Wow! Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) in Phoenix

[chazmo]

Right now, it turns out I'm about 1/2 mile from the MIM in Phoenix, which was opened about a year ago.

I have a zillion pictures that I'll try to post when the opportunity arises, but folks I gotta' tell you... This place is a real gem. If you ever come down this way, I'm afraid it's a must-see for folks like us.

The place has its share of guitars, and boo... Martin has the lion's share of the exhibits. No Guilds, but oh my... so many interesting instruments.

The place is an amazing round-the-world celebration of musical instruments. I'll freely admit my bias for American and European music, but you just can't help but be blown away by the diversity across the globe.

As an aside, I honestly don't know people live in this climate. Never mind how guitars can survive in this dry heat or air conditioned homes... Oh Hatted One, how do you handle this?

 

[davismanLV]

Living in Vegas, I understand what you're saying. It's HOT. And DRY. Which is better than HOT and WET. But it's hard on living things. However, as bad as it may be here..... it's WORSE in Phoenix. That place is just too damn hot for me. That may sound funny coming from someone who lives in the Nevada desert, but it's true.

Here (Las Vegas) - 80 @ 7am heading up to 107.
There (Phoenix) - 86 @ 7 am heading up to 114.

I rest my case.

Stay cool, amigo.
p.s. - can't wait to see pics of this museum, maybe I'll take a trip there.

 

[davismanLV]

It seems there's an active/participation exhibit for school kids sponsored by Fender. You gotta ingrain brand name loyalty in the young.... you know?

 

[chazmo]

It seems there's an active/participation exhibit for school kids sponsored by Fender. You gotta ingrain brand name loyalty in the young.... you know?

If they're talking about the room where you play the instruments, I didn't see any Fender branding. Hey, there are plenty of Fender electrics in various exhibits, but probably more Gibsons and the acoustics are mostly Gibson and Martin.

Not a single Taylor, by the way.

 

[chazmo]

Darryl, FYI... In case you haven't been here (can't imagine that, but I've met Phoenicians who haven't been to the Grand Canyon either)

 

[avagadro]

We played tennis the afternoon it hit 122 in Phoenix. It is just a number, when you ask locals the difference between 105 and 115 they can't really give a good answer, it's just hot. Getting into your car after it has been parked in the sun for several hours can be interesting, you have to have a steering wheel cover and a seat cover is pretty important too since many people wear shorts almost year round. You can never leave your guitar in the car for very long during the summer, need to have a plan so you can park it somewhere safe. You'll never understand how good a cold beer can be until you've escaped the sun by slipping into a cool dark tavern.

 

[12 string]

Mme ' Strang and I think Fresno is hot enough, thank you very much. But a while back we pulled in to Baker and it was 119 degrees. At 2:00 in the freaking AM fer gossakes!!!!!!!!!!

And don't ask me how I burned my feet through thick vibroam sole hiking boots while traversing the Grand Canyon rim to rim a few years back. Hot!?!?!!! Oh yeah.

But I'll still check out the museum in Phoenix.

Chazzie, you gonna be anywhere near Yosemite? Shoot me a PM!

' Strang

 

[chazmo]

Nah, I'm back home now, 'Strang. But, I'm doing some traveling this summer. Not expecting to get out your way though, bud. Maybe someday!

The Grand Canyon was a very comfortable relief, but it's pretty killer as you descend in your hike in. We went in 3 miles on the Bright Angel trail starting before 8am and had to turn back because it was shooting up to 115 or so in deeper. My poor wife struggled a bit on the return, but we made it. The kids probably could've gone further; they're mountain goats.

 

[chazmo]

We played tennis the afternoon it hit 122 in Phoenix. It is just a number, when you ask locals the difference between 105 and 115 they can't really give a good answer, it's just hot. Getting into your car after it has been parked in the sun for several hours can be interesting, you have to have a steering wheel cover and a seat cover is pretty important too since many people wear shorts almost year round. You can never leave your guitar in the car for very long during the summer, need to have a plan so you can park it somewhere safe. You'll never understand how good a cold beer can be until you've escaped the sun by slipping into a cool dark tavern.

Interesting points, avagadro. Wow, tennis in that heat is insane. Well, at least from my eastern brain it is.