My first box was a Stella, so old when I got it the name was worn off the thing. My mother had played on it to put us to sleep at night, so I know it was older than me. I had a velvet belt from my mother's old housecoat as a strap on it for years. Funny thing was, the guys I played with swore it sounded as good as their far more expensive ones. I always assumed it was the age on the old beast. I finally put it in the hands of my nephew, who is now using it to keep the grad students in his dorm awake at nights. (He plays as poorly as I do!) My second was a Kay, bought from, (yes, it is true,) Sears! Flame blaze with the imitation mother of pearl and the nasty plastic tuning keys. I hauled it all over creation in it's flocked, black cardboard case. I must have worn out a thousand picks before I finally realized I can't play for beans! Still, the cheap "gits" are the best memories I have. Now i stum an old Washburn mellon-backed mandolin and let the more skilled players do the front work.

Mikal