so I bought my dream guitar...

🎸 Welcome to Tom Sands Guitars! In this special video, Tom Sands shares an unforgettable moment in his guitar journey as he introduces his very first addition to the collection - a remarkable Michi Matsuda parlour guitar, lovingly scorched with gunpowder.
🎶 Whether you're a guitar enthusiast, collector, or simply a music lover, this video is a must-watch as we explore the origin story of Tom's growing collection and the unique beauty of this inaugural Michi Matsuda creation.
🔥 In this video, we'll cover:
- The heartfelt story of Tom's journey to acquiring his first-ever dream guitar.
- A close-up examination of the Michi Matsuda parlour guitar's exceptional craftsmanship and distinctive features.
- Sound demonstrations and comparisons, highlighting the unique tonal qualities of this cherished instrument.
- An insight into the creative process and artistry behind the gunpowder scorching technique.
- Personal reflections and insights from Tom Sands himself as he begins this exciting chapter in his collection.
🤝 Tom Sands Guitars is all about celebrating the world of handcrafted, custom guitars, and this Michi Matsuda masterpiece marks the beginning of an incredible journey. Whether you're an aspiring luthier, a fellow collector, or simply someone who appreciates fine craftsmanship, this video is a heartwarming start to a guitar collection filled with stories waiting to be told.
🔔 Don't forget to hit the notification bell and subscribe to our channel for more exciting content on unique guitars, luthiery insights, and the artistry of music. Join our community of guitar enthusiasts and witness the growth of Tom's remarkable collection together!
📢 Do you remember your first guitar? Share your guitar stories and thoughts in the comments below. We'd love to hear about your guitar journeys!
#TomSandsGuitars #MichiMatsuda #FirstGuitar #Luthiery #GuitarCollection #ArtOfMusic
🌐 Visit our website: www.tomsandsguitars.com
📷 Follow us on Instagram: / tom_sands_guitars

[@manifest40]

Whoever did the sound effects for this video deserves a raise. Had me chuckling multiple times. Tom, it's nice to see you treat yourself to a guitar that inspires you. It's a beaut!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Will is a master

[@WhaleBluePRS]

Enjoy every aspect of such a beautiful instrument, but enjoy playing it the most. And often. Congratulations!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

I certainly will--thank you!

[@hughmcevoy4119]

Love it, Tom! From one Matsuda lover to another... (and I got the first comment in)

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Once you know, you know!

[@Stanvansandt]

I love to see this! Congratulations! I've admired this guitar - from a distance - for a long time, and I hope you play it with joy and humility. Do it daily and that will take some of the ham out of the fist.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

I hope one day to do it justice

[@yakcrevalle2095]

Matsuda is in a league of his own when it comes to design...just never-ending creativity.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

The man is a genius.

[@theinnerdreamer7043]

Wonder if he’s connected to Matsuda sun glasses, top notch to say the least.

[@abydosianchulac2]

So much love put into that piece, no wonder you find inspiration from it.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

It’s a one off

[@SundaeDrives]

Holyyy shiiit ! The tonal character of that guitar is incredible. Heavenly presence.

[@johnlind5819]

Wow, I was truly enjoying this video but for some reason I was not prepared for the incredible tonal properties of this guitar. The sound is so complex with wonderful low end and extremely open, loud & present trebles. My my, Tom - now you know how we all feel when we look at and play the guitars we purchase. It is often this unique stress that is created between the space of spending more money that we know we should and the joy one gets from playing music on a hand crafted piece of fine art. Congratulation on acquiring this masterpiece! Thanks, John Gig Harbor, WA

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Thanks for your input, John! Glad you enjoyed the video. Feeling truly blessed to have this gem.

[@firecrackerheart]

o man, thank you for sharing this delightful peek into your "collection of one"! i don't know much about much, but, i love guitars, i love your channel and the amazing instruments you bring into fruition-AND, it's really cool to watch you geek out, and hold so dear an instrument from one of your inspirations as a luthier! congrats, tom! i am quite sure there are guitar lovers (such as myself) who'd equally geek out and cherish one of your fantastic guitars .. . congrats, mate!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Really kind of you to say, Tomos. Thanks so much! Glad you're enjoying the channel!

[@guitars929]

Absolutely stunning!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

I think so too!

[@TomInBoston]

Great story, and lovely guitar. Awesome.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Thanks brother x

[@jguitar23]

Yes, amazing tone🎉

[@faustomadebr]

Congrats!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Cheers!

[@terrywright7893]

Lovely to see your passion and the inspiration you derive from an instrument which sort of represents your own career as a now revered luthier, Tom.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Thanks, Terry!

[@aaronlucasguitars]

Stunning!!!!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

It’s a wee peanut

[@Birkguitars]

Looking at other people fulfil their dreams inspires me to keep chasing my own. Good on you for buying that. It clearly means a lot to you and that is reason enough to have it but if it helps you fulfil the dreams of others it will be far more than just another instrument and that is a wonderful thing to have.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

You can do it!

[@gregorcrothers4256]

Awesome Tom. A beacon of inspiration for you. I'd say hang it in the shop but...... Never let it go!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Right!?

[@gregorcrothers4256]

Interesting. I actually have a set of this. I purchased it as Phayung Rosewood which I now know can be called Vietnamese/Siamese/Thailand Rosewood. I know its not Tommy's Tonewoods but i was kinda hoping for the "Dalbergia cochinchinensis" 🤣@@TomSandsGuitars

[@rikukiviharju7537]

one of the prettiest guitars I've seen, congrats!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

I love everything about it

[@NelsonGago]

What a gem!!!! 😮 enjoy it buddy

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Thanks, Nelson!!

[@jensbomholt4529]

What a beauty! Just take it and carress its strings and let them ring out ... Let it speak to you! ... and again: what a beauty!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Certainly will!

[@williamwinn948]

I'm lucky because my wife is the one that buys me the things I love and have never had to hide anything from her or her me. Awesome guitar

[@TomSandsGuitars]

That’s is lucky!!

[@kentonkirkpatrick5225]

Such a pleasure to listen to a person who speaks and expresses themselves so well. A lost art.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Thanks so much!! Glad you enjoyed it. If you’re interested in guitars and wood (who isn’t!?) please consider a sub ❤️

[@kentonkirkpatrick5225]

In my world, "Sub" means "Subwoofer" (speaker that outputs bass freq. in a hi-fi system). If this is what you're talking about, I have three of them. Regards

[@TomSandsGuitars]

@@kentonkirkpatrick5225 ha, in KZbin land, sub means subscribe but I’m sure you already knew that 🤣

[@nomadexplorer6682]

Congratulations for possesing such a one of a kind beauty ! I am sure you pluck the strings everyday to feel the joy of being intimate and derive satisfaction and tranquility...

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Tranquility is the word!

[@natemink572]

Exquisitely creative and perfectly engineered musical art showpiece, what a beauty.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Too right! Thanks for commenting, Nate!

[@SculptyWorks]

Congratulations! Now you have to play more, now that you have your dream guitar. 😉 👍👍❤❤

[@TomSandsGuitars]

That's the plan!

[@robotusa88]

I too am a bass player with a love of great acoustics. Congrats and enjoy!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Thank you!

[@jpmoench21]

Haha, girlfriends thinking, wow he spends that much on a guitar, but doesn't buy me a ring 😂

[@123Neilob]

Awesome! Congrats. You never know - 15 mins a day playing on that beauty and you might consider yourself an acoustic guitarist eventually.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Nice purchase Tom!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Irresponsible, but very nice

[@therampanthamster]

Great vid. Not related to this guitar, but I have to say there's a special place in my heart for parlour acoustics. Ever since i got my guild m20, I fell in love with it and people always comment how good it looks :)

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Yeah I love dinky guitars

[@Addict2FX]

Love the head stock, gorgeous

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Me too!

[@andorrasrevenge1683]

Thats a pretty low key Michi build, very cool!

[@markvonwisco7369]

The guitar has a very full and balanced sound. If I was listening blind, I would never have guessed that it was a parlor guitar.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Couldn’t believe it either!

[@calebbhawkins]

Oh my! I remember seeing footage maybe? Of this guitars top being burned on Instagram about 10 years ago, the finished guitar blew my mind then, it’s good to know where it landed after all these years! I’d love to hear Michael Watts play this one! Ugh! It’s painful how amazing that instrument is!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Oh very interesting. I'm a lucky boy!

[@Justsayinyall]

Mind blowing instrument right there. You’re a lucky person.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Thanks man

[@Justsayinyall]

@@TomSandsGuitars 😊You deserve it. Thanks for all the good content. Good luck with the collection!

[@theadamgray]

That's a beautiful instrument mate. I too have an inspirational guitar that hangs on my wall. A wenge & European spruce OM that was made by another of Ervin's apprentices and is an instrument which has no equal. It was this person's first commissioned instrument. He has since gone on to be a dear friend of mine and the finest builder in the world.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

🥹❤️

[@jon.parsons]

The beard is looking lush 👌🏻 Also, congrats on the guitar! It’s one sweet little instrument.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

You sweet-talker, you. Thanks, Jon!

[@WillKillen]

The levitating fretboard totally blows my mind

[@TomSandsGuitars]

It’s mad

[@andrewbowen6875]

There is a vintage precedent for that on Steve Earle’s KZbin channel showing his Gibson L00 with floating fretboard

[@dananthony6258]

I don’t think you’re going to have to tell your girlfriend. She’s going to know as soon as the case is opened, lol. That awesome dude.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Haha, yup!

[@petecoates6410]

Hi Tom, I just found, and am loving your channel. I think I am just down the road from you - building my own electrics in my home workshop in Marton Le Moor ! Getting very inspired by your videos and hoping I can up my game to achieve something special. Don’t suppose you need a 60yr old local apprentice who will work for nothing ? Ha! More building content please 🙏

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Yeah we’re in Ripon, pop in for a coffee sometime! Drop me an email. 🙏

[@petecoates6410]

@@TomSandsGuitars Thanks Tom. That would be fantastic. I will drop you a line via your website contact details Cheers, Pete

[@squidface7952]

🤯 the colour of that rosewood

[@TomSandsGuitars]

nice huh?

[@hellomynameislynne3585]

Oh that sounds so full.for such a small guitar.its a recording engineer dream.hardly have to tweak a thing so balanced

[@TomSandsGuitars]

I was shocked when I first played it!

[@hellomynameislynne3585]

@@TomSandsGuitars shocked in a nice way i bet

[@richardtordoff3618]

Every time I play my Bashkin 00 I think of your Matsuda Tom and how they’d compare.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Feel free to come down and try them out. Last time you came I still had the strings it went out the shop 10 years ago with.

[@Obscurity202]

Yay bassist

[@TomSandsGuitars]

👍👍👍👍

[@heymrguitarman7637]

Shout out to Jim Fleeting. Great luthier. I had no idea you'd worked with him.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

The man, the myth, the legend

[@andrewbowen6875]

Well if anyone is worthy of owning a Matsuda it’s got to be someone who has been taught by the same master Luthier and imo I’m rather glad you paved your own path with your own unique style as there’s a load of Matsuda inspired Luthiers doing his thing.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Very kind of you to say, Andrew. Much appreciated!

[@davidharris7431]

Hello Tom, nice guitar , beware of the dog lol .

[@TomSandsGuitars]

What can I say.. she has good taste!

[@dougckelly]

Hard to get a good look at it in the video but it looks as though the body drops away and the neck almost angles upward? some curious looking engineering components in there. I'll be off to google Matsuda.. :D

[@CameraLaw]

This video was a wonderful find. KZbin apparently knows what turns my head. I greatly appreciate Japanese luthiers. I have an acoustic by Kazuo Yairi (DY90, 1989) and a stunning classical by Sumio Kurosawa (1978). The tone and attention to detail is … beyond. I loved getting a tour of your Matsuda and think it was well worth every penny. And now I know gunpowder is part of a luthier’s … um, arsenal.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Haha! Love it. Glad you enjoyed the video

[@rossthemusicandguitarteacher]

I bought 2 Luthier made guitars this year and my wife was salty lol

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Wives are overrated anyway

[@lespaul1755]

I'd hardly call that the holy grail of guitars.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

not sure I asked, but I will, whats your holy grail of guitars?

[@lespaul1755]

@TomSandsGuitars for me it's the Martin.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

@@lespaul1755 which Martin?

[@lespaul1755]

@@TomSandsGuitars D28 and D18

[@TomSandsGuitars]

@@lespaul1755 which year?

[@fredfloyd34]

Omg ...one word comes to mind ....gaudy....i say abathroom guitar.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

I’m not sure you understand what the word ‘gaudy’ means.

[@33312evil]

How much did it cost you?

[@TomSandsGuitars]

A not insignificant amount

[@darthsensei3838]

Are these rare? I have one and never knew anything about it.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Matsuda guitars? He’s been building a a couple of decades but we’re talking less than 200 guitars (I think)

[@ottohoulihan2743]

Anyone know the song/tune at 3:29???

[@TomSandsGuitars]

I'm sorry i don't but the artist is listed

[@Panggor46]

I can see the soundboard behind the saddle has bulged. Without the cutaway the high fret is unreachable which I think this is not a well thought design. What say you?

[@TomSandsGuitars]

It’s a thin top for maximum response, there’s going to be some movement, I’d expect that. The playability is unaffected. The elevated fingerboard helps with access in the higher registers (in theory) but heck, classical players manage just fine without cutaways.

[@Ragamuffyn]

How much was it?

[@TomSandsGuitars]

More than I should reasonably be spending on guitars.

[@kevinfitzpatrick2695]

Wow. The guitar that Jesus used at the last supper.

[@lebe220]

More and more great guitars, but beautiful melodies getting less by the day

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Depends where you're looking ;)

[@lebe220]

@@TomSandsGuitars Depends where I´m listening...Classsical music had a few fine melodies, and in pop there WERE many. Nowadays guitar players may have pleasant harmonies, but no evergreen melodies anymore (with a few scarce exceptions).

[@vincizara]

Bro where is the demo 😢

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Watch the video!

[@Chance-ry1hq]

It’s a piece of art, but with all due respect it sounds like an old Harmony from Sears.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Haha, fair enough. It’s always going to be difficult to get a broad tonal spectrum from such a tiny instrument. I think Michi did an exceptional job squeezing every last bit out of it. It’s definitely opened up a lot in the 10 years since the recording.

[@GildedEntries]

@@TomSandsGuitars I would not judge the sound quality of an acoustic guitar from one older video in a compressed KZbin format. The guitar is a stunning work of art.

[@ReVeRbx-fe5wr]

Siamese Rosewood -- Dalbergia cochinchinensis

[@TomSandsGuitars]

If I can find some, we'll do a Tommy's Tonewood on it!

[@StringsAtHome]

​@@TomSandsGuitars I'll get you some, might need to charge some danger money though! Risk of getting a few holes in me

[@rcjoe406]

As a builder and and a player not a hater but the only thing that make a guitar expensive is us a the end of the day guitars are just fancy furniture that can play music

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Not sure what your point is here?

[@rcjoe406]

@@TomSandsGuitars that's ok was just saying that guitars should not cost the price of a car lol all good 👍

[@TomSandsGuitars]

@@rcjoe406 Respectfully, I’m not sure I agree with that. When you think of the time involved, the cost of materials, tooling, cost of running a workshop etc etc, I’d actually argue that hand built instruments aren’t expensive enough! Most luthiers aren’t ‘well off’, it’s often a paycheck to paycheck situation. Most luthiers build between 8-10 guitars a year, it doesn’t take a genius to run the numbers. Many of my peers are busting their asses working 6-7 days a week, sometimes with 2nd jobs just to keep the shop lights on. The problem is that we have become used to mass produced crap and inconceivably low prices.

[@rcjoe406]

@@TomSandsGuitars agree ..but I don't think a 814 taylor should cost 4700 lol rich people have to do something with all that money 🤔 cheers mate

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

Sorry, I didn't hear it, I don't get it. I am certain you DO get it.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Fair! But yeah, I love it

[@Calatriste54]

If she's a keeper, your Girlfriend will applaud..

[@johnnyxmusic]

Let’s hope the girlfriend is a keeper!❤❤

[@thedirtoutdoorstv1491]

I hate the headstock

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Hate is a strong word. Do you think maybe it’s just very different to what you’re used to?

[@thedirtoutdoorstv1491]

@@TomSandsGuitars your right, I like the way your word that! Hate does come off as very negative, It is different than my Taste I like traditional I didn’t mean negativity by what I was saying but it did come off that way

[@thedirtoutdoorstv1491]

@@TomSandsGuitars other than that it’s great, good tone and love the rest of the construction

[@ac30lifestyle]

I guess your gf doesn't subscribe to your channel otherwise you're in the dog house mate 🫢

[@TomSandsGuitars]

🤣

[@glouismusic]

Seven minutes and not one strum.👎🏼

[@TomSandsGuitars]

But some really great fingerstyle. 👍

[@A-rl4or]

Ugly guitar. Can get that tone and playability in guitars costing under $4000

[@TomSandsGuitars]

It’s a matter of opinion x

[@markstaggs7342]

I own Taylor, Gibson and Martin and Epiphone guitars and thats a really nice sounding guitar,I love all guitars and have ten acoustic guitars that i love each one,My guitars have to sound beautiful and play as beautiful as they look.The Epiphone guitar are the one i take outside or camping my very expensive guitars are kept in controlled humidity and never taken outside.I say congratulations on your prized guitar.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Great to hear your love for acoustic guitars. Thank you!

[@pawlowski6132]

Meh

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Someone’s jealous, I would be too, all good bro.

[@pawlowski6132]

@@TomSandsGuitars I'm more traditional