My main guitar is a gorgeous handmade McIlroy A25c. It is perhaps the best instrument I could find for my growing list of Celtic-inspired tunes: it responds beautifully to lowered tunings, and the walnut and cedar combination just smells like an Irish pub (after enough beer...). A Pick-up the World #54 takes care of the amplification, and if you ask me it does a wonderful job of reproducing the guitar's rich yet full of character voice.
The classical is another incredible product of a fine Luthier, Fabio Ragghianti of Pietrasanta, Italy. This was Armando Corsi's guitar. It is a slightly uncommon instrument, as it's built from woods that aren't found often among classicals: it has some highly figured birdseye maple back and sides along with a lovely piece of bearclawed Val di Fiemme (Italian) Spruce top. It's amplified with an LR.Baggs active Ibeam. My current course of studies at Belmont and my performance activity as a member of the Hillsboro Guitar Quartet have allowed me to play more and more classical guitar, and I switch back and forth from nylon to steel at most gigs I play nowadays. This is a one of a kind instrument, an elegant and dear companion to my studies and travels.
