I have been playing guitar for 35 years man and boy (did I really just use that expression?). In that time, I have played and written music with a large number of people, both as an amateur, semi-professionally, and professionally. I wanted to write a little about a certain type of 'musician trap' I have been lured in to many many times, and hopefully give some advice to young musicians, in the hope that they might avoid this phenomenon at least more often than not, as well a

My first guitar was a Fender. In 1985, I was bought a Fender steel strung acoustic (dreadnought type) for my fourteenth birthday. That was the first and last Fender I ever had until the middle of last year (2015), when I felt obligated to buy a Telecaster to use in a Northern Soul band I had begun playing with. Full and nauseating details on this acquisition and others can be found in the forthcoming SIXTH part of my Blog series 'Benny's Guitar History', so I won't go in to e

So after my interesting, musically worthwhile, yet quite bizarre experience with H-Pisces, I entered a period where I was somewhat dormant musically, especially from a live performance point of view. By 2008 I made the decision to sell my beloved Universe Super Custom. My beautiful wife gave me one of those handy reality check talking to's that galvanized me into action, as it was silly to keep it the way had been. Basically, although I had used the Super Custom during the H-

So in part three, I really only talked about the Jem 555 and the slightly peculiar means by which I arrived at buying it. So let's pick it up right there in 1995 and forge ahead a little. At this time, I was a 3 axe dude, no more, no less. I had the workhorse Jem 555, the now very unloved (and somewhat forlorn) Yamaha RGX, and my trusty old 1985 Fender acoustic. For acoustic sessions and performances I also had a cheap 'Encore' electro/acoustic (it was a poor copy of an Ova

So, back to Axe Music I went. Note: Musicians in general I think, but Guitarists for sure, we like to develop a solid relationship with a reliable, honest vendor. I had that with Axe Music for a time. Alan was a good bloke (although I did later fall out with him), but Matt was a diamond. He was one of those guys who just made you feel really valued, both as a customer, and as a player. Great guy. Moving on. 1995 - Ibanez Jem 555BK - During '95 (after sessions for the TUT TU

Aah, the Yamaha.... To continue this pointless trip down Axe lane, and to pick up where we left off; I seem to remember convincing my ma to help buy the Yamaha. If memory serves, this was just after coming home from college. 1993 - I had by this time decided not to see a bit of the world before growing up properly, and joined the Funk/Rock group 'Tin Lily' instead. I had been a fan of the band's previous incarnation, and they were good friends, and seemingly going places (I

It is 1983 - My good friend Adam Climey teaches me 'E' 'A' and 'D7' on his older brother's Yamaha SG2000. This guitar had such a lovely tone, we used to spend hours jangling away on it. Adam almost knew 'Freebird' and could play a few Jam songs too. He was great actually; a really nice bloke. Note: I later mentioned him on the sleeve-notes of the TUT TUT album, but I was not in contact with him to let him know. I do hope he would have been pleased to see the acknowledgement