hit me next was the playability. Excellent up & down the neck and balanced to boot. Then the real test…the CAPO test. I slapped a capo on the 4th fret & hit a few chords and they were still in tune! A guitar that capo’s in tune is a rare find – there is usually some fine tuning & tweaking involved – but not with this guitar. WOW again. Needless to say, I found the one I wanted (a Hickory/1959 Sitka Spruce Model) made the purchase and it’s now my “go to” guitar for everything I do. I’m really looking forward to getting it in the studio and seeing how the guitar records. I’m sure it will be stunning. I’m soon leaving for the 2006 IBMA events in Nashville, TN and can honestly say, one of the stops I’m most looking forward to is the McKnight Guitar Booth. My only fear is that I’ll find another one that I want…..credit card beware….