01-10-2016, 03:46 AM
(01-09-2016, 08:09 PM)jfkbengals Wrote: *The Broadcaster story. My acoustic guitar at that time was an Alvarez that I paid $99 for. Nice big sound to it. The elderly couple next door had a very musically oriented family (One of their sons wrote and performed a Billboard Top 10 single in the mid 80s and wrote for many household names). The youngest son who still lived in town would come watch their house when they were off traveling the county visiting the rest of their 8 kids and their families. We would jam together when he would stay there. He'd always bring his Tele, and sometimes I'd just loan him my practice amp so he wouldn't have to lug his amp.
One day he asks me if he could borrow the Alvarez, as he hadn't had an acoustic in years and was kind of jonesing to play one and really liked the sound from mine. While I was thinking about it, he said he'd leave me the Fender as collateral. I said no problem and he left with the acoustic, leaving the Fender behind. It didn't see him again for at least 4 months, and it was closer to 6 before he brought the acoustic back. I had grown fond of the Fender, but I was ready to have an acoustic again.
It was when I walked over and said "here's your Tele" that he let me in on a little secret. It was no Tele, it was a '51 Broadcaster that his dad had bought brand new and it had passed around the family over the years. I was hesitant to believe him at first, but he pulled out the appraisal he had gotten in Nashville the last time he was there visiting his brother (the one with the Top 10 hit). I was FLOORED. This man had no problem trading me a guitar that today is valued in excess of $50k for a guitar that only cost me $99.
Ha. WOW. So did you like it? I'd love to hear a truly unbiased opinion, which you would be especially since you didn't know what it was. I often wonder if people would really swear an old strat or Tele sounds better if they did a blind test of sorts.
I kind have a similar story. A guy I used to work with was pretty high up in Gibson for a long time. Anyhoo, he comes in one day and tells me to check out what's in case. Surprise, it's an older Gibson. So I ask him while I'm nooding around with it what it is and he tells me it's a 54 Goldtop that was a refin. I couldn't put it back in the case fast enough. Even though it wasn't totally original it was probably still a 30-40k guitar. (This was the height of the vintage market back around 06) Then he tells I can take it home if I want. I politely declined. I just kept imagining what would happen if it I got in a wreck with that in back seat.
"Hello, Progressive. I'd like to report an accident and file a claim. My 12k Accord was just rear-ended so I'm going to need that covered. Oh, and by the way, I had a 40k guitar in the back seat that was damaged. Can I get that all in one check?" l
