Published in the December 7 – 20, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life

By Mark Fenichel

It happened nearly 10 years ago when I worked as a marketing rep for KFOX radio in San Jose and made a call on a new music store on its opening day. My client, an advertising agency employee who also happened to be a good friend, had landed the account and was taking me to meet the owner to discuss how he could benefit by advertising on the radio.

On the way to most sales calls I visualize the meeting by running through my mind a sales scenario and how I could lead the client on a path through questions, with the final outcome closing the deal. But this day was different. For some reason my mind visualized a new music store filled with musical treasures, guitars, amplifiers, microphones and accessories to rummage through.

We arrived just before business hours for our appointment. We headed toward the office in the rear and walked about half way through the store when I noticed a rack of acoustic guitars dangling in a row. One acoustic guitar stood out from the rest. It had a sleek smooth arched body and a V-style neck. On the headstock was the number “4” and the name Epiphone in a fancy script-like design. I knew the Epiphone company started making guitars in the late 1920s. They were fierce competitors of the Gibson Guitar Company for many years until Gibson purchased Epiphone in the mid-1950s.

I pulled the guitar off the rack and strummed a few chords. It was not the most perfect looking guitar, but the neck felt good in my hand. It had a good sound and a cool look and I felt a connection. I also noticed the reasonable price tag: $119.95.

The meeting went well. The owner agreed to run an ad campaign to promote his new store. At the end, I mentioned the guitar I saw on the rack that I really liked and said I was interested in it. I pulled down the Epiphone guitar that had caught my eye. “This is the one I liked and I’d like to buy it,” I said.

His first reaction was, “Well, you know I am a businessman and not a guitar expert.” He said, “I have spent the last few years finding guitars at flea markets, garage sales and yard sales and have amassed this collection.” He added, “I have no idea of the value of most of the instruments in the store and tomorrow I have an expert coming to help me price all the guitars.”

I said, “Well, this is your first day and you can sell your first guitar and I can be your very first customer if you will sell it to me.” He told me he had purchased this particular guitar from an old farmer in Modesto who pulled a few instruments out of his barn and he bought them all. “Well, I guess I can sell you the guitar,” he said and admitted that he was doubling his money on his original investment for that one.

I bought the guitar for the amount on the price tag, no dickering. After I got home, I did some research on the guitar and found little information on it other than it was a top-of-the-line model in those days and it was first made in 1928, the very first year Epiphone was making guitars. The company discontinued it in 1932. This extremely rare guitar is virtually impossible to find and there is little in the history books about it. It has an Indian rosewood 14-fret neck, hand-carved arched top, celluloid headstock, and a rosewood bridge and bone saddle. A few months later I learned from a guitar appraisal expert it was worth at least 20 times what I paid for it. He had heard of these guitars but never saw one and wasn’t even quite sure how much to appraise it for. I did it! I found a rarity that most guitar collectors only dream about. Oh, the excitement of owning a guitar that few others have, the thrill of finding a musical treasure for pennies on the dollar, an investment that will help me through retirement. It’s a true story, it happened and I have been smiling about this find ever since.

• • •

On another note, Last week I stopped into the GVA Cafe to visit the Chris & Friends Open Mic night. This event has really matured into something special and is the place to go to see quality music and expose your kids to live music too. Also, I will be performing at 88 Keys Cafe and Piano Bar Dec. 10 for my holiday music gathering and will have many of my musician friends performing. So if you want a good place to eat, drink and see live music stop by between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. I look forward to seeing you all there.

If you have a musical tip, let me know at [email protected].