Guitar is Life

Lately, I’ve been looking back on my nearly 60 years as a guitar player and although I have never considered myself a real player (I have many friends who prove me right on a regular basis), it has been the vehicle that has taken me places I never would have gone otherwise. I was one of those crazy people who thought all I had to do was learn some songs, write some songs and then I could go play them for money. What a concept! It actually worked for many years. From 1968 to 1997, I was on the road, traveling the world. I was lucky. Many of the really great young players I knew in the early days never had that opportunity. My luck was all based on a series of events that I had no control over, other than to say "yes" when asked. There are days when I look back and just shake my head in wonder. 

I don’t want to make this post about my experiences, though. I want to focus on what I think the guitar means to the people we see every day. Many of our customers are new to the guitar. Most often we hear, "I’ve always wanted to learn to play and I’ve decided now’s the time." And so begins their journey through the puzzle that is the guitar. It is confounding at first, but the rewards are satisfying. You can be playing songs in no time with just a few simple chords, or you can strive to take the deep dive into the complicated world of theory, scales and chord spelling. Every time you climb a wall that you haven’t been able to get over is exhilarating. Then, there is always another hill to climb, even after 60 years. You will always hear the great players say they still haven’t figured it all out. That’s what makes the guitar so fascinating and such a lifelong pursuit. 

Everyday, I see students, hobbyists, local musicians and pros come through the doors at Maple Street. They visit with each other and pull out pictures of their guitars like pulling out pictures of their family. They are kindred spirits. We talk aesthetics, tone woods, sound and our love of all things guitar. I’ve also noticed that as students progress, so does their understanding of tone and what they prefer. I love observing that evolution. I especially like speaking with the guys who have been playing since childhood and had bands in their teens. Unlike some of us, they made the practical choice early on to pursue, shall we say, more reasonable careers. However, the love of playing never left them and they have come back to it later in life with great zeal. That’s the thing about it, once you learn to play, even a little bit, it stays with you. I suppose it’s like any art form that one pursues. Some folks paint, do ceramics, get into photography or any number of artistic endeavors. The great thing about the guitar though, it only takes one thing; a guitar. And for many people, it lasts a lifetime.

I am always struck by the number of people who still have their very first guitar. In some cases they have taken on mythic proportions. I often think of my first electric; a brand spanking new 1964 Fender Mustang, which I traded for a Gibson J50, which I traded for a '68 Martin D28, which I traded for a '70 D18 which I still have. But, I can relate to all of those folks who have managed to hang on to that first one. I miss that Mustang. Of course, not everyone had the good fortune to start with a good one.  It all begins with finding the right guitar. As our guru, George Petsch, likes to say, "Don’t buy a guitar that gives you a reason to quit." Beginners of any age are sometimes hesitant to spend money on an instrument until they find their level of interest, which is prudent. However, it’s always good to find a well-made functional guitar that works. Do you want to be Jimi Hendrix? Electric. James Taylor? Acoustic. These days, technology has led to vast improvements in affordable guitars. These are definitely good days in guitar world. Hopefully, you will have a guitar that will last a lifetime, even if you get the bug and, like most of us, end up with several. The first one is always special.

All of this is to say that a guitar, once discovered, can be a thread that runs through your entire life. You become part of the family of players no matter the type of music you play or the level of your current ability. You can discover open mic nights and jams that lead to  friendships that last a lifetime. It certainly has brought me many friends and adventures. After 60 years I can definitely say, "Guitar is life."
John Cable, 2021