My first attempts at playing guitar were back in schooldays, I was given a cheap acoustic guitar and it was difficult to play. I didn’t know anything about it back then but it had a very high action and a wide (classical) guitar neck. I learned a number of Shadows numbers and a couple of Elvis songs but didn’t stick with it. Years later my son wanted to learn and was recommended to start on an electric guitar with a narrow neck and low action (an Aria Stratocaster); I also learned to play ‘properly’ on that instrument. If only I had known back in those schooldays what I know now…….!

I really like guitars, not just as musical instruments but also as lovely looking objects! I find it difficult to resist buying more. The last one I bought was in an auction for £70, a Crafter Cruiser, and it is lovely to play and has a great tone. I recently saw an Aria Pro-II Fullerton in Stamford music shop, very nice, very tempted! What I really lust after at the moment, though, is a Fender Acoustasonic………!