National 1155

I’ve gone silent for awhile…

Two months ago after playing with Carrie Rodriguez and her band outside at Threadgills here in Austin, TX I had two guitars stolen from me.  I stopped after the show for a bite to eat on Austin’s east-side and left them covered in the backseat of my car.  It had been a LONG hot day of set-up, sound-check, tear-down and I was feeling exhausted.  Too exhausted, it seemed, to carry my two irreplaceable guitars into the restaurant…  Total mistake.  When I got back to my car I realized the rear window had been smashed out and both guitars were gone.  All I could do was sit on the curb and try to swallow back the sickening feeling.  I’ve filed a police report, visited pawn shops, searched ebay and craigslist faithfully since the event to see if anything would turn up.  So far there has been no sign of them.  I’m attaching a photo of the 1953 National Flattop Acoustic.  I loved this guitar.  It was made by National when they contracted with Gibson back in the 50′s placing their own hardware and necks on a Gibson J-45 body.  There aren’t many of them out there.  This one had that magic “intangible” factor that made it ring out in the sweetest way.  The other guitar was a 1967 Guild Starfire VI semi-hollowbody electric.  Again, not many of them were made.  More than likely I’ll never see these guitars again.  Since the event I’ve had time to digest and process the notion that these are “only things,” and how I’m grateful for my own personal well-being as well as that of those around me.  A friend told me that the music resides in us as musicians and not in the instruments we play.  ”The music,” he said, “is in YOU.”  I think he’s right.  There will be other guitars.  Since this happened to me I’ve heard numerous other musicians relay similar stories.  Let me just add what others have said and what many of you know:  If it can’t be replaced and you don’t want to lose it – CARRY IT IN WITH YOU – no matter how inconvenient it may seem…

I’d also like to thank those who have helped me out the past couple of months in lending gear allowing me to do what I do for a living.  Falcon Valdez, Hans Holzen, and Ben Kyle have all generously let me use their guitars for various touring runs I’ve had this summer.  Thank you guys!  I hope to return the favor in any way that I can.

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