Currently, I'm shifting the saddles I'm making over to trees built by such master tree makers as Bill Bean, Rick Reed, etc. The quality of these simply cannot be touched by a production saddle tree. Trees built by the above makers have superior lacing, superior bullhide, and just plain better overall craftsmanship that can be detected by even a novice. These tree builders use fine lamination in the forks for added strength and durability. I cannot justify a true, custom built saddle on a "production" tree, as many makers do. This is a contradiction of terms. Saddle trees are like skirting leather- YOU WILL GET JUST WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

~Ted N. Estes~