Paul Brett – Collecting Vintage Acoustic Guitars

The guitar has got to be about the most well known musical instrument. Maybe a drum is really the most well known instrument. There is probably not a single adult in the world who doesn’t know what a guitar is.

One thing that makes guitars so appealing is their accessibility. Unlike a Piano, or a drum kit, a guitar is portable and almost anyone can pick one up. But learning to play a recognisable tune on guitar can be a lot of hard work.

I’ve met some exceptionally talented people who, within weeks of picking up a guitar, were good enough to start a band and begin to gig. But there are plenty of guitarists like myself, who’ve been playing for many years but still learning.

But this is one of the reasons why guitars are so compelling. There is always something new to learn, new instruments to try and new gizmos to play with. Playing guitar is an engrossing and immersive pass time that can take over your life.

Not only do I love to play the guitar but I also love to collect them. I am a lover of vintage resonator guitars. These are a form of acoustic guitar that uses a resonator cone made of spun allumnium to give the guitar extra volume. The design originates from the early part of the 20th century before electronic amplification became commonplace. The resonator guitar sound is very much the sound of early blues.

If you’re a guitar player or if you are lucky enough to know any guitarists you will already understand how obsessive they can become. Guitar enthusiasts will often find that playing guitar, collecting guitars, reading guitar magazines and going to guitarist gigs can take over their lives. And if you have a guitar playing husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend you will probably find yourself feeling less important than their obsessiion with guitars.