eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2778
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Jan 26 2023 10:06 AM
The recent discussion about one's first rig reminded me of an approaching "anniversary" of sorts that was heading my way.
On this day in 1963, I bought my first guitar. I had saved up thirty dollars and my mom drove me to Sears Roebuck on Ponce de Leon Avenue in downtown Atlanta, where I exchanged my hard earned cash for a Silvertone arch-top acoustic. I didn't have it but about a month as the neck began to separate from the body.
Shortly after that, with mom's help, I bought a used early '50s Epiphone Century from Dekalb Musician's Supply in Decatur. The sales guy was Jimmy Atkins, Chet's nephew.
For me, that's how all this insanity started. Someone here in the Atlanta area currently has the same model Silvertone for sale. Trying hard to resist temptation.
Cheers all,
ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4555
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Jan 26 2023 01:37 PM
My first guitar was a Harmony Master, at least somewhat similar to the guitar you picture. If I had kept it any longer, I would have become a master archer. 
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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Samurai
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2289
Kiev, Ukraine
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Posted on Jan 26 2023 01:48 PM
I got my first guitar 36 years ago, awfully made Soviet acoustic. I still have it at home in Ukraine but it’s not made for playing) However learning to play guitar on it made me strong, flexible and stubborn!
— Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine
https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki
Lost Diver
https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin
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WoodyJ
Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1547
Bethlehem, GA
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Posted on Jan 27 2023 08:51 AM
My first electric guitar was in 1964, so it was only 59 years ago. It was a Japanese Zen-On that was $50 from a place called Lafayette Radio. I bought it with my lawn mowing money, because it looked more like a Fender than anything else its price range.
But it certainly didn't play like a Fender with its chubby neck and strings that were a half inch higher than the fretboard, but it did sound pretty good with its gold foil pickups.
However.....it was the classic "finger bleeder", which was a common problem with some of the ,less expensive Japanese guitars in those days. It was replaced by my dad, who got me a shiny new Fender Jaguar as an early high school graduation present because of the bleeding fingertips on my left hand.
That Jaguar was the best present I've ever received, and the fingertips in my left hand magically stopped bleeding! I still have it, and it still looks as good as new.
The pic below is the Zen-On. Thankfully, it is long gone.
— Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)
The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005), 2025
The Hula Hounds (1996-2000)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)
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ArtS
Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1401
Isle of Kent, MD
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Posted on Jan 27 2023 05:48 PM
Silvertone I bought at Sears somewhere in Maryland, I think. I was in my early to mid teens. Wouldn't stay in tune and I had to play through a Monkey Wards (Montgomery Wards) amp I bought that wasn't very loud. Around 48 years ago!
One day I plan to pay someone to hop it up so it stays in tune! I had a lot of fond memories playing badly with it and making lots of noise!!!!
— Surf.The most dangerous of genres...
Surfcat
MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus
THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single)
BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus
YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf
BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy
Last edited: Jan 27, 2023 17:51:27
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4555
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Sep 28 2023 08:09 AM
WoodyJ wrote:
My first electric guitar was in 1964, so it was only 59 years ago. It was a Japanese Zen-On that was $50 from a place called Lafayette Radio. I bought it with my lawn mowing money, because it looked more like a Fender than anything else its price range.
But it certainly didn't play like a Fender with its chubby neck and strings that were a half inch higher than the fretboard, but it did sound pretty good with its gold foil pickups.
However.....it was the classic "finger bleeder", which was a common problem with some of the ,less expensive Japanese guitars in those days. It was replaced by my dad, who got me a shiny new Fender Jaguar as an early high school graduation present because of the bleeding fingertips on my left hand.
That Jaguar was the best present I've ever received, and the fingertips in my left hand magically stopped bleeding! I still have it, and it still looks as good as new.
The pic below is the Zen-On. Thankfully, it is long gone.
Back then, there were numerous guitars from Japan, and many of them were pretty bad. It ironic, given the current reputation of Japanese products for high quality, but they were still recovering from WW II and probably compromised by lack of facilities. I started playing in ‘66 and remember seeing some of these in the marketplace, and the quality seemed to be all over the map.
There was also the low-cost Harmony line, made in Chicago, and these ranged from some fairly hard to play Stellas to some fairly decent instruments, like the Sovereign. My first guitar was a Harmony Master, which was a low-end archtop, probably their least expensive. You could adjust it to have somewhat reasonable action. The neck was baseball-bat thick, and I don’t think that there was a truss rod. However, “reasonable action” is a relative term and my left hand cramps, just remembering that guitar.
Ironically, my first decent instrument was an Alvarez classical, which was one of the better Japanese guitars of the day. It’s 55 years old, and I believe that it’s still floating about in the family, and still playable.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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Tqi
Joined: Dec 07, 2014
Posts: 1222
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Posted on Sep 28 2023 08:29 AM
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Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 09:08:21
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4555
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Sep 28 2023 10:57 AM
Tqi wrote:
synchro wrote:
Back then, there were numerous guitars from Japan, and many of them were pretty bad. It ironic, given the current reputation of Japanese products for high quality, but they were still recovering from WW II and probably compromised by lack of facilities.
Great Scott!
When I was a child, Japanese cameras were highly regarded, but besides cameras, there was little admiration for MIJ products. In the ‘70s, that started changing rapidly. Somewhere in the early ‘80s, people started noting that the Japanese cars they got for a bargain price were lasting for a lot of miles. Flash forward to our time, and MIJ has become a very good thing, in the minds of many consumers.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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JohnnyMosrite
Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 912
New York City area
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Posted on Sep 28 2023 11:15 AM
My initial axes back in the day were two pieces of junk. One was a Lafayette electric similar to the one mentioned here. I returned it for a full refund. The neck was cardboard; the pickups had little in the way of output. The second was a Harmony H1215 acoustic. It had chinsy sound but played great. It was my practice guitar. Over the years, the top warped and sank. Since it was a present from my mother, I couldn't bring myself to toss it. I found a decent luthier who shored it up as best as possible. It's still playable; although some notes are just not happening.
I got another better built Japanese guitar - played OK but pickups still a bit weak. I finally managed to trade it in for a 65-66 Fender Mustang. It played OK, but the pickup switches were somewhat unreliable. This guitar goes for $2,000.00-$4,000.00 these days. Why that is the case is beyond me.
Even back then, I kept my eye on Mosrites. They were pricey but they had everything I wanted in a guitar and nothing that I didn't want. Still playing them.
J Mo'
Last edited: Sep 28, 2023 11:20:43
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Tqi
Joined: Dec 07, 2014
Posts: 1222
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Posted on Sep 28 2023 11:21 AM
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Last edited: Feb 01, 2024 13:31:00
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11076
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Sep 28 2023 11:46 AM
Tqi wrote:
I'd still rather have German tyres, American film, Israeli CPU's, South Korean RAM, English pickups (as in, guitar - not truck this time), German iced tea and Scottish whisky. 
tell us more about this iced tea? 
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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Tqi
Joined: Dec 07, 2014
Posts: 1222
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Posted on Sep 28 2023 01:19 PM
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Last edited: Feb 01, 2024 13:30:33
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4555
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Sep 28 2023 03:32 PM
Tqi wrote:
synchro wrote:
When I was a child, Japanese cameras were highly regarded, but besides cameras, there was little admiration for MIJ products. In the ‘70s, that started changing rapidly.
The Nikon F2 is the best SLR ever made, ever, by any company.
Somewhere in the early ‘80s, people started noting that the Japanese cars they got for a bargain price were lasting for a lot of miles. Flash forward to our time, and MIJ has become a very good thing, in the minds of many consumers.
My cameras are a mix of Japanese and Canadian, my lenses are a mix of Japanese and German, my car is a JDM import because nothing like it exists in the west, my pedals are mostly copies of Japanese designs because they're the best, my laptop is Japanese because it's the best, a lot of the TV and music I consume is Japanese because I'm a nerd.
But I think it's worth noting that apart from the multimedia, none of the above is purchased because it's Japanese, but in the fields of cameras, pickup trucks, laptops, audio gear - Japan just still does it better.
I'd still rather have German tyres, American film, Israeli CPU's, South Korean RAM, English pickups (as in, guitar - not truck this time), German iced tea and Scottish whisky.
We all want the best quality we can afford. There was a time when I wanted a very durable car, and I thought of getting a mid-sized Mercedes sedan with a diesel engine. These days, I’d just buy a Camry.
Speaking of Israeli CPUs, the best Windows OS was XP, which came from Miscrosoft’s Israeli branch.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19342
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Sep 28 2023 04:12 PM
It's interesting how spammers (post deleted) bump these threads and then they take off again.
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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Tqi
Joined: Dec 07, 2014
Posts: 1222
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Posted on Sep 28 2023 06:49 PM
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Last edited: Feb 01, 2024 13:30:25
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2688
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Sep 29 2023 10:16 AM
My first guitar was from Sears.
Last edited: Sep 29, 2023 10:22:10
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Tqi
Joined: Dec 07, 2014
Posts: 1222
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Posted on Sep 29 2023 11:14 AM
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Last edited: Feb 01, 2024 13:27:09
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2688
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Sep 30 2023 12:03 PM
Not my photo, just an identical guitar and I did not keep the box. I had my first lessons on it at a YWCA. Later I put a Teisco pickup in the sound hole and drilled holes for pots in the side. It was not a keeper and I never touched it after I got my first decent guitar, a Music Master and Standell amp.
Tqi wrote:
Is that an original photo, or did you keep the box?
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jtrollmann
Joined: Jun 24, 2021
Posts: 135
South Bay, CA
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Posted on Oct 01 2023 01:14 PM
My first guitar was a nylon string classical bought in 1973. I was about 14 years old. This model, Delta, was made by Beckmen Musical Instrument Company, most likely made in Japan.
I bought it from RG Music in Huntington Beach. The cost was $50 which I paid for in quarters I'd earned from my paper route (200 quarters plus a little more for sales tax). I also bought my first music book around the same time, shown in the photo.
— -John
"...enjoy every sandwich." -Warren Zevon
Fender Stratocaster American Pro II
Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue
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