The One That Got Away!

I have owned so many guitars in my day that I sometimes forget that I once owned some of them.... many I bought on a whim, and turned around and sold soon after. Others, I had for a longer time but had to sell in order to buy other more "important" things. Some, I parted with quite easily... others, I'd have not minded still owning.

But there was one guitar in particular that I wished I'd held onto: My 198? Gibson Les Paul Custom which I bought in 1983 when I was in high school. I was too young and stupid to appreciate what I had, and a few years later I "traded it in" (LOL!) for a Fender Stratocaster—which turned out to not even be an American-made Strat (Rip-off artist of a dealer!).

Below is one of only two pics ever taken of a very young 62hofner holding his under-appreciated prize (note the posters on my wall in the background!). It looked liked the model Randy Rhoads owned, and I think The Edge has one similar to it, as well.

So, do you have a guitar you wish you still had.... "the one that got away"? Post a pic of it if possible.

Here's your Moment of Zen (and mine). I bought the exact same Les Paul Custom with the Cream bevel or whatever they called it, when I was in high school, in 1983! Got it from Biasco's Music in Chicago and it was a special order from Gibson because it's left-handed. It has the gold-plated hardware on it with the cool tuning pegs. It never stayed in tune and Gibson could have cared about it's craftsmanship back then. It came with a right-handed truss rod cover so it was upside down. I chose that color because it looked like the one Randy Rhoads had. How 'bout that, Hof?!

Well, that's just eerie, 834!

I loved that Les Paul, but I had entered into a heavy-duty Pink Floyd and U2 phase at the time... and I noticed Gilmour and The Edge played black Strats. I didn't have a lot of $$$ at the time, so I was in a "one guitar at a time ownership" point in my life.... and the Paul fell victim.

Today, I keep guitars I like and buy a new one if I want it.

I swear to god. A matter of fact, when I saw the picture you posted, I read first few sentences about Les Paul Custom. 1983. High School. And I thought 'Shit! Same deal', and I quick wrote my reply. After that I read your whole post and saw the bit about Randy Rhoads, and it was too weird, but in a very cool way. I went out and bought a lottery ticket after that because I thought it was some sort of freaky sign.. I have to see if my mom has any pictures at her house in the ol' scrapbook. I'm guessing there has to be because that guitar was just beautiful. Even the inside of the case was sweet. It had like brown plush carpeting or something. It was at the end of my junior year in high school and I remember it distinctly. Thanks for the trip down amnesia lane Hof. You rock!

I had a beautiful Gibson EDS 1275. I loved that guitar. But it was bulky and I wanted something lighter for the stage. I was a high energy dude and It was just too cumbersome. I actually started playing a Danelectro 59-DC (anyone seeing a pattern here?). I recorded an album w the 1275 and I put it away. I sold it when I wanted some other piece of gear. I hear the recordings now and I could kick myself for letting that guitar get away. To quote Chris Farley...

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!!!"

Originally Posted by Colonel Angus

I actually started playing a Danelectro 59-DC (anyone seeing a pattern here?).

Hmmmm... not sure, but I am suddenly having visions of Loch Ness, ancient Runic symbols, and dragon-emblazoned "Nudie" suits....



As a follow-up to the above..... when I walked into that guitar shop that day - to buy a new guitar - I actually had wanted a black Dano with the swooshing white pickguard. I told the guy I was into Jimmy Page and wanted one of those. He said to me, "Well, if you know Page like I do, you'd know he used that guitar primarily for slide guitar...."

So, slightly disillusioned, I decided that a Les Paul was what I should get instead....

Seems that, in one way or another, the three of us who have posted thus far, were living parallel lives in guitar land.

I got the Pagey visual too when I saw the good Colonel's post. I guess anytime I hear about a Danelectro I automatically think of Page.

Originally Posted by 834

I got the Pagey visual too when I saw the good Colonel's post. I guess anytime I hear about a Danelectro I automatically think of Page.

Yeah, Page was a big guitar hero of mine. And the Dano was cool. Even more so because I could afford it. I still have it, in fact. I actually use some Danelectro pedals as well. They are awesome.

Originally Posted by Colonel Angus

Yeah, Page was a big guitar hero of mine. And the Dano was cool. Even more so because I could afford it. I still have it, in fact. I actually use some Danelectro pedals as well. They are awesome.

If you look behind me in my pic, you'll see Led Zep "posters" (pull-outs from Cream magazine)..... and of course, my "Beatles Wall" in the far background.

I had a maroon Danelectro a while back when they re-issued them. It was a gift... but I decided I wanted an original "convertible" that I saw at a shop. So, I "traded it in"..... and that one was ultimately another guitar that came and went.

But the black and white Dano..... totally cool.

Originally Posted by 62hofner

If you look behind me in my pic, you'll see Led Zep "posters" (pull-outs from Cream magazine)..

I used to do that too but mainly from Circus magazine back in the early 80's. I made a wall of sorts out of guitar ads because they were so cool and I was just getting into the whole axe dealio. They even used to have awesome ads for guitars that were total garbage.

Since I see the post has been inactive for several days now, I hope you'll forgive my going off-topic.

62hofner, I've just seen your signature. RIP Murphy. Many years ago I had one that looked like that, too.

Originally Posted by El Gos Coix

Since I see the post has been inactive for several days now, I hope you'll forgive my going off-topic.

62hofner, I've just seen your signature. RIP Murphy. Many years ago I had one that looked like that, too.

It's ok, El Gos.

Thanks. We miss him A LOT.

Originally Posted by 62hofner

We miss him A LOT.

I'm sorry Hof. People that think they are 'just pets' don't have a f*cking clue. It's a huge loss and I'm so sorry. We have a collie who is getting very old very quick and it slays me to think we'll probably not have her for much longer. Having had dogs and cats around my entire life and going through the inevitable, I can certainly commiserate. Wishing you strength and all good things.