I called Bob Shade, who was his usual friendly and helpful self, in spite of my unusual request.
I wanted to take a driving vacation and stop into Greenbelt and pick it up. Without skipping a beat, Bob was agreeable to the idea, so we made arrangements for pickup.
I was looking at a pearl white 60 custom, but the clean lines of the 65 custom had really grown on me. He informed me that he only had pearl white stock in the 65 model at the current time. That made the decision to go with the 65 dead easy!
During our travel, Bob contacted me about my preferences with scratch guard colour, and choice of case. I opted for the traditional tortoise guard, but went for the silver alligator MOAM case. I didn't know he had to put the guitar together for me, or that I had any choice about how I wanted it configured, so I was pleasantly surprised at the attention to detail and special effort I was afforded.
At his suggestion, Bob took time from his busy schedule to bring the guitar from his shop and meet me at his home, where I could try it out on one of his amps. When my wife and I pitched up at his door, he came out and warmly welcomed us to Greenbelt and and to his home, where he presented me with the coolest guitar I have ever seen!
Having met and chatted with the man, I can tell you that Bob is in fact the same in person as he is online. A friendly, nice guy who is passionate about guitars, very knowledgable and enthusiastic, and deservedly proud of his own particular brand of guitar.
Now that I am home and playing it in my comfort zone, I am 'blown away' by the sound, playability and top notch quality of this instrument!
At the moment I am spending too much time just looking at it instead of playing it, but soon I'm sure I will work it till my fingers are bloody.
I am sure that if Semie Moseley was alive and making guitars today, this would be the sort of guitar he would make. Bob Shade has improved on the design of a legendary guitar and brought it up to a whole new level. The Hallmark 65 custom is a very fine instrument in it's own rite and made to be played... a lot.
The decline of the Canadian dollar brought the price to $1344.50 and I still consider it to be a great deal on a great guitar. Considering that a mass produced american standard Stratocaster costs $1630.00 in Canada right now, I consider the Hallmark to be a tremendous value.
To me it was worth every penny, and worth every minute of the 10 hour drive down to get it.
I know I will get a lot of comments and questions from musician friends who see and hear it, and I will recommend Hallmark guitars to anyone that wants to know.
Murray Reid
Ottawa, Canada
Thanks very much Bob for all your help. I promise to use the proper channels next time.
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