Based in Minnesota, Steve makes his living hosting Web sites, but is also an acclaimed fingerstyle guitarist and mandolinist. He has built guitars, as well as the two 8-string solidbody "Tree Frog" electric mandolin models pictured above, but currently is not active as a luthier and says he doesn't know whether he'll start up again. I've never played a Tree Frog, but I can tell you that they were equipped with acoustic pickup/preamp systems and were affordably priced.