Born in the USA

My old Gibson J50 has once again become my main gigging guitar. It was my first and only guitar for 25+ years. After a neck reset and setup, it is a joy to play. I can't count how many guitars I've been through in the last 10 years. I have always said I'm a Martin girl at heart, and seemed hell bent on buying and then selling every model they ever made. I tend to follow the "buy high, sell low" rule, and cringe when I think about how much money has been flushed down the pan searching for the next great guitar. I've tried to forget the days before the internet, when the Gibson was my only guitar and I never considered upgrading or trading. My only concern back then was becoming a better player and playing wherever and whenever I could. Ah, to simpler times... It is not a valuable or even remotely desirable Gibson - built like a tank, made during the disastrous Norlin years with a long scale and square shoulders. I let some wannabe (!) sign it and was embarrassed to take it out. I had considered refinishing, but it's a part of my history. I now play it proudly. This guitar is an old friend, it's seen me through teenage angst, leaving home, moving to another country, births, deaths, good times and bad. On this 4th of July, I'm raising a glass to celebrate my old companion - who like me - was Born in the U.S.A.