My New Baby

That’s a photo of my new baby. I have four others. So, you must think I am a good guitarist or play in a band. Nope. I just play for me. However, it would be fun to play in a band.

In a sense I do play in a band in that I play along with a band. I have a high-tech amp that does more things than I know how to use. It pairs with a companion app through which I can access most any effect known to man.

I can also pull up a you tube video of a band playing a song and see the chords in real time. That enables me to play rhythm along with them and that is what I have been enjoyed doing ever since I got the amp a few years ago.

No doubt, I should be advancing in skill level instead of staying stuck playing rhythm. Ever so slowly, I am beginning to learn a few licks. Eventually, I hope to learn how to write my own riffs and even songs. Honestly, I had so much fun doing what I have been doing that I just kept doing it.

When I was a kid, I had an off-brand semi-hollow body electric and took some lessons which I found boring. Eventually, I sold that guitar during hard times.

My dear wife borrowed money to buy me a nice 12-string acoustic Epiphone forty-six years ago as a Christmas gift. Twelve strings are rhythm instruments and difficult to play because there are twelve strings to press to the neck, rather than six. But I thought twelve strings were cool at the time. I didn’t play it much, though it is still beautiful and looks like new. I will not part with it.

Several years ago, I rewarded myself upon completing an extensive course of study in nonprofit management by buying a Yamaha plug-in acoustic. That got me playing again after many years away.

About five years ago, I got to play my son-in-law’s Fender Square Telecaster. That ignited the fire to get an electric guitar and eventually led to the purchase of an all-black Fender Telecaster Player’s Edition and I have played the heck out it. The Telecaster (Telie) is one of the most original guitar models and is simple to control. The flip of a switch takes you to entirely different sound. This is probably the most popular guitar in the world. It’s kind of twangy and the base E string really pops. Most all country bands use them.

My next to the last baby is one of the prettiest, an all-black Gretsch Electromatic Jet. Guitars are generally hollow, like acoustics or solid like Telecasters and Les Pauls, but this one is chambered due to the availability of the wood and weight considerations. She is a pretty girl and can really scream, but I am still a bit challenged by the Gretsch controls. I was first introduced to this pretty girl while visiting Guitar World (a big boy’s toy store) in the Twin Cities with my son-in-law. I succumbed to purchase a couple of years later.

My newest baby just purchased is the most beautiful yet, a Gretsch semi-hollow small body electric with a Sweet Tea quilted maple finish. We have been busy getting acquainted. She gives me a different sound I was looking for.

They each have a different look, sound, and feel. Oddly, three of the guitars have a version of a sunburst finish and two are solid black. I am a bit of a traditionalist going with well established brands and rather conservative finishes.

What is the thing with guitars?

They allow me to fulfill the dreams of my youth. I never dreamed until recent years that I would ever own another electric guitar.
They are both beautiful and cool. They are works of art and beautiful craftmanship. I guess because they come from the era of rock music and my youth it makes them cool.
They offer both creativity and therapy. Making music has no end. The joy of playing a role with other players in a band and being a part of the total, beautiful sweeping wall of sound is a unique joy. Just being able to wail my heart out and loose myself in a song is worth the purchase price and ultimately much cheaper than therapy.
They remind me of Patty. She bought the first one and was with me, encouraging me as I bought each of the others.

So, they are among my most precious possessions.