I had two hand-me-down guitars growing up, an acoustic my brother abandoned and an electric my cousin built, but MY first guitar when I decided that I wanted to be a rock chick was a 3/4 slick black Jixing acoustic that I bought on ebay - the perfect size for my height deficit body to comfortably play. I immediately learnt Paramore’s ‘My Heart’, soon followed by Joan Jett’s ‘Crimson and Clover’ cover trying to follow in the two powerhouses’ footsteps. Soundwise that Jixing was trash, but nearly 20 years later I still love that guitar to death!
How fitting that our cover story this month features two of my first music awakenings, with the ultimate rock chick Joan Jett gracing the cover for an exhibition that dives into the evolution of the guitar. Taking over the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Medieval to Metal: The Art and Evolution of the Guitar unpacks the rich history of the 6-string melody-maker, chronicling its rapid rise, product development and pioneering players.
