This thread got me so engrossed that I went and burnt the toast. (Start of another blues Seed?)

I particulally liked DW Ditty's idea about the intruments finding their own home.

It was a great consolation to find that I was not alone in this 'Part-Exchange' world. I find it difficult to part with most things but I find it totally impossible to part with any instruments. You never know when you might need it again and even if you never do play it again, I feel you own him/her a comfortable retirement.

I still have my old Yamaha FG 140 which I have had for nearly 30 years now. It didn't go to Woodstock but it did go to The Isle of Wight. It now has 5 strings tuned to G and I use it for slide work. I have fairly recently replaced it with a Yamaha APX SPL electro-acoustic which does the job and I don't have to worry too much about it getting lost or damaged.

My 'pride and joy' is my flat-backed bouzouki. It's a Pickard No 17-Bz, 84- 07-90 made by Pickard Acoustics, Binbrook, Linconshire. I don't know much about the maker as it eventually found it's way to me after being played and knocked about quite a bit. I love it and I would be grateful if there is anyone out there who could tell me more about the maker. I did hear that he unfortunatly fell ill and couldn't make any more but I'm not sure if that's true.

A word of thanks here to all makers of instruments, where would we be without them?

I graduated to the bouzouki from the mandolin, when I finally realised my fingers were too big for mandolin.... Hope you don't find that a problem, Seed? It is a round- back mandolin and of course I've still got still even though it's un-playable. But it's a good choice because you can play melodies and chords that 'ring', and with only 4 strings to worry about.

Big river harps in about 6 keys, a cheap tenor banjo (used mainly for volume at sessions) and a 5 string banjo. Lots of smaller things, the triangle being the latest.

'My old trouble and strife' plays bodhran and desparately and skillfully, tries to play fiddle, but her body won't let her.

I have a problem deciding what to buy when entering music shops, I have decided that the only answer is to move in to one. Hey! Seed your place sounds like it might be well stocked enough soon for a store, can I move in?