Michael is not only a fine guitar builder, but along with his son Alec, hosts the well known "Waltons Guitar Festival of Ireland". As the host of this festival he has had the opportunity to have some of the world’s finest players provide feedback regarding his instruments. Manuel Barrueco, John Williams, David Russell, Xuefei Yang, Elena Papanderou, Lorenzo Micheli and many more have been kind enough to play Michaels guitars and offer comments. Michael’s background (he has a degree in design and innovation) combined with the input received from many of the world's finest players has led to the creation of a truly superior guitar. Built with a braceless arched back and a combination bracing system that combines features of both the lattice bracing and fan bracing concepts to produce guitars which are unusually powerful, but with a tonal character that is deep, rich, dark, profound and surprisingly traditional all at the same time.

LA Guitar Quartet member Scott Tennant was in Ireland playing with the Quartet at the Walton Festival and had the opportunity to play this guitar before Michael sent it to me. Scott reported that he was very favorably impressed. Bill Kanengiser called me when he returned and asked me to bring the guitar over for him to assess as well, which I hope to do. This is the kind of interest these guitars generate.

This guitar has a full, deep, rich and very warm sound. It also has an extremely 'soft' action and excellent volume. I am highly confident that Michael’s guitars will continue to command rave reviews from the most discriminating players.

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