THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY

M.J. Franks OM-D Acoustic

I've written stories about losing a guitar to needing money for the IRS, putting money together for another guitar, just plain needing rent money, and plenty of other scenarios. But this one is one that I wish I wasn't selling for a variety of reasons. The first is that it's probably the best sounding guitar I've ever played. Not just the best I've owned, but the best I've played...and I've played a lot of nice guitars. I got lucky with this one.

I acquired this guitar from Mike Franks, builder of some of the finest guitars on the planet, in exchange for building his website. This OM-D size guitar is the seventh guitar Mike ever made, and I have to say he hit a home run. I didn't get to play it in advance...we just worked out the deal and, once I finished the site, he sent me the guitar. How lucky am I? It's hand made with "master grade" adirondack spruce top and braces and "master grade" indian rosewood back and sides. It's got the fancier snowflake inlays on the bridge and custom inlays on the fret markers. It's got a Fishman Matrix endpin pickup built in and it's just the best sounding guitar. And the neck has a slight vee shape to it. Feels great.

Have I sold you on it yet?

But the fact of the matter is that I'm getting divorced. (EDITOR NOTE: This was back in 2009) And with the times being what they are and finances tight, to be able to move out and onward it's going to take a lot more financially than I can afford. Something has to give. So, I had to take a hard look at what that's going to take and the simple, sad solution is to sell a guitar. Even my future ex-wife knew that this was not an easy thing to conclude, but we both knew it was what had to be done.

Now, how do you take a look at a few really nice guitars that you've worked hard to accumulate over the years and decide which one has to go? It's like picking the least favorite of your children. Eventually I just decided that the one that is being played the least goes, and although this is the best sounding guitar, it has been spending the most time in its case for a variety of reasons. Mostly because I've been doing a lot of acoustic gigging lately and I'm never completely comfortable taking this one to a gig. So I practice with the ones that I'm going to be gigging with and the OM-D patiently waits its turn. It's also one with enough value to help my situation.

Once I decided that it was the one to go, I opened its case and took it out for a last sit-down. As I played it, I couldn't believe that I was having to give it up. And for what? First and last month's rent on a shitty apartment? Money that will be burned through for no good reason, rather than owning an actual investment that might be with you for a lifetime. It just makes no sense. Yet, it's the reality of the situation. I wish I didn't have to sell it because it's a nice guitar. But more so I wish I didn't have to sell it because, if my relationship was different, I wouldn't be writing this story at all. The sale of a guitar would be far from an issue. It's not really a guitar story...it's a life story. And being that guitars are part of my life, this is just the crappy frosting on the cake.

If you are interested in seeing more of this guitar, go to mjfranksguitar.com and go to the Gallery section. The photos of the OM-D model on the site are my actual guitar. It's a beauty.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN 2009