http://www.portraitillustrator.ink-corporated.co.uk/

Looking back, it still surprises me that 30 years have passed since I first bought my first electric guitar and in all that time I have never taken pen to paper…or fingers to keys, to share my inner most thoughts with anyone, let alone all of you who read this post.

Finding the Sheraton came about purely by chance following years of searching for ‘the one’…haha this is starting to sound like The Pick of Destiny! I have played vintage Gibson 335′s (never owned but played) yet somehow nothing ever felt quite right. Was it string tension, the size, weight? Do all musicians experience this when looking to invest in an instrument? Cleary entering the vintage market is an expensive investment and I had considered it.

Then I spotted a rare late 80′s Korean built Epiphone by Gibson Sheraton II, with case. The seller had pointed out the pickups were possibly not original and certainly the stop tail piece wasn’t. I apologise in advance if this post becomes a little geeky…I’ll do my best to avoid venturing into written muso clichés such as ‘cathedrals of sound’. But there was something about this guitar that showed a hidden history. Both from its well played appearance to the aroma which emanated from the case the moment you opened it up. Subtle hint of cigar, with a dash of musty jazz club perhaps.

If the pickups weren’t original, they had been a professional installation many years ago and I discovered the hidden DiMarzio branding. The sound amplified…sublime. The neck pick up was incredibly smooth! The action was so low with no buzzing. What had I found here? I just loved the rock and jazz tones this guitar produced and it was so easy to play. Then I set about finding a Gibson TP-6 fine tune tail piece, to replace the chrome example which stood out like a Baboons arse on heat.

Fantastic. A used TP-6 appeared on eBay and at a bargain price. Once installed, it looked as though it had always been there. What I hadn’t counted on was the increase in tone from the guitar. In the early 90′s I had owned a Gibson E2 Explorer which had a TP-6 as standard and I loved it, hence the need to find one for the Sheraton. I had no idea what a difference this small addition could make to an instruments tone. I loved it.

Close inspection of the Sheraton thereafter, showed where previous capo use had been on the aged binding. Two of the frets had been skillfully replaced. The case showed evidence of Canadian origins. Where had this guitar been? Who had owned it? Sadly only the serial number would date the guitars build. But it didn’t matter. It was a joy to play, every time.

So why part with it you ask? Are you crazy? Possibly, but sometimes your head has to overrule your heart. My collection of guitars had reached its limit. The house was getting smaller since becoming a father, which I have to add, is a joy. Setting up in business for myself and sharing child care duties, has all contributed to the fact that I was only ever going to find time to play one guitar. ‘Keep it under the bed’ I hear you cry! If only there was room!

Going back to the start of this post, I mentioned how sad it is to part with a guitar…any guitar I guess. It’s an instrument which in the right hands (not saying mine are of course) can produce such emotion, beauty and power. With so many genres of music, of which I enjoy playing many, I could never find one guitar for all reasons. Yes you have guitar modeling now, but it’s not the same to experience different makes of guitars in your hand. It’s quite addictive and then it becomes a problem unless you are fortunate to have a music room. One day…one day I keep telling myself.

The guitar now resides south of London and is being enjoyed and regularly played in a Jazz band. This really pleases me. It shouldn’t stay under a bed only to see daylight for 5mins once or twice a week. As with all instruments that age and are gigged, their tone simply gets better. Needless to say, the new owner is delighted.

“My Profile picture is of the true master of that guitar.. the last two night all I did was to try do that guitars legacy a small bit of justice.. Rory was one of the best of all time and the privilege of playing that guitar is truly a life changing experience .. Thank you Donal and Dan Gallagher..” Joe Bonamassa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxzQZyVR10w

”It’s official: Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock has the most epically prog-rock sequence of any music video game yet. Rush have teamed with Activision for the fall release, which features a story-based Quest Mode that includes with hero wannabes playing the entirety of “2112,” a seven-part suite from the Canadian band’s 1976 album of the same name.”

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/183022#ooid=JmeG5rMTr-QydN_lk1kz3HSdCSkCF-Py

Seriously cool for die hard fans of Rush!

Jed Thomas Band / Dave McHugh Band

Classic Grand Friday 3rd Sept

Doors 6.30pm Show 7pm till 10.30pm

Tickets £10.00

This year see’s the 40th anniversary of the release of the first official Taste album and I’m looking forward to hearing how Polidor/Universal may ( still speculative ) mark the occasion.

One day I hope to get my hands on a Fender Rory Gallagher Stratocaster…I’ve played only one on a vist to Edinburgh and the guitar felt like it was the only one you had ever played or wanted to play. Maybe sometime in the future when the pound fairs a little better against the dollar!

''When we were kids everyone else wanted to be a fireman or a train driver, but Rory always just wanted to be a musician' Donal Gallagher