On Day Two of my visit to Memphis, Tennessee I tried to take the tour at the Gibson factory, but I was late and the tours were done for the day. (I lingered too long at the National Civil Rights Museum.)
But the Gibson gift shop was open and I looked around (and played a few guitars) and found the most expensive guitar in the shop. This axe can be yours for $12,000. Not a signature model, either: just chock full of Gibson excellence, I suppose, and certainly some gold-plated shit (and a hard case is included).
Larger version here.
A beauty! I love listening to the guitar, but I've never been that excited about them as instruments, if that makes sense. Maybe it's because I never learned to play, and my parents made me take piano when I was a kid. But, lately, I've been paying more attention to them as instruments and beautiful objects that make beautiful sounds. I have a close friend who plays guitar, and his latest obsession is the Gretsch White Falcon guitar. Every time he and his wife invite me over, I ask, "Is there anything I can bring?" my friend will reply, invariably, "A Gretsch White Falcon." I'm sure he wouldn't sneer at this $12,000 Gibson, though.
Guitars are amazing things. To be honest, that Gibson didn't really do much for me other than make me wonder. I'm more interested in guitars with history. My first acoustic guitar was a 1966 Martin D-18, busted all to hell, given to me by my uncle on my 21st birthday. It was a trial to play and it was falling apart, but it had been played by my uncle for 25 years and along the way had been in the hands of Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. It was a treasure.
Thanks a pretty cool heritage for a guitar.
Yeah, it was an amazing instrument. Turned me away from just noodling on a variety of electrics and towards songwriting. Gave it back to my uncle after a few years 'cause I could tell that he kind of regretted giving it to me. It was a hell of a gesture, though, and indeed changed my life.
Do you still play keyboard at all, Bobfan? When you are exposed to an instrument as a kid it is the kind of thing that never really leaves you, and the keyboard is one of the most magical of human creations. I studied piano when I was studying music ant university and though I have lost most of my chops I still get excited when I see the black and whites. :)
I took piano as a kid for years, but progressed only so far because I hated to practice for very long and because I hated counting (as if it were just enough to "feel" the time in my head). The baby grand still stands in my parents' house in southern California, but I don't have a piano here in Massachusetts. I have a soon-to-be-13 year old godson who's been playing since he was six or seven, and he's terrific. His parents make him practice, which mine never really did. Maybe the $4 a week they paid the piano teacher was just a way to keep me out of trouble or a way for them not to have to watch me themselves all the time. $4 seems like a good deal now for a little break from one's kids. But, boy, do I wish I had kept at it and been more disciplined. Whenever I see the ivories now or hear in person someone playing them, I can't help but feel a little envy and disappointment. Now that I think of it, a friend gave me an electronic keyboard a number of years ago. It must be in my parents' house somewhere. I'll have to look for it when I visit in the summer so I can bring it back with me to the east coast.