So I went out ramblin’ with pops yesterday.

We picked a direction, it happened to be West.

“We got a full tank a gas.  Half a pack of ciggs.  It’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses.  Hit it.”

Next thing you know were in some little town driving around looking for gems.  We check out a few gun shops, and a few music stores.  Nothing of note.

On the way out of town, I spy a hole-in-the-wall music store.  Whip into the parking lot hard enough to get Dad to ask “What the hell are you doing?”.  Chuckling I just point at the sign.  He opts to stay in the car this time.

The signage out front claims: Fine and Vintage Instruments                            Hmmmm….we shall see.

Well crap the bed Fred, they were not lying.  Inside is more cool stuff than you can shake a stick at.  Great amps, stomp boxes, guitars, basses, mandolins, banjos, you name it.

Of note:

Vintage Carvin tube head
Orange Tiny Terror
Fully scalloped Fender Strat (ala Ritchey Blackmore)
Vintage Music Man amp
A few nice Marshall Heads. Tube and Solid State

A full blown San Dimas Charvel.  Wow, this thing played like a dream!  I thought it might be one of the cheap knock off’s.  Maple fret board, custom p/u and the whole nine.

A Fender Eric Clapton signature with the Lace Sensor p/u.  This thing was $money$.

A Yamaha classical that had a SOLID mahogany top that sounded waaaay better than the $150.00 price tag.  I could not believe how well this thing sounded and played.  Nice booming sound.

Now…for the real money.

A vintage, honest to goodness Kazuo Yairi Masterworks.  Full blown.  I have never even been able to see one, let alone hold and play one.  It’s one of the vintage era that has the hand carved headstocks.  He was asking $600.00 for it.  Seeing that it’s sat in the store for over 3 months, I think I can negotiate an even better deal with him.  Can’t hurt to ask?

I sat and played inside for so long, that pops comes in, smirking.  He figured I must have found something cool enough to keep me that long.

There was so much stuff in there that I wanted to go home with, it was not even funny.

I think Monday, I may have to go back.