The One That Got Away (instruments)

Subject: The One That Got Away
From: GUEST,If Only
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 07:20 PM

Of all the guitars (or other instruments) you've ever owned and sold/parted with, which one in particular do you regret the most and what were the circumstances that caused you to part with it?

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: Justa Picker
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 07:26 PM

A 1946 herringbone D-28. The time had come to leave home, and this was the only asset I had. With the proceeds I was able to find an apartment, and live for 3 months until finding gainful employment. At the time I had no choice and while it was an extremely agonizing decision (because I knew what I had in this guitar), it was the only and right option at the time.

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: bill\sables
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 07:55 PM

One of my regrets was about a year ago when I was in Charlottesville with My wife and Allan C. I saw a Dobro in a pawn shop for $80 but my wife would not let me buy it because I had just forked out for a £2,000 Docherty guitar and a £900 mandolin. Anyway We had to move onward but in the meantime Allan had phoned Max and told him about it. and bought it for him. So the next weekend we were at AnnaP's and Allan brought the Dobro for Max all cleaned and polished I was jealous as hell. Max did say if I wanted it he would let me have it but I couldn't do that to Max. I did play it in June though on a mudcat radio show. I think I accompanied MaryMac while she sang Goodnight Irene
Bill

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: Metchosin
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 09:04 PM

Biggest regret? My 67? Epiphone Texan when my husband and I were first married and struggling to put food on the table. I decided that as he was the far better picker and as he already had a Sada which was the superior instrument, two guitars were superflous. If I recall, it did pay for our rent for a month.

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 10:23 PM

The only one I can possibly think of is a Sam Ray Compton Jr. violin I saw and played in the white at Winfield quite a few years ago. I can't even really say it got away, because it was a commisioned instrument for a friend of mine. Sam Ray was just nice enough to let me play it, even before Jennis had...........

I have my mellow Lady, with Thomastik Dominants, and my brassy bitch (Maggie) with Red Label steels. I have my McSpadden LD which plays like melted butter.....nah, I don't guess there is one that got away.

There is, however, the lovely dun fiddle with a fleur-di-lis inlay on the fingerboard that Dana has. We (4 of us) have fooled with set up, bridge, strings, soundpost, speakers, you name it, and it still sounds like a cigar box with rubber bands. It really is too lovely to sound like crap, but it does. (But I wish I owned it just because it is so pretty.)

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 10:56 PM

I relate Mets.

Had to sell my 61 Epiphone Texan to pay the rent. Bugger! Still see it occasionally.....it cries out "take me back, it's only been thirty years"! Problem is that it's current owner has let the guitar go to ruin.

Rick

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: Metchosin
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 11:14 PM

Rick, although the body was a little large for me and the adjustable bridge robbed it of a little life, I liked the skinny neck. I carried that guitar to Newfoundland and back to the westcoast in the early seventies and when I really think about it, the sense of loss is not really for the guitar but for my youth.

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: Metchosin
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 11:17 PM

gee, maybe there is a song in there considering the title of the thread....hmmmm...

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 11:20 PM

Mets, there probably is a really good song in this, but I can't write worth poop, you see what you can do.

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: rangeroger
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 11:41 PM

A couple of Gibsons. One that I've talked about in other threads was my baby. A 1953 LG-3 that I killed in a Jeep accident. Still have the nneck to remind me of stupid actions.

The other was a LesPaul Custom that I had picked up for $500. Shortly after I had moved to Idaho I was very short of funds and sold it to Red Bowers of Vintage Guitars in Post Falls for $450. I sure do miss that guitar, considering I had been offered $1000 cash for it only a couple of years prior.

That was when I made the decision that should financial problems beset me again, I would sell guns not musical instruments.

rr

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: Metchosin
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 11:42 PM

good idea *BG*

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 11:51 PM

If it were up to ME I would sell all the guns........but unfortunately the guns are not up to me......"I" supposedly "own" this stainless .41 mag revolver, but "I" am not allowed to sell it...........ah well, that's marriage for you. I did manage to get rid of "my" .270 It was not easy but I did it. Just gave it away. Said it was "mine" and I could do what I wanted with it, and it was gone, gone. Tuff it out honey.

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: Melani
Date: 10 Feb 01 - 01:52 AM

A lute-backed guitar I could have had for $80. It wasn't the world's most wonderful instrument, but it was okay, and I could be using it at faires now. I have never seen another I could afford.

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: bob jr
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 12:49 AM

i had one of those les paul special whatevers that was a big blonde hollow body it was trouble keeping her in tune but it was a lovely guitar and i have never seen another one since ,i am so sorry i let her go like most others here i was broke but i should have found another way

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: Owlkat
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 02:06 AM

Hi, I had a Gallagher 12 fret 00 size rosewood steel string that I bought from Steve Senerchia in Rhode Island some serious years ago. It was a beaut. I was stunned. Hope it's making somebody happy now, and they realize what they've got. Sigh. Cheers, Owl.

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 02:14 AM

Can't they do a program where people turn in guns and get geetars in exchange?

Like, us?

~S~

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: Bert
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 02:17 AM

Well long before I sold that Fender Flat Top, I had made myself a promise that I wouldn't waste my time regretting any silly mistakes that I made.

So I just get pleasure from knowing that the guy I sold it to is still enjoying it.

It was a nice guitar though.

Bert.

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: zander (inactive)
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 02:17 AM

Metchosin, the late Alex Campbell used to sing a song called 'My Old Gibson Guitar ', Cheers, Dave

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: mkebenn
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 08:17 AM

A late 50's Gretch duo jet single cutaway semi hollow body. My bro had it in his trunk when he got a flat, and left it sitting by the side of the road. Came back 5 mins later, realizing his error, but gone. I've got a mid 70's Ibanez Les paul knock off that's similar, but still... Mike

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: wdyat12
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 03:34 AM

My 1967 pre-Japanese Epiphone Texan I let sit in the case for ten years while I chased windmills. Fortunately, I came to my senses and reclaimed my old love. We are now reunited as never before, a true "Love Match." The only true friend who ever waited that long for me. wdyat12

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: GUEST,Midchuck upstairs (dressed - it's cold!)
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 09:13 AM

Can't they do a program where people turn in guns and get geetars in exchange?

I, personally, have more guitars now than I have guns. (I'll admit, I do get a lot more use out of the guitars from one day to the next.)

And guitars take up more space.

And guns are probably going to get scarcer (at least among peaceful citizens, who are the only ones who should have them), as the craven politicians suck up to the hoplophobes. Whereas we are now living in a "Golden Age" of lutherie, and there are going to be more, not fewer, good guitars available in the future, as the new ones age.

The one I regret most getting rid of? A tie between the early-80s Martin Shenadoah D-2832 and the 30-40 Krag military rifle I got from my Grandfather.

Peter.

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: Big Mick
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 04:41 PM

1967 Epiphone FT79. Don't know why............bought it while I was working in a paint store.........just would like to have it back.....cherry sunburst......

Subject: RE: The One That Got Away
From: Wesley S
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 05:28 PM

I sold a really nice Alvarez Festival D sized guitar a few months ago. It had a brass bridge and nut - it sounded great. But I want to get something smaller for camping and knocking around. It was worth $250.00 so I asked $300.00 at a garage sale never thinking I would get it. But some lawyer came up and offered to buy it. My wife was within earshot so I was forced to sell.