Thx for the comments and encouragement guys - much appreciate it.
I will add all the pics I get from now on - Mike has already sent 80 and we have only just started the build. As far as I know this is his regular practice with builds which is great.
Although the build should have been finished by end November I asked Mike to complete it by end February as I know someone travelling to USA at that time. So if progress seems a little slow at times it is my fault, but there are times when design aspects need to be discussed and agreed upon before further progress can be achieved. Mike's passion for using natural products and different woods will be evident in this build and can already be seen in the use of Manchinga for the inner sides. We have been discussing adding a little color to this build without using abalone or synthetic materials and so you may see the use of Spalted Maple, Pink Ivory, Purple Heart, Leopard Wood, Snakewood and other lessor known woods in the guitar aesthetic. Then again... you may not ?
While I really enjoy my Cornerstone and chose the Paua Abalone trimmings, all my subsequent custom builds will have very different aesthetics and tone and all will celebrate the beauty of wood and a natural aesthetic. I believe the Cornerstone also achieves this but in a slightly different way and would not have it any other way. Both Michael Bashkin (the previous build- see signature for links) and Mike Baranik are very reluctant to use abalone as they prefer to use different woods. Mike and I are discussing a few very interesting trimming options in different woods that will make this build quite distinctive.
Here are a few Baranik guitars that show evidence of Mike's talent and use of different woods etc:
http://www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/index.php/guitar-luithers/baranik-guitars.html