FROM ONE COLLECTOR TO ANOTHER...
I Found One! Last issue I told you all about my aspirations to find a “King of the Flat Tops”, a Gibson J200. I could pursue an older 1950’s era one or find one from the late 1980’s on, built in Bozeman, Montana.
was starting to pour in. Joe picked up a 1989 sunburst J200 and handed it to me. The store had just acquired it the day before. I played it for all of 60 seconds as I had to get back to producing the guitar show. I look often to Since writing that piece in late April I Joe for guidance and I asked him, “What do had been going about my business with the you think?” Joe replied, “I think you should magazine and my guitar shows and then buy it”. It had the original hardshell case two weeks before my Seatac Spring Guitar with that pink inside cover. Show, my dear 88 year-old mother (Gloria I knew right then that I wanted to play it at Mae Smith), passed away. She was in a very my mother’s memorial service the following challenging health situation so it wasn’t a weekend. I know the owner of the store surprise, but it was a huge loss…she was a and we have a good repoire. He was asking terrific woman. I was asked by my brother $2,900.00 for it but Joe thought that there and sister to give the eulogy and my mother’s was some room for a discount there. In my request was to have “Amazing Grace” sung head I was thinking $2,500.00 was the right at her life celebration service. I asked my amount for me. I spoke with the owner, told oldest son and his wife to sing it live and they him I wanted to play it for my mom’s service said they would - if I promised to accompany and that it would always be a guitar with them on an acoustic guitar. a special meaning to me. He said, “How The morning of my guitar show arrived bout $2,500.00?” I said, “Deal!” and had (we held it at the Meydenbauer Center in him put the guitar back in its case and tuck Bellevue, WA) and after more than two it away in his booth so it wouldn’t get sold hours of loading in over 100 vendors, we were ready to open the doors to the public. A long line had formed outside of guitar enthusiasts waiting to get inside. It was going to be a good show. Then right at the very moment I said, “Open the doors” I got a phone call from my good friend Joe Riggio saying he found the Gibson J200 I had been looking for… 75 feet from where I was standing at a well know Seattle vintage guitar store’s booth at my own guitar show! I walked over there briskly as the public
again by mistake. I went about taking care of the guitar show with a smile on the inside knowing that things couldn’t have worked out better for me in my search for the “King of the Flat Tops” – a Gibson J200. It wasn’t till two more days had gone by that I had time to even play it at my house. This J200 is a “strummer” and has that big rambling bass sound to it. In fact, the more you dig your pick into it, the more it responds. I proudly showed it to Judy and told her I was going to name the guitar “GIG” after my mother. I told her that “GIG” stood for “Gloria in Glory”. Judy loved that. I only practiced “Amazing Grace” on the guitar until the day of the service for my mom. I wanted that to be the only song I played until the memorial was over as a way to honor her. We played an upbeat and celebrative version of it to end the service, the kids sang great and the friends and family in the audience enjoyed it. Yes, I had found a J200 and it couldn’t of come at a better time… we miss you Mom! Guitar People Helping Guitar People, Bruce & Judy
Editor & President: Bruce Adolph VP/Office Manager: Judy Adolph Street Team: Mike Adolph, Jesse Hill & Winston Design & Layout: Matt Kees 4227 S. Meridian, Suite C PMB #275, Puyallup Washington 98373 Phone: 253.445.1973 Fax: 253.655.5001 www.CollectibleGuitar.com Published by The Adolph Agency, Inc. ©2014 The Adolph Agency Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any portion of this magazine may not be used or reproduced without the expressed consent of The Adolph Agency, Inc.
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