I always have a blast down there, and wish I could go more often than a couple times a year. Even being distant Cousins, there's a very natural rhythmic chemistry between us... stuff just clicks. Sorta ' makes sense though.
Graham and his buddies are primarily players more so than collectors... they actually play these vintage guitars (etc.) out at gigs. Most of their instruments (cool vintage pieces that they are) would be considered 'player-grade' by most real collectors. They've all had repair work, or outright restoration so they can still be enjoyed. A few of those listed are mine that I bring down for the show-n-tell portion, but everyone usually brings a trunk-full. We just make an afternoon of test - driving old guitars. Sometimes a mysterious jar of spirits will appear in the circle too. (or did you miss that detail in the picture?)
I don't
think any of those guys date back to the 20's, 30's, or 40's, but definitely some 50's models. We're not sure about Banjo Steve there... he's got one of those faces.
I really did enjoy watching Brandon on my Distillate. One minute he was plucking along on an old open-back banjo, and singing a Tom T. Hall song, the next he was playing this incredible funk groove on bass, like the chasm between them was nothing. Guy was a gifted musician, period. And a super-nice fella' too. Another thing I like about that bunch- there's no competitiveness or ego trips... they're just enjoying an afternoon playing music. The exchange of ideas is a real inspiration.
