30 Mar 2026

March 2026 – CRAVE Island Castaway Part I: Vintage Gear

by CRAVEGuitars | posted in: History, Introduction, Observations, Opinion | 0

Prelude

A WONDERFULLY WARM WELCOME to springtime great world citizens. Spring is my favourite season of the year. It signifies newness, rejuvenation, growth, freshness and the promise of warmer days and lighter evenings for a few months (at least here in the cool temperate region of the northern hemisphere). Nature is a wonderful thing and something not only to be valued but also marvelled at for its diversity and perpetuity. Without it, we’d be doomed. Talking of which…

Just when you thought the outright insanity of conflicted malevolent states couldn’t get any worse, wholesale recklessness won out and we have even worse devastation, many more dead innocents, instability and incalculable money irrevocably wasted on killing and destruction. I would argue that such precious resources should be used to advance humanity and solve the world’s inequalities. I am beginning to doubt that common sense will prevail any time soon, if ever. Yes, I am angry and, unfortunately, I am powerless to do anything about it. Civilisation needs civilised leaders. Humanity needs humane leaders. Society needs sane leaders. Communities need caring leaders. What we have in 2026 are not leaders, they are monsters; very, very real and very, very dangerous monsters. Take heed before it is too late for us all.

“Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime” – Ernest Hemmingway (1899‑1961)

This Month at CRAVE Guitars…

This time around, I had to do some simple soul‑searching and reach some sort of selection about what vintage gear I would choose if I only had a limited number of options.

For the record, I don’t like having to divide vintage gear into favourites and not favourites. It’s a bit like having to choose your favourite child. Each CRAVE instrument has been selected for its individual characteristics and each has its merits. Each one also has its detriments. I do not believe that there is a ‘perfect’ guitar. However, I set this challenge simply as a hypothetical exercise and the outcome may well be different tomorrow, next month, next year, etc.

From CRAVE Guitars’ modest vintage guitar gear ‘collection’, there are a few choice picks – guitars, a bass and effects that I keep going back to, enjoy playing, love the sound of, gaze at longingly just because they are beautiful objects and, importantly, ones that I have developed a particular and deep connection with over the years.

This article is a bit of a reprise. Kind of. Way, way back in September 2015, not long after CRAVE Guitars became a virtual as well as a real entity, I published an article, ‘My Top 10 Vintage Guitars (So Far)’. It is that bracketed pair of words that gives an entry point into reviewing that selection and updating it now, over a decade later. Back in 2015, I narrowed guitars down to makes and headline models, not specific variants, for instance Gibson Les Paul or Fender Stratocaster. Here is the link to the original 2015 Article (link opens in new browser tab)…

Article – September 2015 – My Top 10 Vintage Guitars (So Far)

This time, I’m going to be a bit more specific and a bit harsher. Now, the Top 10 covers not just guitars but also vintage guitars, basses, effects and amps. This article represents a narrower selection from a broader assortment. I couldn’t tell you how many items I had back in 2015 (or even now), but the overall totals have probably doubled – give or take – over the last 11 years.

“Make an island of yourself, make yourself your refuge; there is no other refuge. Make truth your island, make truth your refuge; there is no other refuge” – Buddha (Siddhārtha Gautama – c.480‑400BCE)

The Rationale for the Article

I have chosen the ‘marooned on a tropical desert island’ approach here because it provides for a more positive decision‑making process, rather than the desperately negative ‘in a burning building, which one(s) would you save’. The latter, by definition, means that I would have to sacrifice the rest to irrevocable destruction (please forgive the split infinitive on this occasion), which I just couldn’t contemplate.

A tropical desert island may not be an ideal environment for conserving vintage gear, and securing a reliable and consistent electrical supply might prove challenging. This is therefore purely a case of conjecture and an exercise in entertainment. Welcome to CRAVE Island.

I’m sticking to a cap of 10 pieces of kit, simply as an arbitrary number. Choosing less would be overly restrictive, choosing more would basically be a broad reflection of the CRAVE Guitars family. A figure had to be set, so 10 it is.

Assuming that there are no perfect guitars means that all of the ones listed have their idiosyncrasies. So it is personal predilection that promotes the ‘chosen few’ to a considered conclusion. A selective approach may raise the question of whether the rest of CRAVE Guitars could be divested? Nope. I may consider trading up in a few cases because I want to, not because I have to.

Although I didn’t need to, I have used The CRAVEman as a vehicle to emphasise the nonsense of the concept in the first place. Rather than carry out this task at his home community of CRAVE Town in CRAVEland (see the November 2025 article, ‘The CRAVEman Cometh… Back’), The CRAVEman is embarking on a two‑month solo offshore excursion to the remote tropical desert destination of CRAVE Island. Ridiculous? Of course! Delusional? Obviously! C’mon, what did you expect?

As usual AI was used to generate The CRAVEman’s images this month. No AI was used for the narrative and the vintage guitar images are 100% genuine. This month’s ‘quotes of wisdom’ are about desert island life.

“You can’t totally rebel, otherwise you have to go live on your own, on a desert island. It’s as simple as that” – Patrick McGoohan (1928‑2009)

The CRAVEman’s Top Ten Desert Island Vintage Gear

So, with just 10 pieces of gear to pack and transport to the metaphorical paradise of CRAVE Island, it was as difficult job deciding what to take and what to leave behind. However, having determined the criteria, one has to comply with the rules. Without further ado, here are ‘the chosen few’ (in alphabetic order – links open in new browser tab)…

1965 Fender Jaguar – There is something gloriously captivating about Fender’s offsets whether the Jaguar or its sibling the Jazzmaster, and even the Electric XII or Bass VI. Leo got it spot on with this design. It was a very close run between the Jaguar and Jazzmaster. The Jaguar edged ahead because of its more striking aesthetic and, because I have short stubby fingers, the shorter scale just suits my hands better. The Brazilian rosewood fingerboard is sublime. Oh, it feels so good to play and it sounds exquisite, edging out the Jazzmaster for me… just. While I’d love a custom colour, the standard 3‑colour sunburst still looks gorgeous. It is a bit on the heavy side and the vibrato/bridge takes a bit of getting used to but such foibles are easily tolerated.

Feature – 1965 Fender Jaguar

1972 Fender Telecaster Thinline – The original mass produced solid body electric guitar launched in 1951, the Telecaster, is an undoubted and enduring classic. This year is its 75^th anniversary and the archetype remains largely unchanged to this day. The 1970s saw several variants like the Telecaster Deluxe, Custom and the utterly stunning Thinline, my personal favourite. It just looks so ‘right’ with its single f‑hole (it is only part hollowed out), the natural finish, a groovy pearloid pickguard and those amazing wide range Seth Lover‑designed humbucking pickups. The latter really make the Telecaster Thinline sound grown up and fundamentally different from its workhorse progenitor. I prefer rosewood fingerboards but on this guitar, maple works very nicely thank you and it feels just as right as it looks and sounds. It’s light, functional and organic as well as beautiful.

Feature – 1972 Fender Telecaster Thinline

1963 Gibson ES‑330 – Gibson has released several ES (Electric Spanish) guitars over the decades (going back to the original ES‑150 in 1936). However, it was the thinline ES‑335 that really broke the semi‑acoustic into the contemporary mainstream, where it is considered a flexible workhorse suited to most styles. However, for my money, it is the 335’s close relative, the fully hollow ES‑330 that won me over. It is lighter and more resonant than the heavier centre‑block 335 and its pair of wonderful P90 pickups set it apart with its own distinctive voice. OK, so the neck joins the body at the 16^th rather than the 335’s 19^th fret but who cares when the rest of the package is so wonderful. It is a breeze to play. Even the factory Bigsby vibrato suits the image and it stays in tune. It may feedback in high gain, high sound pressure level environments but those don’t really exist anymore. As a result, the ES‑330 is rightly being re‑evaluated. Oh and it looks the part – one of the prettiest guitar designs out there.

Feature – 1963 Gibson ES‑330

1982 Gibson Explorer CMT – I have said on many occasions that the Gibson Explorer is probably my favourite solid body guitar. They are far better than the one‑trick pony image that one might think them to be. Original Explorers from the 1950s and early 1960s are mouth wateringly expensive, so it is the subsequent reissues that make the grade here. CRAVE Guitars has five (!) Explorers and they are all great in their own ways. My choice, though, is the first one I acquired, the stunningly beautiful CMT (not E2, as on the truss rod cover) with its single piece flame maple sunburst top and ebony fingerboard. It is seriously heavy, which is possibly its only notable drawback. It is probably not a go‑to guitar for a function band but for that’s an irrelevancy. Just as well I don’t play in one then. The renowned Gibson ‘Dirty Fingers’ humbucking pickups balance power and finesse spectacularly well. If this were a car, it would be a V8 Ford Mustang.

Feature – 1982 Gibson Explorer CMT

1968 Gibson SG Standard – Back in 2015, I selected CRAVE Guitars’ Gibson SG Junior with its wonderfully gritty single P90 pickup and baseball bat neck. Now, in 2026, the Junior was up against the SG Standard, another guitar that looks so ‘right’ and feels even better. The Standard doesn’t deliver the raw, visceral inspiration of the Junior but what it does bring to the table is more refinement and versatility. The ‘devil horns’ are still evocative and modern looking over 60 years after it was introduced as a Les Paul Model replacement in 1961. Upper fret access is possibly the best of any mainstream Gibson, making the mahogany neck potentially vulnerable. The SG Standard is light, resonant and, while a touch neck heavy, it is a joy to play, sounds fabulous and looks the part with its great cherry finish. For all of that, the Standard edged out the Junior. Just.

Feature – 1968 Gibson SG Standard

1962 National Glenwood 95 – Sometimes a guitar comes along that breaks the rules in more than one way. In the early 1960s, National released a fibreglass (Res‑o‑Glas) hollow body with single coil pickups and a stunning futuristic/retro design, loosely based on the outline of the lower 48 US states. Just look at those ‘butterfly’ fingerboard inlays too. Purists will condemn it for its lack of a tone wood body and ‘classic’ pickups, but they are missing the point. National dared to be different and, in my view, succeeded. It was brazen and radical and all the better for it. Not only does it look superb, it also plays very nicely despite not having an adjustable truss rod. No tone wood. No problem. Not here anyway. Perhaps the pickups can sound a bit lean compared to the best (not great for heavy metal!) but who’s arguing? Stunning.

Feature – 1962 National Glenwood 95

1978 Music Man Stingray Bass – Onto CRAVE Basses. 2026 is the 50^th anniversary of the Music Man Stingray bass. Yep, almost unbelievable. Music Man is what Leo Fender did after he sold the company that bears his name and had fulfilled his contractual obligation not to do anything else for 10 years after selling Fender to CBS. The Stingray may bear some resemblance to the Fender Precision but it is a very different beast with its single humbucking bridge pickup and active on‑board electronics. After a brief period, Leo moved on to G&L and Music Man was bought out by Ernie Ball. The Stingray, however is still going strong today with a solid and enviable reputation amongst professional bass players and enthusiasts alike. It is a great funky bass that still stands out from the crowd and sits head and shoulders above many of its peers. I bought this one from the UK importer before it ever reached retail, so I am still the original owner. Very cool.

Feature – 1978 Music Man Stingray Bass

1977 Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi – Moving onto CRAVE Effects, my all‑time favourite effect pedal is probably the EHX Big Muff Pi. I have owned this one from new and its all‑out manic signature fuzz is just insane with massive amounts of awesome personality. There was, and still is, nothing quite like a (vintage) Big Muff. It sounds just superb and suits my weird musical tastes to a tee. Subtle it is not. It sounds even better when it interacts with other effects like a cool (Electro‑Harmonix) flanger and echo (a.k.a. analogue delay – see below). Think of Ernie Isley’s guitar solo from, ‘Summer Breeze’ (1974) by The Isley Brothers and you begin to get the idea. Marvellously mad and crazily kooky from Electro‑Harmonix’s pioneering founder Mike Matthews, based in New York City since 1968.

Feature – 1977 Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi

1977 Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man – Like the EHX Big Muff Pi above, I have owned this superb all‑analogue ‘bucket‑brigade device’ Deluxe Memory Man delay pedal since new. It pairs with the fuzz in an almost symbiotic fashion. This list is limited, otherwise I would also have included the Electro‑Harmonix Electric Mistress flanger. If you want far out psych, organically natural echo or dubby atmospherics, the Memory Man is there for you. It is easily pushed into OTT regeneration. OK, so the delay is limited to around 300‑400ms – short by today’s digital standards. It sounds organic and doesn’t provide pristine digital delay but when it sounds this good, it’s not really an issue. For me, the Deluxe Memory Man is an indispensable creative tool in a hypothetical desert island situation.

Feature – 1977 Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man

1973 Fender Princeton Reverb – While the diminutive single channel hand‑wired valve amp with its 10” speaker is almost perfect for guitar, it isn’t really robust enough to take on the Music Man Bass. However, as this is a make‑believe scenario, that’s kinda irrelevant. The Fender Princeton has a long history dating back to 1946 and it came with or without reverb. For me, the reverb is a ‘good to have’ facility along with the (rather weak) tremolo (erroneously called vibrato). I don’t care that it has the 1970s’ ‘silverface’ control panel, I really don’t. For me, it is the ideal small amp and only just beats the Music Man 210 Sixty‑Five. It is small, (relatively) light and sounds absolutely fantastic. Pushing a small Fender valve amp into overdrive can sound just as satisfying as a Marshall stack in the right setting and far more portable. It may not be the loudest amp out there but it is an organically dynamic masterpiece.

Feature – 1973 Fender Princeton Reverb

So there you go, a worthy ‘Top 10’ of vintage gear comprising 6 guitars, 1 bass, 2 effects and 1 amp. While I would have preferred to take all of CRAVE Guitars’ vintage gear to CRAVE Island, the selection arguably represents the pinnacle of the ‘collection’, at least at the time of writing. I expect that the selection would be different at a different time and will no doubt be different(‑ish) at some point in the future when this exercise is (possibly) repeated in another decade or so. In the meantime, I’d better start looking for a power socket.

Interestingly, things haven’t changed that much from 2015. Back then, I selected the following 10 guitars:

Gibson SG
Gibson Explorer
Fender Telecaster
Gibson Les Paul
Fender Jazzmaster
Fender Mustang
Gibson Firebird
Fender Stratocaster
Gibson Melody Maker
Gibson ES‑330

A little bit of consistency was probably to be expected and quite notable. This time, it was even harder as there was a smaller number of guitars selected from a much larger number of possible options. Back in 2015, the article was all about guitars and didn’t cover basses, effects or amps. Eleven years ago, there simply wasn’t CRAVE Basses, CRAVE Effects or CRAVE Amps, so things have definitely moved on a bit and for the better.

The ‘top ten’ aren’t the rarest or most valuable CRAVE Guitars. That wasn’t the objective or one of the criteria used. Cool and rare to a point – monetary value simply isn’t important to me, except when buying of course. Many critics might condemn the selection because there isn’t a Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul or Fender Bass. I’m OK with that – after all, it is my selection. No blasphemy here folks. Make up your own scenarios to satisfy your own predispositions.

“Living in a society, instead of on a desert island, does not relieve a man of the responsibility of supporting his own life” – Ayn Rand (1905‑1982)

Final Thoughts about The CRAVEman’s Top Ten Desert Island Vintage Gear

This article has focused on guitars, basses, effects and amps drawn from CRAVE Guitars’ ‘collection’. This might not reflect what my ‘top ten’ might be if the pool from which the selection was made was much, much larger. What if I could choose any ten items regardless of whether I owned them or not? What would that ‘top ten’ be? How would it differ?

Well, that is speculative and therefore irrelevant to this exercise, so I’m not going there at this point. How could I possibly say what would be my ideal when I don’t have access to the items or have the opportunity to build a working relationship with them? One might have some ideal aspiration, only to find out that there would be no synergy with it. Relying on some sort of unjustified anticipation of what something may be like is no guarantee of anything at all. An ideal might turn out to be a great disappointment, while something seemingly innocuous may turn out to be a complete revelation. That, my good people, is part of the fascination with vintage guitar gear and why I love it as much as I do.

“The heart of a man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides, and in its depths, it has its pearls too” – Vincent Van Gogh (1853‑1890)

There are plenty of instruments on CRAVE Guitars’ ‘most wanted’ list but just how essential are those desirables to achieving some sort of nirvana or personal actualisation? I would posture that it is impossible to say definitively. I am very content with what I have and very grateful to be in the fortunate position to possess what I already own. I am humble in the midst of abundance. Any further additions to CRAVE Guitars/Basses/Effects/Amps, I would now regard as ‘icing on the cake’.

Thus, I don’t think I want to enter into any sort of speculation as to what any sort of theoretical ‘top ten’ might be or whether it would be hugely different anyway. I might return to explore the whys and wherefores of some ‘most wanted’ vintage gear at some point in the future.

Just a thought… How did The CRAVEman end up on a desert island in the first place, you may well ask? Why? And how did he get home again? Well, if you’ve seen The CRAVEman in action before, you’ll know that the concept of the Stone Age Rock God requires a significant suspension of disbelief on the part of the onlooker. The foundational basis of The CRAVEman is plainly ridiculous in the first instance, so how could anyone be surprised in the slightest about what el jefe does?

As previously mentioned, the hyper‑fictional escapades of The CRAVEman are presented purely for your amusement, even if the core basis of the article is more serious, factual and impartial. The CRAVEman images may be AI generated and all the errors and inconsistencies within them are part and parcel of his fanciful virtual existence. Just go with the flow and it’s more fun. Please. Everything else is real.

“What a splendid king you’d make of a desert island – you and you alone” – Sophocles (c.497/496‑406/405BCE)

CRAVE Guitars’ ‘Album of the Month’

In Part II of this series, I will be exploring what music The CRAVEman might listen to on his tropical desert island. What I don’t want to do is to pre‑empt that exercise now, so here I shall select an album that exudes the almost‑spiritual and evocative vibes that would be fitting for the confinement and solitude of CRAVE Island. Given that premise, it was quite easy to select some appropriate Jamaican reggae. Desert island music, I believe, needs something upbeat, positive, uplifting and profoundly conscious in its underlying messages. It is a very familiar album for once – I don’t usually go for popular, commercially successful mainstream albums – and still a great one. This month’s accolade goes to…

Bob Marley & The Wailers – Exodus (1977): ‘Exodus’ was the ninth studio album from Robert Nesta Marley (1945‑1981) and his band, released in June 1977 on Island Records. It may not be a perfect studio album but one with so many highpoints that the overall impact is entirely positive. The original album is slight, at just 10 tracks covering 37 minutes. The opening track, ‘Natural Mystic’ provides a sublime entry point, leading into many other gems of faith, political and emotional treasure. The title track closes the first ‘half’ of the album. Marley’s close associates, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer had left the band in 1974, leaving Bob Marley as the main focus. Strangely, ‘Exodus’ was not recorded in Kingston, Jamaica but in London, UK, following a failed assassination attempt in 1976 when Marley was shot in a home invasion that forced him to leave his homeland temporarily. It was this album that effectively launched Bob Marley to international stardom, creating a genuine legend in the process.

An atmospheric album that is just right for a balmy desert island beach at dusk after the sun has set and just as the stars begin to blink into visibility, the sky prismatic and incandescent above the horizon of a tranquil moonlight‑reflected sea. Some reggae can be transcendent and that is the case with this month’s masterpiece from a genuine Jamaican icon. The author was lucky enough to visit Jamaica in 2008 and can testify to the idyll, as well as to the day‑to‑day challenges that the Jamaican population face. Irie mon.

BELIEVE IN MUSIC!

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever” – Jacques Cousteau (1910‑1997)

Tailpiece

I hope you’ve enjoyed a reflective trip into a fabricated tropical paradise where The CRAVEman passes his time with some of his precious vintage gear for company. Personally, it is a situation that I wouldn’t mind experiencing myself. Seclusion as a lifestyle choice is something to be treasured and protected. I would relish it. The reality of survival on a deserted island in the tropics, as one might expect, is not the heaven‑on‑Earth utopia one might wish for. Thus, it is purely a notional creation for your enjoyment.

“Nature once determined how we survive. Now we determine how nature survives” – David Attenborough (1926‑)

As the title of this article suggests, this is part one of two complementary pieces. While this one looked at vintage guitar gear, used to create music, the next one will take a selection of existing music and use it to compile a desert island playlist for The CRAVEman to enjoy when he isn’t playing his own compositions. We will return to CRAVE Island and I hope you’ll return for part two.

Truth, peace, love, and guitar music be with you always. The CRAVEman, signing off for now. Until next time…

CRAVE Guitars’ ‘Quote of the Month’: “And so the wind blows and the rain pours down on the wicked and good alike”

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27 Feb 2026

February 2026 – Recent New ‘Old’ In at CRAVE Guitars

by CRAVEGuitars | posted in: History, Introduction, News, Observations, Opinion | 0

Prelude

WELL, A HEARTY HALLOO AND AN AMICABLE AHOY dear readers. I hope 2026 is treating you well so far and is all hunky‑dory in your world. NB. ‘hunky‑dory’ is American reduplicated slang generally meaning ‘safe, satisfactory and pleasant’. It first appeared in print in a collection of minstrel songs, ‘Essence Of Old Kentucky’ (1862) by George Christy. ‘Hunky Dory’ (without the hyphen) is also the fourth studio album by the legendary David Bowie from 1971.

It is almost unbelievable to think that we are already six years since the Covid‑19 outbreak and four years since Russia invaded Ukraine but here we are, racing through 2026 at a rate of knots (NB. A knot is one nautical mile per hour. A nautical mile is about 1.15 land miles).

“With your smiling faces round, ‘Tis then I’m hunkey dorey” – Christy’s Minstrels

After a challenging winter for many, it will soon be time to welcome the refreshing renewal of spring (at least up here in the northern hemisphere). It is a time to be optimistic and enthusiastic about life’s opportunities in the spirit of rejuvenation. If only such a prophecy could be self‑fulfilling.

Going against natural tendency, I will be trying to keep this month’s article short and sweet for a change. Included within that brevity is my message to the insane malefactors creating misery and mayhem is simple; repent from your malevolent ways and make a better world for everyone and everything. It really isn’t difficult.

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes…you’re Doing Something” – Neil Gaiman (1960‑)

This Month at CRAVE Guitars…

Believe it or not, there hasn’t been a dedicated article covering ‘what’s new’ at CRAVE Guitars for nearly five years, since, ‘August 2020 – Even More Whazzup at CRAVE Guitars’. How did that happen? That post was immediately prior to ‘the hiatus’ (September 2020 to August 2023).

There was a sub‑section, part of a larger article, called, ‘New’ Old Gear’ at the end of 2023 in the article, ‘December 2023 – CRAVE Guitars: Three Years in Review’ but it was only a snapshot at the time and covered acquisitions over ‘the hiatus’.

While vintage guitar gear is, by definition, the antithesis of ‘new’, this month’s content is all about the anticipation and discovery of finding fascinating ‘new’ old things. The vintage items covered herein may be decades old but they are ‘new’ to CRAVE Guitars and they change the overall dynamic of the ‘collection’. Plenty of images and links this month. No AI at all, anywhere.

“Step through new doors. The majority of the time there’s something fantastic on the other side” – Oprah Winfrey (1954‑)

So… even though vintage guitar gear purchases have slowed down considerably over the last couple of years (as regular readers will know, due to fund and space limitations) it seems long overdue to bring things up‑to‑date.

This month’s ‘quotes of wisdom’ are relevant to the notion of new experiences in life and breaking away from old, possibly restrictive, practices. Bring it on.

“You never know what you can do until you try, and very few try unless they have to” – C.S. Lewis (1898‑1963)

New Members of the CRAVE Guitars Family 2025‑2026 (15)

Included in this article are CRAVE Guitars’ purchases since the start of 2025 to‑date.

Guitars and basses generally cost a lot of money and take up a lot of real estate, so given practical limitations, guitar/bass purchases have been restricted to just two guitars and one bass.

Vintage amplifiers are also space hungry and also tend to cost a lot. Given that CRAVE Amps are a lower priority, none have been acquired recently.

Effect pedals are considerably cheaper and take up little space, so stomp box arrivals have been more abundant. In contrast to other parts of CRAVE Guitars, there has been a significant ‘investment’ in CRAVE Effects over the last 12 months.

For more in‑depth information about each of the instruments and effects, follow the links after each summary to take you to a full feature page on the web site (each opens in a new browser tab).

“I’m always doing things I can’t do. That’s how I get to do them” – Pablo Picasso (1881‑1973)

Vintage Guitars/Basses (3):

Just three vintage guitar and bass acquisitions over the past couple of years. Scant quantity, thankfully, does not equate to compromised quality.

1966 Fender Electric XII (+ case) – This particular guitar was the focus of CRAVE Guitars’ article of June 2025, ‘Challenging Vintage Guitar Snobbery: A Cautionary Tale’. Why? I have tried to avoid refinished guitars but the opportunity to pick up a vintage Fender Electric XII at a price I could afford made me re‑evaluate my view on the practice. It arrived without a case and, because the Electric XII has unique proportions, tracking down a case specifically made to fit it was a nightmare, let alone an original 1966 Fender case. Eventually, I found a dedicated case; not vintage but it provides essential protection. The XII may have been refinished but it is still a very cool guitar.

Article: June 2025 – Challenging Vintage Guitar Snobbery: A Cautionary Tale

Feature – 1966 Fender Electric XII

1966 Fender Electric XII

1984 Guild X‑79 Skyhawk (+ case) – I had been looking for cool Guild guitars for a while now, hoping to find a good S‑300 or S‑100. In 2025, my son and I attended a heavy metal gig. That acted as a catalyst to look for a vintage ‘Made in USA’ Guild Skyhawk and, fortunately, this one came along. It is very characteristic of the ‘extreme’ art of guitar manufacturing during the 1980s. The original case was too far past its sell‑by date, so a similar vintage‑correct case was found to keep it safe (it’s another guitar with unique proportions). The Guild Skyhawk is very distinctive and a very cool under‑the‑radar ‘metal’ axe and a great addition to CRAVE Guitars.

Feature – 1984 Guild X‑79 Skyhawk

1984 Guild X-79 Skyhawk

1983 Kramer ‘The Duke’ Deluxe Bass – I just missed out on a rather sweet Kramer 450B bass with its distinctive aluminium neck and ‘tuning fork’ headstock, so it was while I was searching for Kramer instruments that I came across this interesting instrument, characterising a trend in the 1980s for compact, portable headless basses. At first glance, it might be mistaken for a Steinberger bass but it is actually quite different. The ‘Made in USA’ Kramer The Duke may not be a ‘classic’ but it is a very good vintage bass guitar, very unusual in all respects and quite a relative vintage bargain, which makes it all the better for CRAVE Basses. Cool.

Feature – 1983 Kramer ‘The Duke’ Deluxe Bass

1983 Kramer The Duke Deluxe

“Do one thing every day that scares you” – Eleanor Roosevelt (1884‑1962)

Vintage Effect Pedals (12):

Back in October 2025, the CRAVE article, ‘Vintage Guitar Gear Collections Within a Collection: Part II – CRAVE Effects’ got me thinking about focusing on a brand and its models, rather than the usual diverse way of doing things. Actively creating a ‘collection within a collection’ from scratch is a completely new approach for CRAVE Effects. That is why there are a dozen pedals from only two American brands. To revisit that article, follow the link below (opens in a new browser tab).

Article: October 2025 – Vintage Guitar Gear Collections Within A Collection: Part II – CRAVE Effects

This alternative methodology led directly to buying a number of DOD FX series effect pedals in a buying spree. Previously, CRAVE Effects only had the glorious ‘large box’ DOD Analog Delay 680. DOD was always a reliable budget American brand, releasing large numbers of pedals at realistic prices between 1973 and 1996. Some DOD FX series pedals (1982‑1996) were better than others and this is evident in the initial trawl. I have a feeling that there may be more to come.

1987 DOD FX10 Bi‑Fet Preamp – One of those behind‑the‑scenes pedals that do an awful lot without sounding like it. Originally conceived to boost passive acoustic/electro‑acoustic pickups, the FX10 was widely adopted by guitarists and bass players to boost, balance or buffer pedal boards and/or long cable runs, something it does rather well. While not producing distortion in itself, it can be used to overdrive inputs of other pedals/amplifiers. The FX10 was often used as an always‑on pedal.

Feature – 1987 DOD FX10 Bi‑Fet Preamp

1987 DOD FX10 Bi-Fet Preamp

1991 DOD FX17 Wah-Volume Controller Pedal (+PSU) – Very few people even know of the existence of the FX17. It is nothing like any other DOD pedal or wah‑wah, volume pedal or voltage controller. No pots. No inductors. Clever active electronics. Yup, the FX17 was innovative and, to be honest, it is an exemplary piece of kit that should be more broadly accepted. It can be a bit fiddly to use but it is worth the effort. Its technology hasn’t (to my knowledge) been used since by DOD or anyone else.

Feature – 1991 DOD FX17 Wah-Volume Controller Pedal

1991 DOD FX17 Wah-Volume Controller Pedal

1995 DOD FX25 Envelope Filter – The FX25 is another of DOD’s better pedals. It isn’t necessarily refined but it is effective at producing cool funky, skanky auto‑wah effects. It may also not be the most versatile but its simplicity allows one to focus on playing rather than knob twiddling. It doesn’t shout from the roof tops but neither does it hide its light under a bushel (NB. an idiom from the book of Matthew in the New Testament of the Christian Bible).

Feature – 1995 DOD FX25 Envelope Filter

1995 DOD FX25 Envelope Filter

1990 DOD FX50‑B Overdrive Plus – An overdrive pedal based on its short‑lived predecessors, the DOD Overdrive Preamp 250 and the DOD FX50. While seeming to be a standard overdrive pedal, the ‘Drive’ control features an integral ‘Boost’ function that pushes it clearly into dirty distortion territory, giving it a punchy range of gritty sounds that other overdrive pedals might struggle to achieve. Perhaps it’s not the best overdrive effect out there (Ibanez Tube Screamer?) but some credible crunchy blues/rock tones can be dialled in easily.

Feature – 1995 DOD FX50‑B Overdrive Plus

1990 DOD FX50-B Overdrive Plus

1992 DOD FX52 Classic Fuzz – A relatively understated fuzz pedal from DOD. The intention was to emulate the ‘classic’ fuzzy sounds of British germanium powered effects like the Tone Bender or Fuzz Face. While it doesn’t respond to touch as well as the best, it does produce some nice fuzzy distortion. Not an all‑out mega fuzz fest like the best of the breed (Electro‑Harmonix Big Muff π?) but OK enough, especially with the integral ‘Boost’ on the ‘Fuzz’ control to give it some nicely sustaining bite.

Feature – 1992 DOD FX52 Classic Fuzz

1992 DOD FX52 Classic Fuzz

1991 DOD FX54 Attacker – The name on the box doesn’t tell you what this effect does. It combines a simple compressor with a distortion effect. OK, so it isn’t the most flexible of compressors or the most distinctive of overdrives but the combination of the two is relatively unusual and it does a credible job at sounding different from the offerings of other manufacturers. The FX54 also features the same ‘Boost’ function as some other DOD pedals (see above). Maybe it is not a cultural icon by any means but a good pedal choice for experimental noise rock and out‑there contemporary psych.

Feature – 1991 DOD FX54 Attacker

1991 DOD FX54 Attacker

1988 DOD FX56 American Metal – The FX56 is possibly the best DOD FX series for heavy/hard rock distortion. This is a bit of a brute. Subtlety isn’t its strong point. Unlike other distortion pedals from DOD, it doesn’t feature the ‘Boost’ on the distortion control. Instead, it was the first DOD pedal to feature a ‘Presence’ control to provide treble boost. The FX56 spawned two other distortion variations on a theme, the FX57 Hard Rock Distortion and the FX58 Metal Maniac. Very 1980s MTV ‘hair metal’ and all the better for it. Good one.

Feature – 1988 DOD FX56 American Metal

1988 DOD FX56 American Metal

1988 DOD FX65 Stereo Chorus – Late 1980s and early 1990s recordings were saturated with chorus effects. Chorus was trendy and everywhere. Originally designed to produce a sound akin to a 12‑string from a 6‑sting guitar or to emulate a rotating Leslie speaker cabinet. Chorus works by adding a small delay and a slight detune, making for a distinct shimmery sound that we recognise today as the chorus effect. The FX65 does a reasonable job amongst a sea of other chorus pedals out there but it doesn’t really stand out from a big crowd. Good but not great.

Feature – 1988 DOD FX65 Stereo Chorus

1988 DOD FX65 Stereo Chorus

1988 DOD FX80‑B Compressor Sustainer – In my opinion, the FX80‑B was the real let‑down of the FX Series pedals acquired so far. To my admittedly jaundiced ears, it doesn’t seem to do very much at all compared to competitor compressors like the MXR Dyna Comp. Yes, it boosts the whole signal but it misses the point of boosting a weak signal and limiting a strong signal to even out a guitar’s ADS (Attack, Decay, Sustain) envelope or to provide a blooming lasting sustain trail. I was so disappointed with the first example, thinking that it may be faulty, I bought a second and it was the same. Disappointing DOD. Could and should have done better.

Feature – 1988 DOD FX80 B Compressor Sustainer

1988 DOD FX80-B Compressor Sustainer

This period has also been one of ‘completing the set’ of MXR compact effect pedals. That doesn’t mean it is a comprehensive collection of all the multiple variants. Rather it is representative of the MXR catalogue during the 1970s and 1980s.

1980 MXR Micro Chorus – A diminutive little yellow block with just a single control and a footswitch, following the approach that MXR took with the iconic Phase 45 and Phase 90. Sometimes less is more and MXR proved that point with an effective mono chorus effect in a straightforward package. OK, so it isn’t hugely flexible but there is the large box MXR Stereo Chorus to fulfil that role. In a flooded chorus effect market during the 1980s, the MXR Micro Chorus made a credible and popular contribution.

Feature – 1980 MXR Micro Chorus

1980 MXR Micro Chorus

1975 MXR Noise Gate Line Driver – Another of those behind‑the‑scenes pedals that does its job quietly and effectively but doesn’t make its presence too intrusive. Used last in a signal chain, it is intended to reduce background noise and hum, common in high gain environments. Unusually for a stomp box, it also has a low impedance XLR output for Direct Input (DI) into stage/studio mixing desks. The ‘Threshold’ control is used to eliminate most of the unwanted noise without adversely affecting the musical signal. This example is a very early, rare ‘Bud’ box model, with a hand‑wired circuit and the spidery ‘script logo’.

Feature – 1975 MXR Noise Gate Line Driver

1975 MXR Noise Gate Line Driver

1977 MXR Phase 90 (‘Block Logo’) – A ‘contrast and compare’ pedal for CRAVE Effects. It is a complement to the existing 1977 MXR Phase 90 (‘Script Logo’). Both were made in the same year, both have the same circuitry. The only difference is the cosmetic screen printing on the front of the pedal. Yet, one is more highly in demand and attracts much higher values on the vintage effect pedal market. Why? They are effectively the same great phase pedal with distinctive and discrete aesthetics. You may have seen the ‘script logo’ stomp box before but both are shown here for comparison.

Feature – 1977 MXR Phase 90 (‘Script Logo’)

1977 MXR Phase 90 (‘Script’ Logo)

Feature – 1977 MXR Phase 90 (‘Block Logo’)

1977 MXR Phase 90 (‘Block’ Logo)

There you go. Possibly not the most exciting haul of vintage guitar gear purchases. However, they do help to fill out CRAVE Guitars’ ‘collection’ and to provide a bit more diversity.

“I’m always moving forward and trying new things” – Robert Redford (1936‑2025)

Final Thoughts About Recent New In at CRAVE Guitars

I would much rather have been getting some lovely vintage guitars and basses. Regrettably, I had to miss out on some very appealing vintage instruments over the last two years, as well as a couple of very desirable vintage valve amps. I really do hope to get back to what really matters at some point in the future. I am not downplaying the effect pedals, all of which are an integral part of the vintage guitar gear landscape.

Specifically on effect pedals, the quest goes on. I have a hunch that there are a few more DOD FX series pedals to find while they are affordable and before the ‘collecterati’ discover them and drive the price out of reach of enthusiasts. It’s already starting, so the fuse is already burning.

“Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow” – Ralph Waldo Emerson (1802‑1882)

As mentioned previously, the arbitrary cut off of year of 1989 has been relaxed for effect pedals with the most recent addition dating to 1995. CRAVE Guitars currently has a couple of newer guitars and several effect pedals that date to the 1990s, which may make an appearance in due course if the cut‑off is extended to 1999 – the end of the 20^th Century seems a clear enough ‘vintage’ boundary.

For the first time, the number of effect pedals exceeds the number of vintage guitars/basses. This doesn’t really matter, it isn’t a competition.

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths” – Walt Disney (1901‑1966)

Strategic Positioning of CRAVE Guitars

Having reflected on things generally, I don’t think that there is anyone else doing anything out there quite like CRAVE Guitars/Basses/Effects/Amps, which is encouraging. So perhaps a discrete niche has been created after all. Yay! Time to build on it.

The first tangible evidence of a slight incremental change is a refreshed CRAVE Guitars’ logo and avatar, featuring a new‑look stylised faded American flag behind the CR ‘body’ of the guitar part of the logo. I haven’t decided yet whether it is a short‑term ‘special edition’ logo or whether it might become permanent. I like it, although it will take some getting used to after a decade of the clean, plain logo. The high‑contrast logos will still be retained for use where it matters. There may be other variants in the future – watch this space.

I remain concerned that CRAVE Guitars is currently in a bit of a limbo (thankfully not purgatory) where it is what it is and there is only so much one can squeeze out of a static showcase. In order to become something exceptional, it needs to be bigger and more diverse. It isn’t a lack of ambition or enthusiasm on my part, just the real world constraints of time, space and money.

Rising price pressures on the classic ‘golden age’ (pre‑1965) are such that any increase in guitar numbers is likely to be focusing on newer vintage guitars, now that late 1960s and early 1970s guitars have also caught the attention of the heinous and rapacious ‘collecterati’, who prioritise financial ‘return on investment’ over musical integrity. For those who have been part of the CRAVE Guitars’ journey, it gives me no pleasure to report that ‘I told you so’. There is plenty of great guitar gear in the 1980s and early 1990s, which may add to the pressure to flex the arbitrary 1989 cut‑off for instruments and amps as well as effect pedals.

“Life is trying things to see if they work” – Ray Bradbury (1920‑2012)

As every guitar player who experiences G.A.S. (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome), CRAVE Guitars has an extensive ‘Most Wanted’ list of guitars, basses, effects and amps. It grows faster than purchases. At what point this obsession becomes excessive, CRAVE Guitars has to determine. I suspect that there will always be ‘more’ stuff to add to the ‘collection’. Hopefully there will be plenty more to come over the next few months/years.

Shifting the focus a bit, I have no current plans to monetize the enterprise, so there will be no advertising (another anathema) to obscure the content. CRAVE Guitars will most likely remain a modest not‑for‑profit showcase (or whatever else it might be). I am a firm believer that, unless there are unavoidable imperatives, organic development and incremental growth are probably the sensible strategy. It isn’t quick or exciting but it makes for a good strategic fit with my personal perspective on life, the universe and everything as well as my unending quest for uncovering the secret of 42 (thanks again to the awesome Mr. Douglas Adams).

“If we cannot find our account in one world we shall in another. It is a great pleasure to see and do new things” – Voltaire (1694‑1778)

CRAVE Guitars’ ‘Album of the Month’

A double (or should that be dubble) dose of dubby electronica trippiness for you this month. In the 2010s, British electronica duo, Alex Paterson and Jimmy Cauty (The Orb), linked up with Jamaican dub reggae legend, Lee “Scratch” Perry to explore what ‘dub’ means from both perspectives. The result was a pair of albums released a year apart. They are two separate albums but I prefer to think about them as a complementary set of tracks.

The Orb – The Orbserver In The Star House (2012) & The Orb – More Tales From The Orbservatory (2013): The best thing to do here, I reckon, is not to approach these albums from a critical listening point of view. That simply spoils the enjoyment to be found in the resulting soundscapes. Also, it is not a good idea to approach these albums purely from either The Orb’s or Lee Perry’s perspective. The blurring of dub electronica reggae tropes is what matters here. There are 22 tracks covering 105 minutes overall. Perry had largely lost his marbles and his vocals are a typical rambling stream of consciousness, so I tend to think of his voice as an instrument supplementing the instrumental backing tracks. Taking the albums as an immersive musical experience allows the chilled out listener to wallow in the laid back downtempo reggae electronic dub vibes. Groovy baby!

The Orb Featuring Lee “Scratch” Perry

OK, so they may not be either The Orb’s or Lee Perry’s best albums. However, that’s kinda not the point. CRAVE Guitars’ ‘Album of the Month’ selections aren’t intended to be ‘the best’ of anything. Rather they are things that I enjoy listening to at the time. I am usually unimpressed by collaborations or albums featuring a plethora of guest artists. On this occasion though, two offbeat artists combining to push the boundaries of what either artist would do on their own has resulted in something interesting (for once). At least that’s my take on the matter. Critics frequently state that both artists were past their sell‑by date by 2012/2013 and the result of such an alliance was unmemorable (true) and nothing special (debateable). That’s their view and they are entitled to it. I disagree, as I’m entitled to.

BELIEVE IN MUSIC!

“Make your heart bleed! Put your soul into that damn thing. And try new things” – Dimebag Darrell (1966‑2004)

Tailpiece

There you go, back to what CRAVE Guitars/Basses/Effects/Amps is really all about. Admittedly, it feels good to focus on factual vintage guitar gear again after a number of recent fictional diversions (‘The Distortion Diaries’ and ‘The CRAVEman’). I hope you enjoyed it. Let’s hope that there is more fascinating vintage gear to come in due course. In the meantime, it’s onto the next article, whatever that might be. Watch this space…

“Well I think any author or musician is anxious to have legitimate sales of their products, partly so they’re rewarded for their success, partly so they can go on and do new things” – Bill Gates (1955‑)

Truth, peace, love, and guitar music be with you always. The CRAVEman, signing off for now. Until next time…

CRAVE Guitars’ ‘Quote of the Month’: “Your imagination is infinite, boundless and unconstrained. You’ve just forgotten how to use it”

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30 Jan 2026

January 2026 – CRAVE Guitars Articles: The First 100 and More

by CRAVEGuitars | posted in: History, Introduction, News, Opinion | 0

Prelude

GRACIOUS GREETINGS GENIAL GENTLEFOLK. Here we are again. A warm and wonderful welcome to the shiny new Gregorian year of two thousand and twenty six, albeit almost a month old at the time of writing. I hope the lavish lustre hasn’t been tarnished too soon. The ebullient optimism ignited by the prospect of New Year doesn’t last anywhere near long enough, resulting in the inevitable anti‑climax of the dreaded January blues. One might believe that a new year and a new quarter century should hold a whole host of opportunity and potential. The trick is to find where that opportunity and potential can be tapped into, in order to achieve whatever goals one might set oneself. Simple?! No. Not really. Shame. Don’t you think?

So, what objectives does CRAVE Guitars have in store for the start of 2026. To be honest, given punitive previous experience, it makes sense to be selective within an external environment of prevailing global uncertainty and volatility. There are several personal ‘projects’ from which I have selected four priorities. The first and probably most obvious is to acquire some more cool and rare vintage gear to share with everyone. The second is to publish ‘The Distortion Diaries’ at long last. The third is to develop further the stalwart stories of ‘el jefe’, The CRAVEman. The fourth and least likely to succeed is to make some progress on the much‑needed, much‑delayed CRAVEcave – to convert the house’s cold, dark, damp cellar into a warm, lit and dry CRAVE Guitars emporium of sorts (showcase, not retail). So, that is four declared objectives. I think that three of the priorities are achievable and one is a tad over‑ambitious, so I don’t think they are unreasonable as aspirations for the next eleven months.

This Month at CRAVE Guitars…

The subject matter for the first gleaming, glittery article of 2026 is to celebrate an achievement that will have gone totally unnoticed. The topic this month comprises a cursory retrospective of CRAVE Guitars’ articles (a.k.a. Musings) so far and what that might mean for the future. The rationale underpinning this exemplary epic episode is hitting the milestone of 100 articles published on the web site. Even though CRAVE Guitars has been around in some form or other since 2007, blog articles published on the website only began seven years later in 2014. Even then it wasn’t all smooth sailing, as we shall see.

This month’s ‘quotes of wisdom’ are, perhaps unsurprisingly, about the achievement of life’s milestones. For alliteration aficionados, all perfectly present and passionately precise! Very few images this month I’m afraid, as this is another one for avid list‑o‑philes. As usual, no AI was used in researching or writing this article just Real Stoopid (RS) hooman ‘blood, sweat and tears’ (NB. although widely attributed to Winston Churchill’s speech in 1940, the idiom derives from, “’tis in vaine to dew, or mollifie it with thy teares, or sweat, or blood,” appearing in the poem, ‘First Anniversary: An Anatomy Of The World’ (1611) by John Donne (1571‑1631)).

The First 100 Articles

I am sure that it wasn’t at all obvious to readers that CRAVE Guitars’ December 2025 Musing was the 100^th article published on the web site but it was.

It all started so very innocent and naïve, way back in November 2014, eleven years and two months ago at the time of typing. The embryonic web site had just gone live and the first blog was just two introductory paragraphs and a paltry 186 words. December 2014 wasn’t much stronger, still two paragraphs and just 263 words. At that time, I had no idea where this was going, if anywhere. The catalyst for writing blogs was simply a result of the IT platform used – WordPress – which began as a blogging tool before it also became a web site design tool. WordPress required a ‘blog’ post page at the time. One thing that was clear right from the start was that I couldn’t blog continuously, like many others do. In 2014, I was in full time paid employment, as well as an unpaid carer; I simply could not commit to the pressures of a blogger’s traditional online presence.

“Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments” – Rose Kennedy (1890‑1995)

Over the years, the length and complexity of articles grew significantly. There were multi‑part articles, like ‘A Potted History of the Guitar’ (9 parts – March 2018 to November 2018) and the even more ambitious ‘The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts’ (14 parts – March 2019 to May 2020) – the longest series so far. Both of these series have unfortunately since suffered from the imposed retroactive removal of illustrative images (see ‘Things I Have Learned’ below for more on that).

Some while later, came CRAVE Guitars’ shortest blog in September 2020, the ‘Hiatus’, a heart‑breaking statement at just one paragraph and 62 words. I only intended for there to be a short break but it lasted three years (!) until August 2023 when abnormal service was resumed with, perhaps my favourite article so far, ‘Dub Reggae Revelation’.

As a result of the hiatus, it has taken much longer to reach the 100 mark than originally intended. Since the hiatus, I have kept up the discipline of publishing monthly articles covering a diverse range of subject matter. I have tried very hard to vary the material over the years to keep things fresh and interesting.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence” – Helen Keller (1880‑1968)

I haven’t regretted anything I’ve written so far, whether agreeable or not. That is, I think, called integrity. I am certain that I could have done things better but that benefit results from hindsight, evolution and learning (see below). I have enjoyed some articles more than others. I’ve already mentioned, ‘Dub Reggae Revelation’ as the zenith and the extremely short, ‘Hiatus’ (also aforementioned) as the nadir.

Up to now, there has been no comprehensive list of CRAVE Guitars’ articles in one place. The only other way to catalogue them is to wade through nine pages of Musings. In order to correct that particular shortcoming, here – without further ado – is ‘The First 100 Articles List’ (each link opens in a new tab)…

2014 (articles 1-2)

November	Welcome to CRAVE Guitars
December	Hi Everybody

2015 (articles 3-14)

January	Old Versus New Guitars
February	CRAVE Guitars Web Site Launch
March	Last and Next
April	New in at CRAVE Guitars
May	More ‘new in’ at CRAVE Guitars
June	From then to now (and back again)
July	Designs for Life
August	Vintage Guitar Supply and Demand
September	My Top 10 Vintage Guitars (So Far)
October	What’s New at CRAVE Guitars
November	What’s New at CRAVE Guitars (again)
December	What’s New at CRAVE Guitars (yet again)

2016 (articles 15-26)

January	The Guitarist’s Friends: Amplifiers and Effects
February	Why Do You Play Guitar?
March	A Temporary Change of Direction
April	A Matter of Personal Taste
May	New Stuff at CRAVE Guitars
June	What Does the (Digital) Future Hold?
July	Personal Top 20 Most Influential Guitar Albums
August	Guitars are Everywhere
September	Sitting in a Field Listening to Music
October	The South of England Guitar Show 2016
November	Where to Start with Vintage Guitars
December	A Year of Gains, Change, Losses and Optimism

2017 (articles 27-38)

January	Why music affects us in the way it does
February	Favourite Guitarists and Why
March	A Time of Change
April	How Much Music Theory Do You Need To Play Guitar?
May	50 Albums of the Last Half-Century(-ish)
June	At Last… New in at CRAVE Guitars
July	Happy Birthday: 10 Years of CRAVE Guitars
August	A Peak into the Pandora’s Box of Guitars
September	A Map Leads to Some Hidden Gems
October	What Qualifies as a CRAVE Guitar?
November	New In: Underdog Vintage Guitars
December	That Time for Guitar Lists and Stuff

2018 (articles 39-50)

January	The State of the Village
February	Dear Editor
March	A Potted History of the Guitar Part I
April	A Potted History of the Guitar Part II
May	A Potted History of the Guitar Part III
June	A Potted History of the Guitar Part IV
July	A Potted History of the Guitar Part V
August	A Potted History of the Guitar Part VI
September	A Potted History of the Guitar Part VII
October	A Potted History of the Guitar Part VIII
November	A Potted History of the Guitar: Epilogue
December	What A [Deleted] Year That Was

2019 (articles 51-62)

January	Old and New In at CRAVE Guitars
February	A General Update
March	The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part I
April	The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part II
May	The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part III
June	The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part IV
July	The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part V
August	The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part VI
September	The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part VII
October	The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part VIII
November	The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part IX
December	Out With the Old, In With the Old

2020 (articles 63-71)

January	The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part X
February	The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part XI
March	The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part XII
April	The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part XIII
May	The Story of Modern Music in 1,500+ Facts – Part XIV
June	Whazzup at CRAVE Guitars
July	More Whazzup at CRAVE Guitars
August	Even More Whazzup at CRAVE Guitars
September	Hiatus

The Hiatus – There were no articles published between October 2020 and July 2023 inclusive.

2023 (articles 72-76)

August	Dub Reggae Revelation
September	Adventures in Ambient: Music of Another Dimension
October	Return to and from Obscurity
November	Musical Machinations
December	CRAVE Guitars: Three Years in Review

2024 (articles 77-88)

January	A Brief History of the Bass Guitar
February	Zen and the Art of CRAVE Guitars Design
March	Artificial Intelligence takes on Vintage Guitars: Part I
April	Artificial Intelligence takes on Vintage Guitars: Part II
May	Artificial Intelligence takes on Vintage Guitars: Part III
June	Heavy Metal: A Periodic Table
July	The Fender Stratocaster at 70 and Counting: An Alternative Perspective
August	Get Up and Dance to the Music! Part I
September	Get Up and Dance to the Music! Part II
October	CRAVE Guitars Writing: An Introspective Inquiry
November	A Virtual Decade of CRAVE Guitars
December	CRAVE Guitars 2024 In Review

2025 (articles 89-100)

January	10 Things I Love and Hate about Vintage Guitars
February	Ikigai and Vintage Guitars
March	Eastern Concepts and Vintage Guitars
April	An A‑Z of Vintage Guitar Gear: in 150 Snippets
May	The Compulsion to Collect Vintage Guitars
June	Challenging Vintage Guitar Snobbery: A Cautionary Tale
July	The CRAVEman Cometh
August	‘The Distortion Diaries’: A Teaser Trailer
September	Vintage Guitar Gear Collections Within A Collection: Part I – CRAVE Guitars & CRAVE Basses
October	Vintage Guitar Gear Collections Within A Collection: Part II – CRAVE Effects
November	The CRAVEman Cometh… Back
December	It’s That Time of Year Again: CRAVE Guitars 2025 in Review

This ‘directory’ will probably re‑appear in due course under the CRAVE Guitars’ web site’s ‘Resources’ pages as an easy reference.

“Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead” – Nelson Mandela (1918‑2023)

Things I Have Learned

After 11 years and 100 articles (and goodness knows how many tens of thousands of words), you’d think I should have learned something, right? I also would hope that my skills as an author should have improved somewhat over last decade or so. Whether my abilities have indeed improved or not, I have no idea. Sometimes, though, it can be productive to take a step back, review, assess, reflect, learn and develop. The general rule is that incremental improvement is better than radical change.

The length and complexity of articles varies considerably. I have learned that more doesn’t always mean more and that brevity is something that I should seek to improve. However, I just can’t help my naïve, inexpert verbosity and tendency for pretentious flowery prose. Sorry.

“It’s when ordinary people rise above the expectations and seize the opportunity that milestones truly are reached” – Mike Huckabee (1955‑)

The content does need to have its prime focus on vintage guitars, although I have learned that focusing more and more forensically can be a rabbit hole down which it is difficult to retain objectivity and interest. There is only so much geekiness in nerd city that one can write about vintage gear before it becomes, well, dull and boring. American philosopher Nicholas Butler (1862‑1947) once said, “An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less until he knows absolutely everything about nothing”. I have regarded that as sage advice, so I try to nurture a broad intellect as a result. The mix of subject matter, I hope, counteracts the risk of dry factual content and inevitable repetitiveness. Did I mention repetitiveness? LoL. Variety also makes things a bit more interesting for me as well.

CRAVE Guitars’ approach has been, and still is, to publish one in‑depth article per month. Many bloggers publish much shorter excerpts far more frequently. My methodology is a personal preference and, therefore, a conscious choice. It is the way I work… and it is serious work as far as I am concerned, albeit unpaid. It is not a trivial hobby and it is not an idle pastime. I would, however, struggle to do anything more prolific.

For high frequency posts, CRAVE Guitars is active on social media, with at least one relevant post every day (except during the 3‑year hiatus). CRAVE Guitars’ social media presence kicked off in December 2014, shortly after the web site went live.

“Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as it is ever so on the road” – Jack Kerouac (1922‑1969)

The multi‑part series approach is one way to present a large volume of material in a digestible format. However, it also takes up a huge amount of time and energy to research, corroborate and write. Internet resources are – surprise, surprise – notoriously unreliable and inaccurate. Sometimes it is easier (but not necessarily better) to write a lot and to split it into a series. The problem with brevity for its own sake is that some potentially interesting material has to be omitted. Balance is therefore important. Duh! Splitting material over several articles is a matter of pragmatism as well as a concern for readers’ patience… and my own sanity.

I much prefer to use images in my articles. It breaks up the narrative and looks far more inviting to prospective readers. However, one component of the perfect storm that resulted in the hiatus was the aftermath of using images from Google Images to illustrate articles, only to fall foul of using copyrighted material. As a result, all non‑CRAVE produced images were removed from the web site and, retrospectively, from all CRAVE articles. This is not ideal but it is a harsh reality of 21^st Century litigatory culture and a key learning point. As ‘they’ say, ‘once bitten, twice shy’. (NB. A phrase that first appeared in the novel, ‘The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless’ (1751) by Eliza Haywood (1693‑1756))

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself” – George Bernard Shaw

Regular readers will know that I also like to use credible quotes from wise people to help illustrate the narrative. I think this works well and adds some colour to an otherwise monochrome palate. Contrary to what you might think, it isn’t just an immature tacky expedient.

Regular readers will also know that each article ends with a CRAVE ‘Quote of the Month’. These are my own original pontifications on life, the universe and everything (thank you Douglas Adams). The first CRAVE quote appeared in November 2015 and one quote has been present in every article since (making 89 in total including this month – another 11 to go before that particular list also gets to 100). I hope that the quality of these amateur observations has also improved over the years. I particularly like this month’s quote btw. Some snippets may be controversial but, then again, aren’t the most insightful observations about the human condition often provocative and potentially divisive? I will continue to poke ‘the hornet’s nest’ (NB. A term first documented in ‘A Compleat History of Europe’ (1705) by David Jones) when I believe that a positive prod is needed.

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit” – Harry S. Truman (1884‑1972)

Arguably, one of my most irritating tendencies is probably my peculiar penchant for pathetically puerile alliteration. It is one of my go‑to literary techniques and I will continue to be childish and silly. Sorry again.

Possibly also irritating are my frequent nota bene (NB. Latin, literally meaning ‘note well’) references, often relating to obscure European literature. I find words and their etymological derivations fascinating, so I try to litter articles with random interesting non sequiturs (NB. from the Latin, ‘it doesn’t follow’). Sic! (NB. from the Latin adverb, ‘so’ and meaning in English ‘intentionally so written’, dating from c.1856). There ya go.

“Learning never exhausts the mind” – Leonardo da Vinci (1452‑1519)

Another irritating tendency for readers is probably my very robust opinions about the need to improve civilisation, society and our environment, which I strongly believe is essential for the longevity and prosperity of mankind and our dependency on the planet’s finite and fragile natural ecosystems. When will humanity come to its senses and establish a civilisation with a strong future that is peaceful, just and sustainable? I cannot come to terms with the utter insanity of destructive global geopolitics at the start of 2026 and, sadly, I can’t see it getting better any time soon. If there is one thing in this irrational world that I could possibly influence, that would be it.

Back to writing; some general structural, presentational and consistency needs improving, such as title capitalisation, blog format and grammatical style. These have evolved over time and are much better than they used to be. Probably best described as work‑in‑progress. My late wife (her passing was another contributor to the hiatus) used to proof read articles before publication. Sadly, that last‑minute check & balance is no longer available to me, so errors may well be present.

“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life” – Steve Jobs (1955‑2011)

I hope that one thing comes through loud and proud is my unwavering passion for music – playing it (badly!), listening to it, amassing music CDs and attending live music events. The vintage guitar gear collection manifested directly from these cravings (sic!). While my main hankering for music collecting is roots and dub reggae, my contemporary musical listening tastes are very diverse.

One thing is for sure, I have learned a great deal from all the in‑depth investigation that goes into compiling content for the articles. That includes the process as well as the outcome. So, even if no‑one else reads anything, I now have a much better understanding of many things that are of interest to me and hopefully to readers. It has also made me think quite profoundly and fundamentally about a wide range of things. The result is that I have become a bit of a ‘jack of all trades’ (NB. an expression dating from the 16^th Century, regarded as a negative abbreviation of the more balanced ‘jack of all trades, master of none but oftentimes better than master of one’, suggesting a more versatile and adaptable skillset – the origin dates back at least to 1592 and Robert Greene referring to William Shakespeare as a ‘Johannes factotum’). I regard ‘generalist’ and ‘expert’ as opposing ends of a continuum and, arguably, the ideal position being at some point along the continuum depending on context – they are not mutually exclusive.

“The best way to predict the future is to create it” – Peter Drucker (1909‑2005)

AI will undoubtedly impact on all forms of creative industry in the future, including writing, music and art, either directly or indirectly, whether we like it or not. I covered the implications of the evolving technology in the 3‑part series, ‘Artificial Intelligence Takes on Vintage Guitars’ (March to May 2024). That is the only occasion where I have used AI narrative to prove a point – AI doesn’t give a flying fig what the subject matter is – it is a process tool but nothing more at the moment. AI, for instance, has no idea and doesn’t care what a vintage guitar is, what it is used for, why it is valued or its relevance to anything else. AI algorithms can manipulate data but it has no real insight – it does not have original ideas about anything at all – it can harvest data and output information but it cannot provide knowledge. All other CRAVE articles are the hard work of my inadequate, fallible, spongy hooman brainium.

I have, however, used AI for images, particularly for The CRAVEman articles, as this is the only way that I can bring him to artificial ‘life’ and produce artwork about him, even with all its inconsistencies and errors. Also, copyright currently resides with the end‑user (‘the creator’) inputting prompts that are then interpreted by AI algorithms (‘processing’) to produce static images, video, text, audio, etc. (‘output’). So, for the time being at least, I am on safe ground copyright‑wise. Once again, I have learned that judicious balance is the key here.

While on the subject of The CRAVEman; he has become the outward looking face of CRAVE Guitars while the author’s identity remains private and intentionally enigmatic. Who I am matters not. No‑one wants or needs or cares to know who I am.

Wow! That is quite a lot of learning. I hope, though, it gives a bit of an understanding into the process of bringing content to the customer. So, will these learning points change CRAVE Guitars’ articles going forward? Probably not a great deal because of the inescapable, finite, common constant and constraint – the human element, i.e. me. That, I am afraid, you are stuck with, like it or not. Apologies again.

“Sometimes milestones are not measured by the accomplishments of society, but by those of integrity” – Tamara Ecclestone (1984‑)

The Next 100 Articles

When it comes to future articles, I usually try to work on ideas about three months in advance, if possible. I also try to get around to drafting at least one article ahead of schedule while still editing the imminent article to be published. This takes a lot of the deadline pressure off writing. Sometimes, I run into a blank and have to come up with something I wasn’t expecting, often at short notice, which can actually prove to be quite satisfying. Sometimes, the material prescribes an agenda, for instance, the aforementioned 14‑part ‘Story of Modern Music’, which effectively dictated subject matter for more than a whole year.

One of the problems of not buying much in the way of ‘new’ vintage guitar gear recently is that I don’t have a great deal of topical vintage gear acquisitions to write about at the moment, which is a shame. Writing a web site feature is one thing. However, it tends to take things out of context and sometimes it is nice to write about vintage gear within a broader canvas.

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today” – Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882‑1945)

I have stated on many occasions that the work involved in writing comprehensive articles means that I do not have sufficient time to write/edit, ‘The Distortion Diaries’. I still haven’t been able to balance the workload to enable both in a way that I feel comfortable about. The pressure of deadlines mean that monthly articles tend to get priority over the novel, which is very, very, very frustrating. I must try to simplify and streamline article writing, so I can finally publish the fictional novel. Unfortunately, temporal manipulation (time travel) isn’t within my skill set to affect.

Some regular thematic content will prevail, such as alliteration, quotes, campaigning for a better world, musicology, etc. Some subject matter will prevail, such as The CRAVEman adventures and annual end‑of‑year reviews. When there is some vintage guitar gear to write about, that will take absolute top priority.

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try” – John F. Kennedy (1917‑1963)

I still have a question, which I kinda covered in my October 2024 article, ‘CRAVE Guitars Writing: An Introspective Inquiry’, so apologies for the reprise. Does anyone read the articles and are they worth doing? Now that is a very difficult pair of questions to answer. As far as stats go, it seems as though the volume of readership is very, very small. So, if the audience is so tiny, why bother? Ultimately, I do it because I want to write about these things, not because I want other people to read them (believe it or not) – there is a distinction, honest. As for the perceived intellectual or entertainment value deriving from the process, that is really not up to me to judge. I am self‑critical and I set myself very high standards but that doesn’t mean that what I write has any merit. Fundamentally, whether the content is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ has absolutely nothing to do with numbers reading something and, ultimately, valuing it. I don’t believe that there is an undeniable correlation.

Article writing is not ‘fun’ and it requires a substantial amount of work for zero return but, for some unknown reason, I feel compelled to do it anyway. I have tried over and over again to fathom where that compulsion comes from and, so far, I have failed to quantify the subjective cost/benefit attributes of doing it. I view writing in all its forms as work, regardless of whether the output is woefully under‑appreciated (Ed: a bit like paid work then!).

Will I run out of material? Yes, I will. Eventually. At which time, I will admit scraping an empty barrel (and mixing metaphors), accept it, and stop writing, rather than labour the point with disappointingly diminishing returns. Until then, it is business‑as‑usual. Whether the famine of inspiration dries up before article 200, we’ll just have to wait and see. At the current rate of one article per month, 100 articles takes 8 years, 4 months. That equates to mid‑2034 for article 200 ceteris paribus, so you might have to wait awhile to be certain. Having just passed one milestone, it is time to move onto the next goal; the journey starts here folks, with article (not room) #101 (NB. Room 101 was the torture chamber within Oceania’s Ministry of Love in which a prisoner’s worst fear was manifested, as described in the classic dystopian novel, ‘1984’ (1949) by George Orwell).

“Without a plan, even the most brilliant business can get lost. You need to have goals, create milestones and have a strategy in place to set yourself up for success” – Yogi Berra (1925‑2015)

Final Thoughts on the First 100 Articles

I want to stress at this point that I am not in any way an ‘influencer’ and I do not want to be whatever one of those is. I am not trying to be clever or to influence anyone and have zero ambition to be thus labelled. Unlike many is such a role, I do not have the right to preach. Just to be clear.

So then, one might ask, what am I? Just a regular nerdy old dude is the answer. Oh, and with the hurly‑burly The CRAVEman as my alter ego, guitar god and all round superhero. Duh! (NB. Hurly‑burly is an English ‘reduplicated phrase’ originating in the 16^th Century, as in the translation from Latin of, ‘The Despisyng of the Worlde’ (1532) by Christian theologian, Erasmus (1466‑1536)).

I believe I have two fundamental contrasting outputs. One is diligently researched factual objectivity regarding vintage guitars, basses, effects and amps, as well as a passion for contemporary musicology. The other is subjective flights of fanciful fictional escapism. ‘The CRAVEman’ and ‘The Distortion Diaries’ both fall into the latter category.

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” – Laozi (6^th Century BCE)

The writing process varies considerably depending on what is being covered. Frequent short social media posts, infrequent long monthly blog articles, feature pages for vintage gear on the website and, of course, the long-gestating fictional novel. I strive very hard to be adequately competent at all four, which can be quite challenging while also attempting to eke out an everyday existence in this inexplicably irrational world. Ever the idealist.

Some of this I’ve mentioned before; so please forgive the repetition. So, what is my motivation? Why do I work SO hard at CRAVE Guitars et al? It certainly isn’t for pecuniary reward – there is none. Nada. Zilch. Rien. Nichts. Well, I’d like to be remembered for something, in terms of a lasting legacy. Such a legacy, however, requires sufficient numbers of people to recognise something to differentiate someone from all the other someones, who are possibly seeking similar somethings (if you get my intentionally convoluted drift!).

Will CRAVE Guitars ever realise some recognisable measure of success? I’m not getting into a definition of ‘success’ here. It hasn’t yet. Nothing happens overnight, right? Well CRAVE Guitars has been around for nineteen years and online for twelve. I don’t think it’s going to take off now, so I am resigned to a modest profile, which is OK, as I don’t actually sell anything. I am ambitious but I also recognise when something has reached its practicable equilibrium. Ever the optimist.

“We are what we do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit” – Aristotle (384‑322BCE)

I am, sadly, not privileged with an abundance of wealth, which is something that so many worthless people rely on to make themselves visible (and vacuous). It is SO hard to be good at something different, as there is SO little original thought or action these days. Hard work does ≠ appreciable success. I do not seek fame and the idea of ‘celebrity’ status is a total anathema to me. It would be nice, though, if there is some hard‑earned recognition for my efforts. I certainly do not want to be like everyone else and I am content with my harmless and unique misanthropic deviance from societal norms. However, all that is simply not enough in 2026, with nearly 9 billion souls on the planet, all wanting ‘more’ of everything. Greed and avarice are repugnant traits of innumerable immoral individuals. Ever the humblest.

One thing is for sure, I have every intention to carry on writing articles until the time comes when I can no longer do so, for whatever reason. I hope you’ll find that encouraging. I would like to understand what readers would like to see in terms of content. If anyone wishes to suggest relevant material, I would welcome it and, perhaps, even see whether I can do a good job at it, as a challenge.

I don’t usually believe in coincidences but publishing the 100^th article just happened to coincide with publishing the 200^th page on the web site.

“Listing your personal milestones is like storing a pocketful of sunshine for a rainy day. Sometimes our best is simply not enough…. We have to do what is required” – Winston Churchill (1874‑1965)

A Short Update on ‘The Distortion Diaries’

Reflecting on the past decade of article writing for CRAVE Guitars got me thinking again about my work‑in‑progress side project. With ‘The Distortion Diaries’, (TDD for short – not the International Airport Code for Trinidad), I have only latterly come to realise just why the novel is dissimilar from my other writing and why it has become so important to me. It may be blooming obvious but it simply hadn’t occurred to me.

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished” – Laozi (6^th Century BCE)

Until now, excepting all my past writing as part of my paid profession, my unpaid amateur writing over the past decade or so has been available entirely via Internet‑based channels, such as web site features, blog articles and social media. Surprise, surprise, they are all digital media, only accessible on that thar hinterwebby thingummy. Thus far, nothing actually tangible.

‘The Distortion Diaries’ is, I believe, different. I want TDD to be read (primarily) in traditional physical book form, something palpable for people to hold, printed with ink on paper, one of mankind’s oldest means of widely sharing ideas, imagination and knowledge. TDD has the potential to become an expression of my creative spirit. Somehow, more ‘real’, genuine and authentic simply because of its physicality. Perhaps, this explains why I do not want TDD to become just another random record of an online opus made up entirely of binary ‘1’s and ‘0’s. How very ‘old school’ (NB. The term, ‘old school’ may originate from a pamphlet, ‘The Reply of the Country Gentleman to the Answer of His Military Arguments’ (1758) by Thomas Potter).

“The goal, and the ultimate achievement, is to make people feel as well as think” – Saul Bass (1920‑1996)

I desperately hope that someone, somewhere may (eventually) get to read The Distortion Diaries and it may even have the power to change their life, just a tiny little bit. This is an earnest wish. This epiphany is very recent and quite illuminating (and possibly a touch conceited). Apologies (again) for the soul bearing.

As final editing of TDD edges closer, any external assistance guiding me through the self‑publishing process that results in an actual physical book would be very gratefully received. A production run will be very low numbers, at least initially.

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us” – Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803‑1882)

CRAVE Guitars’ ‘Album of the Month’

Much has been said in CRAVE Guitars articles about my predilection for reggae, particularly roots and dub reggae. Most of the genre derived from the small Caribbean island of Jamaica during the 1970s. However, the ‘Windrush Generation’ (NB. named after the passenger ship HMT Empire Windrush in 1948) resulted in immigrants from the West Indies arriving in the UK from the 1940s to the 1970s. This influx meant that a significant Caribbean influence was present in the communities of major British cities such as London, Birmingham and Bristol. This vibrant culture led to a surge in British reggae built on the back of Jamaican popularity and the global phenomenon that was Bob Marley. Often overlooked, British reggae at its best was on a par with reggae from further afield. Consequentially, this month’s accolade goes to…

Pablo Gad – Trafalgar Square (1979):

Pablo Gad was born in Jamaica (date not known) and moved to the United Kingdom in 1974. He toured regularly with the London‑based reggae band Black Slate, becoming one of the most socially conscious and often outspoken UK‑based roots reggae singers. In 1979, he released his debut solo studio album, ‘Trafalgar Square’. The current CD release of the album on Secret Records comprises 11 tracks over 50 minutes including his most well‑known track, ‘Blood Suckers’ in both vocal and dub versions. It’s not a challenging listen and it may not be an exemplar of the genre but it stands out to my ears.

Pablo Gad may not be a familiar name to those whose interest lies mainly in mainstream pop reggae. However, ‘Trafalgar Square’ is, in my opinion, a hidden gem of the effervescent British reggae movement in the 1970s and 1980s. There are plenty of UK reggae artists and bands to discover, should you be so inclined. There is a growing interest in conserving the important musical heritage of that period with several homespun record labels dedicated to the task. Great stuff, worth checking out as complementary to the wealth of authentic Jamaican reggae.

BELIEVE IN MUSIC!

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” – Eleanor Roosevelt (1884‑1962)

Tailpiece

Well, that’s the first article of 2026 done and dusted. For next month, I think I will be returning to a back‑to‑basics article. That will rely on some preparatory work to be done before I can confirm. I hope you’ll come back to visit at the end of February to find out what’s in prospect. In the meantime, the nagging ‘call of stuff’ beckons.

“The moon is the first milestone on the road to the stars” – Arthur C. Clarke (1917‑2008)

Truth, peace, love, and guitar music be with you always. The CRAVEman, signing off for now. Until next time…

CRAVE Guitars’ ‘Quote of the Month’: “I don’t pray for a miracle. I pray that we become wise enough that we do not need miracles”

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31 Dec 2025

December 2025 – It’s That Time of Year Again: CRAVE Guitars 2025 in Review

by CRAVEGuitars | posted in: Event, News, Observations, Opinion | 0

Prelude

FESTIVE FELICITATIONS FINE FAIR FOLK. Maybe it is just a little too late to celebrate Christmas (or alternative) and just a little too early to celebrate New Year but generous greetings nevertheless. To be honest, I don’t like winter and I’m definitely in the humbuggian camp (NB. “Bah! Humbug!”, an exclamation uttered by the character Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ novella, ‘A Christmas Carol’ (1843)). A brief lull in activity at the end of an arduous calendar year (atrociously called ‘Twixmas’ by some) is, though, an opportunity to take a temporary time out from seasonal periodic pecuniary profligacy and reflect on things that really matter.

So, you may ask, what really matters? The answer to that thorny little question is probably different for every soul on the planet. For me, it is a determined attempt to improve our shared communities and to reject all that is wrong with our society. We all have a duty to sustain the good and to dispel the bad. We must not abrogate our responsibilities by assuming that it is up to others to benefit us. Humanity definitely needs better humans and it is the duty of all (well, most) of us to realise that hope. How long will good people look on and do nothing?

I also cannot let this article or this year slip into history without the usual earnest plea to work relentlessly for a better world. We should look after our ecological environment by respecting nature in all its precious diversity. It’s the only one we’ve got. We should look after our crumbling civilisation through renewed integrity, honesty and by securing a determined path to peace, security and harmony. You may think these ‘big picture’ aspirations are pretentious hogwash or maybe not. They are, though, what I believe. Didactic sermonising over… for now.

All the quotes (bar the usual CRAVE quote at the end) this month are all drawn from the vast well of wisdom that is the teachings of the Buddha (Siddhārtha Gautama – c.480‑400BCE). After more than two millennia, there is still a great deal that we can learn from the Buddha to help us cope with the modern world. NB. Buddha literally means “the awakened one”. The quotes used are some of those that resonate with my personal cultural frame of reference and which suit the tone of the article. These words are not about religion or faith; they are messages of wisdom and truth.

Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama c.480-400BCE)

“I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act” – Buddha

I know it’s predictable at this time of year and some may see it as an easy article to publish. However, it still takes a fair amount of time and effort to produce. As with previous years, the format of the article remains relatively static. If it ain’t broke ‘n’ all that. This is probably one for the list‑o‑philes out there. No AI was used in researching or writing this article. AI was, however, used to prepare The CRAVEman images – it is the only way I can bring him to an audience.

As the shutters of 2025 draw to a close, the door of 2026 is opening. Our friendly neighbourhood guitar god, The CRAVEman recognises that this is a time for change with, “The End (of the Year) is Nigh. Grunt!”

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly” – Buddha

Some of those that left the building in 2025 (41):

It is that part of the annual review that is always a sobering and melancholy section. My goodness what a shockingly bad year 2025 has been for those departing this mortal coil. A horrendous amount of loss. Not only the sheer number of souls but also the immense contribution they made to our culture and society while alive and rocking.

“Even death is not to be feared by one who lived wisely” – Buddha

The inevitable obituary list comprises too many artists that have provided humanity with some truly great music over many decades. They were all with us at the start of the year and are sadly no longer with us at the year’s end. Our thanks, respect and admiration go to the following, may you Rock In Peace (RIP).

Date Died	Name	Of…	Born	Age
1 January	Wayne Osmond	Osmond Brothers	1951	73
10 January	Sam Moore	Sam & Dave	1935	89
15 January	David Lynch	Film director and composer	1946	78
30 January	Marianne Faithfull	Singer and actress	1946	78
24 February	Roberta Flack	Singer and pianist	1937	88
28 February	David Johansen	New York Dolls	1950	75
11 March	Cocoa Tea (a.k.a. Calvin Scott)	Dancehall reggae singer	1959	65
5 April	Dave Allen	Gang Of Four	1955	69
6 April	Clem Burke	Blondie	1954	70
11 April	Max Romeo (a.k.a. Maxwell Livingston Smith)	Reggae singer	1944	80
15 May	Junior Byles (a.k.a. Kenneth Byles Jr.)	Reggae singer	1948	77
26 May	Rick Derringer	Guitarist The McCoys	1947	77
9 June	Sly Stone (a.k.a. Sylvester Stewart)	Sly & The Family Stone	1943	82
11 June	Brian Wilson	The Beach Boys	1942	82
20 June	Patrick Walden	Babyshambles	1978	46
23 June	Mick Ralphs	Mott The Hoople/Bad Company	1944	81
26 June	Lalo Schiffrin	Film & TV composer	1932	93
11 July	Vic Savage (a.k.a. David Kaff)	Spinal Tap	1946	79
13 July	David Cousins (a.k.a. David Hinson)	The Strawbs	1940	85
16 July	Connie Francis	Pop singer	1937	87
22 July	Ozzy Osbourne (a.k.a. John Michael Osbourne)	Black Sabbath/solo	1948	76
24 July	Cleo Laine (a.k.a. Clementine Bullock)	Singer and actress	1927	97
20 August	Brent Hinds	Mastodon	1974	51
6 September	Rick Davies	Supertramp	1944	81
8 September	Allen Blickle	Baroness	1983	42
16 September	Tomas Lindberg	At The Gates	1972	52
23 September	Danny Thompson	Richard Thompson/John Martyn	1939	86
25 September	Chris Dreja	Yardbirds	1945	79
28 September	Steve Whalley	Slade/Sad Café	1950	75
10 October	John Lodge	Moody Blues	1943	82
16 October	Ace Frehley	KISS	1951	74
18 October	Sam Rivers	Limp Bizkit	1977	48
22 October	Dave Ball	Soft Cell/The Grid	1959	66
20 November	Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield	Stone Roses/Primal Scream	1962	63
24 November	Jimmy Cliff (a.k.a. James Chambers)	Singer and actor	1944	81
3 December	Steve Cropper	Booker T. & The M.G.’s	1941	84
15 December	Joe Ely	Country singer/songwriter	1947	78
19 December	Mick Abrahams	Jethro Tull/Blodwyn Pig	1943	82
22 December	Chris Rea	Pop/blues singer/songwriter and guitarist	1951	74
24 December	Perry Bamonte	The Cure	1960	65

Also, notorious convicted paedophile Ian Watkins, former member of Lost Prophets, b.1977, was murdered on 11 October while in prison, aged 48.

These are just a few of the more famous/familiar names. There have been many other deaths in the music industry, far too many to mention. CRAVE Gutiars’ thoughts go out to all who have been affected by loss during 2025.

“Life is uncertain; death is certain” – Buddha

CRAVE Guitars Vintage Gear purchased in 2025 (11)

It hasn’t been a great year for CRAVE Guitars’ acquisitions. The cause was partly threefold. The first was a general lack of funds in a challenging economic climate. I think most readers will have been negatively impacted to some extent by the on‑going economic ‘cost of living crisis’, low growth, high inflation/interest rates, etc. The second was simply a lack of space at home in which to keep the extended family of guitars, basses, effects and amps. The third is a limited supply of interesting candidates keen to obtain the CRAVE Guitars badge of honour.

“Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have” – Buddha

However, there was a modicum of ‘new’ old gear to celebrate in 2025 (with links to existing features where applicable at the time of writing – each opens a new tab).

Guitars & Bass:
1966 Fender Electric XII
1984 Guild X‑79 Skyhawk
1983 Kramer ‘The Duke’ Deluxe Bass

Effect Pedals:
1990 DOD FX50‑B Overdrive Plus
1992 DOD FX52 Classic Fuzz
1991 DOD FX54 Attacker (compression/distortion)
1988 DOD FX65 Stereo Chorus
1988 DOD FX80‑B Compressor Sustainer
1980 MXR Micro Chorus
1975 MXR Noise Gate Line Driver
1977 MXR Phase 90 (‘Block Logo’)

Plus:
Non‑vintage guitar case for the 1966 Fender Electric XII
Vintage guitar case for the Guild X‑79 Skyhawk

“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea” – Buddha

The keen sighted among you may notice that there are three additions to the CRAVE Effects family that date from 1990‑1992. This prima facie undermines one of CRAVE Guitars’ ‘rules of attraction’ that has, to‑date, relied on an arbitrary cut‑off of 1989 as ‘vintage’ for many years. This ‘rule’ is basd on the manufacturing techniques used for guitars, basses and amps, as well as to effect pedals. Automation introduced increased levels of consistency and accuracy that tended to dilute all the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make vintage gear so fascinating and desirable. In some ways, the ‘1989 rule’ has already been broken by many of the modern guitar cases that protect genuine vintage guitars in the absence of original hard shell cases.

However, as we move into 2026, I feel more and more inclined to re‑assess and stretch that 1989 rule, starting with the effects listed above. The ‘1989 rule’ still applies to guitars, basses and amps, although I anticipate that the rule may well be relaxed there too in due course. I certainly have some gear from the 1990s that feel ‘vintage’ to me. If one takes the 25‑year baseline for describing ‘vintage’, then everything from the 1990s could now be included. However, if one takes a 30‑year baseline, it would include gear from the first half of the 1990s but exclude the latter half of the decade. Both baselines are widely publicised as a means of determining what is or isn’t ‘vintage’. Irritatingly, there really is no definitive answer and this isn’t the place to resurrect that particular debate (yet again).

I think the answer to this particular conundrum is for CRAVE Guitars to evaluate the validity of ‘vintage’ gear on a case‑by‑case basis. This means that there will be no absolute ‘1989 rule’ going forward but it is way too premature to introduce a ‘1999 rule’. Personally, I detest such a lack of clarity, however one also has to be pragmatic and realistic. Let’s see how things go in 2026. I think that passing the milestone into the second quarter of the 21^st Century is an appropriate time to test CRAVE Guitars’ fundamental operating principles.

In the meantime, the feature articles accompanying the five DOD FX series effect pedals mentioned above aren’t on the website… yet. The features should appear under the CRAVE Effects part of the website early in 2026 when all the content has been prepared. Only some links to follow at the moment (see above). Keep an eye on the website in due course.

“Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind” – Buddha

2025 album releases purchased (6):

There seems to be a trend to this article. Too many passed away, too little vintage gear and it continues with too few 2025 album releases purchased.

One of the weird outcomes from COVID‑19 (2020‑) is that there was a surge in creativity that seemed at odds with the pandemic’s effect on social and cultural affairs. That inspirational ingenuity lasted until last year, give or take a few months. This year, though, seems to have been the trough after the peak. Either that or I’m missing something important. The tangible result is that I only bought six 2025 albums. Of those, one was a remix album and another was a compilation of tracks from c.1970.

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared” – Buddha

I keep looking for new music but this year, that search has been a bit of a thankless task. Perhaps you’ve fared better. I hope so. Anyhoo… the measly six were:

The Cure – Mixes Of A Lost World Deluxe
Cymande – Renascence
Dub Spencer & Trance Hill – Synchronous
The Mighty Rootsmen – The Mighty Rootsmen
Omar Perry – Channelling Lee “Scratch” Perry
Various Artists – Lee “Scratch” Perry & Friends – Land Of Kinks: The Jamaican Upsetter Singles 1970

Of course, quantity does not necessarily equate to quality. However, a healthy equilibrium is undoubtedly a preferred state of affairs, I think you’ll agree. I sincerely hope that 2026 is a more productive and fruitful year for new recorded music.

“Fashion your life as a garland of beautiful deeds” – Buddha

2025 Gigs (2)

Well, this is getting tediously repetitive. It was also a bad year for attending concerts with only two notable gigs in 2025. Like many, I enjoy live music and it is generally being regarded as the saviour of creative music amid the blandness of corporate commercial crap put out by ‘the industry’. The choice of artist was largely down to my son, a die‑hard metalhead. I am always open to new music and new experiences so I happily went with the flow.

Cattle Decapitation (support: Shadow Of Intent, Revocation, Vulvodynia) January 2025
The Birthday Massacre (support: Lesbian Bed Death, Diamond Black) November 2025

The sentiment about new recorded music is reiterated here about live music in 2025. It is such an important component of the vitality and vibrancy that underpins the musical landscape. We need to support it, as well as enjoy it.

KEEP MUSIC LIVE!

“Through zeal, knowledge is gotten; through lack of zeal, knowledge is lost” – Buddha

CRAVE Guitars’ Web Site

During 2025, there have been many changes to the web site. The visual aesthetic has not changed and I think the look remains fresh and stylish. The overall structure also hasn’t really changed either. However, the content is continually updated or new material is added when there is something new to include, improve or amend. Many visitors may not notice the changes but they are there. More to come in 2026.

CRAVE (Cool & Rare American Vintage Electric) Guitars

“Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others” – Buddha

I have been pushing CRAVE Guitars relatively hard for a part‑time amateur and that shows in the web site statistics. Visitors struggled to show an increase in traffic over the previous year (2024) but this year (2025) has shown a significant increase in visitors. I am not certain why this may be. I don’t think it is down to the many minor changes or new content on the site. I don’t think it’s because of the monthly articles, as they haven’t changed in frequency. I don’t think it’s because of social media activity, although that has been consistent and focused over the last 12 months.

“In the sky, there is no distinction between east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true” – Buddha

The total number of visitors (at the time of writing) in 2025 was 70,333, while in 2024 it was 43,176, an increase of 27,157 (38.6%). The number of visitors hasn’t changed significantly year‑on‑year but the number of views has. From my perspective, I don’t know if this is good or bad – it is just a number without comparable context. While 70,333 seems high to me, it only equates to just over 192 visits per day. I am, however, encouraged by the growth of interest in CRAVE Guitars as a ‘thing’ and what it stands for. I am also encouraged by unsolicited feedback, for which I am extremely grateful. One thing is certain, 2025’s achievements will be very hard to beat in 2026, especially without a lot more content and different ways of looking at it.

“I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done” – Buddha

CRAVE Guitars’ Social Media

As mentioned above, social media output has been consistent across most platforms (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Bluesky Social and Flickr). I vehemently refuse to use TikTok on political security principles. I post content most days with at least one each day. The exception is that I haven’t posted much on Tumblr during the year. Due to issues over copyright that arose in 2020, I now only post my own material and nothing off Google Images as others do. This is limiting but manageable.

“The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows” – Buddha

The newbie in CRAVE Guitars’ social media output is Bluesky Social, chosen as an alternative and competitor to X. I still post to X despite my anathema for its owner, simply because that is where CRAVE Guitars has its largest following. That following on X has remained largely static or even declining slightly, hovering at just over 6,500 all year, which suggests that social media interest isn’t growing in the same way as the website and there is little or no interdependence between the two. Bluesky Social, on the other hand is building followers from scratch on a relatively under‑used platform at the time of writing – CRAVE has less than 100 followers at year’s end (88 to be exact). There is also not a great deal of vintage guitar content generally on Bluesky Social as at the end of 2025, something that I’m working to improve.

CRAVE Guitars Blue Sky Social

“Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule” – Buddha

Contact Update

The web site e‑mail address is constantly inundated with innumerable prospective messages from all sorts of ‘businesses’ offering the world. My blanket policy is never, ever to respond to such egregious unsolicited communications, even if I wanted such services – which I don’t! Their e‑mails are usually lazy and amateur at best. Even worse, they keep contacting me back, seemingly somewhat surprised and querying why they haven’t heard from me. Then, they start chasing me, like I owe them something. What the…?

The ‘contact’ page on the website is absolutely clear about my position…
“Please note that I will not respond at all to any unwanted spam or unsolicited messages from web design, SEO, sales or job speculators. While I am tolerant, I will not be taken in by such a crude and blatant lack of professionalism and respect. I won’t hassle you and waste your time, so please don’t do it to me.”

Judging by site stats, CRAVE Guitars seems to be doing very nicely without their questionable ‘expertise’. If they took just a few seconds to check my website (which they often suggest has been thoroughly evaluated and audited), they would be aware that I will not give them the time of day. If they can be bothered to get my e‑mail address, my contemptuous silence should be expected without question. To each and every one of these abhorrent time wasters, RTFM (of sorts) and [deleted] off!!! Genuine contact only, people.

“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth” – Buddha

The Distortion Diaries Update

There has been little material progress since the August article. Follow the link below for the most recent published update (opens in a new tab).

August 2025 – ‘The Distortion Diaries’: A Teaser Trailer

Having said that, there is certainly a very strong determination to bring Terry Wilder’s story to the world, as well as that of his band, The Imaginary Transtemporal Affair (TITA) and the Women in his gravitational field. Terry really wants to jump off the page and meet y’all.

Work on the book’s narrative is on‑going, not necessarily as a coherent approach. I write notes every day for possible inclusion in the final version. I am certainly not short of ideas or material. It just needs sustained intense focus, which is not very easy fitting in on a day‑to‑day living basis. However, I am resolute to undertake a major edit/rewrite of The Distortion Diaries in 2026 and, hopefully, get it out there for everyone to judge. All two of you! Lol! Still, the point is that I must try harder.

“The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one does” – Buddha

State of the Music Industry and the Vintage Guitar Market

Commensurate with other observations concerning 2025, I am sad to report that there appears to be a continual and irrevocable decline overall. Well‑known retailers in the UK have gone to the wall and the outlook for those that remain looks bleak. Almost every week, some relevant business goes to the wall. Many sellers seem to have abandoned physical outlets and have retreated to the Internet for sales in order to cut the operational costs of bricks and mortar retail property. This trend is deeply disappointing and potentially terminal for many businesses trying hard to eke out a living. Tragically, the best one might hope for in 2026 might well be a low plateau of stagnation. Not a good place to be.

“There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting” – Buddha

One recent stark example: Long‑standing guitar manufacturers are not immune to the harsh times. Sadly, the German company Höfner recently filed for bankruptcy. Höfner was founded in 1887 by German luthier Karl Höfner in what is now the Czech Republic. Unfortunately, longevity doesn’t ward off inevitable decline. Sigh.

In the UK, names like Professional Music Technology (PMT), Guitar Amp & Keyboard Centre (GAK) and Black Dog Music all went out of business in 2025 and that’s just the tip of the very precipitous iceberg.

“Everything changes, nothing remains without change” – Buddha

The state of the vintage guitar market remains unpredictably volatile. Over the last decade, there has been very little in the way of supply and what there is attracts undeservedly high prices – the unfortunate consequence of economic supply and demand. Collector interest seems staunchly conservative with the safe ‘classics’ attracting constant value (and therefore investment) increases, while the rest (i.e. the ones in which CRAVE Guitars is most interested) vary significantly with quality and values all over the place. It looks like 2026 is going to be another unpredictable year.

It isn’t just vintage guitars affected, the impact also covers vintage basses, effects and amps, as well as for parts and accessories. Not only have I been forced to buy less due to funding constraints but also there is less good quality product available at a reasonable price to tempt buying activity. I cannot see this changing any time soon.

“Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace” – Buddha

The UK market has shrunk into insular isolation. Disastrous Brexit consequences have pretty much prohibited purchasing anything from the EU. Trade uncertainty and restrictions (yes, you, USA) mean that transatlantic purchasing is simply no longer economic. So the story goes onward. If the negative effects impact CRAVE Guitars, it is far, far worse for businesses trying to make a living.

As mentioned above, the recording and performance side of the industry seems to be going through a patch of post‑COVID creative doldrums. No‑one wants another pandemic.

Clearly a ‘perfect storm’ of global trade instability, pointlessly destructive military conflict, political mayhem, social insecurity and cultural conservatism are just some of the interweaving impactful influences going on here.

Strategically, businesses will face a very challenging operating environment as we move into 2026. Moreover, it is going to be difficult to evaluate and implement options for a successful medium‑long‑term future strategically, tactically and operationally. I know that sounds depressingly negative. I don’t want it to be. However, it is hard to see much in the way of light at the end of the current tunnel.

“Change is never painful, only the resistance to change is painful” – Buddha

Seasonal Greetings from The CRAVEman

The CRAVEman wishes all readers a belated Merry Christmas and a premature Happy New Year. The CRAVEman has issued two portraits for you to end the year, one for each seasonal celebration. Grunt!

“Teach this triple truth to all: a generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things that renew humanity” – Buddha

Final Thoughts on 2025 and Looking Forward to 2026

While many of my layman observations seem negative, it is with deluded confidence that one has to look forward to the New Year and the potential opportunities it provides. If only irrational optimism and positivity was a self‑fulfilling prophecy, then we’d all be in a much better place. Hope springs eternal (NB. An idiom that derives from the poem, ‘An Essay on Man’ (1733) by Alexander Pope (1688‑1744)).

I would like to take this opportunity to say a big “Thank You” to everyone who has had anything to do with CRAVE Guitars over the last 12 months. If it wasn’t for y’all, there wouldn’t be a CRAVE Guitars, there’d be no point. So, it seems, we must now welcome in the New Year. We can’t avoid it, so we might as well go with the flow and take 2026 as it comes. As American poet Ogden Nash (1902‑1971) once said, “Duck! Here comes another year!”

Given the tonal balance that this yearly review has set out, I shall not make things any worse by continuing with the negativity. Nuff said then. Bring on 2026!

“Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little” – Buddha

CRAVE Guitars’ ‘Album of the Month (and Year)’

Last year, CRAVE Guitars’ ‘Album of the Month’ was also the ‘Album of the Year’. Despite the paucity of material from which to draw, I am going for the ‘sequel’ to last year’s pick. This year’s Blue Riband award (NB. An accolade given to the passenger liner that achieved the fastest recorded crossing of the Atlantic Ocean from Europe to America – held by the SS United States (1952). Now a term more widely used to signify distinction and excellence) goes to…

The Cure – Mixes of a Lost World: After far too long without a studio album, 2024 saw the long‑awaited release of ‘Songs of a Lost World’. While it wasn’t quite up with ‘Pornography’ (1982) or my favourite all‑time studio album, ‘Disintegration’ (1989), it was a monumental achievement for Robert Smith and the band.

While many decry ‘remix’ albums, I actually appreciate the best of them, albeit being a mixed bag overall. The 3‑CD deluxe edition of ‘Mixes of a Lost World’, released in June 2025 on Universal, comprises 24 remixes of tracks covering 148 minutes. The original album tracks have been remixed by a wide variety of credible artists including Four Tet, Paul Oakenfold, Orbital, Daniel Avery, Craven Faults, 65daysofstatic, The Twilight Sad, Mogwai and many others. Some of these are traditional variations on a theme, while several take a more radical approach of genre‑shifting immersive soundscapes. To be honest, it was a far better album that it could have been, so kudos to The Cure for being bold and not resting on well‑earned laurels.

In addition, all royalties from the sale of the album, go to War Child, a charity supporting children directly affected by war and conflict. They also challenge the unethical and unscrupulous tactics of ‘dynamic pricing’ for live concert tickets and despicably immoral scalping outlets. Thank goodness there are still some sincere philanthropic artists in the industry. Well done The Cure.

There is also a live version, ‘Songs of a Live World’ and a cinematic version of the live concert, ‘Show Of A Live World’. The album goes to prove that The Cure is a band still innovating, challenging preconceptions and delivering the goods. Thanks Robert.

BELIEVE IN MUSIC!

“The world indeed is like a dream and the treasures of the world are an alluring mirage like the apparent distances in a picture. Things have no reality in themselves but are like heat haze” – Buddha

Tailpiece

Well, I think we can all probably agree that 2025 was generally a mix of ups and downs for everyone, so let us bid adieu to it. It seems that the worst of the Covid‑19 pandemic is behind us; largely gone but not forgotten. Hopefully, though there has been an opportunity to value and appreciate the good fortunes that we are able to enjoy. We should not underestimate just what the benefits of peacetime and freedom mean in our culture.

“Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace” – Buddha

Let us look forward to 2026 and make it the best 2026 that we can achieve. To build a safe, secure and prosperous civilisation, we have to unite to eradicate hatred, conflict and division. Nobody is saying it is easy but it is worth it and good only comes from unwavering endeavour. For me, I’m already thinking about CRAVE Guitars’ article content for next year. No peace for the wicked (NB. A phrase derived and adapted from the Book of Isiah in the Christian Bible). Rock on 2026!

“What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: our life is the creation of our mind” – Buddha

Truth, peace, love, and guitar music be with you always. The CRAVEman, signing off for now. Until next time…

CRAVE Guitars’ ‘Quote of the Month’: “Great music cleanses one’s spirit, washes away one’s pain and removes the dirt that obscures one’s harmony with the universe”

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30 Nov 2025

November 2025 – The CRAVEman Cometh… Back

by CRAVEGuitars | posted in: Fiction | 0

SENSATIONAL SEASONAL SALUTATIONS AND SANGUINE SIMPLICITY this month. A simple salute from a simple somebody with a simple suggestion and a simple story to share. The simple salute is to welcome you once again to the weird and sometimes whacky world of CRAVE Vintage Guitars (or CVG – a new acronym for short! NB. Nothing to do with the 3‑letter Airport Code for Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport). The simple suggestion is an urgent restatement to respect and protect our shared home planet as well as to inject some much‑needed humanity into our fracturing civilisation. The simple story, which will unfold in due course, is a return to a realm of familiar fanciful fun and further fabricated frivolity (with just a simple soupçon of audaciously absurd alliteration, always).

Prelude

So, without further ado, we shall progress on to the simple story. There is not a lot about vintage guitars this month. Instead, the subject matter will return to focus on the simple founder, frontman and heralded hero of CRAVE Guitars. You have met him before and now he’s back for more. I am talking about the one and only The CRAVEman. He may be a simple soul but he has a keen sense of integrity, humility, morals, ethics, valour and an unfailing commitment to nurturing his nascent cherished community. What a guy! Perhaps this article should be called ‘The Awesome Adventures of The CRAVEman’. Seriously though, what’s not to like?

However, I do recognise that this sort of fictional fable may not be to everyone’s taste, so no grudges will be sustained should you wish to defer allocating your intellect to other matters this month and come back when there is something a little more, well, factual and grounded. Not much in the way of tortuous narrative this month; but lots of images for your diligent delectation.

“I cannot say who, precisely, came up with the idea of a Stone Age family” – Joseph Barbera (1911‑2006)

Previously on ‘The CRAVEman Cometh’

You may recall, back in July 2025, that ‘el jefe’ and nom de guerre of CRAVE Guitars was revealed to world in ‘The CRAVEman Cometh’ If you want to revisit his introduction and early exploits, follow the link below (opens in a new tab).

July 2025 – The CRAVEman Cometh

Due to popular demand (well, predominantly my own tbh), I have decided that The CRAVEman deserved a second outing to build on the mythology and to expand on the CRAVEworld (it doesn’t warrant a CRAVEverse yet because, well, he’s a stone age relic isn’t he?). It is here that he strives to eke out an existence within his small semi‑nomadic group while, at the same time, seeking to advance his musical aspirations. I hope you enjoy spending some light‑hearted time with the laudable leader and Rock Guitar God of his prehistoric people.

Full disclosure, the original images for this article were produced using AI and edited (I won’t claim ‘enhanced’) by me. There are a lot of inconsistencies and visual errors that have been left intentionally untouched. The reason for this is twofold. The first is to highlight that AI still has a very long way to go before its outputs can be regarded as genuinely credible. The second is that the faults actually add some fun ‘spot the mistakes’ and continuity flops (as well as, arguably, some peculiar, anomalous charm) to the ridiculous falsity of the whole product. What I will say is that, if creative AI tools weren’t available as a means to an end, there would be no adventures of the The CRAVEman.

Regular readers will know about my observations and opinions on the evolution and utility of AI, highlighting the potential benefits and significant risks of the fledgling technology. This is not the place to reiterate those views. Let’s face it, The CRAVEman is about as artificial as can be, so what’s the harm in representing him artificially through a bit of reflexive irony and satire? Given the evidence presented below, I recommend that you make up your own mind about the divisive worth of AI, past, present and future.

As ever, though, the words are 100% human with no AI intervention whatsoever. I still need to control something. As with the previous prehistoric expedition, a substantial suspension of disbelief is an absolute prerequisite for your investment to be repaid. I must stress that this tawdry tale and imaginary interlude is for entertainment purposes only. There are no serious real‑world insights whatsoever, just rampant ridiculous unreality. Do not try this at home, folks!

“The latest refinements of science are linked with the cruelties of the Stone Age” – Winston Churchill (1874‑1965)

Welcome to CRAVEland (Geography of The CRAVEman’s Domain)

Last time around, we followed The CRAVEman on his adventures in his tribe’s territory. This month, it is time to explore quite what that territory is and why it is so important to his community’s social culture and wellbeing. The clan is essentially a co‑operative with only informal leadership and followers providing any sort of class structure. You may recognise some of the characteristics from The CRAVEman’s previous adventures.

The CRAVEman’s world is located in a Stone Age cool temperate climate generally characterised by warm summers and mild winters with moderate rainfall throughout the year. Temperate regions are found between the tropics and the polar regions. Depending on how far north (or south) one goes, temperate climates are divided into warm temperate and cool temperate regions.

The CRAVEman, along with his compatriots live in a small commune unsurprisingly called CRAVE Town in a region known as CRAVEland. CRAVE Town comprises a group of humble caves situated at the foot of a small but significant mountain range. His hunting grounds include not only the mountains but also the forest, grassland, rivers and sea. All in all, CRAVE Town is a great place for a tribal community to settle, survive and thrive with many natural resources close at hand, such as shelter, security and access to abundant food and water.

There are few serious dangers to impact on the tribe’s wellbeing and prosperity. Wild animals and competing neighbouring tribes from the other side of the mountain range result in occasional risks to their livelihood but, on the whole, peace prevails.

To all intents and purposes, the extent of The CRAVEman’s realm is as far as his tribe can travel and return home safely, resulting in a natural boundary to his domain. Being a simple chap, he doesn’t spend too much time pondering on what might lie beyond the edge of his realm or even further afield.

“Stone Age. Bronze Age. Iron Age. We define entire epics of humanity by the technology they use” – Reed Hastings (1960‑)

The Latest ‘Adventures’ of The CRAVEman

Like last time, there is some sort of story behind the images. Like last time, I’m not going to spoon feed you with any sort of plot. Like last time, I’ll give a hint about his adventures through short captions for each image. You can take that as it comes or you can create your own storyboard and use your imagination to craft your own version of The CRAVEman’s cracking capers. It’s much more fun that way.

I grew up with comic books, manga, comic strips and cartoon stories – everything from Krazy Kat, Peanuts, Garfield, Calvin & Hobbes, Tin Tin, Asterix The Gaul, The early X‑Men, Thor, The Fantastic Four, Spider‑Man, Captain America, Hulk, Dr. Strange, Vampirella, Watchmen, Judge Dredd, V For Vendetta, Maus, Wonder Woman, Superman and my personal favourite, Batman (the darker the better), amongst many others. The diversity of content fired my imagination and inspired my alternative view of the world, albeit somewhat fantastical and a sanctuary from the cruel reality of everyday human existence. It is in that spirit of conjuring fanciful flights of fantasy that I’m alluding to when suggesting that it’s up to you to put your own slant on proceedings. Take it where you want and immerse yourself in his latest experiences.

Guitar Maintenance Time – The CRAVEman giving one of his CRAVE Guitars some essential TLC before it is put to some serious band use with rehearsals and gigs coming up.

Cave Wall Painting – The CRAVEman trying to document and preserved the images of prehistoric CRAVE Guitars for future generations. It is kinda his guitar collection database.

Stone Age Graffiti – The CRAVEman viewing some local graffiti done by some local yoofs on a rock face near CRAVE Town. While not showing outward approval, he kinda digs that his influence is having an effect on the next generation.

CRAVE Guitars Exhibition Time – One of The CRAVEman’s close friends acting as an exhibition curator, showing off some CRAVE Guitars in the hope of inspiring others to take up the cause.

Band Song Writing – The CRAVEman doesn’t rest on his laurels or past hits. He needs to get down and concentrate hard on some serious new song writing for his band and solo projects.

Shopping for New CRAVE Guitars – The CRAVEman suffers from G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) just like his modern counterparts. He travels far and wide to nearby markets to look for new guitars to add to his collection. A prehistoric guitar shop, if you will.

Stone Age Social Media – The CRAVEman needs to promote and market his band’s image, so he sets about some prehistoric ‘social media’ posts. He has to use a clay tablet so that he can spread the word and follow the band.

Pre-Gig Arrangements – The CRAVEman has a drink at the CRAVEpub before his band plays a big gig at the venue. The barman is also a friend and part‑time band manager, event organiser, as well as venue owner, so it’s an important meeting.

Pre-Gig Chat Up – The CRAVEman meeting a couple of CRAVEgirls at the CRAVEpub, getting to know some of his fans and potential future groupies. Times haven’t changed much over the millennia.

The BIG CRAVE Gig – The CRAVEman’s band – The CRAVEband (what else?) – plays a big rock gig at the CRAVEpub in front of many fans, not just his tribe but also from neighbouring friendly ones.

The Gig After Party – In order to capitalise on the big rock gig, the pub landlord also arranged a post-gig music club after party with lots of frivolity and fun for his customers and to celebrate a successful performance by The CRAVEband.

Solo Rehearsal – Not only does The CRAVEman play with The CRAVEband, he likes to rehearse some solo material and engage in a bit of rock music head banging, just for fun and to let his hair down.

Battle of the Stone Age Rock Bands – The CRAVEband isn’t the only rock band in CRAVEland. There are several up‑and‑coming competitors. The landlord of the CRAVEpub organised a ‘Battle of the Bands’ event to celebrate local music talent.

Guitar Lessons – The CRAVEman knows that the future of rock music relies on the next generations taking up his passion. So The CRAVEman also takes time to teach the local CRAVEkids how to play guitar and keep the vibrant scene going.

Family Rock Jam Time – The CRAVEman’s old man drops into the CRAVEcave for a jam session with his son, proving that The CRAVEman is a chip off the old rock.

Chillout Time – After all the community fun playing with The CRAVEband at the CRAVEpub, the after party and the battle of the Stone Age rock bands, The CRAVEman needs some reflection time with his loyal canine buddy, The CRAVEdog, while noodling on his guitar for relaxation.

Outdoor Guitar Practice – On fair days, The CRAVEman likes to sit outside his CRAVEcave and enjoy the clement weather while also taking the opportunity to engage in a bit of idle guitar practice to lift his spirits.

Admiring The CRAVEman’s Guitar Collection – Also on good days, he likes to get his impressive collection of CRAVE Guitars out, set them up outside his CRAVEcave and admire them for what they are, great prehistoric rock guitars. He’s also thinking about what his next CRAVE Guitar might be.

Prayers at the Altar of Rock Guitars – Before retiring for the night, The CRAVEman knows just how privileged he is in his community role and feels obliged to pray to the venerable Rock Gods for his own and his tribe’s good fortune and prosperity.

Time to Settle Down – Coming up to The CRAVEman’s bedtime, he relaxes with his CRAVEdog and does a bit of noodling before retiring at the end of the day to snooze and dream of Rock Godness.

“Ordinary language embodies the metaphysics of the Stone Age” – J.L. Austin (1911‑1960)

Final Thoughts on the Latest Adventures of The CRAVEman

Well, that’s it for now. The CRAVEman has exited stage right and is taking a well‑deserved rest after his latest escapades. Given the season, it is time for his annual hibernation until springtime. However, when I interviewed me, my alter‑ego confided in me (Ed: that’s a disturbing internal dialogue) that he would like to return. As Arnold Schwarzenegger (1947‑) as the T800 cyborg assassin stated in the film, ‘The Terminator’ (1984), “I’ll be back”. Keep your precious peepers peeled for the possibility of further exploits of your favourite Stone Age Rock God! What a non‑living legend!

There is no protracted pretentious pontification for a welcome change this month. No opinion, just a momentary pause in proceedings to reflect on the puerile panoply of prehistoric pictograms.

Finally, The CRAVEman wishes everyone a great start to the Happy Holidays season from Thanksgiving through Christmas to New Year. Have an exceptional time everyone. Here’s The CRAVEman’s Thanksgiving celebration portrait…

“Welcome out of the cave, my friend. It’s a bit colder out here, but the stars are just beautiful” – Plato (c.427‑347BCE)

CRAVE Guitars’ ‘Album of the Month’

Sticking with the Stone Age Rock theme of this month’s article, I’m going back a bit to the heyday of British rock. Appropriately, this month’s accolade goes to…

Deep Purple – Deep Purple In Rock (1970): ‘In Rock’ (for short) was English rock band Deep Purple’s 4^th studio album released in June 1970 on the Harvest record label, comprising only seven tracks covering just 44 minutes. The band’s line up at the time was the classic ‘mark II’ membership (Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice). Classic tracks on the album include, ‘Speed King’ and ‘Child In Time’. At the same time as the album, Deep Purple released their complementary classic breakout hit single, ‘Black Knight’ (1970), even though it didn’t appear on the original LP track list.

Deep Purple were on a roll in the early 1970s with subsequent albums such as, ‘Fireball’ (1971), ‘Machine Head’ (1972) and ‘Burn’ (1974). I don’t want to get into the heated debate about what genre this album represents. Some call it heavy metal (it isn’t), some call it classic rock (only in retrospect; at the time it was just rock), some call it hard rock (ditto) or perhaps it is just… rock (probably most apposite). Ultimately, it doesn’t matter, it was great pioneering rock produced during a prolific and innovative period in British and American music. It’s not my personal favourite Deep Purple album; that would be ‘Made In Japan’ (1972). However, ‘In Rock’ is a great album by a massively influential band at the time and it fits the bill for this particular article very nicely. It also showcases the band members’ prodigious musical talents, not least the guitar pyrotechnics of Ritchie Blackmore.

BELIEVE IN MUSIC!

“Maybe when all was said and done, the imagination was the most powerful of all weapons. It was the imagination of the human race that had allowed it to dream of a life beyond cold caves and of a possible future in the stars” – Dean Koontz (1945‑)

Tailpiece

So, my veritable virtual visitors, the time has come for The CRAVEman (and me, in my multiple personality disorder duties) to bid you a flippant fond farewell, at least for the time being. I have a funny feeling that the modern world has not seen the last of The CRAVEman. Watch this space.

Next month’s outpouring is very likely to be a predictable end‑of‑year‑review article, so not too demanding on the real stupidity (as opposed to artificial intelligence) front. Fare thee well from the newly titled CVG, fine friends.

Truth, peace, love, and guitar music be with you always. The CRAVEman, signing off for now. Until next time…

CRAVE Guitars’ ‘Quote of the Month’: “What you will know tomorrow is an accumulation of what you’ve known every day before”

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