Okay, Catspaw. One more long-winded tale from the old fogey. When I meet my wife I was playing an old Washburn (not one of the new imports, a genuine old one) strung with nylon strings. It was a beaut! I packed it with me for our year in England and Scotland. When we got back, I was booked for a year of school programs by National School Assemblies out of Los Angeles. They let me know that they thought the old darlin' (the guitar, not my wife!) looked a bit road weary, and that I would appear more successful with a new guitar. I couldn't afford to just up and buy one, so I traded the Washburn in on a Martin 000-28. Broke my heart!

Years later, at a festival, Hedy West was waxing ecstatic over a new old guitar she had just gotten. Said she strung it up with silk & steel strings and it was absolutely glorious. Hauled it out of the case, and (you knew it was coming, didn't you?) there was my lovely old Washburn. I probably wept openly; at least I felt like it.

I've asked Hedy to remember me in her will, but... She's so darned much younger than I am... doesn't smoke... Say, how's Cletus doing these days??

Sandy