Alaphablue wrote:Well if you do get a set from rai you will likely be rather fond of them so get a cheap set from sparrows to thrash while improving skill .
I agree with AB on this one. If you are just starting out, but a cheap set from sparrows and learn to use the magnificent bogota efficiently, than contact the man himself and order a custom set tailored to your preferences.
As for raimundo, the man who invented and makes the beautiful bogotas we all love, I really can't say enough nice things so I'll share a story I had regarding my last transaction with him...'round christmas time, I wanted to treat myself to some new picks so I contacted rai and asked him to make me a quad hump/deforest bogota set. He replied quickly and told me I'm now on the list and once he gets his others orders out mine would be on the way. He asked me to send payment in form of cash so I bought a cheap gretting card at the post office and sent it out. days, weeks, months passed and rai kept telling me he didn't receive the money yet but told me to stay patient because around the holidays sometimes there's a logjam with USPS and parcels may take longer to arrive than usual. After about 3 months of me hounding him (i need to work on patience) I was told the letter still had not arrived but he was working on my order and would send it out anyway. When it finally arrived it was filled to the brim with extra tools despite him still having not received the money I sent. I was like a kid on christmas. I offered to resend the money multiple times seeing as how I was a little foolish to stuff money into a bday card looking envelope in front of the entire post office staff. He never asked for another payment and told me to enjoy the tools, which I have. **IF YOU EVER SEND MONEY IN AN ENVELOPE EITHER SEND IT OVERNIGHT IN A HEAVILY TAPED UP ENVELOPE OR BOX OR TAKE EXTREME PRECAUTION TO ENSURE NO ONE SUSPECTS THERE MIGHT BE MONEY INSIDE**
Long story short: rai is a great guy...generous, friendly, unassuming and of course, a MASTER pick maker. He deserves to be put into the locksport hall of fame on the first ballad if there ever is such a thing.