There have, in the past, been long periods where I’d not even touched my guitars and we’re talking for years, not just months. For some reason, the interest would just leave me but I knew that it would eventually return some time down the line. Music making activity was at such a low point a few years ago. It wasn’t until I got talking with a group of friends about dabbling on the guitar and being eagerly invited to bring it along for a sing song to the next meeting that I retrieved my old Yamaha from the loft, dusted it down and attached a set of new strings. I literally blew myself away when I played it for the first time in a very long time. Not because of how good I was playing (I wasn’t!). It’s just that I have always adored the sound of an acoustic guitar and listening to one, especially with a new set of strings, just does something to me inside. I got to re-learning a few old songs and was truly enjoying playing my guitar once again. It also got me thinking that, if my trusty old cheap Yamaha guitar could sound this good after 5 years in the loft, what would a good quality acoustic sound like? I didn’t need much more persuasion, I’d had the Yamaha for twenty years so, it was about time to go for another Acoustic Guitar and maybe invest a little more money this time.

After trying out about five different ones in the local music shop, I came away with a Tanglewood TW15-H. It stood out from the rest because it had lovely chorusy type overtones and almost sounded like a 12-string. Well, whilst the Tanglewood lived in my lounge, the Yamaha became my Travel Guitar and started to make a few appearances at social get-togethers for singalongs which proved quite popular. Another two years past during which time I coincidentally began playing drums in a band and the music was making a real comeback. There were a few short dips in enthusiasm along the way but Christmas 2011 arrived and I decided to become a little more creative by getting myself a drum machine and a home recording portastudio. The acquisition and subsequent use of these seems to have triggered off a real renaissance within me. I can only remember being this enthusiastic about the guitar when I first started playing in my early twenties. Another story to be told but the Yamaha’s function as a travel guitar was to be replaced by a Martin LXME. I’ve been at full swing for about three months now and hardly a day’s gone by without having a strum. I’m finding it hard to believe why I just didn’t bother for such long periods of time. True to form, I recently began thinking yet again (always with fatal consequences) whether to invest in an acoustic guitar that could satisfy my passion more completely. Research followed – reading reviews, watching youtube videos, getting a feel for what was the best of the best out there. It wasn’t too long before I decided that, for my 51st birthday, the Tanglewood would be traded in and I was going to buy myself a Taylor 814ce This is a top quality Electro Acoustic favoured by many professional musicians.

So, an explanation of the rationale behind spending the best part of £3000 on an Acoustic Guitar. Well, if any was needed, here it is. A favourite saying of mine gets quoted once more, “You only live once.” and if spending that amount of money on a beautifully crafted instrument provides myself with long lasting enjoyment and pleasure and maybe others with a little bit of happiness from time to time, then it will be worth every penny. Whatever, justification in the purchase came swiftly by sitting down, playing and listening to this lovely instrument. Silly, I know, but I get quite emotional when I’m playing my guitar at times and this guitar certainly stirs the emotions.