GUITARS OWNED AS OF JULY, 2010:

1) 2003 Mario Proulx "OM-D." Englemann Spruce top (amberburst); Black Walnut back, sides and neck. Neck was reshaped by Brian Kimsey, the original owner.

2) Late 2002/early 2003 Huss and Dalton CM. Essentially an OM with dreadnought depth and soft cutaway. East Indian Rosewood back and sides, Engelmann Spruce top, Maple binding. Just bought in June, 2010.

3) 2007 Rainsong OM1000. (All carbon fiber.) Purchased new at Elderly, Aug. '07, on Montana trip. My usual "road" guitar for trio gigs and other playing "out."

4) 1996 Collings 000-2H, Sitka/Indian. eBay purchase May, 2002.

5) Alvarez-Yairi Jumbo Baritone Acoustic. Bought new, winter '07.

6) Trinity College Tg-202 12-fret Cutaway 000: Purchased new from Vintage Fret Shop, Ashland, NH, in July, '08. 12-fret (but NOT slothead) 000, with cutaway.Sitka/Rosewood. The top is solid. I believe the back and sides are as well. Kept permanently in DADGAD.

7) "The Loar" LH200 small-body sunburst.

8) "No-name" jumbo 7-string. Sitka and Indian; I think the back and sides are laminates.

9) 1970s Guild D25M. Kept in Bozeman, Mt., to avoid having to fly with a guitar.

10) Guild M20 Reissue (early '00s)

11) Silver Creek T-170 (Spruce/Rosewood OM) Purchased from Musicians Friend, Jan., '10. "Stupid Deal of the Day" - but stupid for whom?

My wife owns a (believed) 1965 Martin 0-18, restored by bigchuck after long-term storage in a hot closet.

My wife also owns five or six fiddles (five here and one in Bozeman, I think), a Knilling "Jazz Bass" (thin-bodied upright bass, works as an acoustic in the living room or amplified for gigs), two autoharps, and a hammered dulcimer. We jointly own a Freshwater octave mandolin that needs some work, now in possession of bigchuck.

How do we do it without being wealthy? We both have always had honest jobs, but have been playing gigs on the side for the last 20 years or so. We have an agreement that each is at liberty to squander his/her gig earnings as he/she pleases. And instruments are the principal vice of both of us.

Peter