Musicians: Guitars you own and their stories
Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 07:50:12 AM PDT
Something different for those of us who are news weary. I got my first guitar when I was 16 (1964) during the folk music resurgence. It was a no name blond acoustic 6 string that in retrospect wasn't a bad Axe all thing considered. Decent action, good sound and projection, well built and made in America. The first song I learned was "The times they are a changing," by Dylan. I would hang out at the Cafe' Orpheus, a small coffee house on SW College St. right by Portland State College (now PSU), soaking up the folk tunes and their magic. Sold this guitar when I joined the Army in 1967 (as not to get drafted).
Continued below the fold.
During my service, I purchased a German made 12 string in Kansas City pawn shop during a cross country AWOL adventure (a story for another time). This went with me to Vietnam and back and I sold it to get another acoustic 6 string after my discharge. That was traded for an American made Epiphone that was a really sweet rig. Narrow neck, light action, good sound. Kept it for quite a while until one day I was in one of my favorite music stores and hanging on the wall was a 1967 Guild F47. For some reason I was drawn to it, however the price was beyond my means at the time. How to get it became an obsession. About this same time I bought from my brother-in-law a 1955 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120, cow & cactus model for $300 (a steal). Turns out electric guitars were not for me at the time and I traded it for a Martin 12 Fret Slotted Headstock Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, similar to a D15S. Weird guitar. 12 frets like a classical guitar yet strung with steel strings. Wide neck too. Just didn't work for me, however it was my ticket to the Guild F47. Putting on my horse trader hat, I headed on down to the shop and with very little dickering finally got my Guild for the Martin and $50. That was in 1980 and it is my prize possession. It is the one.
For many years I loved the music of Sandy Denny and a friend of mine turned me on to Fotheringay.
On the cover of their first album (remember cover art,) was Sandy with her 12 string. I wanted one! Flash forward to 1985 and the same music store was having a half price sale on Guilds. I was flush at the time and snagged a Guild F212 for $585!!! Light action, booming voice, can get that "jingle jangle" sound. Man I love it. The best part is that besides being outstanding guitars, the F47 and the F212 have the same body style and look great together sitting on stage. Little brother and big brother so to speak.
I had been playing with my good friends for a while when we decided to start playing in public. Put in pickups in both of them so my friends and I could start playing out in public and the "band" was formed. We call ourselves "Loose Change".
Now the bass player and the other 2 guitar players have these things called "electric guitars" which can be turned up to 11. Me I'm stuck playing through the PA. This will never do! Well lucky me. In 1987, I got 5 out of 6 numbers playing the Oregon lottery (self imposed economical developement tax)and found it was enough for a brand new American made Strat and amp. (I'm still kind of pissed I didn't get that 6th number).
So the bnad played on for several years and then one day I'm at the Luthier's getting a new nut on the 12 string when I hear this small voice say "look at me." Well not really, but as I was looking around there was this 1975 Tele Deluxe for $500 on the sales floor. Now this is not your standard Tele Deluxe. The 1975 model had a Strat neck and head stock, a rare issue. I have never liked the Tele headstock, just seemed out of proportion to me(Flame away). This one had also been hotrodded with EMG-89 Dual Mode Pickups. Volume knob down and its a Humbucker, pull the knob up and its a single coil. Played it a bit and had to have it. Haven't played the Strat since, I let our lead guitar player use it.
So now I've got 3 that I play all the time but my collection is not complete. In order to compliment the 6 and 12 string acoustic pair I needed an electric 12 string. Everyone knows there is only one that any child of the sixties would want, yep a Rickenbacker like Roger McGuinn (now Jim) played "Mr. Tambourine Man" on. Well that was out of my price range for sure. That didn't stop me from mentioning from time to time during band practice that my collection wouldn't be complete until I had one. Fast forward to January 2001. I'm at practice getting my Tele out when the lead guitarist says "here, try this" and hands me a Rickenbacker 330/12. He was working a a music store at the time and knew my lust for that one last guitar for my collection. I figured he was giving me a chance to play it and the I would have to buy it. I was thinking, "Hmmm, which credit card can I use?" After about 5 or 6 songs, he asked "How do you like it?" Silly question. Then the whole band says, "Merry Christmas!" Holy shit! They were giving it to me. Turns out it had been in the back room of the music shop since 1998 waiting for me. The band bank was full and they voted to buy it for me. We do this for each other when the bank is full and one of us needs something. The bass player got a new amp, wireless mic for the harmonica player so he can move around the stage and duet with guitars etc.
So my collection is complete, they all fit my needs to a "T" and I have no more "lust in my heart" for another guitar.
What's your guitar and its story?
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