Guitars and Testosterone.

[I Am Paula]

Yesterday I exhibited at, for the fifth year, one of the last true bastions of testosterone dominance- The guitar show. These take place in huge halls, and arenas, and are attended by about 98% males. LOTS of leather pants, and Metallica t-shirts.
Every year I set up my booth, and sell my wares, and I've gotten to know most of the exhibitors, and lots of the attendees. This was Paula's first year.
This year I amended my signage to not include my name. De-gendered it.
During the course of the show, I spoke to at least a thousand people, including answering lots of technical questions, and pointing out guitars that I had built.
Not one long look, or disbelief that a girl could talk about pick-up resistance, and tonewood choices.
I don't know yet. Either complete ignorance that I was trans, or not caring the slightest bit. Some of the exhibitors had heard thru the grapevine, and came over and said hi to Paula. The overall response was, The same booth, the same quality products, and a friendly, knowledgeable person, but now a girl... or was it always a girl...or am I in the same place?
Pic is of me with an original 1962 Stratocaster. It wanted to follow me home, but alas, I was $17,000 short.

[Ressie]

I've only been to one guitar show, but being a life long guitarist I love a good guitar. I remember being blown away when Walter Carlos became Wendy. Maybe some of the guests at the show remember too? Beautiful Strat, mine's a '77 not really high in value.

[Frances]

Awesome guitar! My main one is an Olympic white Strat that I glammed up with a black glass sparkle pickguard.

The following image has been edited and conforms to the rules stated here :
http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/faq.php?faq=main_rules#faq_photography

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad9/CGaronMTL/Front_1_reduced_zps12403436.gif

[danielleb]

I just had to sell my ebony 79 Les Paul Custom. I never thought I would sell it in my lifetime, but I had to pay for meds. I think you're lucky to be involved in an "artistic" industry. In that environment I think people can readily accept even if they had any idea you're trans for the most part, and I'm sure they didn't know anyway. Include Paula's name on there and do what you do. :)

[Krisi]

I had a couple "vintage" guitars and basses back in the day. They weren't "vintage" back then, they were just guitars and basses. Tools to perform and make money with.

[Kaitlyn Michele]

This is my 1971-72 Fender strat.. I bought it in 1980 and kept it ever since!!

You can also see my pit bull and if you look closely my hormones!!! (next to the tv)...and yes..i'm a slob!! and my music studio is in my bedroom!! LOL

[Frances]

Is that a white Moogerfooger pedal?

[whowhatwhen]

http://i.imgur.com/UvoZLPJ.jpg
You'll never afford it, live in the now.

[celeste26]

FWIW, Paula, I have actually been to the Fender Custom shop in Corona CA. Not to buy a guitar but to sell them bottled water service. All of the greatest rock stars have "custom Fenders," as soon as they can afford them anyway. They have a display of many of their "used" custom guitars on the walls and autographed stories behind them too.

[Kaitlyn Michele]

Hi Frances!!!

That is a moog ring modulator but right out of the shot I have the moogerfooger delay which is loads of fun.

It's funny because I never lost my interest in guitar tech and I go to the store all the time to chat up gear

[donnalee]

Here's a few of mine. Never had much interest in nor use for planks.
I spent about 20 years working professionally and an additional 20 in the retail and repair end of things (also why most bar owners are alcoholics; gets you closer to the source!).
Photo is circa 1980: L-R: 1965 Gibson L-5C w/ floating double JS P/U(sold long ago; still have all the others); 1946 NY Epiphone Deluxe; 1959 Gibson L5CN with factory installed CC P/U; 1967 Guild Starfire VI (my go-to for any unknown venue); 1952 L-5C (please note the difference with the '59 L-5CN in the cutaway shape); 1934 Super 400 (with a serial number ~20 below the supposed prototype); 1969 Jacques Favino, Luthier, Paris (a modification of the Selmer with a larger body; Favino purchased the original Selmer parts and is acknowledged as the premier builder, post-Selmer, of this style).

[I Am Paula]

Nice collection. In the past I've had both a Gibson Johnny Smith, and a Byrdland. Neither really worked for me, nor could I do them much justice. I love the Guild in the middle!
Planks? Let's see you serve spaghetti with a Gibson Super 400. Pardon mental image.

[Kaitlyn Michele]

Very nice! I've "had" seven guitars but I keep trading them!

What is that acoustic one on the upper right???

[Frances]

Nice collection Donnalee! Is that a vintage Maccaferri guitar?

[Diane Lynn]

This is my current line up. 2014 Gibson EB Bass, 2013 Ibanez Iceman, 2010 Gibson Studio, and 2013 Fender American Special. I have only been playing for 1 1/2 years. I am looking for a inexpensive bass to jam with a friend. I want to leave it there so I don't have to keep moving it. Any suggestions on a good cheap bass. I had a Ibanez SR405QM, but I had to sell it. I can buy it back, but they want too much.

[donnalee]

Thank you all for the interest and appreciation, and kudos to Paula for her bravery and success. I did make a few goofs in the original description and left one guitar ('51 L-5C) out, since corrected, which may have confused things; please re-read.
None are for sale; they will be part of my estate eventually (which I hope is a long time off!).

Very nice! I've "had" seven guitars but I keep trading them!

What is that acoustic one on the upper right??? The Favino. The description is L-R and includes it.
Thank you and no; the design is Selmer's. Maccaferi rejected it as soon as he saw it as a violation of his acoustic design and patents (apparently the body style wasn't included in them) so all he got was his demand to take the Maccaferri name off it. Django used it as it had better neck access (14 as opposed to 12 frets to the body) and could accommodate a P/U. Both were built by Selmer, Paris, better known in the US for woodwinds (the Selmer Mk.VI is still the premium standard for saxophones here). Maccaferri came to the US post-WW2 and manufactured plastic instruments under the Masco brand; (they also made tube PA amps and I've owned a guitar amp of theirs at one point). In fact the first instrument I owned and could play was a '50s Masco uke, bought new. These are not toys; their guitar would come up over a piano acoustically. About the '90s a stash of these were located and sold for $198.- each (they cost a lot more now). This is a post-Selmer, guitar hand-built by Jacques Favino, who had purchased the Selmer parts after they discontinued the originals (which will cost you 30-100k or more now if you can find one for sale). This maker is becoming more collectable with the people who play so-called "Gypsy Jazz" (which has become quite popular over the last 10 years or so), due to it's lower cost (~$10-20k) and high quality. His son, Jean-Pierre, is still building last I heard, but may not be by now.

[donnalee]

Nice collection. In the past I've had both a Gibson Johnny Smith, and a Byrdland. Neither really worked for me, nor could I do them much justice. I love the Guild in the middle!
Planks? Let's see you serve spaghetti with a Gibson Super 400. Pardon mental image.Yuck!!! What a horrible thought.

[Ressie]

Yes donnalee, I'm drooling over your collection. Looks like a fortune you've acquired. My only archtop is a '71 ES-175. I've been wanting a Starfire too, but my wallet isn't quite there.

[donnalee]

Hi Ressie,
I may be able to help you with that; please PM me.
Donna

[danielleb]

This is my 1971-72 Fender strat.. I bought it in 1980 and kept it ever since!!

You can also see my pit bull and if you look closely my hormones!!! (next to the tv)...and yes..i'm a slob!! and my music studio is in my bedroom!! LOL

I kept searching for the pitbull in the picture... Little did I know you were talking about a dog! :D

[Kathryn Martin]

Since everyone appears to show their collections I thought I contribute a picture of mine too:D

[Kaitlyn Michele]

I guess your last lesson didn't go very well!!!

[LeaP]

I have had a few over the years. Starting with my sister's Tijuana-market, nylon string guitar, followed by a cherry burst, no-name, Bigsby-equipped hollow-body when I was a teenager, to the pawnshop 12 string I acquired in college, followed by a pause of years and then the acquisition, a few years ago, of my Les Paul. Sadly, it doesn't get nearly enough use, due to other priorities.

Kathryn, you can't post a picture like that and not tell the story! The possibilities are endless! Was this a guitar smashing, on stage, glitter rock period exercise?