STUDENT NEWSLETTER   24 November 2005    

I hope this letter finds you all happy,  and healthy.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING YOU ALL!  Just about my favorite holiday!  Where we eat a weeks worth of calories in one meal,  pass out in a chair,  wake up two hours later and have more food!  No greeting cards or gifts involved!  We should have Thanksgiving twice a year!  We could replace Columbus day!   There are so many things that I am thankful for.  All you students are number one.  Every student is special and my life is better knowing them.  The wonderful letters I receive from all over the world saying that my method clicked after previous attempts of learning guitar failed make me thankful.   I am thankful for the stories I get to hear about my students having success in the music business.   I get to live vicariously thru them!  Check out this picture of my band Wheatstone Bridge back in 1979 and Student Travis Smith's band last month:  Twenty six years sure went by fast!  Still more fun than should be allowed.

Have a great Thanksgiving.  I wish the very best for you and your family and friends.

Christmas in less than thirty five days away!    Of course Christmas Gift Certificates are available for lessons or merchandise and can be mailed or emailed to you or them up till the last minute.  Music is a gift that lasts a lifetime!  Great stocking stuffers. 

Got your Christmas songs down yet?   Here is some helpful material:  JAM ALONG CHRISTMAS CD  These are the easiest arrangement of 12 all time favorites. 

NOTICE:  No classes on 24 November 2005.  Happy Thanksgiving!

In my apparent personal never ending search for the perfect guitar I end up with some super nice examples of the classic guitars.  When I was growing up over and over heard that there were only three great guitars.  Gibson, Fender, and Martin.  Everything else was a copy.  With very few exceptions I find that to be true all these years later.  There is a very good reason just about everyone plays Stratocasters, Telecasters, Les Pauls, and Martins.  It is THE classic sound you have been hearing for the past fifty years.  The REAL vintage stuff is so expensive it makes it cost prohibitive to take to gigs!  Here is one that just sold on Ebay for $26,000!  Thirty seven bids!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7359754542&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Very hard to find.  Not many people want to sell something that goes up in value 30% per year. 

The closest thing to the vintage stuff is the reissue models the same companies still make today.  They are the top of the line production models that are very close to the originals.  I think they are the best bang for the buck.  Affordable enough to play and gig,  but still an investment that more than justifies the cost.  Some of the earlier reissues made between 1982 and 1984 have gone thru the roof and are almost impossible to find.  Collectors hold on to these because they are going up so fast in value.  They are VERY close to the real deal now that they too are over twenty years old.

I have noticed that the Fender reissues made between 1985 and 1991 are also going up faster than I can find them.  Here is one on Ebay that just sold for $2,650:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7356565794&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

The custom colors bring a premium.  Condition is important.

Not all guitar deals go smoothly for me.  Here is one I just did that did not go so well.....

V0027XX here on November 10.  Two tone sunburst USA Vintage '57 reissue Stratocaster with SUPER RARE Red bottom bobbin pick ups and OHSTC from original owner!  Neck date 1-1-82 would make it the earliest neck date we have ever seen.  Pics soon.  Stay tuned!  

UPDATE UPDATE:  Guitar arrived poorly packed.  Did not have the red bottom bobbin pickups as advertised, had wood removed from the control cavity inside the guitar, extra screw holes from mounting an 11 hole pickguard on a 7 hole pickguard guitar.  The deal killer was someone had replaced a nut size piece of wood at the nut on the fingerboard in an effort to patch what must have been a roller nut or locking nut at one time.  TOO BAD.  Other than all of that it was a cool guitar.  Just not worth what I paid for it.  I know this sounds like your worst nightmare come true, but in five years buying and selling on Ebay this is the first time this has happened to me.  I should have known the seller was inexperienced by his feedback rating of 4.  I am sending it back to him today.  I will let you know if there is any updates.  I hope not!

UPDATE!!!  Seems like I got ripped off on this one.  I returned the guitar and never got a refund or heard back from the seller.  Presently going thru Pay Pal for arbitration.   OUCH!

UPDATE!!!!  After threatening seller with Federal action I received full refund within twenty minutes.  I am still out the shipping and have to wait 8 days for their check to clear.  Also a lot of time went into this deal and there was nothing to show for the efforts but a $58 shipping bill.

Two weeks since my guitar was returned I finally leg wrestled the money out of the sellers girlfriend.  Too much hassle and no guitar. 

1986 USA Vintage '62 reissue Fender Stratocaster in ultra rare Candy Apple Red in near mint condition!

VERY early Fullerton USA Vintage '57 reissue in Fiesta Red with V0006XX serial number for sale.

If you click thru to MUSICIANS FRIEND .com from this web site to buy something,  I get an advertising allowance and it does not cost you a penny extra!  Musicians Friend is where I get all my new gear.

Stay Tuned.  Always lots going on around here!  

Rocking On,

Joe "TheGuitarman" Pacciano, C.G.P.

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