Dream Guitars

I have never owned a high end acoustic guitar. I did buy a Martin guitar a few years ago and ended up not really liking it.
The guitar was small body, and didn't resonate very well. The most solid acoustics in terms of not being very fickle from guitar to guitar are Guild and Gibson brands. I did own cheaper models of each over the years and both got wrecked.
Last week I went into a second hand guitar shop with intent to locate a second hand guitar, hopefully one of the aforementioned brands.

The shop keeper did have a beautiful Gibson of the same make and model John Lennon used in the late sixties. It was a great guitar, it was a reissue of that model. But the cost was a bit steep at 2000.00 Hanging up on the wall though was a Hofner model acoustic. (Hofner is famous for the "beatle bass," and I do own one. A 1963 reissue, which incidentally has gone up in value because of it's association with Paul McCartney. I picked it up in the spring of 2008. I got it for 1400. I've seen them priced at ebay for over 2000. Hofner though is not generally known for acoustics, although the German company has been making all kinds of guitars for ages.)

This guitar was a Jumbo acoustic HA-JCO3, and I tried it out, and I was very surprised at the sound quility and ease of play.
I bought my son a cheapo acoustic a few years back, and he broke the pickup, and commandered my Gretch, I'd traded in the martin for a mid priced Greatch which was simply adequate. He's already broken the pickup on that, and so, I wanted one for me that I could lock in the case. I don't think he knows how he is doing that, he's a great guitarist but has no respect for his intruments...Well I picked this guitar up for 550.00 with a case, and a lock on it - it sounds better than the Gibson. In fact - it sounds better than any acoustic I have ever played in any shop. I think I have a new girl friend. I haven't recorded it yet, but I am looking forward to it. The thing about very good guitars is, they inspire you to do things that you wouldn't normally do, due to the difficulty of the instrument. This Hofner is well made, and the big body gives out a ring not approched by the Gretch. So this may be my dream acoustic.

The Hofner Bass I got has a unique sound, and it's pop art. But it is not the most versitile bass. I owed a Rickenbacker bass for 25 years and over time the the truss rod broke. It was the dream bass, but not built to last. (it may have broken when I bought it in 1980) And so, the strings grsdually rose off of the neck, with no way to adjust them back. That guitar is really one of the best basses there is-.the 4001 model Maybe the only superior electric bass is the fender jazz bass. The "Rick," like the Jazz basses I've played in shops, had zero quirks and a fantastic ease of play. The hofner has a personality, and I am going to have it set up to see what it can do. I will keep it and preserve it as an investment, but someday, I am going to get another Rickenbaker. I suppose someday too, I would want to land a Fender strat, or a high end Telecaster. But what I have will do for now: I own a Gibson ES -135.

Ultimately what you want as a musician are instruments you will call your own, the ones that give you the voice and virsitility to do what you want and remain reliable. The search for a good acoustic, bass, and electric guitar has been on going with me for years. And, at one time or another, I've had one ideal guitar, but not all three. So far
it's looking good for the Hofner Jumbo.

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