Browsing YouTube, I came across a video in which James Taylor toured his guitar vault picking out a couple of choice instruments for commentary.
One historic instrument he showed was the Gibson J-45 he played during his early years. He described its current state as worn out, explaining that years of use have loosened the guitars bracings so that it now no longer sounds like it did in its heyday.
Although I’ve been around music and guitars in particular a long time, this was the first time I had hear such a thing.
A friend of mine who lives in Nazareth, PA works on wood instruments refinishing and refurbishing them. When I put the question to him, he was firm in the belief that guitars don’t wear out.
What do you think? Is there a difference say, between a fine old Martin and at Stradivarius violin?
Jay Freeman
Folsom, CA
jhfiii@comcast.net