I had the opportunity to spend the weekend in the Pigeon Forge area of East Tennessee - Wow!  What a tourist trap.  But there was a good guitar shop there - Smoky Mountain Guitars, Ltd., which the owner describes as a high end shop.  Most of his guitars were Collings with Adi tops, several SCGC Tony Rice models, a nice Huss and Dalton rosewood/adi dred, and Larrivees for his "affordable stuff".  The Huss and Dalton was really a responsive instrument.  But the one I like best for my own playing - a D-50 Larrivee.  It really had that early Norman Blake mahogany vibe, much more so than the Collings D-1A which was a cannon, but really more of a straight bluegrass axe.

The store carried Tor-Tis picks, which were the best picks I've yet played - even better than the real thing, which the ownder had and which we compared the tor-tis picks to.  The Tor-tis are finely made, with a special "speed" bevel, which makes theym play fast and sound very crisp and clear.

All in all, and interesting weekend.

I used to ride a motorcycle thru that area. Nice exciting twisty roads up and down the sides of the mountains. I'm only about 3 hours away, and should get up there again some time. Maybe I can do it when there's a music event of some interest.

Lots of great riding in East TN, NC and of course the north GA mountains.

Mike

George - I visited Smokey Mountain Guitars two years ago while vacationing in the area. They had many dreadnought's by Collings, Santa Cruz, and I believe Martin. A BlueGrassers shop for sure.  I don't remember them having any Huss and Daltons or Larrivee's at that time. They must be expanding their line a bit. It is a cool little shop for sure.

Being a Fingerstyle player I have little interest in Dreadnought guitars, no matter how nice. They did have Two OM guitars at that time. A Collings OM and one that I had never heard of at that time. A beautiful looking, playing and sounding small body made by Crafters of Tennessee. To my ears and fingers, It was by far my favorite guitar in the shop. After a little research, I found that Crafters of Tennessee had been making wonderful instruments for many years. I've played a few others since then and all have been excellent guitars.

Did you see any Crafters of Tennesse guitars while you were there?

I take the family every year to rejuvenate in the Smokies!  We just zip thru Pidgeon Forge--just one of those Amazing American Strips. I have been loving those mts. since my father took us starting when I was 12.  Too bad it (Smoky Park) is holding all of those car fumes and sometimes seems to be gasping  :(
Never have played a Crafter, but I really liked the mountain inlay on the fingerboard I saw on a Special Edition...might have bought that had I played it!

QuoteBeing a Fingerstyle player I have little interest in Dreadnought guitars, no matter how nice.

I have been examining this whole fingerstyle/flatpicking, dreadnought/smaller body thing a lot here lately.  

Some dreadnoughts are actually great at fingerstyle.  Any 1 3/4 inch fretboard width model should be a candidate to try.  I found a new Tacoma DM-14 this weekend that was as good a fingerpicker as I have ever played - had a great articulate tone.

A Larrivee L sure does get sweet with some good fingerpicking.

My current favorites for fingerpicking would be a 0 or 00 size guitar, though that Tacoma keeps coming to mind.  I sort of wish it wouldn't!

How were the Larrivees priced?

I thought the Larrivees were priced a little high at the bluegrass boutique shop.  I remember that the D-50 was in the 1700s.  The D-03 was $875.00.  Seems to me that I have seen them cheaper elsewhere.

$875 for a D-03 mahogany is a good bit higher than most places...at least around here anyway.

jeff

I compared a D-50 and a 000-50 yesterday afternoon.  Both are sweet guitars.

The 000 seemed to have more "color" in its tone and more punch and depth, but the D-50 is still a fine fine FINE guitar.  I would love to have one.

The store where I played them had the D-50 for $1949 !!!!!

Too much.  It also looked like their guitars had experienced some heat or something - their pickguards were all wavy..  What would cause that?

QuoteI had the opportunity to spend the weekend in the Pigeon Forge area of East Tennessee - Wow!  What a tourist trap.

Did y'all stop in to see Dolly Parton in Sevierville?  I was through that area in the late 70's.  That's her hometown, is Dollywood in that town??

Dollywood is indeed in Pigeon Forge.  I only go over there about every 5 years or so, even though I only live about 50 miles away as the crow flies.  The place would be unrecognizable from the 70s.  It's so built up and congested.  It really pretty much sucks - unless you like gridlock and congestion and tinseltown.