Intro

Well, here we are at the beginning of 2019. Wonders will never cease. We made it to the start of a new year in the history of the universe, as measured by mankind. For what it’s worth, it feels just like the universe did a human month ago but, heh, what do I know what’s been happening in the infinity of existence we call home since I last put finger to keyboard in the quest for guitar nirvana?

At the beginning of a new year, I would normally pontificate over a ‘state of the village’ observation covering what’s going on out there in guitar land. Not this year, at least not yet. I will mention that, Gibson now has a new President and CEO in James ‘JC’ Curleigh and the company was at winter NAMM in January 2019, so that’s a positive start. Here in the UK, Brexit is about to throw the country into further turmoil and mayhem that can do absolutely no good for the British music industry which is already very fragile after more than a decade of recessionary pressures. What a pathetic mess. Anyhoo… to preserve my vulnerable sanity I’m not going to expound on that any further and it’s time to get down to this month’s business‑as‑usual…

I mentioned in my end‑of‑year roundup in December 2018 that there had been a few acquisitions during the year. I also commented that the CRAVE Guitars web site hadn’t been updated for ages and things were mightily out‑of‑date. Therefore, this month, it seems time to start putting things right. Before I start, I would normally add links to the relevant web site features for the ‘new in’ gear. However, this article has been prepared ahead of publishing the features, so there is currently nothing to link to. Ggrrr. As soon as the features are in place (heck, I took the photos and wrote the narratives months ago, so no excuses!), I’ll add the links in here where they should be.

The Guitars (listed in order of acquisition)

1988 PRS Standard – First to arrive, way back in February 2018 was a stunning 1988 PRS Standard. I had been mulling over the idea of trying to get hold of an early PRS without breaking (into) the bank. I had actually been looking at a fetching early PRS CE in metallic Electric Blue when this pretty baby came to find me, purely by chance. She was local too, so no hassles over importation, couriers and all the risks that go with it.

While many punters might go for the flashy PRS Custom with figured maple cap and fancy bird fretboard inlays, I was really taken with the lovely grain of the all‑mahogany body and the understated but very attractive moon neck inlays. More importantly, it was relatively affordable compared to its more flamboyant relative (the Custom). OK, so it doesn’t have the collector‑requisites of an original case or the case candy but that made owning one achievable. More importantly, it is a very good guitar indeed with 24‑fret Brazilian rosewood fingerboard (pre‑CITES regulations and before PRS voluntarily stopped using it other than on their top‑end models). Everything that is significant, i.e. the guitar itself, is just as it should be and she plays and sounds terrific. She is also in remarkably good condition too, having been used but very well looked after. Result!

PRS guitars was founded by luthier and musician Paul Reed Smith in 1985 and this is one of the early guitars delivered from the original factory in Maryland and before PRS introduced CNC manufacturing. It may not be one of the pre‑company hand‑made instruments but they are very scarce and scarily expensive. While 1988 is modern for CRAVE Guitars, it was still early days for the fledgling PRS. I am very happy with this lovely piece of guitar history, now aging very gracefully at a mere 31 years old.

1978 Fender Musicmaster – Second to arrive in August 2018 was a cute little 1978 Fender Musicmaster. While this may not be everyone’s first choice as a vintage collectable, it appeared on my radar while looking for a different Fender offset (see below). The reason that this one appealed was simply that the CRAVE Guitars’ family already has Musicmasters from 1959 and 1965, so it was about adding a late example from a different decade.

By the late 1970s, the Musicmaster, like many other budget ‘Made in U.S.A.’ Fenders, was really pared down to its basics. However, it is still a very cool guitar and compares favourably to, although different from, the same model from previous decades. Presented in simple black and white, it represents a degree of purity of purpose that other, more familiar, ‘classics’ don’t exude. The covered single coil neck pickup is the same as the other ‘student’ models and has that funky sound that is characteristic of the ‘baby’ Fender lines. Good guitars from the late 1970s and early 1980s are still relatively affordable but I predict that won’t be the case for long.

All in all, I think she deserves her pride of place in the CRAVE Guitars’ clan and is a great guitar to pick up and play without having to think too much about the controls, meaning one can focus on playing. Regular readers will know that I have a thing for simple, single pickup guitars and also underrated, underdog guitars, so this modest 1978 Musicmaster scores on several fronts.

1989 Gibson Les Paul Standard – August 2018 was a busy (-ish) time for buying. Third to arrive was a very pleasing wine red 1989 Gibson Les Paul Standard. It may seem strange to go for such a relatively ‘modern’ guitar at just 30 years old this year and right at the upper end of CRAVE Guitars’ criteria for age (pre‑1990). So what was the story here? Well… there are three reasons. The first is that one of the first ‘proper’ guitars I played was a 1970s wine red Les Paul Custom and I’ve wanted one in that gorgeous colour ever since, taking me c.40 years to achieve! The second was pure serendipity, it came up on eBay as an auction and I set a limit simply because guitars like this rarely come up for auction these days. I didn’t think that I’d win it but, lo and behold, although it reached my limit, I won and for a reasonable price too. Another result! I think that the seller was disappointed but that’s the way the cookie crumbles. The third reason is a little more intriguing. The dual humbucking pickups in this guitar are the original short‑lived Bill Lawrence‑designed HB‑L and HB‑R ‘circuit board’ pickups, which Gibson used only in 1988 and 1989. Some may criticise them but to me that is a reason to see what the fuss was about and to try them out for myself.

She certainly isn’t in museum condition but that doesn’t matter to me. I prefer a guitar to be used for its intended purpose, which inevitably means a few signs of being played. She hasn’t been abused, so no big deal, especially given that it wasn’t the most expensive Les Paul out there and certainly cheaper than a new one. A bonus is that she is very light for a Les Paul, which is refreshing. As for those pickups, well, the design is largely cosmetic. Although this guitar is not wired for it, the pickups have 4 conductors so in theory the coils could be split for added tones. To be honest, as she is, she doesn’t sound hugely different to most 1970s humbucker‑equipped Les Pauls. However, what is surprising is that I found that she plays in a different way to other Les Pauls. For some strange reason, it is one to play in a much more relaxed and laid back style. Perhaps it’s the pickups, perhaps not but, to me, it is a guitar to chill out with, rather than to thrash. All in all, it’s a great value‑for‑money guitar that’s only going to get better with age.

1971 Fender Bronco – Last but not least to arrive, also in August 2018, is a natty little bright red 1971 Fender Bronco. The Bronco was the last of the offset ‘student’ models introduced by Fender in the 1960s. As such, it is often disregarded compared to the Mustangs, Duo‑Sonics and Musicmasters. However, that fact alone makes it of interest to me. OK, so it only has a single pickup but, unlike the Musicmaster, it is located near the bridge, giving it more bite and a distinctive gnarly tone of its own. Like the Mustang, it has a vibrato bridge but unlike its older brother, it is a unique system not used on any other Fender. In my view, the Bronco deserves objective re‑appraisal within its historical context.

The backstory with this one is that it spent some time in Russia before being imported into the UK by the previous owner. That may account for the crazing in the finish that gives it a vintage mojo that suits it down to the ground. She needs a little TLC to get her back up to optimum playability including some careful work on the electrics. One feature that doesn’t affect the sound one iota is the cool use of black and silver control knobs that only appeared between 1967 and 1971. Overall, it’s not a bad little guitar for a 48‑year old. The Fender Bronco was to some extent popularised by Alex Turner of indie band Arctic Moneys, which has tended to attract the attention of collectors and push up vintage prices accordingly. It also tends to distract from the fundamentals of what is a very good, simple guitar.

So, 2018 saw the acquisition of two budget Fenders from the 1970s and a Gibson and a PRS from the late 1980s. This outcome was dictated not only by a limited budget but also by space and personal circumstances during the year. In order to get the most out of them, the two Fenders really need some sensitive conservation. Despite the fact that they may not be to everyone’s taste or even qualify for what vintage snobs might consider to be ‘collectable’, I don’t care. I cannot help but express my admiration for all four of them, each in their own way. Apologies for mixing metaphors but I’ve always been one to buck a trend and swim against the tide. On reflection, it wasn’t a bad outcome at all for what was otherwise a demure year.

The Amp

The CRAVE Amps family has seen only one humble ‘new’ arrival during 2018. It may only be modest but it is as welcome as any other adoption.

1978 Fender Champ – you may ask why go for a 1970s ‘silverface’ Champ, especially when there is already a Vibro Champ from the same era in the family? The answer is partly one of keeping things as simple as possible (spot the trend here?) and, once again, opportunity. One came up on eBay and, completely unable to resist temptation, it just had to be mine! Even better, it’s a UK model wired for 240V mains. After not being used for a couple of months, it’s crackling a bit, so it may be in need of a service.

I rate these dinky little Class A valve amps and believe they deserve a much stronger reputation than the unwarranted perception of a beginner’s ‘toy’ amp, when compared to Fender’s bigger ‘classic’ amps. They are light, take up hardly any room and are fine for practice, it breaks up into distortion beautifully and works well as a good platform for effect pedals, particularly in a practice or studio environment. All‑in‑all, a solid little vintage valve amp. What’s not to like?

The Champ is clearly part of the Fender family both sonically and visually, just more compact and, in my view, cuter in all respects. Its simplicity doesn’t mean that it should be overlooked. For information, despite what the purists may assert, the ‘silverface’ Champ retains the electronic design of its predecessors and only the aesthetics changed. The point is that, where it really matters, this is a worthy little amp with quality fundamentals that are now beginning to be appreciated and much emulated by modern high‑end boutique amp builders. That Leo Fender bloke certainly knew what he was doing, even if he was running Music Man when this particular Champ was born in Fullerton, CA.

The Effect Pedals

Also ‘new in’ at CRAVE Effects in 2018 were a number of vintage (and, as it turns out, not so vintage) analogue effect pedals. I’ve tended to go for the popular brands to which I was exposed as a teenager, so the focus is very much on two American brands – Electro‑Harmonix and MXR Innovations – and two Japanese brands – BOSS and Ibanez. The era of interest is essentially but not exclusively from the mid‑1970s to the mid‑1980s.

Given the choice, the ‘Made in U.S.A.’ effects have always been my favourites, especially the whacky Electro‑Harmonix stomp boxes. This doesn’t mean that I’m not open to other brands, e.g. Maestro, Dod, etc. They are just the ones which I have more knowledge about and experience of using. There are so many options out there, one has to have some sort of rationale to limit the obsession.

The advantage of effects is that they are often relatively cheap to acquire and they don’t take up much room. To keep things brief, I will summarise by brand in alphabetical order.

Boss

1979 BOSS PH-1 Phaser – I already have a green PH-1 but it is ‘player’ grade, so there was an element of upgrading involved here. The incumbent worked fine but it wasn’t in totally original condition, so a slightly better and older one was found. I’ve previously written about the PH-1 and this was essentially a direct replacement, so I won’t repeat that here. Expect the old one to appear on eBay UK at some point.

1980 BOSS CE-2 Chorus – The sky blue CE‑2 is a highly regarded ‘classic’ pedal by those in the know and it was a notable gap in the ‘collection’, so a nice one was procured. For once, I followed the trend and found a desirable ‘long dash’, silver screw, black ‘Made in Japan’ label version. Needless to say, it lives up to its envious reputation with a lovely analogue warmth and is simplicity itself to use. It is one of those that cost more than it is worth but, in this case, it was just about justifiable.

1986 BOSS PSM-5 Power Supply & Master Switch – The red PSM‑5 is a bit of an oddity in that it isn’t an effect at all. It actually serves two functional purposes for other effects. The first is as a PSA power supply for a number of pedals. This isn’t much use to me, as most of the BOSS pedals are the earlier ones requiring an ACA supply (which actually provide up to 12V, rather than 9V). The second is as a simple effect loop, which can be of use in a basic multi‑pedal setup. It was also a cheap impulse purchase in a weak moment, so here it is.

Electro-Harmonix

1998 Electro Harmonix Small Stone Phase Shifter – Now this is an anomaly. For one thing, it isn’t strictly vintage and it is outside CRAVE Guitars’ usual age criteria, i.e. up to but not beyond 1989. Electro‑Harmonix failed in c.1984 and part of its revival was to set up operations in Russia in 1990. The main two pedals made in the former USSR were the Small Stone phaser and the Big Muff fuzz (see below). They were based on the original American circuit boards but were constructed in a very different way. The rationale for these pedals piqued my curiosity enough to track them down. Operationally, the Small Stone is very similar to its American predecessor and it sounds as you might expect. The main draw, though, is the distinctly OTT soviet military aesthetic in sinister black and red finish. I thought it was cool enough to live alongside its vintage counterparts.

1999 Electro-Harmonix Big Muff ϖ – This is the other non‑vintage pedal from the resurrected Russian incarnation of Electro‑Harmonix. This one isn’t one of the early tank‑like khaki versions, mainly because the soviet manufacturer used proprietary parts that can be a devil to maintain. EHX learnt from this and released the smaller black and yellow version which used more standard components. Crucially, this Big Muff is aurally very different from its American forebears, much more polite and with a different tone altogether. Some say that is modelled more on the Bass Muff, which may explain its tamer timbre. As such, it remains a curiosity in the EHX canon so, as with its eastern bloc comrade above, the black Russian Big Muff gets a look in.

1980 Electro-Harmonix Zipper Envelope Follower – Now we are talking the genuine article. Back in the day when I was playing psychedelic/space rock guitar, I used a Zipper alongside the Electro‑Harmonix Memory Man (echo) and Electric Mistress (flanger). While I have other envelope followers in the ‘collection’, there is nothing before or since quite like the ‘Made in NYC’ Zipper for creating touch sensitive filter sweeps. A vintage Zipper just had to (re‑)join the family and I am glad to say that it is as fantastic as I remember. Far out, man.

Ibanez

1982 Ibanez AD9 Analog Delay – here is another replacement pedal. The existing one works fine but has an unpredictable tendency to lose repeats, which can be irritating. Whether there is a fault I don’t know but I had to find out. The ‘new’ one is much better and works as anticipated. I can now appreciate why the AD9 has become a desirable classic analogue delay on the vintage market. I still prefer my EHX Memory Man but this one almost gives it a run for its money. I’m glad to have it along for the ride. I see the outgoing AD9 as a ‘player’ grade example that may well appear on eBay in due course for someone not so fussy to play with.

1981 Ibanez AF-201 Auto Filter – My quest to find a creditable challenger to the EHX Zipper led to me track down the rare and collectable ‘0’ series AF-201. It is truly an intriguing little beast with a lot more controllability over the analogue filter’s parameters. Lots of sliders and switches but no rotary knobs at all. Therein lies its weakness for me. Finding just the right combination of controls can take a bit of exploration and it can be hard to recall a particular setting. What it does, it does well and it is a fascinating pedal to experiment with. The AF‑201 takes a different approach to other envelope filters.

1981 Ibanez GE-601 Graphic Equalizer – To be honest, I have never been a fan of graphic equalizers either in hi‑fi or guitars – very 1970s. However, I admit that the ability to tweak EQ can be useful in certain circumstances. After acquiring the MXR version also in 2018 (see below), I thought I would try the Ibanez ‘0’ series equivalent. They both do the same job and the Ibanez has the major advantage of a foot switch, so instant tonal variation can be applied, which also means that it doesn’t have to be ‘always on’. The downside for me is that it doesn’t have the boost/cut range of the MXR and therefore doesn’t work so well as a creative tool. I guess you pays your money and takes your choice depending on what you want to use it for.

1983 Ibanez SD9 Sonic Distortion – Anyone with a solid grounding in guitar lore will be aware of the ‘holy grail’ of overdrive pedals for many, the venerable Ibanez TS‑808 Tube Screamer Pro. Well, the snot green SD9 takes the basic template and pumps it up with a shed load of steroids. A subtle pedal this is not. The ‘9’ series superseded the ‘0’ series, so it is both visually and tonally a very different animal compared to the ‘classic’ Tube Screamer. If you want more ‘meat on the bone’ without the OTT fuzziness of, say, an EHX Big Muff, the SD9 may fit the bill.

MXR

1975 MXR Blue Box – here is another ‘upgrade’ pedal. The existing 1977 ‘script’ logo Blue Box was a bit of a bitsa. Again, it worked (if you can call what it does as working!) but it wasn’t exactly a pretty example, with a changed footswitch and baseplate. I paid well over book for the new one from a London dealer on the grounds that it was all‑original and, as is always the risk buying on the hinterwebby thing, this one arrived, also with a changed footswitch. Argh! A clear case of caveat emptor (buyer beware) if ever there was one. Other than that, it is original and in better condition. The Blue Box is a weird device combining a fuzz and an octave generator, and it sounds just as crazy as the other one – if you want manic aural chaos, this is a pedal to seek out. The outgoing one is likely to make an appearance on eBay at some point.

1976 MXR Phase 45 – The original ‘script’ logo MXR Phase 90 has become deservedly legendary over the decades. The ‘collection’ already has a vintage 1977 ‘block’ logo Phase 90, so this all‑original ‘script’ logo Phase 45 was seen as a complementary purchase. It is subtler and smoother than its big brother and, to my ears just as flattering. If you want soft swooshes, the Phase 45 is perfect and, like the Phase 90, is simplicity itself to use, just one control knob to grapple with.

1980 MXR Six Band Graphic Equalizer – I was generally scouting around for other offbeat pedals when I came across this diminutive little pedal. At the time, I didn’t have a graphic equalizer and was content to use guitar and amp controls. Then I got to thinking about what it might be able to do and the rest, as they say, is history. I took the plunge in a susceptible moment and here is the little blue SBGE (for short). It is always on, so no footswitch, which may be a limiting factor for many. However, when the cut/boost sliders are pushed to extremes (i.e. other than for basic EQ adjustment), the tonal abilities are quite fascinating. I now think of the pedal not as a glorified active tone control but as a creative utensil to transform an ordinary guitar’s limited tonal range into something else altogether. A little blue miracle worker.

Other

1970s Colorsound Swell (volume pedal) – I’m not quite sure of the age of this swell pedal without dismantling it, so for now it is just ‘1970s’. It works fine, is in very good condition and does just what it says on the tin. Volume pedals are nothing particularly exciting but they can add an extra bit of flexibility to proceedings. To be upfront, I got this one as it works better than the VOX (see below).

1960s VOX Volume/Expression – here’s another pedal that I bought on a whim, fancying a bit of the old violin‑type swell that a volume pedal could provide and I didn’t have one lying around. This one came up and, while being ergonomically modified (they originally were designed for use with VOX keyboards and came with a captive output lead), it seemed an interesting purchase. Some of these early 1960s effects are now becoming quite rare and collectable, so I couldn’t let it pass. The issue with this one is an overly scratchy potentiometer and I’m now in that dilemma of whether to replace it with a modern reliable pot or leave it for someone to decide at some point in the future. I’m still mulling that predicament over.

So… have any of these purchases made a great deal of difference and have they changed my opinion about vintage effects? Not really. In my view, the American pedals are just so much better suited to what I’m looking for than their Japanese and European counterparts. This is a very subjective value judgement and it should not be seen as America = good, elsewhere = bad. The far eastern pedals are very good. It’s just the way things have panned out for me personally.

The CRAVE Effects’ ‘collection’ is now much broader (although not by brand) and I have learned a lot from the experience. Sadly for the bank account, I feel the topic as a whole needs further investigation. The guitars remain the primary focus but these old analogue pedals certainly play their part in the grand scheme. Modern effect units have become, generally, far too complicated for my poor brain to comprehend, so I’ll stick with the pure and simple. No real surprise there.

There is no ‘magic’ to old/vintage gear and it won’t transform anyone into the next Van Halen. Modern tech is wonderful and that’s where the future of mainstream music production lies. The magic stems from the musician and the equipment is simply there to shape the tone that the musician hears and wants to communicate with the listener. My fascination in the ‘old school’ technology is on one hand personal preference and on the other to act as a steward of these gems the future.

Guitar Repatriation News

OK, so that’s the ‘new in’ at CRAVE Guitars from 2018. The really BIG news is actually of major significance to the enterprise and could come under a strange heading of ‘old in’ in 2019.

Now… here’s the thing… I may not have explained a particular episode from the past, so it is time to put things in context. Due to life changing events back in 2010, the majority of CRAVE’s guitars had to go into enforced exile in 2011 for as long as it would take to get things back in order. Some of them have been kept in less than ideal (but thankfully safe) storage for nearly eight years. Others have been stored on a more temporary basis having been swapped in and out over the years.

At this point, I have to give a very special shout out to my close friend Pete who looked after them for me and without his compassion (and loft space), who knows what would have happened to them. I am immensely grateful to him for doing it and putting up with me over the years. I never expected it to take as long as it has but that, I guess, is how life goes.

The major change since last month’s article is that on 21^st January 2019, a total of 42 guitars – 40 of them vintage, ranging from 1961 to 1989 – were reunited with me and the other guitars that were already here. While it is a massive relief to have them all in the same place again, their arrival presents two specific challenges that now must be addressed during 2019.

The first is to work through the guitars, evaluate their condition and assess what remedial work needs to be done. I am certain that some major TLC will be required to get them all back into good playing order. At best, this will mean a general setup, cleaning and pampering, checking electrics and all the variables associated with corrosion, restringing them all, and playing them back to health. Guitars should be played to keep them in tip top condition, so that is one particular task that I’m looking forward to.

As Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen said, “Guitars are meant to be played, and they’re happiest when they’re making music”. The improvement in the Melody Maker after a few days of being used was proof positive.

Note: I hate re‑stringing guitars at the best of times but this will be a mammoth trial of endurance, a test of patience and a pitting of my strength of will against bits of wire. I am convinced that guitar strings are a risk to health and potentially downright lethal!

I was encouraged by the first guitar out of its case, my cute 1964 Gibson Melody Maker. The strings were rusty and she wouldn’t get/stay in tune, a few frets choke out (easily sorted) and the volume pot is scratchy (I can’t recall if it was like that before). The finish looks a bit dull and the metalwork a bit tarnished but nothing serious. After 3‑4 days, the benefits of being played were immense; it feels like it is coming back to life and sustains beautifully. The electrics need sorting out but it looks promising and not too bad for a 55‑year old. If the other 41 are no worse, I will be utterly amazed and truly delighted. As ‘they’ say, expect the worst and hope for the best. Fingers crossed.

The second challenge, I actually alluded to back in December 2017 in my end‑of‑year roundup. The ‘new’ house has a dark, damp, grotty cellar that I was hoping to make into a suitable home for the guitars during 2018. Unfortunately, this did not happen, as other priorities had to be undertaken first, e.g. a new roof! Converting the cellar into a usable space means ‘tanking’ it to keep the space and the rest of the structure dry, as well as some means of controlling temperature, humidity, ventilation and security.

As with all good intentions, this major project was meant to be completed prior to the guitars’ repatriation. However, as most of these things go in my life, it has happened the wrong way round. It may, though, spur me onto getting the ‘guitar room’ appropriately reconditioned in 2019, resources permitting of course. I should mention that this is not some luxurious mansion with an extensive basement area, it is very small, built into a cliff, with no natural light or ventilation and, unless one is naturally vertically challenged there is no headroom, as it is only about 5 feet (1.5 metres) high, and that is before any work is done on it. Also, access to it is far from easy to put right and will never be ideal. Nevertheless, it is better than nothing and, once it is finished, it should provide safe and secure accommodation for the instruments, amps and effects. In the meantime, I’m sleeping amongst a few piles of dusty guitar cases. Still, as a self‑confessed guitar nut, there are worse things I can think of.

You never know, having a wider choice of vintage guitars to play may even improve my musicianship, as they are inspiring to pick up and use – God knows, my playing needs to improve and not just to do justice to these fine instruments!

There are other benefits of reuniting the ‘collection’, other than getting to play them. I should be able to take new photographs (and perhaps even videos?!) to populate the web site. New images can accompany the revised narrative that has already been partially prepared. There may also be an opportunity to liven up social media output as, frankly, I’m bored of posting the same old pictures from a decade ago.

I have long wanted to share my passion with others who may have a similar persuasion and it would be good to feature some or all of them in some sort of publication. If anyone is interested, give me a while to spruce them up and let me know. I think they are ‘cool & rare’ and just may be of interest to a wider audience.

I am hopeful that, despite the many setbacks that have led to where things are today, this may just be the turning point in the evolution of CRAVE (Cool & Rare American Vintage Electric) Guitars that I’ve been waiting for and a launch pad to better things. One day, maybe.

Outro

I think that has caught up with most developments taking place at CRAVE Guitars over the last year. While the ‘Potted History of the Guitar’ series was a great thing to do, it’s also good to get back to the personal ethos underpinning CRAVE Guitars. The prematurely trailed follow up to the ‘Potted History’ series is having to be put back, as I haven’t yet done the background research to get started. The reintegration work associated with the no‑longer‑exiled guitars will also take up considerable time and effort in coming weeks and months, so who knows what will appear here next month. Why not come back at the end of February and find out?

The invigorating prospect of having so many great vintage instruments to hand will hopefully act as a catalyst for change and progress. I’m still not tempted to set up CRAVE Guitars as a business; I just don’t have the ‘killer instinct’ to trade and, anyway, the sentimental connection has become strong. So, it looks like the not‑for‑profit mission to conserve this particular aspect of popular music heritage will continue, at least for the foreseeable future. Whatever transpires, the venture will certainly keep me busy for a while and that has to be seen as a positive.

Just in case you didn’t know this already, vintage guitars are AWESOME!

Now… where on Earth do I start with the ‘old in’? I think it might just be a case of, ‘eenie meenie miney mo…’ and see what happens. Until next time…

CRAVE Guitars ‘Quote of the Month’: “I would rather fail at being great than succeed at being mediocre”

© 2019 CRAVE Guitars – Love Vintage Guitars.

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