I decided today that I'm buying another lefty Strat but not for me,it's for my cousin's 11 year old grandson.When we had the giant jam at our family reunion about 3 weeks ago she pushed the shy quiet somewhat reluctant little guy up on the stage.He only had a battered old lefty acoustic yet when he started playing with the 3 pro guitarists from the family jaws began to -the young fella was literally like a reincarnation of Jimi right down to being a lefty and he's also mixed race with the same colouring which adds even more to the effect.Like Jimi he also speaks in whispers and exudes a quiet natural coolness and intensity-especially when he's playing.I started arrangements today to get the lefty Strat and got a really good deal.I'm going to pick up a good used amp as I believe that a high quality used amp would probably cost less than a new mediocre one.This will take a fair chunk from my Rickenbacker Fund and I'll have to wait a bit longer for my 360/12 or 325V 64 but I have such a strong gut feeling about this little wonder that I owe it to him to give him a hand up.I mentored a few other guitarists in the family who were naturals and they have lucrative pro careers playing guitar-especially Jimi stuff so Alan,being a 4th generation guitarist should be given all the help the others got.It's a pity that he lives 2 hours away because I'd like to sit down with him at least once a week and give him some Hendrix pointers,then again if he's anything like my nephew and cousins it wouldn't take long before he surpassed anything that I could teach him.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

That's just awesome! You're doing a great thing for this boy! I'm sure he will never forget the moment when he gets that guitar.

Fantastic!
I am sure we all agree your next guitar or amp can wait! This is something else!!
Cheers.

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FIGHT!

Sounds like a noble plan. I'd suggest not saddling the kid down with any comparisons to Jimi though. I was in a band with a lead singer who looked and sounded just like Jim Morrison. It messed with his head to where he never reached his potential. He thought he'd naturally reached it without trying. Just a thought.

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

Guitslinger- that is as cool as it could possibly be Very kind of you. But it is a possibility he may take another direction than you expect - and still he'll be doing well , and you have a big part of the honor ..... I mean - let him develop , just with a touch of guidance , without requiring a new Jimi

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A-man

That's a great thing you're doing. You'll have really earned that rickenbacker once you get it.

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Rated "M" for meaty.

Wonderful Gift!! I read an article the other day about how there is less young people wanting to learn how to play guitar and it made me sad! This thread made me smile!

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Mona
"Music is What Feelings Sound like"

That is top level generosity from you sir. You're gonna really deserve that Rickenbacker when it finally comes your way.

Great gesture, it will produce dividends.

Thanks guys,with the hands being fooled up the way that they are now and where it seems to be slowly getting worse-the doctors still can't agree on a possible diagnosis-so I quite possibly may not to be able to play down the road.I figure that the money from my fund would be better used by spending it on a young talent.I won't be trying to steer him in the direction of any particular artist nor will be over the top with the praise.I saw the results of false praise on the Gibson Forum with the guy Fender 1 who got the royal heave-ho from this forum.This guy has absolutely no aptitude for guitar and the adults on the forum tell that he's a Hendrix in the making when he posts videos of himself absolutely mangling Voodoo Child and most ridiculous of all the Star Spangled Banner.The guy has devoured all that praise and now openly refers to himself as Hendrix incarnate already.I have always said it like it is whether good or bad and never sugar coat anything, but critque where needed and with it offer encouragement to do better,practice harder and they'll get it right after a while and then they'll feel the sense of accomplishment that hard work gives them. Having said that though I will certainly be throwing in some Jimi and possibly Beatle CDs and maybe chord books just to see if it may create a little spark as they did with me.Of course with me they hit me like a full-fledged missle attack-lol.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

You got a good heart to match your good head.