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Tony Hill is shown strumming his guitar.

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Renowned Charlie Sayles is an international blues artist.

Ever since the beginning of 2010, I have been plagued with this nagging feeling that I've been forgetting something. I'm sure most people can relate to that gnawing doubt feeling when you say to yourself, "there is something I'm forgetting". Almost two weeks went by and I couldn't quite put my finger on it until, one day when I was sitting in the office staring at the ceiling fan absently strumming my main guitar (1959 Old Kraftsman 6 string acoustic), my lovely girlfriend Deb walked in and asked "Honey, have you written your column yet?"

I guess I had gotten so bogged down with work that I completely forgot. As with a lot of things that I do for enjoyment, I had used up the time usually allotted for writing this column on the different things I do to make money (which is also something I'm sure most of you can relate to). So if anyone missed reading my column, I apologize and promise to be more diligent about writing.

Let's start this year by taking a look at guitars. There are many different makes and models in various price ranges. Like with many other products, name brand recognition is a large determining factor in price and popularity, but also like many other products, you'd be surprised how many are made in the same factories and just labeled differently. A few years ago, a friend (who imports Pacific Rim exotic wood) toured a guitar factory in Indonesia and saw guitars being made. He told be that in the process of making guitars, the actual head stocks (where the brand name is located) are one of the last things put on. That's so that they can produce a particular body style for more than one brand with out having to refit the production line. There are two ways to look at this, you could think, "wow, what a rip-off! This means that my Fender Stratocaster that I paid $600 might not be any different then a Fernandez Revolver that only cost $250."or " wow, I could get a really good deal on a great guitar if I care about how it plays and what it sounds like rather than the name on the headstock".

I personally have 4 electric guitars. I have a Johnson Del Mar which is a copy of a Fender Telecaster and 2 Avondale guitars (one Gibson Les Paul copy, one Fender Stratocaster copy). I also have a Fernandez Retro Rocket which is also a Fender Stratocaster. None of these guitars were very expensive but that means that if I want to customize them with better pick-ups or special wiring, I don't wind up putting too much money into any one guitar.

In the book "Zen Guitar", author Philip Toshio Sudo suggests that when guitar shopping that the right guitar will reveal itself to you when you pick it up. There will be guitars that feel more right in your hands than others. I have always used this method but take it a step further by trying not to look at the brand name until I've played it for a few minutes. This has never failed me and all of the guitars I own are comfortable in my hands. That gives me the freedom to become a better guitarist. It has always been my opinion that your instrument is a part of you and is connected to you by your talent and passion for music.

In the end all that really matters about your choice of guitars is what you do with the one you wind up with. A really good guitar player will sound good on any guitar no matter what the brand name. The way to get really good is to practice, practice, practice!

Until next week, support live music and be nice to each other.

(Stu Johnson can be contacted at sjohnson@allnightkungfu.com).