History Museum at the Castle Guitar Exhibit

There is an exhibit titled "Play it Loud: Instruments of Rock and Roll" at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. It features some of the iconic guitars that helped musicians such as Eric Clapton and Eddie Van Halen create their own unique sounds. A trip to the Big Apple is not on my agenda, so I was excited to learn that the History Museum at the Castle in Appleton, Wisconsin was hosting a guitar exhibit this summer.

"Guitar: The Instrument that Rocked the World" is on display from June 2019 through January 2020. This traveling exhibit has something for anyone, of any age, who has an interest in guitars. It features a floor length electric guitar and a multitude of Fender Stratocasters hanging from the ceiling. There are displays explaining the science behind the sounds created by acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and amplifiers.

The best part of the exhibit, however, is the collection of guitars that the exhibit brings together.

Fender Stratocaster

My favorite guitar, and the only electric I own, is the Fender Stratocaster. They had a vintage model in blue with a rosewood fretboard that is an excellent example of a Strat. Players who are associated with the Stratocaster are Buddy Holly, Eric Clapton and the incomparable Jimi Hendrix.

Gibson guitars were also well represented with a Les Paul SG and an ES 355 that B.B. King made famous. He named his guitars Lucille after he had run back into a burning bar to retrieve his guitar when a fire broke out during a gig. The fire had begun over a dispute involving a woman named Lucille and he wanted to remember never to run into a burning building because of a guitar. Gibson began to produce guitars with "Lucille" embossed on the headstock.

Lucille

The curators chose a Martin D 28 as an example of an acoustic guitar that influenced the rock and roll world. Rock musicians as diverse as Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page and Neil Young all played Martin acoustics on some of their most well known songs. The leather bound example on display indicates that it was also a favorite of country and western guitar slingers.

Martin D 28

If you have an interest in guitars, rock and roll or otherwise, I recommend a visit to the History Museum at the Castle.

Sometimes Things Change

My last post was over two months ago and described my plans to abandon the idea of doing more long distance touring on a motorcycle. I was planning to sell my touring bike and buy a sports car, a Ford Mustang in particular.

In the weeks after that post, I did attempt to sell the big BMW R1200 GSA and spent a lot of time surfing the Internet in search of the car I wanted. The bike was not generating any interest at my asking price and I lowered it steadily. The car was still appealing, but was becoming less so. I was beginning to think that maybe getting out on the road again would be a good idea after all.

By late July I began like I was not ready to give up the admitted excitement of riding across the country and that a Ford Mustang could wait. I'm only 67, and that seemed a little young be buying a sports car. In early August I stopped at my local BMW dealer and worked out a trade for my 2011 R1200 GSA. There were not any 2019 models left, so I have a 2020 on order. It should be here some time this month. It will be identical to the 2019 model my dealer acquired as a demo. He invited me to take it out for a ride last week and it is a wonderful machine.

The BMW R1200 GSA Exclusive in Kalameta Metallic Matte

In the meantime I am searching for a new riding jacket and gloves. The BMW National Rally is in Great Falls, Montana next June and I already have my reservations at the local Hampton Inn.

I am happy with my change of mind and am looking forward to the arrival of my new German beast. It should be on its way from Berlin soon.