Music is life
Do you remember the first instrument you paid for yourself? What was it?
Growing up, I was very blessed to be able to try out a lot of orchestra instruments through the different schools that I attended. But it was in junior high the electric guitar caught my eye. I had just had my first introduction into rock ‘n’ roll. Having come from a mostly hip-hop and urban background, growing up in Vallejo California.
I was introduced to the wall of sound that is a Les Paul plugged into a stack of Marshall’s. The sound of a fender slammed into the ground by Mick Mars and Eddie Van Halen! It filled me with so much energy. My mind was eternally blown! So naturally I wanted an electric guitar for myself. I wanted so badly to be a lead guitarist. The notes they can generate are etherial!
Back then there wasn’t really a whole lotta places to go and get music gear and you kind of had to take what they had on hand. I bought my first guitar from a little music shop in Walnut Creek California. I didn’t know about brands or styles or companies or anything so the guy tried to show me around. I didn’t have much $$ so my options were limited. Then I saw what I thought was a fender Strat but what ended up being a white Peavey Predator. Of course I couldn’t afford it all in one chunk so I put it on layaway.
For the kids at home, layaway was kind of like credit only you didn’t get the item right away they just didn’t let anyone else buy it. So you made payments every week or every month until it was paid off.
It took me about three months to pay it off but when I did I got it home and I was so excited to plug it in and realize that I had no idea what I was doing. I had seen people playing the guitar. I had friends who were playing it but when it came to trying to make out anything I was all thumbs, figuratively (see what I did there?)
I loved that thing and the little tiny crap amp that came with it. It did get pretty loud when we go sit on the patio at my buddy Mike’s house and try to crank out Metallica albums.
Think back to your first guitar or bass or drums or keyboards or a microphone (you singing cheap bastards.)
Did you have to save up? Did you put it on layaway? Do you still have it? Unfortunately I traded mine away for a really nice snare drum. It was a really nice snare drum but I don’t have that guitar anymore and I kind of wish I did.
Next time:
Have you seen the bass player?