2018 AGS Magazine

Sourcing
EXOTIC
WOODS
By Rick Hearne
No one knows who the first human
was who discovered how to make
music using wooden instruments.
Maybe it was someone who
heard something appealing while
pounding sticks in a drum beat. This probably isn’t
the right format to start telling drummer jokes
but maybe we have to give drummers credit for
inventing musicians - or not. How many drummers
ask what key a song is in? So here we go.
We are looking for the next spectacular guitar
back and side set or drop top that will blind you
with its beauty and stop your heart with tone.
Well, maybe that does depend on who is playing
it for the second part of that equation. I learned
the hard way when I was 18 that talent is not
overrated. I had just upgraded my Montgomery
Ward $25 special no name solid body guitar with
a really cool paint job, a mile high action, and
pickups (like chainsaws) to a brand new Holy Shit
$180 red Fender Mustang when a hot guitarist
friend stopped by to visit. I went upstairs to fetch
some refreshments and he started playing the
Mustang. There it was - tone like velvet, vibrato
you could surf on, and a lightning fast action. Only
when I came back downstairs did I realize he was
playing the chainsaws. Talent is not overrated! I
could have saved $155 by just working harder and
practicing more - or not. The Fender was great
for my image. I’m old. In those days, a loud amp
and a tie dyed t-shirt would make a good start
for being in the high school dance band. The first
“band” I was in knew seven songs, all with less
than 4 chords. We would repeat these over and
over; fast, fast, bump and grind …fast, fast, bump
and grind….etc. Hickies were worn as badges of
honor. In that little town in New Hampshire there
weren’t a lot of rock ‘n roll options for under $31
for an entire 5 piece “band”. We were all guitarists.
We didn’t know any drummers or bassists.
When it comes to talent, back and side sets or
drop tops might be a different matter… or are
they? Mother Nature might have a little magic of
her own. Take a walk in a forest anywhere in the
8 | artisanguitarshow.com