madcorgi

Very cool guitars too, but those command a hefty price.

This SG, which is flawless wine red with Schaller tuners added some time along the way, only cost me his asking price of $700, and the owner seemed surprised I didn't try to bargain with him.

He was such a cool and entertaining old hippie with so many great stories (he was also a car guy, into FIATS of all things) that we talked for an hour before I even saw the guitar. His former band, a fusion rock outfit called the ****ed Tones ("because we're all ****ed, man!"), got a letter from Capitol records in 1989 requesting a studio demo. I think he sensed that I didn't believe him, so he dug around in his garage, found it, and showed it to me. Sure enough, from the A&R Department at Capitol, "Dear ****ed Tones . . ." The band broke up right after it got the letter.

When I left, he offered me a place in the band. Now, mind you, I'm a crummy guitarist, and all I did was check intonation and the electronics. So the bar to entry was pretty low. Plus, the letter of interest from Capitol was from 1989, so there wasn't exactly a signing bonus on the table. Flattered, I declined. He has since emailed me and asked how I like the guitar. No further offer to join the ****ed Tones, alas.

I tend to like car people, guitar people, and gun people.

Terry