One fine day in 1996 I dropped in to my favourite guitar shop, Peter Cook Guitars in Hanwell and was suprised when Trevor, the proprietor, beckoned me through to the backroom - the shop’s inner sanctum. This was a first. There before me on a table was this:

Goodness Me. This was love at first sight. Trevor deftly turned the guitar over.

Nev, who had been in attendance, solemnly intoned: "Open your wallet and repeat after me -   ” There was no need, my wallet was already open. “Help Yourself”, I said.

In 1996 Fender Guitars celebrated 50 years and released Anniversary instruments. Rather than rattle on, I reproduce the following description: “What I am talking about here is the MIA 50th Anniversary Telecaster. There were MIJ anniversary models as well, and just about any Fender made in 1996 got the 50th anniversary sticker, but I mean the 'limited run'. This was a limited run (1250 pieces) from the normal production line. Not a Custom Shop job. Basically, it's a American Standard like they made in these days. This means it has no vintage features, but a modern, 22 fret 9.5" radius neck, two string retainers, modern wiring, modern bridge with 6 saddles, string through. However, following is different from normal production American Standard series. Gold neckplate with serial number 'Txxxx of 1250' and 50th Anniversary logo engraved. All gold hardware. Body front and back has maple tiger stripe veneer, underneath may be alder (not sure, also not sure of how many pieces the body was constructed). Tobacco burst finish, polyurethane. 3 ply W-B-W pickguard. What do I think about it? I like it, a lot! Bought it new. Fit & finish, setup were excellent. Paint job immaculate. However, if you are into the vintage vibe, this is not your guitar. Flatter radius, bigger frets, and most importantly, the modern 6 saddle bridge, which doesn't exert the same string pressure on the bridge plate like a vintage 3 brass saddle bridge does. What does it sound like? That's funny, if I want to get what I think of as the vintage Tele sound, I grab this one. I have other second/third/umpteenth-hand Teles, from the 60'ies and 70'ies, and if I really want a snarling, in-your-face lead sound (slight mid dip), I pick up one of those. But this 50th Anniversary has good pickups. The neck pickup is smooth, jazzy and powerful, and I end up using it a lot. The bridge pickup is even and balanced, but not icepick. Doesn't have the high output of my older Teles, so you can't hit the pre amp hard. But you get very articulated, smooth but twangy, snappy sounds, both chords as well as single notes, and both finger picked as well as plectrum strummed. Middle position really stands out. Good for clean, or slightly overdriven. This is what you can hear on these older records, before bands started playing through amplifier stacks. Don't be fooled into thinking this is a nice investment for your pension. Asking prices for used 50th Anniversary Teles and strats may be inflated (because dealers will overcharge on anything with a limited run), but when the market has run its course, most or all that I have seen sold for prices under the original MRSP (US$ 1100 with discount in the States, or ƒ 2200 in my neck of the woods). But it is a very nice guitar all around, and a good looking one too. I kid myself into thinking that, although it is regular production, these limited runs got some extra attention and TLC at the production line!” This review is by “Undafonk” from Rotterdam, in 2003 and, sadly RIP. It is a superb description. This guitar (T0337) and I  are still together after 30 years; the frets are worn, some of the gold has gone and there is a ding or three on the body. It is a lovely instrument and has been well-used. No more to say. This, I think, concludes my ramble through things 6-stringed that I have owned and enjoyed or, in the odd case, tolerated. Reading through, it appears that I was buying or trading guitars every week, in fact the time span of all this is over 60 years; it has been great fun. A guitar that I have not mentioned is a  Gibson L7, which I bought from a gentleman called Chris Trigg who ran a London store called, I think, Vintage and Rare  Guitars - It was a wonderful beast-

Oh, I must add that hanging on my wall, as I write, is a Fender (California) Stratocaster; maple neck and, of course, a lovely Fiesta Red body, just like Hank’s. It has taken over 60 years but there it is. Occasionally, it catches my eye and I think -  “ It’s all your fault”

A large, solid guitar with a carved spruce top, maple back and sides; I could go on - check it out. Like me, it was made in 1948. Beautiful to own but very hard work to play I sold it in an auction at, I think Sothebys and got my money back. I hate to think what it is worth today.

A small ps here. When I bought this guitar from Chris Trigg he was selling from his flat, somewhere in Notting Hill. He subsequently opened a store in a basement in Kensington which  seemed to be doing well and I recall a Sunday Supplement article about him and his venture. I’ve discovered that he went on to great things with a shop in Denmark Street which seems to have relocated to Bath in recent years.