Guitars with sentimental value

Gary Blanchard

Gary Blanchard

beloved, local musician
I moved away from Luna Guitars several years ago after Yvonne de Villiers, founder of Luna, retired from the company. I sold many of the Luna guitars I had, but have held on to the two Trinity model guitars. To me, they represent the best of the quality and ideals that Yvonne brought to Luna. Right now the six-string lives at my studio and the 12-string in the case, but I can't see myself parting with them. I see them and think of how wonderful Yvonne was to me and other musicians. I was able to buy several Lunas at cost from her; she also donated a guitar and suitcase amp to the forum, one for me to have a drawing, and another as a prize for the Go Fund Me campaign many years ago that kept my office open during a crisis. The company is not the same without her, but as long as I have the Trinity guitars, she is part of my life.
20150414_115930.jpg
yvonne-face_web-copy2.jpg


What guitars do you have with sentimental value?
 
This 50's Old Kraftsman was given to me by my wife's grandmother when I got out of the military in 1992. My wife mentioned to her that I was going to try learning again and she pulled this out of her closet and gave it to her. Very difficult playing guitar and I played it everyday for just over a year. It was brown with white stripes and I refinished it a number of years later. It's a mellow/jazzy sounding guitar. I keep it in a soft case.

33184040_1959592170719225_3668866196452671488_n.jpg
 
This
TEGC 2016.JPG

Not because of the signatures. This is my first guitar. My Mom gave it to me at the age of 22 thinking I might like to learn to play guitar. Because she gave it as a present I figured I should try to learn. I'm still trying though I wish Mom could hear me now. I had actually stopped playing for a while and restarted a year or so after her death for her memory. I'll never be any good (started too late, didn't concentrate enough on it, have no innate musical talent and am now too old) but I often think of her when I play and for that reason I could never sell the guitar. The reasons I had musicians sign it that I admire is because I know I'll never sell it
 
Closest thing for me is the Barncaster that Freeman Keller built for me. I'd never even consider parting with that one. The rest are all tools.
 
over a ~50 year time frame I have owned over 400 guitars so, about 8 per year average as far as accrual/purchase & I still have about ~10% of that 400; about 35 to 40 guitars.
Nothing sentimental about them to me; I buy what I think I may like, and I sale the rest.
It's a great hobby; actually the best hobby I have ever enjoyed.
El Kabong ...................

 
Last edited:
Gary Blanchard said:
I was able to buy several Lunas at cost from her; she also donated a guitar and suitcase amp to the forum, one for me to have a drawing, and another as a prize for the Go Fund Me campaign many years ago that kept my office open during a crisis.
Click to expand...

As the lucky winner of the little Luna and suitcase amp here, I send my sincere regards to Yvonne for donating the guitar and to Mark for running the contest. I rarely use the amp, but that guitar gets played pretty much every day because it stays in the living room next to the TV and comes along with me when I travel. That thing is built like a tank.

I'm sentimental about most of my guitars, but I suppose my first acoustic (an Epiphone something) and electric (Gibson ES-335) will always hold a special place.
 
Don't have many guitars or gear.
My SG is my first 'real' electric guitar, I've had it for over 20 years nda it is very dear to me.
When I look back at jamming with friends in highschool/army era that's the guitar that was there.
I don't see myself ever selling it (if I'd be considering it it's probably due to financical problems that are way bigger than what selling it will cover, unless 1995 SG specials become highly-mojoed in the vintage market).
 
Nope - guitars are tools to me, and I don't/haven't imbued any of mine with any particular spiritual or emotional significance...
 
Tralfaz said:
As the lucky winner of the little Luna and suitcase amp here, I send my sincere regards to Yvonne for donating the guitar and to Mark for running the contest. I rarely use the amp, but that guitar gets played pretty much every day because it stays in the living room next to the TV and comes along with me when I travel. That thing is built like a tank.

I'm sentimental about most of my guitars, but I suppose my first acoustic (an Epiphone something) and electric (Gibson ES-335) will always hold a special place.
Click to expand...
It is nice to know that you still have it. I have not spoken with Yvonne for a while, but when I do again I will let her know.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top