The guitar that 'blew your mind' that you don't own?

equalsql

Being a crusty old bugger I started thinking about all the guitars I've got my hands on to play over the years but never owned, and which of those was the one that really  blew my mind in that I'll never forget playing it and would give both testicles to own one before shuffling off this mortal-coil.
(I'm at an advantage here as I've had all the kids I want)

For me it was the Travis Bean: 
  

I tried one of these out at small trade show in Southampton back in about 1977 and was just floored by  the quality (and the price). Although they are not a 'practical' guitar because of the famous tuning stability issues, I still lust after one of these beauties till this day. They command big bucks nowadays  (if you can find a descent example for sale) so I'l probably never realise my dream of owning one.

So any of you folks ever played that 'dream guitar' that you would consider giving your wedding tackle up for? 

octatonic

The first time I played a Klein it blew my mind.

I don't own that guitar but I now own something arguably better.

equalsql

octatonic said:

The first time I played a Klein it blew my mind.

I don't own that guitar but I now own something arguably better.

What would that be then?

bertie

looks like a Kramer of the same era,   had theT section aluminium neck with 'composite/resin' inserts

equalsql

bertie said:

looks like a Kramer of the same era,   had the alu neck with 'composite/resin' inserts

Yep.. If memory serves me right. Kramer copied the idea from Travis Bean.

RocknRollDave

Pretty much my mate's entire collection, but aside from his swoonworthy LP Black Beauty 3-pickups-and-Bigsby, it was the LP Junior that blindsided me. As a huge fan of neck pickups, a guitar that doesn't even HAVE one was never going to win me over...or so I thought.

 The P90 in the bridge sounded HUGE but as musical as it was wide-sounding. Left me with a huge dollop of WANT

Paul_C

of all the guitars I've worked on, one of the nicest necks I ever played was on a hideous red/yellow burst, bolt-on neck, slab-bodied Encore Les Paul copy.

[Deleted User]

A friend of mine used to own a '61 SG shaped Les Paul Junior. A staggeringly great sounding guitar. I don't like the look of SGs but would have bought it in a heartbeat if I'd known he was selling it. A stunning guitar....

TTony

When I did my first Bailey course, many years ago, Mark had a couple of his guitars lying around the place for course-goers to pick up and play in the evenings.

They were good guitars, but one of them was stunning.  It just worked - it felt good (neck, weight, balance), it looked good (washed blue, proportions) and didn't sound half-bad either.

I did try to persuade Mrs TT that doing once build-you-own-course and coming back with 2 guitars would be a very good use of time.  But she disagreed.  So I was forbidden to buy it.  So, naturally ...

I didn't.  (that surprised you).

However, this arrived, one Christmas a few years later ...

Not the original, but a re-creation of the guitar that I remembered, with a few differences (PRS VB+HFS & wiring).

ICBM

It's a well-worn story now so I won't bore you again, but many years ago I could have bought one of these -

http://cdn1.gbase.com/usercontent/gear/2911118/p3_urtc15nqi_so.jpg

- if I'd really wanted to. I didn't... I'm an idiot.

1956 Les Paul Custom - the one in question was in slightly worse condition and had been refretted (perfectly) with medium-jumbo frets. It remains the best-sounding electric guitar I've ever played.

jd0272

ICBM;38579" said:

It's a well-worn story now so I won't bore you agaiin, but many years ago I could have bought one of these -

http://cdn1.gbase.com/usercontent/gear/2911118/p3_urtc15nqi_so.jpg



- if I'd really wanted to. I didn't... I'm an idiot.

1956 Les Paul Custom - the one in question was in slightly worse condition and had been refretted (perfectly) with medium-jumbo frets. It remains the best-sounding electric guitar I've ever played.

Stick a Bigsby on that BB and we're in 'sex wee' territory.

equalsql

ICBM said:

It's a well-worn story now so I won't bore you again, but many years ago I could have bought one of these -

http://cdn1.gbase.com/usercontent/gear/2911118/p3_urtc15nqi_so.jpg

- if I'd really wanted to. I didn't... I'm an idiot.

1956 Les Paul Custom - the one in question was in slightly worse condition and had been refretted (perfectly) with medium-jumbo frets. It remains the best-sounding electric guitar I've ever played.

Funny, cos if that Travis Bean didn't exist, that would be my other option. There was either a copy or re-issue of that Black Beauty at the same show..and I've loved P90 LPs ever since, hence my avatar 

equalsql

ICBM said:

It's a well-worn story now so I won't bore you again, but many years ago I could have bought one of these -

http://cdn1.gbase.com/usercontent/gear/2911118/p3_urtc15nqi_so.jpg

- if I'd really wanted to. I didn't... I'm an idiot.

1956 Les Paul Custom - the one in question was in slightly worse condition and had been refretted (perfectly) with medium-jumbo frets. It remains the best-sounding electric guitar I've ever played.

Funny, cos if that Travis Bean didn't exist, that would be my other option. There was either a copy or re-issue of that Black Beauty at the same show..and I've loved P90 LPs ever since, hence my avatar 

maltingsaudio

I was lucky enough to play the red special unfortunately didn't like it,neck like a tre trunk does that count?

Deijavoo

A black Gibson 335 from a not exactly revered year of 1985. I tried it at a guitar show on at The Cavern in Liverpool, I had just bought a '52 reissue tele the week before and I wished I hadn't. This was not only the best 335 I've ever played but it was really up there for me against any other guitar.

Always regret not buying that. 

Drew_TNBD

I'm a lefty. I buy whatever blows my mind. Only choice.

Gulliver

I played a £3k Guthrie-spec Suhr Modern and it was absolutely insane!

Came home without it and everything of mine felt like shit...

Deadman

It has to be a tokai love rock LS85. Damn fine guitar.

axisus

Thinking back over the past decades, I honestly can't remember a guitar that i liked better than my self built no 1. I wouldn't swap it for any guitar. I guess I'm lucky.

Myranda

My mind-blowing guitar experience was an ancient Les Paul Junior (back when they cost less than $100). It just some how played like it wanted to make sounds - strangely I was having a double unusual guitar lesson as I was using a pick that had supposedly been cut from a coin that had been placed on the eyes of dead Haitians... 

And just like equalsql, I too would be willing to give both his testicles to own my dream guitar.

RobDavies

I was about sixteen and played a Gibson SG at the BMF at Earls Court.   It just "fitted".

But I've never owned one.....