Brush with the blues…

My life is now almost complete. I have finally acquired a guitar and an amp and can now resume my musical indulgences after a 10 month break. But first some background.

One of my most enjoyable activities throughout the years has been my guitar playing. I started playing shortly after I arrived in Australia back in the 70’s. But even before that whilst I was living in Sarajevo I had always wanted one. I remember being bitterly disappointed at not getting one for my 13th birthday. The memory of that is really that strong.

I also recall shortly after arriving in Australia in the early 70’s and settling in that wonderful Melbourne “flatlands” suburb of St. Albans having gone for a very early morning walk down the Main Street. I walked past a General store with its front window completely smashed in. Lo and behold there was a guitar in the display. It was one of those Jazz flat-tops with a sunburnt finish. It looked so gorgeous. For a fleeting moment I just wanted to reach in, pick it up and walk away. There really was no one around so it would have been so easy. My underdeveloped, teenage sense of morality had a brief battle with my conscientiousness and of course the right thing was done. I stood there for what seemed like ages daydreaming of being a Guitar God, a famous RockStar. I ended up working in IT eventually.

But all was not lost. Within a week I had come back to the same shop with my Dad and we ended up buying my first ever guitar. It was an acoustic, 6 string made in China. It was actually really, really horrible. The action was about ¾ of an inch off the fretboard, impossible to tune, bent neck and seized machine heads. But it was mine and I loved it with a totally misguided devotion. That it would be little better than fire wood should have been obvious from the start. The store where we bought it also sold military surplus gear, camping equipment and commercial kitchens. I remember seeing the guitar right next to a 5 ring gas burner that was about a meter in diameter. It was one of those that can be used to boil a 1,000 litre vat. Something should have told me that their guitar supplies would not have been acquired by a master luthier.

So I played, every day, to the point where my fingers bled. But it was my best friend at the time and it had opened up the world for me.

I have gone through many guitars in my life since then. At one point I actually had 23 of them around the house. I am now down to 3. My pride and joy is my Fender Stratocaster Custom Shop which was bought for me by my Mum just before she passed away. I have always wanted a Strat but having a CS one is just so special. It is a superb instrument. A piece of art that you use to make some art.

When I left for Saudi I left that in Australia as I did not want any transport damage. But I was missing it so much. In Australia I had it with me at all times. Wherever I went it went with me and it would come out at a slightest provocation.

Finally deciding to take a plunge we went to the Old Khobar markets where I found what I needed. I ended up getting a BC Rich cheapo and a small Kustom DS35 amp. I am back in heaven working on my “Jeff Beck” type of playing. Just to be able to sit down and play along with Eva Cassidy or others is a huge enjoyment and really sorts out all the crap in the day. So it’s back to the blues and back to sanity.

On the other hand it has made me realize how much I miss being around my kids and their music as well as my blues buddies Andrew and Freddy. Roll on January. (Our annual leave back to Oz)