OK, lemme see....how many days ago was it that I proudly rambled on about finally paying off the whole (substantial) balance on my VISA card? Not many.

It may seem sometimes that I've got a whole basement full of guitars but I don't....lotsa instruments but only four guitars. The problem for the last year has been that my main working guitar (a big antique dreadnought) has been giving me a sore hand. It was made in the style of a forties Martin complete with wide thick neck, and my three month stint of Mondays at Hugh's Room, resulted in a very painful pinky.

I looked at Taylors (nice, but I like OLD axes),

Old (slim neck) Martins (only Justa Picker earns enough to buy those!)

Old Guilds (Hate their solid burgundy finishes)

Old Gibsons (nice but often lacking in volume and 'punch'..and I DO want to be able to use my axe for bluegrass at times)

Then, oops! I was at the 12th Fret (here in Toronto) bullshitting with some other veteran pickers when I casually picked up an instrument that I'd normally never even TRY. A blonde Gibson J-50 (the dreadnought shape, not the more familiar 'slope shoulder' one) from 1975. Not quite 'antique' age, not the greatest design (it was their answer to the Martin D-18) and usually considered (by guitar nurds) to be from a VERY weak period in Gibson's history.

Holy cow! I stopped in mid-bullshit...this guitar had a VOICE! Strong, powerful, THIN NECK, presence. 850 bucks (Yankee) I quickly looked for the "flaw" that this vintage had become infamous for....unstable top, usually starting to compress.....and....nope, perfect top, straight neck....

...bought it!

Now I gotta sell the other one or Heather'll evict me. Brought it home today, and played it for five straight hours......mmmmmmm, heaven!

Next step....clean up that VISA again!

Rick