The one that got away.

[BlueBowman]

I've owned many good guitars over the last decade that, for one reason or another, I let pass on into the world. But there's at least one that I really wish I had back: a deep-bodied Northwood 000-14 fret in Engelmann/Rosewood. 



The fit and finish on that guitar was as good as it gets, IMO. The sound was very warm and leaned towards moderate overtones. The trebles were "round and honey-like," and I've yet to play another guitar that produced similar trebles up the fretboard. Those trebles alone would be worth having that guitar back!

I sold it for a couple reasons: 1) picking with my fingers, I yearned for better clarity (but I wonder now if I couldn't find the right string set to make it work for me; or, perhaps, experiment with saddle and bridge pins to edge the sound towards a little more clarity; or, a non-issue now that I'm playing more often with fingerpicks) 2) the bigger reason, it played very stiff to me (this was before I learned to do my own set-ups, so now I think could I have that guitar playing better in a matter of minutes!! Just a little off the nut slots and make sure the relief is where it needs to be).

It did have a mid-scoop, and I'm more a mid-heavy kinda player, but I miss it. Live and learn.

Anybody else pine for a lost guitar?

[William2]

I can't say I miss anything I sold. I will say with the increasing prices of new instruments I will think carefully about selling anything now. I got my D-40R with the moon spruce top in 2020 for around $2100 new. To replace it now, it would be just under $3000. That's why I'd never listen to Reverb when they tell you the likely selling price is.

[B0WIE]

The only regret was my first guitar but I got it back.
Unless it's a guitar I bought to flip, I generally give it many months of thought before selling. I do miss a lot of them, but wouldn't buy any of them back. I'm a person who likes things to stay the same but I've found having different guitars has helped me to progress, musically. So, I've sold a lot of "favorites", just to keep growing as a player and musician.

[unclrob]

a 52 Les Paul I bought for $175. and my CLS 05 the only acoustic with a cutaway I ever likes.

[BlueBowman]

I can't say I miss anything I sold. I will say with the increasing prices of new instruments I will think carefully about selling anything now. I got my D-40R with the moon spruce top in 2020 for around $2100 new. To replace it now, it would be just under $3000. That's why I'd never listen to Reverb when they tell you the likely selling price is.

Probably the biggest travesty in owning a Larrivee is when we look to sell them. It's unfortunate they don't command higher used prices.

The only regret was my first guitar but I got it back.
Unless it's a guitar I bought to flip, I generally give it many months of thought before selling. I do miss a lot of them, but wouldn't buy any of them back. I'm a person who likes things to stay the same but I've found having different guitars has helped me to progress, musically. So, I've sold a lot of "favorites", just to keep growing as a player and musician.

That's a good way of looking at it, and I think it's somewhat relevant to my story. I definitely draw newfound inspiration when I find myself holding a new guitar I've bought. A new sound can inspire new artistic endeavors, maybe even a whole new direction.

But, personally, I've also found that the constant churning and burning through guitars can also result in the careful, meticulous, OCD-like A/B-ing of guitar X against guitar Y. I've gotten like that to some degree, and I don't think it's healthy, at least not where creativity and musical growth are concerned.

a 52 Les Paul I bought for $175. and my CLS 05 the only acoustic with a cutaway I ever likes.

Wow, that Les Paul makes my story seem utterly petty!

That's a cool Larrivee, and rare to boot. I don't believe I've ever seen a LS with a cutaway.

[Silence Dogood]

Wish I'd have kept my first mandolin. 

[BlueBowman]

Wish I'd have kept my first mandolin. 

Sentimental reasons, or because it was a particulate good mandolin?

The only regret was my first guitar but I got it back.

My first acoustic guitar was a Fender cedar-topped mini-jumbo with a cutaway. I was so young, I thought it was the best. Even while surrounded by truly amazing guitars owned by older family members, it was a FENDER. Must be great, right?! No, it wasn't. The bridge lifted so many times, it eventually ripped the top right off with it. Trashed. I kinda wish I had hung on to it, just to see if I could repair it now that I'm better informed.

Fast forward a couple decades, I thought it might be the nice to pick one up for cheap. Definitely sentimental reasons. I actually found one, exact same model, in a pawn shop within driving distance from my home. I had at the point owned and played some pretty good guitars. When I finally hit a chord on that Fender in the pawn shop, I wish I had a video of my reaction. The "stuffed full of wet socks" sound would've been an upgrade over that guitar! I'm not that sentimental 

[jpmist]

I don't have a "one that got away" story but one of mine almost did. About 9 years ago I bought a Taylor 322ce. I'd played one in a Sam Ash shop and it stopped me in my tracks with a rich full tone. I had tried 2 or 3 hogtops previously, but I could never bond to their "moody" tone. The 322 was an exception as it had Blackwood back and sides with the mahogany top which seemed to make a difference. A set of Aluminum Bronze strings from Earnie Ball added much needed brightness and resonance that was missing in my first 3 hogtop tries. I recently tried 80/20 bronze and that worked as well.

Still, the 322 has been at the bottom of my pick up and play list for most of those 9 years but has made a strong comeback. Lately I've discovered drop D tuning I'd never tried before that the 322 is perfect for. With the mahogany top I get some nice thumping bass with that open D string. It'll stay a keeper as I explore drop D for a while and now my rosewood OO is getting a lot of "side-eye" and will likely be the one kicked out of the haram whenever I get around to it.

[William2]

When I was at my luthiers having my guitar adjusted, I had a chance to hear a Taylor 322 with the mahogany / Blackwood combination. I was blown away.

[B0WIE]

Sentimental reasons, or because it was a particulate good mandolin?

My first acoustic guitar was a Fender cedar-topped mini-jumbo with a cutaway. I was so young, I thought it was the best. Even while surrounded by truly amazing guitars owned by older family members, it was a FENDER. Must be great, right?! No, it wasn't. The bridge lifted so many times, it eventually ripped the top right off with it. Trashed. I kinda wish I had hung on to it, just to see if I could repair it now that I'm better informed.

Fast forward a couple decades, I thought it might be the nice to pick one up for cheap. Definitely sentimental reasons. I actually found one, exact same model, in a pawn shop within driving distance from my home. I had at the point owned and played some pretty good guitars. When I finally hit a chord on that Fender in the pawn shop, I wish I had a video of my reaction. The "stuffed full of wet socks" sound would've been an upgrade over that guitar! I'm not that sentimental 

Ha ha. That's hilarious.
Mine was a 1992 Ibanez version of a strat, made in Japan. For years, I'd assumed it was "bad" because it wasn't a popular guitar. I stopped changing the strings in 98 when I got my next guitar.

 Fast forward to 2026 and I decided to string up the old gal and see what she sounded like. I was floored. Such sweet, smooth tones. Wonderful for strat style jazz. Knowing what I know now, the woods chosen are exceptional and the Japanese craftsmanship is tops. Better than Fender in that era. You don't find perfectly quartered maple necks like this on cheap guitars anymore and the thing has become super resonant over the decades. It has that vintage quality now. It's good enough that I'm upgrading some of the hardware so it can be at it's true potential.

[cc407]

Guild jumbo maple 12 string, the one with the slab inlays and gold hardware. Back in the 70's I traded it for an electric and an amp for THE BAND that never got far.

[BlueBowman]

I don't have a "one that got away" story but one of mine almost did. About 9 years ago I bought a Taylor 322ce. I'd played one in a Sam Ash shop and it stopped me in my tracks with a rich full tone. I had tried 2 or 3 hogtops previously, but I could never bond to their "moody" tone. The 322 was an exception as it had Blackwood back and sides with the mahogany top which seemed to make a difference. A set of Aluminum Bronze strings from Earnie Ball added much needed brightness and resonance that was missing in my first 3 hogtop tries. I recently tried 80/20 bronze and that worked as well.

Still, the 322 has been at the bottom of my pick up and play list for most of those 9 years but has made a strong comeback. Lately I've discovered drop D tuning I'd never tried before that the 322 is perfect for. With the mahogany top I get some nice thumping bass with that open D string. It'll stay a keeper as I explore drop D for a while and now my rosewood OO is getting a lot of "side-eye" and will likely be the one kicked out of the haram whenever I get around to it.

When I was at my luthiers having my guitar adjusted, I had a chance to hear a Taylor 322 with the mahogany / Blackwood combination. I was blown away.

I've heard tales of the mahogany/AB Taylor's, but I've not had a chance to play one. A buddy of mine is a Taylor nut, and swears by their mahogany and koa-topped guitars.

Jay, the few Taylor's I've owned always sounded great tuned lower. I'd be down for a pic or two of your 322 if you feel like posting them. Be cool to see the AB back and sides on your Taylor.

Ha ha. That's hilarious.
Mine was a 1992 Ibanez version of a strat, made in Japan. For years, I'd assumed it was "bad" because it wasn't a popular guitar. I stopped changing the strings in 98 when I got my next guitar.

 Fast forward to 2026 and I decided to string up the old gal and see what she sounded like. I was floored. Such sweet, smooth tones. Wonderful for strat style jazz. Knowing what I know now, the woods chosen are exceptional and the Japanese craftsmanship is tops. Better than Fender in that era. You don't find perfectly quartered maple necks like this on cheap guitars anymore and the thing has become super resonant over the decades. It has that vintage quality now. It's good enough that I'm upgrading some of the hardware so it can be at it's true potential.

Yeah, you came out way ahead of me on that score! Ibanez had a real run at it back then. Their semi-hollowbody AS series were quite nice, too. Not sure if they reach into the 90s, though. But the 90s strats were sweet.

[jpmist]

When I was at my luthiers having my guitar adjusted, I had a chance to hear a Taylor 322 with the mahogany / Blackwood combination. I was blown away.

I think of it as the least bright guitar that Taylor has ever made. I tried and failed on an all hog Taylor 512 as well as a 312 12 fret that sounded identical to all their 14 frets - Taylor loves bright tone that I simply don't. Surprisingly there's always been a few 322s on offer on Reverb every time I check.

[jpmist]

I'd be down for a pic or two of your 322 if you feel like posting them. Be cool to see the AB back and sides on your Taylor.

Here ya go. This was my first paddle-head as well and while I thought initially that was a tad too "vintage" looking at first, it has grown on me. That the headstock is noticeably lighter is a plus. Had a great setup from the get-go and it's intonation seems dead-on. The pickups are tolerable but I can still hear a slight piezo brittleness, but I'd never record using them. OK for open mics if I ever got out the door to do one, I guess.

Not that great a looker, but the shaded sunburst top I like. The blackwood is a tad bland, and overall the stain is simply too dark. Hate the aged brownish yellow tusque saddle and nut look, perhaps one day I'll get a bright white bone saddle and nut done to add some contrast.