A Guitar Story
Jul 24th, 2006 at 8:04 pm by Susie
Now, there’s an idea for the Learning Channel…
I was 15 years old, and I wanted a good guitar the way my brothers wanted their driver’s license. I had to have it.
I worked after school and on the weekends as a busgirl at the International House cafeteria on Penn’s campus at $1.35 an hour, and finally, I had the money: $150. (I made maybe $35 a week.)
These were sweet little guitars with wondrous tone; Yamaha was trying to compete in the American market with Martin for the entry-level players. They did a nice job. I still remember the day I picked mine up at 8th St. Music. (Heaven.)
Finally, I was learning to play. I’d had a little starter guitar but the strings were very, very far from the neck, and playing was an ordeal. (Not to mention, my fingers were bleeding all the time.)
I dragged my new guitar everywhere. I took it to parties, I played it at Hello George, a Houston Hall coffeehouse on Penn’s campus. I slung it across my back and hitchhiked downtown to play before a huge crowd at Love Park (George McGovern was making a campaign stop a few days before the presidential election). I played it on the beach in Wellfleet, I played it at Washington Square Park in NYC. It had a beautiful tone; people who heard it invariably mistook it for a Martin.
Well, life got a little more complicated. I got married, had a baby and got a cherry Guild. Times were hard and I reluctantly sold my Yamaha to one of my brothers, who had it for years. (I think he sold it to someone in-between, and got it back later.)
In between, I had a Strat, another kid, a Taylor, another Guild, and an Alvarez. I never forgot the Yamaha, though, and finally bought it back. (Let me give a brief lecture: Even if you’re not playing the damn thing, invest the $35 or so to get the neck adjusted once a year, okay? Think of it as an oil change for acoustic guitars. It pains me to see a warped neck.)
You guessed it. The neck was pretty badly warped, and I let a half-assed local luthier reset it with graphite rods for somewhere in the area of $600. (I had a good job at the time and hey, it was my first love.) Well, the guy had it a long time but he didn’t do such a great job. (I spit if anyone mentions his name.)
The neck now buzzes on the high frets. Plus, he replaced the bridge without asking and got glue all over the front and he caused some major cloudy stains on the lacquer - but since the aged lacquer is what gives it the beautiful tone, I can’t refinish it.
It still rings when I play it, though, and this time, I’m not letting it go.
Ms. Susie your are so great. I’m a great big ole fan of yours and I just must say: the more I find out about you and your life I say that’s how a human should live - warts and rough times- nothing steals your joy for long. I sent my money to Run Al Run, and I thank you for that. I don’t understand why the so-called MSM shunts a great prize like you to the side but we (your fans) know what a gem you are….thanks again. Fire.
Susie,
As an avid guitar fan, I am going to point you to “DelCastillo”, and a video of them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUdXF2d84wU&search=Del%20Castillo%20Austin%20Band
smaczny and intoxicating guitar work… they NEVER change guitars mid-set… thwey play the same acoustics through their who show… These guys are amazing… http://www.delcastillomusic.com
OK… i’m going to point you to the the bvery best guitar techs in the country…. You need to mail your guitar to Lansing, MI, but, you’ll get back the best-tuned-up and repaired guitar ever… seriously… One of the “Buddy Holly Story” B/T National Tours uses Elderly Instruments as their repair house, exclusively after my recco… I’ve pointed dozens of pro-guitar techs to Elderly Instruments, and they have always thanked me…
http://www.elderly.com/
These folks are the best… They care about your guitar and its tone as much as you do… They’ll treat you very right, and I’ll vouch for their service.. Heck. If you don’t like what they did for you, I’ll reimburse your costs…
Seriously, Suze… They are worth the shipping… I’ll even pay for that for you… Whether you like their work or not. I wouldn’t gush, if I didn’t know the level of their skill, service, and professional return business… I’m a Union Stagehand… I’d recco Elderly to ANY act that needed guitar techwork.
They will really treat you right.
Tony B.
Locally, I suspect it’s worth trying these guys. They seem to keep good stock, they certainly restore things very well, and someone who’s willing and capable of working on a $100,000 violin is unlikely to do anything too horrible to your guitar. Next time I need a neck reset on an acoustic, I’ll give ‘em a try.
(For electrics, I’ve had good work done by Bluebond at 4th and South. They did a rather excellent refret on my #1 a few years back. Most minor setups on your typical electric can be done on your own with a little bit of training, though.)
Oh yeah, I know Fred at Vintage - he made a new neck for the dead X’s five-string banjo. Beautiful work, major price tag.
Tony, I don’t really need any additional work right now (I rarely play high on the neck) and don’t have the money, anyway. I normally adjust my own guitars (within reason). But of course I’ve heard about Elderly - they’re famous for good work. I’ll keep them in mind, because one of these days, I’d like a new neck on the Alvarez. Which is crazy, of course, but you know how it is when you love a guitar.
Still have my 74 Alvarez. It has such a wonderful tone. I’ve had numerous offers for it, but I ain’t that broke. Yet.