GUITAR MAGIC FROM FIVE STAR GUITARS IN BEAVERTON OREGON

Guitar magic happens. It happens in flea markets, Craigslist, and stores when someone picks up a guitar that they can’t put down.

It happens in magazines, videos, and concerts when they see new guitars, or hear a sound coming from new players and old guitars.

Yesterday it happened in Five Star Guitars. Was it worthy of a Five Star Rating?

Yes it was.

I’ve been on the Fender Telecaster hunt a while now, searching for the elusive guitar that tells me it’s THE ONE. But is looking for The One a marketing ploy used to bag dreamers who think a better guitar might make them a better player?

Or, is it guitar magic.

Ploy or no ploy, a better guitar has more potential than the mess with the twisted neck that stays in tune maybe five minutes.

In addition, a better guitar is the choice over a custom, ultra, vintage, throwback, road worn, or artifact rig. After a certain level anything extra is a gew-gaw.

But what constitutes a ‘better’ guitar, and how to tell the difference?

The Power Of Objects

What’s the difference between the quarter in your pocket and a quarter dated 1964 and earlier?

They look the same, but today’s quarters are worth $.25; earlier quarters come in around $5 each. The difference is in the materials. Today’s coins are made from a sandwich of nickel and copper. Older coins are 90% silver, 10% copper.

Four quarters equal a dollar unless they were made before 1964, then they’re worth a twenty.

Something called ‘melt value’ kicks in if the earlier quarters don’t have the sort of collectible provenance that pumps them higher.

Consider the coin flipped to name Portland, Oregon, the 1835 Portland Penny. Melted for its copper, it’s worth the market value of the metal. But, because of it’s historical lineage, it’s priceless.

Diamonds are another example. Expensive and rare on their own, diamond values sky rocket based on cut, clarity, and color. Blue Nile sells one for $2.6, with free shipping. It may look like an ordinary piece of ice, but pull the big wallet out.

I’ve held the Portland Penny, but not the Blue Nile diamond, but I expect my reaction would be similar: Put it down. Why? Because you can’t drop what you don’t hold.

The MVP Guitar (Most Valuable Playing)

Most guitars come with the same instructions: You hold them to play them.

After a certain price they make me nervous. I’ve seen enough innocent guitar accidents to know it could happen to anyone, to me. And it would happen fast.

I never want to say, “I’m sorry I dropped and broke your super expensive, super rare, One-of-a-kind Broadcaster. I don’t know what happened. I should have left it on the wall.”

But, I would know how it happened. I picked it up. Dropping it would mean I’d have to disappear into the nearest hole and never be seen again. I don’t write the rules.

If I somehow owned a super expensive, super rare guitar, then dropped and broke it? Duct tape, wire, and glue wouldn’t do the trick, so I’d live my life out in the dark.

Since I’m a blamer, and usually blame myself before pointing fingers, no top shelf Fender for this one, no Custom Shop, no Mastercraftsman. A production line guitar over here, please.

But, where do I find this guitar magic?

Five Star Guitars To The Rescue

My tele search included visits to six local guitar stores for current and vintage models. I played them all, even a big red Trini Lopez Gibson for comparison, looking for the ever elusive – ‘tone.’

I heard the same telecaster story everywhere. Limited selection, back orders, sporadic delivery, get on the waiting list, covid pandemic. Online searches were an exercise in futility with ‘sold out’ under many pictures.

It felt inevitable that I’d buy from an online store and get a guitar delivered without playing it. Never an ideal move, but what was I supposed to do? Give one-more-shot.

First, I searched for “Best electric guitars in 2020.” The Fender Pro Telecaster made the list. Barely. Which was a good thing. The cheating truth is I knew I wanted a tele, just not which one. Finding it on a ‘Best Deal’ list helped clarify the picture, and I put myself in it.

Then I searched “Pro tele near me,” and after the guitar stores and demos and gripping and looking, Five Star Guitars came up. Not just their ad, but also a note saying the guitar I wanted was stocked on a specific date. The store was new to me, so was the note. They shouldn’t have been

When I shopped the page I got a pop-up helper. I was shopping for a Pro Tele on a pro website.

I Opened The Guitar Magic Door

Five Star Guitars jumped out from the beginning. The vibe was between commercial superstore and Eastside boutique.

I didn’t see a beer tap or a bar, so guitars were first.

Josh: Welcome in. Look around and let me know if I can help.

Me: The butterscotch Tele? I saw one online and I’m coming for it.

Josh: Our Pros and Ultras are right over here.

I stared at the guitar, played it, shook it, swung it. I couldn’t let go. But always the fan of a second opinion, I had my wife stand nonchalant guard over it while I did my due diligence.

The check out included an offer of the cardboard box my new guitar was shipped in. I thought that was a nice gesture, probably one the collectors take them up on.

Me: You’ve got some store here. How come it took me so long to find it. You guys came up on my last search before going the Musicians Friend or Sweetwater. If I saw you first it would have shortened the search.

Josh: I’m glad you found us. After NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants, named us ‘Dealer of the Year’ we’ve seen more traffic.

Me: I’ve been looking for this particular guitar. The closest I came was an upgraded vintage build. And you guys had it here?

Josh: Because of the business we do, we get to pick and choose our inventory with a good idea of what people want.

Me: I’m a little surprised you had a butterscotch tele pro.

Josh: It hasn’t been here long. To me, it defines tele.

Me: That’s the guitar magic I get. Now when I play bad I can’t blame the guitar. Do you have one?

Josh: I own fourteen guitars, but not one like that.

Me: I talked to a man who said he once owned seventy five guitars at the same time. Fourteen sounds like a good number.

My Wife: Two is a better number. Maybe I’ll get one while we’re here.

When I heard her say that I channeled my inner-Kevin Garnett with ‘Anything Is Possible.’

Out The Door We Go

A new guitar under any circumstances is a celebration, but a new guitar during a pandemic of social distancing, mask wearing, and hand washing, a guitar that outstrips every guitar that’s passed through?

I’d like to thank my guitar mentors for their guidance.

Together they made a new guitar possible. It started with the idea of an acoustic, that turned into the $1999.00 Acoustasonic, which introduced a $2000 ceiling, that turned into a Tele Pro.

Without them I would have aimed lower.

They both record the guitar magic music they play, so their timing is perfect. With one bringing a blend of Nashville sound studio, and the other growing up on metal, I listen to them explain tone and touch.

Now I have the right help.

Let the learning begin.