Saturday, April 3, 2010

ResidualGAS

I've always kinda admired the guy who married his high school or college sweetheart. He knew what he wanted and hung onto her. Same with the guy who has a fave axe that he has had since waaaaaay back, and he'll never give it up. I could write a book about the Strat I bought in the 60s and should have kept. I do have an Ovation that I bought new 35 years ago, but it doesn't count because it isn't a fave. I never touch it. I'm talking about a long-term keeper that is one you still play and show a lotta luv regularly. I do NOT have one like that, and I wish I did. If ya got ResidualGAS, tell it!

3 comments:

  1. Adding to Collectors - This is just a credit to Jay, for his ideas and his creativity, and his sharing of both.

    We met in person after we traded several guitars over a year or so, with correspondence growing and thoughts exchanged as it grew. The thoughts were pretty constructive, often to do with admiring this or that guitar, types of music, players, and generally positive things to think of from day to day.

    Over time we met other people in other places, and of course Jay's thoughts in GAS were nice ones to share. And more than once, the folks we shared the thoughts with liked them too, and began to grow them themselves - along with their guitars. Geometric expansion of thoughts???

    Anyway, not surprisingly, some of those thoughts had to do with, if you like this or that - in our case, guitars and this or that - why not enjoy them from day to day by having one on hand to look at, play, and keeping it in the back of your mind to distract yourself with when you're bored or thinking about what you don't want to think about - bad news, bad health, whatever. A medical guitar ???

    And even more not surprisingly - when something like that is good in so many ways, why not have another, especially when a special one shows up.

    Over time we've seen more and more people enjoy this thought, and in some cases - but it's optional, of course - quietly build hidden savings and even a worthwhile long-term investment as a result of having nice guitars. All that in addition to enjoyment and appreciation.

    So GAS can be a side effect, and isn't it nice that it's a nice one? And so nice to share.

    As always, more thoughts to think upon and more GAS for us all.

    John G.

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  2. I met a guy like that on a cruise. He was the guitarist on the ship's jazz band. He had a Gibson Les Paul goldtop that he'd had about 28 years - only guitar he'd ever owned. He had played many, many gigs at sea and many smokey bars on land during those years. Oh, and he had done some session work on the cd's of others, too. Well, that ole goldtop was more green than gold by now, and it had it's share of dings & scratches. But it also has amazing tone. I guess I'd never thought of a LP in a jazz band, but it sure sounded great with those horns & piano. They did some broadway showtunes and a little rock stuff at times, but mostly it was jazz and light jazz. I asked if he would ever part with it and he did not hesitate to say no. He did say he was looking at a PRS in a Seattle music store and he just might get it - but he would never let this baby go. Too much luv; too many years. Lotsa drinks; lotsa tears.

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  3. I have a 1980 Gibson Les Paul Artisan that I have had since it was brand new. It was something my mother bought me when I graduated high school. She told me she would buy me any guitar I wanted and at the time the Les Paul was seen in the hands of all of my guitar player gods, so I wanted the Les Paul. I put $100 down to order it in June, and had to wait until October before Gibson produced the actual guitar via the order (talk about Gas-iticipation).

    Once I got it, it became my only guitar for the next few years. For at least the first 5 years or more, I would not even let any body touch that guitar. If another player wanted to hold it, I would deny him the pleasure, it was MY guitar and nobody else was ever going to play it. I've pissed off more than one person telling them they couldn't play it or even touch it... haha.

    I still have it, and I will always own it, I will never sell it. In fact, I will be the only owner and player of this guitar because it is in my will to be placed in my coffin when I die. This one is mine, and no one will ever play it but me.

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