OK, Tom, you got me started...
I bought a new Epiphone 12-String when I was home on Christmas leave from the Navy in '72, and brought it to my next duty station with me. About 2 weeks later it was stolen from under my bunk in the barracks, silly me. I aske the Barracks Master-At-Arms if we had any insurance on private property, and he said "Son, if they wanted you to have a guitar, they'da issued you one!" Thanks a lot, jerk face. I also had a Hohner 64-key double Chromonica with push button inside the guitar case; I wonder which instrument would be worth more today? The Guitar was a Japanese made Epiphone.
I decided not to get another guitar for the rest of my enlistment. In fact, I went to a music store and found a nice Ovation (they were just arriving on the scene) and I went to the bank to get a $400 loan to buy it. I told the loan officer my sad story and she said "I'm not going to give you the loan because I'm afraid this guitar will just get stolen too." I had to admit, she was absolutely right.
So when I got out of the Navy and got a job, I went out looking for a Martin, because that was "the guitar to get." Fortunately the local music store was well stocked, and I was able to play several different guitars. I was just looking for an entry-level American made acoustic, so I played a Martin D-18, a Gibson J-45, and a Guild D-25M. I kept coming back to the Guild because of the tone and resonance, and because of the beauty of the mahogany and spruce - it just looked a lot richer than the other guitars. Heck, what did I know, but I knew what I liked.
The Martin was $600. The (Kalamazoo) Gibson was $500+. The Guild was $300, all prices with hardshell cases.
They were all really nice, but I was just drawn to that Guild. I would have paid double for the Martin if I thought it was worth twice the price of the Guild, but I was intrigued by the beauty of the woodgrain on the Guild, and by its tone.
That was 44 years ago. My old D25M is still my main guitar. It has been to honestly a couple thousand gigs, parties, weddings, picnics, festivals, jam sessions, bonfires, church services, etc. over the years. About to have it re-fretted for the third time, at Elderly Instruments.
Still rings like a bell.
I bought a new Epiphone 12-String when I was home on Christmas leave from the Navy in '72, and brought it to my next duty station with me. About 2 weeks later it was stolen from under my bunk in the barracks, silly me. I aske the Barracks Master-At-Arms if we had any insurance on private property, and he said "Son, if they wanted you to have a guitar, they'da issued you one!" Thanks a lot, jerk face. I also had a Hohner 64-key double Chromonica with push button inside the guitar case; I wonder which instrument would be worth more today? The Guitar was a Japanese made Epiphone.
I decided not to get another guitar for the rest of my enlistment. In fact, I went to a music store and found a nice Ovation (they were just arriving on the scene) and I went to the bank to get a $400 loan to buy it. I told the loan officer my sad story and she said "I'm not going to give you the loan because I'm afraid this guitar will just get stolen too." I had to admit, she was absolutely right.
So when I got out of the Navy and got a job, I went out looking for a Martin, because that was "the guitar to get." Fortunately the local music store was well stocked, and I was able to play several different guitars. I was just looking for an entry-level American made acoustic, so I played a Martin D-18, a Gibson J-45, and a Guild D-25M. I kept coming back to the Guild because of the tone and resonance, and because of the beauty of the mahogany and spruce - it just looked a lot richer than the other guitars. Heck, what did I know, but I knew what I liked.
The Martin was $600. The (Kalamazoo) Gibson was $500+. The Guild was $300, all prices with hardshell cases.
They were all really nice, but I was just drawn to that Guild. I would have paid double for the Martin if I thought it was worth twice the price of the Guild, but I was intrigued by the beauty of the woodgrain on the Guild, and by its tone.
That was 44 years ago. My old D25M is still my main guitar. It has been to honestly a couple thousand gigs, parties, weddings, picnics, festivals, jam sessions, bonfires, church services, etc. over the years. About to have it re-fretted for the third time, at Elderly Instruments.
Still rings like a bell.
!!!
