I Need To Tell This Story.......

[Murph]

I bought my 79 "The SG" Walnut in 1993. It was NOS.

 

My first good guitar was a double cut, double pickup 61 Melody Maker. I got it in Clearwater Beach Florida at the age of 12. I played it in the "Surfside" with a band called "The Other Half" at the age of 12. Sang Proud Mary, and played the lead. My Uncle set this up.

 

Moved to Arizona, played some clubs at age 16/17, there was no law back then. Bought a Les Paul Recording in Tempe, around 1980.

 

Moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1982. My Les paul had serious string guide problems by the late 80's. I found an old music store called "Zypiens" in downtown Lake Charles, by the Courthouse. Went to get a new bridge. The old man sold me a square bridge after hunting around, I took it home and it didn't match mine. (mine had been changed)

 

I took it back, and he scratched his head, and went into the back, and brought out a BRAND NEW RECORDING LES PAUL, in the case.

 

I about fell out, but was too young, with kids, ect., to buy it, and he just sold me a new TOM to match what I had.

 

Around 1993 I read in the paper Mr. Zypien died. So I ride my Suzuki Intruder over to the store, with my Mullet, and my girlfriend, and my leather jacket, and ask his widow if I can see the guitars in the "Back Room". She had to have been in her 70's and didn't like the look of me at all. My lovely (wife now) explained how I had met her husband, and was interested in buying the Les Paul.

 

She went in the back and came back with the only Gibson they had left. I was sweating bullets just KNOWING that "Recording" was in the case.

 

When I opened it, it was a solid Walnut 1979 "The SG". 14 years old. The hang tag said $799.00.

 

His handwritting........ She wouldn't budge.

 

"That's the price."

 

I bought it.

 

I used it on 9/12 of the songs on "DOUBLE AUGHT" (cdbaby.com), and just traded it to my oldest son, for......

 

You guessed it. My 1961 Melody Maker I gave him when he was 16. (Someday I'll buy a digital camera and learn to use it.)

 

May God Bless.

 

Murph.

[crossroadsnyc]

that's a great story, Murph. it was good enough until you brought your son into it - that's just icing on the cake. congrats on the great experience w/Mr. Zypien as well as w/your son!