Nathan Smith is the father of two children living with the CASK Gene Mutation. He is an independent piano technician serving the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex. Highly active in DFW, he provides regular service for Southern Methodist University, Booker T Washington HSPVA, many places of worship, as well as being the on-call technician for several Grammy Award-Winning and Nominated artists and recording studios. He also operates Mayfield Instruments - an hybrid folk instrument company founded by his late grandfather in 1962, which has created instruments for such esteemed artists such as Sufjan Stevens and Christian Lee Hutson.

www.guitalin.com

UP FOR AUCTION are two Mayfield Guitalins; an Original Number 12 built by Lyle Mayfield in Champaign, Illinois in June, 1963 for his daughter, Lynda Mayfield (Smith), and Number 122 built by his grandson, Nathan Smith in 2024. Number 12 is thought to be the only Mayfield Instrument painted by Doris Mayfield, mother of the Mayfield children. It one of only two remaining original instruments with the hollow head design. Both are smaller-than-standard 3/4 size instruments. Number 12 has been minimally reconditioned, only to make it functional, while leaving most of the original state intact, with the exception of the bridge which was not functional and was turned into an inlay on the back of Number 122, tying these two instruments together forever. In keeping with Lyle's tradition of creating instruments from upcycled materials, the top (soundboard) of 122 is made from a California Giant Redwood candy box from the 1930s. It possesses a unique tonal character that crosses several traditional timbres. In addition, it contains 9 woods: African Blackwood sides, Aromatic Cedar neck, Canary head veneers, Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba) fretboard, Black Walnut signature veneer, Cocobolo back, 1910s Spruce bracing, and 1920s Dallas White Oak tailblock from the historic neighborhood of Oak Cliff, along with a Wild Cherry bridge. Also incorporated into the 122 are "David's Cedar" fret dots (markers) and the original bridge for guitalin Number 12 (built for Lyle's daughter Lynda in 1963), which has been turned into an inlay on the rear of the instrument. David was Lyle's eldest son who died in 2004. His namesake cedar was planted the year he was born (1951) and cut down the year he died. The fret markers were taken from this tree. The guitalin itself was invented as a toy for Lyle's youngest son Layne; so all 3 of his children are represented by the guitalins up for auction. In 2023, Lyle Mayfield's two youngest great-grandchildren were diagnosed with an ultra rare genetic condition called CASK Gene Mutation. For the first time in 8 years, Lyle's grandson has produced another limited batch of guitalins - a first edition reissue series. This is the first time since 1963 that Lyle's original "hollow head" design has returned to a guitalin. ODE-1 (Mayfield #122 [Original Design series, Guitalin 1], Mayfield serial number 122) is the very first instrument to receive this reissued head design. It is also the first to possess the authentic Lyle Mayfield autograph veneer within the head, and the first to receive a brass faceplate. By bidding on this ultra rare musical hybrid, you are pledging to invest in important research that will help an ultra rare group of children by developing therapies and/or procedures that will make a world of difference in the quality of their lives. Thank you for your support! With Love - Mayfield Instruments

I am the father of two children living with the CASK Gene Mutation.

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