It’s Not Hoarding If It’s Guitars
Guitars are like tattoos. Once you get one, you’re going to want more. So, gather round for a funny story. At least, I think it’s a funny story. Mostly.
If I Could Turn Back Time
(Couldn’t help it. I still love that song.)
I grew up playing classical piano and viola. Like many kids, however, I had always dreamed of being a rock star, fronting a band, and playing guitar.
My parents disapproved of those dreams, but they never went away. It was ok, though. I had many opportunities to play viola and truly loved my orchestra career.
Back to the Future
Fast forward to mid-2021. I’m singing in our acoustic duo, and that itch to learn to play guitar was back. I wanted to write songs. But, I wanted to write them on guitar instead of on piano.
Songwriting was something I did here and there throughout my life, mostly at the piano. Those songs had a certain feel to them. They were involved, moody, and sounded like a mix of Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, and Fiona Apple.
I wanted something new. A new sound. It was time to reinvent myself and how I saw myself as a musician. Why not reinvent my songwriting?
It’s Not Hoarding If It’s Guitars
At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
I bought a guitar. And then another. Then I gifted guitars to my kids, then I was gifted a guitar, and then I bought myself two more guitars, and so on. It’s probably definitely going to continue.
To date, there is an assortment of electric, acoustic, 6-string, 7-string, 12-string, and bass guitars in my home. Only four of them are mine, two 6-strings and two 12-strings.
“Honey”
Guitar #1
One day, I popped into my local music shop, TJ’s Music. I told the sales person what I was looking for, and walked out with a Taylor 212ce. It wasn’t long before I had calluses from the strings on the fingers of my left hand. I had them as a violist, and there was a “coming home” feeling to having calluses again.
Fun Fact: I name all of my instruments. I named this guitar, “Dagny”. The name Dagny has its roots in Old Norse mythology and means “Day”, specifically “Dawn”, and the new hope that comes from a new day.
Guitar #2
One of my favorite musicians of all-time is Melissa Etheridge, and that amazing, rocking woman loves playing a 12-string.
My local ,music store doesn’t usually carry 12-strings. But, as luck would have it, someone had traded in an Alvarez 12-string the night before. This guitar’s name is Aisling (pronounced “Ash-lynn”). It’s an Irish name meaning “Dreams”.
I fell in love with the sound of all those strings. So, naturally, I wanted another one.
Guitar #3
My third guitar is the deep, mahogany 12-string 562ce that I bring to shows. It’s a Taylor 12-fret with a beautiful, rich, and ethereal sound. I named it “Honey” with Melissa Etheridge in mind. The name Melissa means “Bee”.
This was a special order, and I had to wait several months before bringing it home. I’m an Aries, and we Aries folk hate waiting. It was, however, worth the wait.
Guitar #4
While my Guitar #3 was a planned purchase and the best use I’ve ever made out of a tax return, Guitar #4 was not. This was a spontaneous, rage-purchase.
Retail Therapy, Music Style
It was a Thursday afternoon, and I dropped my kids off for their music lessons. I lingered in the shop area (TJ’s Music in Fall River, MA), eyeballing guitars.
See, I was angry. Internally raging, to be exact. I had just found out my daughter was being bullied at school.
Not only are us Aries people known for not having patience, we also known for having an explosive temper. However, this was not the time or place to let my temper fly. Retail therapy was my alternative.
I swear, I tried to restrain myself. I walked in thinking, “I’m not going to buy anything today. I’m just going to try out a few guitars to pass the time and keep my mind off of this.”
Spoiler Alert: That plan failed.
Honey, I Did a Thing…
The salesman, Tye, who knew me well by this point, said, “Oh, you look like you’re on a mission.”
“I’m just looking. I might want to get a nicer 6-string and keep the one I have as a back up. But, I’m just looking today.” After giving the guitars on the floor a cursory look, I started eyeballing the pricier ones in the glass cases on the wall.
Next thing I knew, we were wrapping up the sale of my new Taylor 614ce when my phone rang. My husband, Eddie (who kindly handles our merch table, hands out contact cards, carries our gear, takes video- gotta love that support!), called wondering where I was.
All I could say was, “Honey, I did a thing.”
“How much?”
“Enough.”
And that’s the story of how I got my 4th guitar, “Baby”.
Baby
Epilogue
Hopefully, you have found my neurotic shopping habits amusing. I don’t regret a single purchase. There’s really nothing like playing a quality string instrument. I still feel this way about my viola, Fritz, made by the Finnish bass maker Vilho Arvi.
But, you know what I just realized? Unlike my son, who is a talented guitarist in his own right, I don’t have an electric guitar yet. Hmm…
To be continued.
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