Your First Electric Guitar (and, do you still have it?)

[TheX]

72 Gibby LP in cherry sunburst. Sold it for about what I paid for it new in '72 about 4 years later (~300 bucks).

 

That's the one I really wish I still had.

[L1Picker]

My first guitar was an unplayable Sears Silvertone archtop acoustic. My first electric was a poor copy of a Strat that had a body that was about 1/2" thick, pickups that were covered in aluminum foil, and wouldn't stay in tune. It did however keep me interested enough to keep chugging away until I found a guitar that actually stayed in tune and could sound decent...a Univox Les Paul copy.

[Notes_Norton]

Bob' date=' is that the one in your photo, with your Casino, or a different one? I notice

it's the "long neck" version (like a 335), which are really rare, seemingly?

Good score!

CB[/quote']

 

That is the one (guilty as charged).

 

I bought it thinking it was a 335 (I had only doubled on the guitarist in the band's guitars at that time). Turned out to be better for me than the 335. It's lighter, I can practice without an amp, and it showed me just how nice P90s sound.

 

The long necks are definitely uncommon and from what I've read, only appeared in the later models. I think mine is a 1970 model (has a serial number that is low for '70 but has the Made In U.S.A. stamp on the back). I think it is a beauty.

 

It's worth a lot more than the $300 I paid for it, but it definitely is not for sale. If I had a crystal ball, I would have bought dozens of $300 guitars back then and retire on the profits (they would have been a much better investment than any stock I've ever bought).

 

Notes

[metalhed717]

my first was a Squier Affintiy Strat, which i still have... considering i only have two electrics. all stock still except for a new black pickguard (that didnt fit well). starting to think about modding it, but not sure yet

[setisan]

mid '70s Fender P-bass.. still have it, always will.

[Svet]

The first guitar I ever learned on was a Cort strat copy that a friend had lent me. I used this for a year or so and when my father saw that it wasn't just a fad he decided to buy me one for my 15th birthday. He went all out and got me a Fender Strat Plus. My first amp was a sold state Crate which is long gone. I still have the guitar and below are some pictures:

 

 

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[osueric27]

My irst guitar was a Sears SG copy with a Dean Markley practice amp. My parents then bought me a Kramer Stryker in 1984 which I still have. I actually play it a lot. Ater that I bought a 1980 Gibby Silverburst(Before Adam Jones made them popular). Then a number of Epi LP's which I have modded and sold and modded and sold and.........you get the picture.

[pohatu771]

Times have certainly changed... I read Clapton's autobiography, and he said he started with a Hoyer (which weren't all bad... stupid me passed up a vintage 12-string for $50 one day), John started with his Gallotone, George built his own, and Paul played a Zenith.

 

And here I am, my first guitar had a Fender logo.

 

A small Fender logo, at least.

 

I started with a Squier Stratocaster from a "Stop Dreaming, Start Playing" kit.

 

And do you know why I bought that? Because the store was going out of business, all guitars were 40% off, and I had no idea. All I knew is that for $112, I could buy a guitar with an amplifier. I paid another $8 for a stand.

[charlie brown]

Times have indeed changed. My Strat (new in '64) was a birthday gift, from my Mom, and was $280 including case.

In today's dollars, that translates to over $1600! She was working two jobs, was recently widowed, at the time (Dad

died, when I was 12), and though not "poor," we weren't rich, by any means. I've been (seriously) offered 25 Grand,

for it....but, it's the one guitar, I own, that I will never sell! Took it into her hospital room, the summer before she passed away (at 94)

and played some "Beatles" songs, on it. She got me out of bed, one night in January 1964, to "come see this new group, from England,

called The Beatles," that was being shown, in a newsclip, on the Jack Parr Show (later known as, The Tonight Show)!

Love all my guitars...truly do,

but that one has very special meaning, to me.

[charlie brown]

Times have indeed changed. My Strat (new in '64) was a 14th birthday gift, from my Mom, and was $280 including case.

In today's dollars, that translates to over $1600! She was working two jobs, was recently widowed, at the time (Dad

died, when I was 12), and though not "poor," we weren't rich, by any means. I've been (seriously) offered 25 Grand,

(10 years ago) for it....but, it's the one guitar, I own, that I will never sell! Took it into her hospital room,

the summer before she passed away (at 94) and played some "Beatles" songs, on it.

She got me out of bed, one night in January 1964, to "come see this new group, from England,

called The Beatles," that was being shown, in a newsclip, on the Jack Parr Show (later known as, The Tonight Show)!

Love all my guitars...truly do, but that one has very special meaning, to me.

[Svet]

Hi Charlie, we need some pictures of that Strat! Like you I lost a parent when I was young. My mother died a couple weeks after my 13th bday. I don't think I'll ever get rid of almost all of my guitars but the one that will always be safe is that Strat plus. Please share some pictures of that 64 strat! It is 12 years my senior!

Svet

[Ron G]

My first electric was a Harmony H14 like the one below. Got it new in 1966, along with a Magnatone amp that even had tremolo. Long gone.

[charlie brown]

That's the exact model, my buddy used to let me play, prior to my getting my "Strat!"

LOL! That's the exact same model...finish, too! Cool!

 

CB

[charlie brown]

Hi Charlie' date=' we need some pictures of that Strat! Like you I lost a parent when I was young. My mother died a couple weeks after my 13th bday. I don't think I'll ever get rid of almost all of my guitars but the one that will always be safe is that Strat plus. Please share some pictures of that 64 strat! It is 12 years my senior!

Svet[/quote']

 

Well, if I only knew how, and my digital camera worked, I would! But, I'll try to figure out how I could

do that, and post some, as soon as I do.

 

Sorry, for the loss of your Mom, too.

 

CB

[JEPI]

I paid $5.00 for my first guitar, "Earl", in 1962 and I still have it. (many war stories throughout the years). It's a 3/4 gut string, I think made in Mexico, the sticker inside said "La Valenciana" and I've had several repairs done to it; too many to go into but I did install a Fishman undersaddle transducer. (I played it Monday night for about 3 hours). My first electric was a mid '60's Gibson ES330; long gone. Here's a picture of Earl.......J

 

[Benniator1281733997]

My first electric is my first guitar: an '07 Epi Les Paul Custom in Wine Red.

 

 

 

<------------- right there.

[Guest]

Times have certainly changed... I read Clapton's autobiography' date=' and he said he started with a Hoyer (which weren't all bad... stupid me passed up a vintage 12-string for $50 one day), John started with his Gallotone, George built his own, and Paul played a Zenith.

 

And here I am, my first guitar had a Fender logo.

 

A small Fender logo, at least.

 

I started with a Squier Stratocaster from a "Stop Dreaming, Start Playing" kit.

 

And do you know why I bought that? Because the store was going out of business, all guitars were 40% off, and I had no idea. All I knew is that for $112, I could buy a guitar with an amplifier. I paid another $8 for a stand.[/quote']

 

George built what?....George's first guitar was a Dutch-made Egmond and cost £2.50 (about $9 USD) in about 1956.

 

My first 'real' guitar was a Goya classical that I just had to have after seeing a classical guitarist in concert on a school field trip (The Beatles helped but I was into guitars before the Beatles arrived) and it cost about $85 in 1964. I sold that to a cousin a year or so later and acquired an early 50's Gibson J-50 ($150) but that was stolen and then I bought a brand new at the time '65 Epiphone Texan ($220-that I still have but isn't the best playing being that it needs to have the neck reset). In 1968 I bought a Burns Jazz Split Sound and a Gibson GA-40 amp with my paper route money and joined a band. A year or so later I acquired an Epiphone Crestwood Custom and a year or two after that I got a '65 Epiphone Riviera so I guess you can see why I'm at this forum lol.

 

...and Al's your uncle.

[alex9152]

my first was a Squier Affintiy Strat' date=' which i still have... considering i only have two electrics. all stock still except for a new black pickguard (that didnt fit well). starting to think about modding it, but not sure yet[/quote']

Almost exactly like what I started on, except my Squier's bridge conked out on me and I had to replace it. I'm also thinking of modding my Squier.

 

Let me guess, it was in one of the Strat Packs?

 

The rest of you make me feel too young for this place, with your talking about starting on 60s era cheapies.

[pohatu771]

 

George built what?....George's first guitar was a Dutch-made Egmond and cost £2.50 (about $9 USD) in about 1956.

 

According to the Fab Guitars website, Paul claims that George built his first guitar, a Hawaiian.

 

I wasn't sure which one to list when I wrote that earlier.

[bluesstringer]

CB - I actually bought a truetone thick jazz box about five years ago in Georgetown, in Wash D.C at a flea market with six other guitars for @200 bucks. Of the lot, I first sold an old Hagstrom acoustic with imperial tuners for $500 that needed a new nut, A tiesco bass to some Japanese collector for $200 that also needed a nut, A kapa continental made for Veneman music in Rockville Md in the 70's that just needed strings for $300, A 60's Silvertone by Dano, amp in case for $400, amp needed tubes, HAD ONE OF THOSE EARLY ON TOO, NECK LIKE A 2 X 4, and an old yamaha fully bound acoustic with a crack in the back for $200. All had cases.

 

My point in all this (good find huh ?) was the truetone, the only one I wish I had kept. It was a 3 3/4 archtop jazzbox with a single florentine cutaway and three humbuckers. I had to replace all the pickups, pots, switch, and all wiring, nut, and all hardware. This guitar was a killer when i finished. I refinished it, had the tailpiece re-chromed, and replaced the truss rod which was broken when I got it. My buddies thought I was nuts for putting $300 or so in it but ended up finally talking me out of it for $600. Pretty good haul overall. I'm going to have visit that flea market again someday.

[charlie brown]

Bluesstringer...great story. My "Truetone," was (most likely) bottom end, of that brand. It was a round holed flat-top,

with very much the 2x4 neck, even though it was nicely rounded on the back. But the action was "Gawd awful!" There

was no adjustable truss rod, and the "binding" was just painted on. "Red to Black" sunburst color. I almost

quit playing, entirely, because of it. Luckily, my buddy had that Harmony electric, and was kind enough to let me play it,

often, and so I soldiered on, until my Mom took pity on me, and bought me the "Srat!" THAT was a "God send!" But, it

sounds like you've done well, with your flea-market purchases and subsequent sales! "Good Show!"

 

CB

[Guest]

 

According to the Fab Guitars website' date=' Paul claims that George built his first guitar, a Hawaiian.

 

I wasn't sure which one to list when I wrote that earlier.[/quote']

 

That's not what's on page 17 of Beatle Gear. But the Hawaiian is mentioned..

 

...and Al's your uncle.

[Helmetfire]

Mine was a white '62 Strat, and no I do have it any more...wish I did though.

[bluesstringer]

The other thing I forgot to say is that first guitar the Tiesco del Ray wass purchased with Top Value trading stamps. The other geezers here will know what I'm talking about !

[charlie brown]

Top Value, huh? LOL! I think we used some S&H Green stamps for the purchase of my "Truetone," at Western Auto, too!

 

What a HOOT!!

 

CB