30 years ago… My first electric guitar!

My “Excalibur” (Chaparral) and my Royale…

Photo Credit: Anthony Woodard

Crossing the threshold, I noticed the music store was filled with all sorts of instruments and equipment, more than I had ever seen…

There was another part of the store, towards the back, that I didn’t previously notice, where the used equipment was kept, and ultimately from where I would receive my “Excalibur”.  Actually, it was a Hamer “Chaparral” and it was awesome!  The store owner told me that the Chaparral is a great guitar and that Hamer guitars were played by Vernon Reid of Living Colour and Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest. [Ok, I’m in good company here...] 

After choosing a tiny Fender practice amp and picking up some .009-.042-gauge strings [I still prefer these today], the store owner handed me a business card with someone else’s name printed on it.  As he pointed over to the other side of the store, he said, “Give this guy a call.  He is an awesome teacher and gives lessons right over there.”  A couple of minutes later, the purchase was complete; I held my first electric guitar and had a plan. 

I was about to rock...

- Woodard, Anthony. “For Those About to Rock…”. Feb. 16, 2023