This absolutely exquisite guitar is the sister guitar to the one acquired by David Russell recently. I had worked with Greg to design a guitar exactly like this one, Cedar lattice braced, Madagascar Rosewood. Just when Greg was about to deliver it to me David Russell visited him and played the guitar. He liked it so much he decided to buy it. Greg called and kindly asked if this was OK with me, and of course it was, what an honor for Greg too. As a thank-you he built this 'sister guitar' to David's new Byers which is virtually identical. Playing this guitar I could easily understand why David would want one. The guitar has an elegant voice, a voice that is very rich and very colorful, the trebles are full of life and fairly beg you to see what you can make them sound like next, very expressive in this way. The basses are perfectly matched to the voice of the trebles, they work as a team, one never overpowering the other which results in a complete and very satisfying voice for the guitar. Volume is excellent of course, and playability is supreme especially above the 12th fret where Greg's uniquely elevated fingerboard make playing a dream. The notes are clear and bell like all the way up the neck. The Madagascar Rosewood is stunning and frankly more beautiful than much of the Brazilian around these days. Greg's tasteful inlay work on the rosette, headstock and back seam are flawlessly integrated. The guitar has a beautiful almost 'organic' quality to it. Greg added tasteful position markers on frets 7, 12, and 17. The Graf tuners are liquid smooth and accurate as well as beautiful, and a guitar of this level deserves to have Graf tuners installed. Greg's legendary intonation work is spot on of course. As I have stated in the past that with the sad passing of Thomas Humphrey I am often asked what is the guitar that shares the most attributes with a Humphrey Millennium? My answer is always "a lattice braced Greg Byers". Tom and Greg developed in totally separate directions, but in my opinion, they developed also in a somewhat parallel fashion, albeit independently, such that the enormously playable elevated fingerboard, excellent lattice braced volume and projection, abundant responsiveness, and inherent musicality happened to end up being features shared by guitars built by both these fine builders. I congratulate Greg on David Russell's acquisition of the sister guitar to this one, what a dream come true this guitar will be for the new owner.

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