The longest time a guitar has been with you?

[jasbo49]

47 years? That's assuming I bought my Yamaha FG180 in 1972. I cannot swear to that since I'm relying on my memory even though my memory and I lived through the '60s.

In any event, the sound my 1970s Yamaha makes cannot be matched by a lot of modern Martins.

Jim

[IndyHD28]

Originally Posted by jasbo49

47 years? That's assuming I bought my Yamaha FG180 in 1972. I cannot swear to that since I'm relying on my memory even though my memory and I lived through the '60s.

In any event, the sound my 1970s Yamaha makes cannot be matched by a lot of modern Martins.

Jim

Wow. I’m dumfounded by the similarity in experience. I bought my FG200 in 1973 because it was the best guitar I could afford then. Were they really $150 back then? That’s what my memory (faulty as yours) tells me. I finally donated it last year because there is no way it could compete with the expensive Martins Ive acquired since.

[PHJim]

The guitar that's been with me the longest is my 1962 D-21. I bought it when it was 16 years old. It is now 57 years old.


My guitar when I'd had it for about a year. We still have that old yard sale tenor guitar that my son Clay is playing (or pretending to play at three years old), but I don't really count it.


My old D-21 in a photo that's a few years old. Pretty close to how it (and I) look today.

[Frostie]

1948 Martin D-18, bought in 1962 (for $185!). Still with me.

[Ozark]

Very nice. Looks like one of my favorite guitarist Rickenbacker. Jeff Buckley.

Originally Posted by beatcomber

I purchased my Rickenbacker 330 brand new in June 1984.

[foxo]

Originally Posted by beatcomber

I purchased my Rickenbacker 330 brand new in June 1984.

The Rickenbacker has definitely aged better than the shirt.

[woodbox]

Well cool555,
my unofficial tally of the posts so far would put me about 5th,
with just a few weeks short of 54 years.

My 1928 Martin 0-18 was gifted to me on Christmas Day of 1965.
Grandma bought it new for Grandpa, somewhere in LA, but he passed in 1962.
She gave it to me a few years later cuz I had shown an interest.

Actually, I'd been trying to play Beatles and Animals riffs on it.
The bass line on "We gotta get out of this place" was my first big break through.
I was soooo proud and joyous to have figured that out by ear.


It appears RichardP is first, and Im behind jgmaute with her 1964 Martin, and a few others.

[jgmaute]

Originally Posted by woodbox

Well cool555,
my unofficial tally of the posts so far would put me about 5th,
with just a few weeks short of 54 years.

My 1928 Martin 0-18 was gifted to me on Christmas Day of 1965.
Grandma bought it new for Grandpa, somewhere in LA, but he passed in 1962.
She gave it to me a few years later cuz I had shown an interest.

Actually, I'd been trying to play Beatles and Animals riffs on it.
The bass line on "We gotta get out of this place" was my first big break through.
I was soooo proud and joyous to have figured that out by ear.


It appears RichardP is first, and Im behind jgmaute with her 1964 Martin, and a few others.

Great story Tim, I remember when I got my first guitar, an old tenor, the last day of eighth-grade, I took it to church camp the next day. I was so proud when I could play Em (2x), open, Em (3x), open (3x), Em (2x) Open Em ...then say Tequila ... not exactly the best song for church camp and the only thing I could play...I'm surprised I didn't get kicked out of camp and/or had that old tenor guitar broken! You know I love that '62 New Yorker I got in '64 but my '98 00-16DBR is a keeper too. Thanks for all the info you shared with me before I finally found mine. Joan

[Cool555]

Originally Posted by woodbox

Well cool555,

my unofficial tally of the posts so far would put me about 5th,

with just a few weeks short of 54 years.



My 1928 Martin 0-18 was gifted to me on Christmas Day of 1965.

Grandma bought it new for Grandpa, somewhere in LA, but he passed in 1962.

She gave it to me a few years later cuz I had shown an interest.



Actually, I'd been trying to play Beatles and Animals riffs on it.

The bass line on "We gotta get out of this place" was my first big break through.

I was soooo proud and joyous to have figured that out by ear.





It appears RichardP is first, and Im behind jgmaute with her 1964 Martin, and a few others.

Wow! Great story! A 1928 Martin 0-18. Filled with nostalgia. Thanks for sharing!

Would love to see a picture if it’s available. If not, it’s alright.

[Cool555]

Thanks to all who shared and made this an interesting thread to read!

[beatcomber]

Originally Posted by woodbox

Well cool555,
my unofficial tally of the posts so far would put me about 5th,
with just a few weeks short of 54 years.

My 1928 Martin 0-18 was gifted to me on Christmas Day of 1965.
Grandma bought it new for Grandpa, somewhere in LA, but he passed in 1962.
She gave it to me a few years later cuz I had shown an interest.

Actually, I'd been trying to play Beatles and Animals riffs on it.
The bass line on "We gotta get out of this place" was my first big break through.
I was soooo proud and joyous to have figured that out by ear.


It appears RichardP is first, and Im behind jgmaute with her 1964 Martin, and a few others.

The mental image I have of a teenager(?) playing Beatles and Animals riffs on a 1928 Martin 0-18 is just wonderful.

[difalkner]

Late to the party, but here goes -

'67 D-35S bought in Aug 1973
'74 Guild F-512 bought new
'75 Gallagher G71 Special bought new

There are others but they're less than 10 years old.

David

[ManyMartinMan]

Wow. What keeping power. As a touring musician for the first 20 years I rarely had a place to call “home” for long enough to accumulate anything other than my one guitar. Sine then I’ve sold the tools to fund other purchases. My longest is a 1969 D-18 I didn’t purchase until 2002. Not long in this crowd.

[woodbox]

Thanks for asking for a picture.
I'm no photographer, but here's a shot of the 1928 0-18 Grandma bought new and gifted to me Christmas of 1965.
I was 11 1/2, so just shy of 54 yrs ago.

Notice it is resting on the original case.
I have a newer 5 latch arched top Geib style case it lives in for protection, but the old fiber case is still here too.
And I have some picks Grandpa used as well.

As I mentioned, my first breakthrough was the bass line from the Animals song, but the bass line of Twist and Shout was next.
Day Tripper was a huge milestone.. had to use open strings.. followed by Roy Orbisons Pretty Woman.
Oh, and Paul Revere and the Raiders riffs were fun to work out... Kicks was a big one for me.

First chords were one finger versions of C and G, gradually adding second and third fingers.
And wrestling with the F chord.. oh my, what a struggle, and I loved every moment of it on my Martin.. my first guitar.
I have thanked my Grandma thousands of times.
Little did she know the long and far of her gift.

[kego]

Awesome guitar, awesome story and AWESOME grandma!