It was a dark day from the get go. The bus ride from the cheap hotel to the middle of the great metropolis was made notable only by the passengers. Six well behave autistic boys from the local school. Their teachers where more trouble than the troubled youths.

I stepped off the bus into a rain that came out of the gray of the western sky. Only no Penny, no Songbird and no Sky King. Just midwest drizzle blowing forty and coming in sideways.

The walk of eleven blocks gave me pause to think. To make my plans. To question my intent.

I bought an umbrella.

As I trudged the way across town and campus I glared back at the people staring at me. "Who is the hick here anyway?" I muttered to my self. I pressed on.

Soaked to my soles, wet to my knees, I looked at the entry to the store. A Himalayan strand of conrete steps arose before me. As I climbed the steps my energy flagged as each tread hit my Dexters. With my remaining strength I climbed the last step to the landing and noted with a certain irony that a wheelchair ramp was built to my right.

I entered the store.

A great store. I got there about 11:30 and with the exception of a half hour walk to clear my ears and grab some coffee I played guitars all day. Till about 8:30.

I played everything with in my price range and an awful lot that was way beyond it. A $10,000.00 Monteleone Cittern ferinstance. I have to say I was saddly disappointed with the Taylors almost universally. The exception being some Koa wood cutaways. I played every Larrivee in the place and liked them all but they had no electronics and that was an issue with this purchase.

I kept coming back to a pair of jumbo 16s. I was deep in comparitive thought when Mick Lane walked in and he and I wasted some time with hellos and how are yas and such. He was there to pick up a Bazooka but he can tell his side of that. He and I compared merits of the guitars, discussed the different electronics. We also trade war stories about gigs. He even mentioned the Gettaway very briefly for the next hour and a half. We played the guitars in a practice room. Swapped some songs. ( Mick has a great voice for those who haven't heard it).

Good advice: Have someone else play the guitar you are considering for you so you can listen. Mick kindly did so for me. Also don't just play it. Sing with it as well. You gotta her every aspect of the sound.

My brother Gary came in and he played them both and point out a set up problem with one of them that mu very numb finger didn't notice. He then played the rest of the finalists and few he just liked himself. I settled on the Jumbo 16 and off we went for beers and mediterranian food.

I think I got a great guitar and I have Mick and Gary to thank for it.

Don

The next guitar will be strictly accoustic. Maybe a Santa Cruz, Hmmmmmm.