Guitar collection of an old timer

My wife bought me a copy of Picasso's famous painting; "The old man with a guitar" for my birthday 10 years ago. Every time I look at this painting, I always wonder whether the old man was tired, or whether he was simply indulged with his guitar playing?



I love oldies music and vintage guitars. Maybe because I'm an old timer myself. I started collecting guitars about 20 some years ago; and every time I hold one of my beloved guitars in my hands, I feel the same enjoyment. Perhaps like that old man in the picture. As for "the double face" in the picture, maybe this could be the old man's wife yelling: "Hum? another new guitar?...."

I love Surf music, especially the 60's instrumentals by a group called The Ventures. The Ventures were inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in December 2007 (the formal ceremony will be held in New York in March 2008).





The sound of the surf guitar is different and unique - you either love it or hate it. I just love it! I used to play Ventures surf hits when I was in my teens and still love to play them 40 years later. As you will see from my collection, many of my guitars are the same models used by the Ventures (Fender Jazzmaster, Mosrites, etc.).



One of my biggest guitar heroes is Nokie Edwards (the lead guitarist of The Ventures in the 60's). In 2006, Nokie was ranked 29th best guitarist in the world by Playboy Magazine. Congratulations, Nokie! I am very honored to know him in person, and am also fortunate to have collected a number of his personal guitars.



The red guitar Nokie played in this photo was the HitchHiker Prototype I got from him personally. Nokie used this guitar for local concerts sometimes. HitchHiker guitars are designed and marketed by Nokie.  I will talk a little more later about all my HitchHiker guitar collection (Electric, Acoustic and Classical)

Talk soon.