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Smellybum

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 11, 2004
Messages
3,418
Location
Evanton, United Kingdom
So… this is a long-ish post, I hope you’re sitting comfortably.


Life is a funny old thing, and let me tell you why.

In 1995 I was working in a music store (Sound Control for those UK forumites of a certain age) I got paid a very low £7000 per annum and I had the greatest job in the world, I had no money, no girlfriend but I got to play every day in a guitar store.

On the wall every day hung an EBMM EVH Hardtail in red – it was the last one the shop had and because it was the 2nd half of the 90’s nobody in Scotland wanted it as it didn’t have a locking trem. I adopted it, cleaned it and restrung it and played it to death whenever I got a chance to goof off.

I dearly wanted it but couldn’t afford the price (it was about 4 months salary at that time) the luthier in store was starting up his own business and built me a copy for 30% of the cost which I still have but for 22 years I have always wondered what if.

For the last 18 months I have been living out of hotels and airports and living pretty much on my own 6 days a week. That gives you a lot (probably too much) time to think about what you had, what you have and what mistakes you have made in life. In January I start a new job in a desperate attempt to get a life before the clock runs out. And as part of that I have a new band.

To celebrate this last attempt to get a life I have made a purchase, and have tried to right a wrong of my past in not being able to afford the EVH hard tail.

I picked this one up from a small family run store in Frederick Okalhoma the guitar was owned by a local musician who passed away and was sold to the store by his father. His reason for selling it was simply ready to let go of things from the past.

It has been un-played since his death in 2003. His son was a paid musician he said so it's had a life of shows.

I dig the fact that this was owned by someone who loved it, if any knuckleheads know the family of the previous owner please get in touch, I would love them to know it’s going to be loved and cherished as it was before it was mine. And for me this also a timely reminder that life is very short and very precious

Thanks for reading.


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Dr.Strangenote

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Joined
Apr 27, 2010
Messages
888
Location
Yardley, PA
Good story there smellybum, congrats on the EVH! you've earned it, and good luck with your new job, and future endeavors. hope you are doing well bro. thanks for sharing. :)
 

Bungo

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Joined
Jan 9, 2006
Messages
1,410
Location
London
It's a funny thing. As I've got older with a bit more disposable income, I realise that many of the things I've bought recently (including guitars), are really a gift to my younger self who couldn't afford whatever it was at the time. I've bought a few tasteless 80s guitars that I really don't need (or particularly want), just because I lusted after them at the time.

Funniest was at a Rush show a few years back, where it dawned on me that instead of carefully choosing maybe one item of merchandise, I bought nearly one of everything, just because I could.

Mind you, I did get home later and wondered what on Earth I was going to do with it all! :)
 

Spudmurphy

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 23, 2005
Messages
12,037
Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
I enjoyed the time I had with my EVH hardtail. I was going to hang on to it until 2019 when I retire but Jamie M made me an offer at a time I was purchasing my Delorean and the rest is history. Enjoy!
oh, and living out of a hotel room is great - for a short time - I was away from my boys for big chunks of time and playing in a band was nigh on impossible.
as you say life is too short so carpe diem.
 

xjbebop

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Joined
Jan 8, 2013
Messages
2,825
Location
AZ High Country
Great post!
Beautiful gittar!
I can totally relate to all the sentiments here...
Very pleased that you found your precious and that you're giving that widowed guitar a loving home... enjoy!
 

banjoplayer

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Joined
Jan 8, 2007
Messages
2,749
Location
Ulm, Germany
nice story, thanks for sharing.
All the best, Smelly. Sounds like you´re really looking forward to what is coming!

and.... strange nobody said it: no pic, no guitar!
 

spychocyco

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2008
Messages
800
Great story. Looking forward to seeing the pics when they return. :)

I went on a guitar buying/building spree this year myself, and a lot of it was about the ones that got away/ones I always wanted and couldn't afford. Congrats.
 

edhalen

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 27, 2009
Messages
1,813
Location
Illinois
Very nice Smelly! Glad to see you enjoying life and trying to make the most of it! Congrats!
 
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