"I visit Stephen's workshop yearly since 2014 and used his guitars since 2015. I first owned a Concert Model Spruce top and currently his Friederich-inspired Grand Concert with double sides and a Cedar top. Ordering a guitar from Steve was an experience in itself: I chose the wood, was given a lot of insight into the building process and was kept regularly updated with photos. Stephen works in the tradition of the great masters of old and is inspired by the same sound that fascinated me when I started. Over the years I've tried most models he makes and they have some unifying qualities that are his essence. The guitars are aesthetically pleasing and very nice to hold. If you play the guitar for hours every day you should be able to enjoy this aspect. A guitar isn't made to be looked at though: it also needs to be comfortable to play, to have a "malleable" sound, and to project well in a space. Steve makes all that happen. For the needs of performers used to lattice bracing or double tops, volume may well be an issue, however, the Grand Concert deals with this well by having both a traditionally braced top AND extra power thanks to the double sides. For the advancing student a Cadenza model has everything they need for the experience of owning a real hand-crafted guitar minus some of the frills of higher-end models. In the years I have known Steve I have seen him experiment and grow. He is a dedicated maker, always perfecting his craft, and is really friendly and open. Playing on Stephen Eden guitars I also became a better musician and learned a lot from his instruments and from our interactions."