Claudio,

I, too am one of the old guys on this board. I own a small "Performer's Showcase Cafe/Bar" in northern NJ. Close to 20 musicians a week perform at the place. Two nights ago an old man (probably in his 70s came into the place with a guitar that I probably would have used for firewood if it had been mine. For those of us old enough to remember it was Stella guitar. It was an open mic night and we only had about 3 other performers waiting to play. Being that we normally go in order of coming to the club this old guy was going to be the last to perform for the night. I was anxious to get home to do some last minute shopping but after the other three performers finished playing 3 or 4 songs each, I figured I'll give the old man a chance to do....maybe one song. So I called him up to began, he sat in the high chair that we provide, tapped on the mic once, and started to sing and play. I don't know where the voice came from and I don't know where the guitar sound came from other than from heaven. The man had the voice of an authentic blues singer, from the delta and the guitar sounded like the best Martin, Grodin....you name the guitar, I had ever heard. The other musicians and I just sat there in awe. After about 6 songs, he thanked me for giving him the opportunity to be heard. I invited him to sit down, got him a cup of coffee and started talking to him. Eventually, I said something like, haven't you ever thought of getting a newer/better guitar. His answer was straight to the point. "Why, don't you like the way this one sounds?"

It seems to me to be a lesson for all of us.

Art