Greetings to Alex Zachary,

I'm sure that you receive hundreds of requests for your unmatched guitars, but after years of searching for a guitar-builder with soul, I have found you and Zachary Guitars.

I unexpectedly stumbled across your website and have read every page, every detail, looked at every picture. You understand the guitar building craft the way that I believe it was meant to be understood; you build with passion and sight. Reading your words connected with me. As I stated, I have been searching for years for a builder able to provide me with what I have always been searching for . . . my saving angel embodied. I hope that this can happen. Let me relate.

I've made it to 34 years old, and almost every day I still ask myself how. Throughout my twenties I was the typical Scotch-Irish idiot, drinking and fighting and generally bumming my way straight into the grave, thence to hell. In short, I was wasting my life away slowly, and I didn't even know it, or probably wouldn't have cared if I did. But one day that changed. Strolling along in San Diego one afternoon in '94, I noticed what can only be described as an angel sitting on the surf wall in Pacific Beach, gazing out at the waves. Gorgeous brown hair down the back, golden skin, obviously an island girl, model looks. I bucked up the nerve and sat beside her. She never looked at me, just kept looking forward into the setting sun, and we started to talk. It was as though she'd been waiting for me to sit down, like we'd been talking before, and were only interrupted. Hundreds of people walked by, but I didn't notice one of them. We talked well past sunset, then went our separate ways. I felt really calm, collected . . . like I hadn't felt since being all at home with my family when I was a kid, during quiet, good times together. (I know that sounds cheese-ball nostalgic, but I mean it.) I never even asked her name, nor did she ask for mine. It didn't seem right just then. I thought it was like a sign from heaven, being given a special moment like that with a girl I didn't know. Of course I wanted to see her again. To find her and keep connecting souls.

I returned to that spot for five straight days, sitting for hours, and nothing. I couldn't believe that I could be so crushed after losing a girl that I only talked to for a few hours! Then, on day six, there she was, same place, same spot empty beside her. Once again we resumed our casual talk, and from there, life has brought us to the present day together. Almost ten years later.

Here's what my little romance story has to do with your guitars . . .

From the start, Ianeke (that's her name) knew she was getting trouble in me. I was a punk; not a badass, or a tough guy, just a punk. But she stayed anyway. Ironically, our great interaction, from day one, was the guitar. She saw it sitting in the corner the first time she came over my apartment and went right to it. She wanted me to play for her right away, and this proved to be very strong between us. Whenever I got to drinking heavy, she'd tell me to play her something. Whenever I'd start to be an ass, she say "serenade me with some guitar, Rob." It kind of got to be our code for "Life is better if you just concentrate on something not so selfish, something inside, making it sound beautiful to others who hear you." I understood when she put it that way, not that she actually said it. Angels don't have to tell you things. They look at you in a certain way and you just understand them. I started to get better. Not just on the guitar, because I played it A LOT during those early days (that's how messed I was, playing whenever I got the urge to fuck up), but I got better at life. Eventually a really decent job. True kindness to my lady, and even to other people in general. Ianeke is a Maui, Hawaii girl, and she calls it "good mana" or just "aloha" when you have your act together. We got a house. Anyway, it worked, however my angel made it happen. I still love her like the day we met. I know, very tacky romantic, but I don't see it that way. I feel blessed when I know I didn't deserve it. Later on I earned it by becoming a better person; first for her sake, 'cause she deserves the best . . . later for my sake, 'cause tough guys are just boasting when they say hell is for children. I've seen some of hell, and it scares . . . well, the hell out of me! (No bullshit, I was moments from being dead once in a work accident and I swear I could feel the demons clutching and pulling on me. Very Stephen King, very not a good memory.) Trust me, being good to your lady is the better way to go out.

Anyway, here I am. I would never have even thought of telling this story to a guy at fricking guitar center, or Ed Roman, or anyone other than yourself, because I think you understand that guitars are more than just wire and wood . . . they mean something a little different to different people. To me, the guitar that I want represents Ianeke (call it the Ianeke Project -- kind of what Three Down Dave on your site had in mind with the Ana Project). To be able to hold and play a guitar that you built with this story in mind . . . in know that it would come out angelic. In construction, in sound. It'd be a constant memory with every note.

I know that you don't take requests for how to build your guitars, but if you did decide to do this, it would have to be a Z2 tremolo, Koa wood body (or just a veneer plank on the top) with gold parts. Gold for her skin, Koa wood for her hair, and the most beautiful tree on her island (where she took me later, for moments I could never forget). That's my Ianeke, my vision of her in guitar-form. Every other decision is yours.

Alex, you have my sincere apologies if I ran too long here, wasted your time. This is the first time I've ever told this story to a complete stranger, much less even thought of telling it to a guitar builder I've never spoken to. I've had this idea for years, but only now think that I have found the builder to carry it off.

Let me know if it can be done. I'll pay whatever price you think is reasonable to construct my Ianeke. If you can't or won't, know that I still appreciate your work immensely, and wish you the best . . . my search will go on.

Much Respect, Rob

Greetings to Alex,

Many moons ago I came to you with a story about a girl that means more to me than life itself. Because of your obvious talent as a luthier, I was confident that you possessed the skills to translate the passion that I felt for this woman into a physical form... a guitar that could facilitate the transfer of my emotions into music. In the end, what I wanted was to sit in front of my lady and express to her what my voice alone could not. You have now made all that possible, and so much more.

When I first opened the box, then the case inside, I certainly felt excited, but was utterly unprepared for the object of beauty that lay inside that case. The attention to craftmanship and detail was obvious, and I imagined that you felt a bit of sorrow in sending away a piece of yourself (as you've often said on your website)... The first impression that I had of Ianeke (and it is certainly proper to call her that, as her Koa-enflamed beauty is undeniable), was that even though she was modern in shape and technology, she truly belonged to a bygone era... perhaps discovered in the corner of some seafaring captain's cabin on an ancient sailing ship, or in the firelit conservatory of some turn of the century master musician. Maybe it was the combination of koa, paduak and gold that gave such impressions, but it was a strong one nevertheless. The tuners were immaculately placed, and the bridge, switched and strap buttons were exact. I have examined Ianeke with the care of a parent over his child, and found nothing wanting.

I picked up Ianeke and was instantly surprised at how light she was. Running my hands along every surface, maybe like the samurai who finally grasps the blade that was crafted for him by the master of all swordsmiths (and your samurai headstock was responsible for that analogy), I marveled at how smooth and perfectly tight she was joined. The first notes rang crystal clear and perfectly in tune, soft and unamplified as they were. But when I plugged her in! how the sounds rushed forth! I sat and played everything that I could, experimenting and exploring...happy to make acquaintance with the reflections of my soul. I looked up to see Ianeke watching me from the doorway...she just smiled and leaned in the doorframe. Of course you know that this was a gift to me from her... (Very sneaky Alex!) That even though I came to you with the idea of embodying that which I love so much, she eventually discovered what was happening (since having a genuine Zachary Guitar was often the subject of my idle comments) and worked out finishing the payments herself and having it sent to our home. Although I was certainly unaware that she had arranged the finish of the Ianeke Project herself, I was not completely surprised. That's perfectly like her. Generous and selfless, and absolutely why she's worthy of having music named after her.

I understand that every new object instills some excitement in the owner of that thing, be it a new car, stereo, or what have you. But a guitar (certainly a Zachary Guitar, and especially Ianeke) is different in that the excitement does not abate, but indeed grows with time. During the quieter part of today I recovered my scale, arpeggio and chord books, dog-eared all, and opened them each to page one. I dialed up my metronome and started with infinite slowness. I guess I should explain myself here: Owning a guitar of this quality makes one immediately reflect upon what must come out of it. As I'd mentioned before, once I got Ianeke out of the case, I plugged her in right away and started in, heedless of anything other than hearing her voice. But after a moment I was hushed. This moment, like first love, must be approached with care and patience. I resolve to make music from Ianeke, not just sound. And even though the quality is unsurpassed, and urges the yearning to have yet another Zachary (I understand now why people who own your guitars want more than one!) I have in my hands the last guitar that I will own. Of that I have no doubt.

Thank you again Alex, for making this dream come true. Rob Burgess San Diego, California

To see and hear this guitar in action go to the VideoFiles page and click on 141005

 

www.zacharyguitars.com