Growing up I loved The Beatles. Everything they recorded. Guitars used by The Fab Four were plentiful. However, I never really focused upon any one specific favourite Beatle guitar consideration. Never really aware of guitar make importance other than Paul’s iconic Hofner Bass guitar.

Then, during and after The Beatles period of time, (they were and have always been present in my lifelong listening longevity) a fair few inbetweener’s were listened to…….too. The artists and bands were too many to mention. Much eclectic and diverse music was enjoyed nonetheless. Again, no singular guitar focus or envy. I owned a cheap acoustic and attempted playing along to any songs in naive and blissful ignorance. Until another singular artist miracle.

Marc Bolan suddenly hit the senses. From his early Tyrannosaurus Rex days, and then onwards to his ‘Electric Boogie Boogie On’ land something twigged. The need for a specific guitar sound. I suddenly understood the importance of singular sounding guitar vibes. From his acoustic guitar driven Tyrannosaurus Rex days of not noticing his use of specific make of guitar, to his bit by bit introduction of electric guitar playing inclusions in T.Rex. I fully realised with this T.Rex period, that guitar make, sound and vibe mattered. A love of his music had made me realise that my own cheap acoustic guitar strumming alongside the early songs, couldn’t compare to playing his electric songs. I went out and bought a Fender Telecaster electric guitar and naively tried to accompany his songs and riffs of gifted genius. His ‘Ride a White Swan’ was Telecaster okay. But then he changed the ball game. He strutted his stuff alongside a beautiful Gibson Les Paul. Dirty riffs, full on grit and a chilling beauty of particular uniqueness in his sound delivery. Chord driven riffing culminated in the realisation that the ‘Electric Warrior’ album was ‘That Les Paul sound’. It had a lasting influence.

His Gibson Les Paul guitar in the T.Rex ‘sound’ was perfection. I have never, ever owned one. Never played one in earnest. So in awe of the Les Paul, I nearly bought a ‘year 2000’ Les Paul re-introduced edition a few years back. But I baulked at the hefty £2,500 price tag in the secondhand shop.

Now? This ‘made in 1990 Hohner L75 Les Paul Professional’ guitar above, that I bought secondhand a few days ago, has allowed me the luxury of what it feels like to handle the ‘shape make up’ of a Les Paul guitar. And to experience the near identical sound. It sounds amazing, even through my simple 15 watt Epiphone amp. Alongside the sound? Over the last few days, the compact nature and beautifully comfortable handling experience of the Les Paul shape has given me chills.

Within a few short days it has become a best friend. I suppose I have fallen in love with my ‘fourth friend’ ownership of a guitar. Ever since my love of the Eko acoustic dreadnought guitar I bought in the early 1970’s, the Fender Jazz bass guitar I first bought in the late 1970’s and the 1979 Guild acoustic dreadnought bought a few years ago, I realise guitars that rock the senses for Summersville’s mind are far and few between. Believe me….I have played on a lot of guitars over the decades. Not many are home hitters.

So. No songs here in this blog. Sorry. But…. I am currently so busy doing other things, family dynamics and working out future musical plans, that a brief stop on actually recording music has been necessary. I want to spend quality time on this music project and being focused on holistic particulars is important. Every day, a guitar is still picked up and new songs are growing nicely. I have also been consistently in contact with my three fellow ‘Frail Autumn’ musicians (guitar, keyboards and drums) and chatting ideas and dynamics through. Even today, I have been looking at presentation ideas on YouTube visual dynamics too. Building visual scenarios to present specific vibes. An overall developing idea of filmed visual inclusions alongside music recordings.

The VeeDub bus presence is essential for vintage ambience and a joyful, interactive conversational and playful experience of playing our songs to camera. I have realised that the thought out process in determining fun filled filmed ideas with the songs is actually really important. Giving the personality of my friends to enhance the musical inclusions. Focused and thoughtful time planning, in order to truly realise a project by this autumn to early winter’s season, has been analysed over the last few weeks. This can, fingers crossed, provide an interesting holistic experience for onlookers.

Cheers all.