• From: massachusetts
  • Registered: 2010-10-18
  • Posts: 1,674

Topic: Road trip

One of my fondest memories was picking up an ACOUSTIC bass amp that I bought for 100 dollars on ebay.This was back in 2008.The amp was in Long Island.The drive was 5 hours one way.Why was the trip so special?My best and oldest friend came with me to keep me company so I wouldnt fall asleep at the wheel.We have been friends since 3rd grade.43 years.It was more than picking up an amp.It was a chance to go out and talk about things in a way we havent for years.He was best man at my wedding.He has seen me at my best and worst and stayed friends all this time.Never gave up on me when others abandoned me as a lost cause.So the chance to spend a whole day on a long drive was great.We hit some nerves on each other sometimes but it was still a great time.One of the best days ever.Just driving to Long Island getting to be close to my best friend.We ended up getting lost in the Bronx once bit it didnt take away from the trip one bit.If I had to do it again I would.Actually I will drive anywhere to pick up an instrument just for that reason.It is more than picking up an instrument.Its bonding and being with the one who will always stick by you.Picking up the amp took 5 minutes once I got there.It was getting there and back that was so special.Any one ever run into the same situation?

Enjoy Every Sandwich
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  • From: Alabama Gulf Coast
  • Registered: 2008-06-24
  • Posts: 1,819

Re: Road trip

Hi, JJJ. Thank you for an inspiring story that gets folks to reminiscing about good days with good friends.
Brought to mind the day my friend, a tugboat captain, took me along to help him find an acoustic guitar so he could practice when aboard his boat. We drove across Mobile Bay to a pawn shop in the big City.
They had hundreds of guitars for us to try. We were looking for a guitar that looked bad but played well and easy for cheap. We tried almost a hundred guitars but were not sold on any particular one.
The pawn shop manager asked us what we were looking for and we told him - a guitar with a pretty sound and nice low action.
He said he had a guitar in the back he was saving for himself. He brought out a mid-70's Yamaha FG350W in a nice case. It looked and sounded wonderful and the action was fairly low.
Cap'n Dick was thrilled with it and bought it for $185 leaving him enough cash for a set-up. The set-up did the job and had that old Yammy playing so well you never wanted to put it down.
Cap'n Dick played that guitar on his tug two weeks on and took it home for his two weeks off. It almost never lost it's tune.
Dick died too young and left me that guitar. I'm looking at it across the room now. It's a spirit guitar. Everybody who plays it digs the sound, feels good and hates to put it down.
toots

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  • Zurf
  • Zurf
  • Blunt but well meaning moderator
  • Offline
  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
  • Posts: 7,522

Re: Road trip

Beautiful stories both of you.  I had a similar situation with a boat, except it was a road trip with my family.  I had been saving for a 15' inflatable canoe with a rowing station on it for years.  They're $2,000.  A used 11' solo version came available for $450, so I bought it immediately without first consulting with my wife.  So I figured I had it coming to me when I got home to tell her I spent $450 on a boat sight unseen and it was in Ashville, NC - a five hour drive away.  I told her I'd take some time off work to go get it so that I wouldn't lose any family time.  She said, "If you think you're going to Ashville without me, you're off your rocker. When do we go?"  So we went and had a ball getting to see some new country.  When I got there, the fellow that I bought the boat from met me at an outfitter and refused to take my money until I had tried it on the river for a day and decided whether I liked it.  I liked it.  We met later in the weekend (I still had the boat) and gave him his money.  From that trip, we decided to get a camper so we could do more like it.  I'm just back from an adventure down-state in Virginia. 

- Zurf

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