My first guitar was a 1951 Martin 0-18. I bought it 16 years ago and chose it because I was a salesman and it seemed very portable for business trips. It might have belonged to Woody Guthrie (and others) before me because it had seen a lot of hard travelin' before it came to me... a couple of wars, multiple bar brawls, mucho zooey frat parties, uncounted groovy happenings, etc.

A year and a half ago, when I decided to get serious about backing Irish dance tunes (I am still getting serious about backing Irish dance tunes), I looked for a replacement that could be strummed with gusto and could take medium strings but was still sensitive enough to finger pick. After some research, I decided on a Martin M-36. They day I bought it, a couple of guitar playing buddies came along and they both played while I listened and listened while I played and sang. I bought the 2nd best sounding one because it cost considerably less than #1 and was still fine. It was in particularly nice condition.

The first time I took it to a seisuin, an individual asked to borrow it for a song. Not wanting to seem like a mean, stuck-up jerk, I let her borrow it and she proceeded to smack the Sitka straight into the Shure (cream the top against a microphone)... and that was just for starters.

The following day, I commenced my search for guitar #3. I settled on a new Sigma DM-4M: solid plywood, 3-piece neck, came with a simple bridge pickup and all for $300! All the fiddlers, banjo players, etc. hate my brown bomber. All the guitar players love it. "Hey, where'd you get this? Do they have any more?" Drunks spill Guiness on it and I smile like Alfred E. Newman, "No problem, man! Could happen to anyone." Thrasers explode 2 or 3 strings during a single song and I just say, "Isn't that a great guitar?" and under my breath to myself... "Milner, you were a genius to buy this!" I have grown very fond of my DM-4M.

I take the M-36 to concerts but, anytime I'm expecting tight spots, drunks and guest artistes of questionable intelligence, the Sigma gets a night out.

I have one other guitar but to tell you about it would be too much like going to confession.

All the best, Dan