Since getting the news that I was not chosen to continue on as a member of the corporate dysfunctional family I have had a lot of time to spend on things that made me feel guilty–because they did not give anything to the bottom line. One of the things I have been able to do during the day is to roam the halls of a local guitar store. Yesterday I went in to pick up a set of ukulele strings to replace the ones that were on my Christmas ukulele (they are so cool!!).
I took some time and wandered through the Fender room and marveled at the Stratocasters and Telecasters. I stared at the Stevie Ray Vaughn edition Strat and imagined the blues genius wailing away on that guitar; the “SRV” stickers (just like the ones we put on our bicycles in the 70′s) shimmering magically as he bends the strings making them sing out. The finish all but worn away from the friction of his forearm and the countless miles on the road. His face contorting to the notes his lightning-fast fingers are finding effortlessly. He would have been someone I would have loved to see perform live.
The other Fenders that tugged at my memories were Clapton’s “Slowhand”, Knopfler’s red Strat, Springsteen’s Telecaster, and Hendrix’s upside-down Strat. So many great artists making so much incredible music on these instruments. I then walked over to “The Vault”. The area where the Gibson electric guitars are kept. If the incredible Lester William Polsfuss from Waukesha, Wisconsin didn’t get involved in changing the guitar world by leading the way in the development of the electric guitar (there’s a very well-known guitar that bears his name… you may have heard about it… it’s called The Les Paul… he invented it), there may not have been such great musicians such as BB King, Jimmie Page, Alex Lifeson, or Joe Bonamassa… all of them play a Gibson electric guitar, and all but BB King play the Les Paul. I have had the opportunity of playing a Les Paul. The first thing I noticed was the weight of the instrument. The second was the price. Both were big. No wonder they call the room I was in “The Vault”.
I wandered around some more and looked at the used guitars. Even the used Gibson, Gretsch, and Fender guitars had a hefty price tag. As much as I love the low action an electric guitar provides (the space between the strings and fretboard) there is an additional weight that must be born: AN AMP. That is why I prefer the acoustic/electric guitar. If there is an amp available, great! If not, then no worries. You can still be heard, and let’s face it, I’m not going to be on a stage in some arena wailing away. I like to play for me. It’s relaxing and there is a sense of accomplishment I get from learning a song and reproducing with my own hands on my own guitar.
My visit then took me to the humidified and environmentally protected room of the acoustics. Wow! Talk about craftsmanship! I spent a good deal of time and played a lot of the guitars that hang from the cedar-lined walls. It is just too cool that a person can walk in, grab a $2000 Martin guitar off the wall and strum away. Of all the guitars I played my two favorites were the Martin Grand J-28 LSE and the Rainsong Black Ice Jumbo Acoustic/Electric Graphite 1000N2.
The Martin, like all Martins I’ve played, was incredible and a piece of art. Do yourself a favor and go to the Musical Instrument Museum at Tatum and the 101 and check out the Martin Guitar exhibit. It’s extremely informational and it really impressed me. There is something to be said about a handmade, one of a kind guitar. The wood, the finish, the action… amazing. The sound was rich and smooth. There was very little fret buzz from my amateur fingers trying to successfully hold down bar chords.
The other guitar, the Rainsong Black Ice Jumbo is made from carbon fiber and was THE BEST ACOUSTIC GUITAR I’VE EVER PLAYED. The deep bass tones are what first caught my ear. It was so rich and full. Just a simple strum of the D chord resonated through me. The action was as close to an electric I’ve found on an acoustic. Since it’s made of carbon fiber there is no risk of warping with changes in humidity like there is with a 100% wood instrument. Being a jumbo sized guitar, it’s also nice to “hide” behind. And, how can you not love a guitar with shark-shaped mother of pearl inlays in the fretboard? You can’t! I LOVE THIS GUITAR!
So far, even though every day I wake up with the thought that I am unemployed, and the same thought runs through my mind a thousand times a day and it is also the last thought I usually have before I go to bed, I am pleased that this time has allowed me to rekindle some part of my creative soul.
“It’s just a jump to the left…”
