“I am a guitar player, and also a tree nerd.  That combination is probably the main reason why I have *always* wanted a guitar made out of one of my own trees.  We had two large dead poplars on our property here in NM.  They were serving as awesome bird habitat and created an incredible sunrise view, but they were also dangerously close to a PNM distribution line, so reluctantly I had to have them taken down.  My wife knew I was a little bummed about losing them, so she conspired with Robert Weber of Stolen Guitars.  Robert went to work on the raw slabs from these trees, and to make a long story short, some months later I was presented with the guitar in the pictures.  Wow, wow, WOW.  This custom Tele-style guitar is stunning, totally unique, and it plays and sounds every bit as good as it looks.  Robert’s woodworking skills really shone on this instrument.  All surfaces are super-smooth, the grain pattern is perfectly accentuated, the rounded edges are very comfortable, and he chose a clear satin finish that really makes the natural wood’s beauty ‘pop’.  However, although it’s a visual work of art, it is also a serious musical instrument.  That’s a Fender roasted-maple neck, and the neck joint to the body is perfect, enabling long sustain.  The action is low and stable, and it intonates perfectly (the bridge has separate saddles for each string) and stays in tune forever.  Robert helped with the selection of the pickups (Seymour Duncans, an Antiquity at the neck and a Brad Paisley at the bridge).  Between this pickup selection and Robert’s expert placement and installation, this is one of the most tonally versatile guitars I have.  So far, it’s been super reliable as well.

Perhaps this is the best thing I can say about Robert’s craftsmanship:  I’m having a matching bass made.  🙂  Thanks, Robert, for taking one of my trees and making a fantastic guitar that I will enjoy playing forever.”