Great story ddw!

Mick, if I wasn't already working during that weekend, I be there in a flash - gig or no gig. (it's the album launch in Toronto)

About twenty two years ago I was in New York cruising for old instruments, and happened by "We Buy Guitars". I wandered in and since it was New York, prepared to be treated like absolute shit by the snotty sales guys (most of them were/are hostile cause they never got to be rock stars). I saw a gorgeous National Triolean on the wall with a "hold" sign on it, took it down and played it. Love at first sight! It was only 350 bucks and I asked the guy how long it was on hold. He checked the records and said "Hey man, that's being held for Gene Simmons of KISS!" Well I WANTED that guitar, so I decided to do a little "acting". "Oh man, he wants another one?" I said, implying that I just might know him. "How many's he got now, ten of them? Guess if you got the bucks you can just buy anything you see". I hit paydirt! The salesguy said "yeah, and he probably just leaves them in the cases and never plays them." I made my move. "What would happen if that "hold" sign just happened to fall off the guitar and sort of disappeared?" I said. "and how about if I give you a hundred and fifty bucks not to notice it?" This was long enough ago when that would have equalled his salary for a week. Five (agonizingly long) minutes later, I walked out of the store minus 500 dollars and with Gene Simmons National!! God forgive me! But I loved that guitar and played it for 10 years.

Have you ever noticed that Mudcat is like a therapist and sometimes you tell it too much. Even Heather hasn't heard that one!

Rick (obviously with selective morality)