I've already described my best cheap guitar in another thread but I sure wish I had it back today. At the time I was—still am, really—taken with the sound of Brownie McGhee's amplified D-28 as heard on the little Folkways 10 in. album “Brownie McGhee Blues.” That old beat-up National sounded just like the Brownie's when played through a decent speaker.

I also had a beautiful flemenco guitar that I bought for $40 on the Avenue of the Americas in Mexico City. I never really became a flemenco guitarist and eventually sold the guitar but it was really excellent. Cypress back and sides so thin you could see light through the wood. Finely made blackwood purfling and trim with a perfect spruce top. Wonderfully loud and resonant guitar. The rosette was of the sliced mosaic type often seen in Mexican guitars but very carefully made with many colors of woods. I bought the guitar in the shop of the maker but I think I've lost the name over the years.

      - Mark