If you could play one guitar what wiould it be
 

If there is 1 guitar you could play on your bucket list which one would it be? For me there are 2. “The Antique” serial number 58957 Martin D28 Tony Rice played forever and Big Hoss Doc Watsons Gallagher. I’ve heard various descriptions after people like Critter and Billy Strings have played the Martin. Both say notes sound different but can’t explain why. As for Docs I heard Billy playing it and the tone sounds really good.

Those are my 2.

Probably whatever my next guitar is going to be at the time. Right now, looking like an SCGC 00 in redwood. I don't really idolize certain historic guitars. I just want ones that speak to me and I can enjoy.

A lot of really great music has been made on guitars that are widely available. But one very unique and amazing sounding instrument I’d love to play would be Brian May’s home made Red Special electric guitar.

I agree with the Brian May comment

I got to play Tony's D-28 once after a Unit show in the late 90s. I think it was in Denton, NC, not too far from where he lived near Greensboro. I had met him a couple times before over the years, so I wasn't a complete stranger. Anyway, he handed me the guitar, and I carefully strummed a few chords and played a few notes. This was outdoors with a lot of noise all around. The action on the guitar was really, really low, and it wasn't all that loud. It was okay, to be honest. The magic was definitely in Tony's hands. I was actually shocked at how unimpressive that legendary guitar was. But I have always heard that Tony could pick up nearly any acoustic, and he could make it sound great. I have also heard that he played the D-28 as much as he could because people expected it. I saw him around 50 times or so, and he played his Santa Cruz at around 75% of those shows. I think the Antique was in the shop quite a bit.

I also got to sit beside Doc Watson once at an early Merlefest and chatted with him while he picked his Gallagher. Now that guitar was super loud and clear. I didn't have the cojones to ask to play it, lol.

I’d like to play either of Norman Blake’s old 12 fretters, the shade top 1933 D28S or the converted 1934 D18H.

Since he was my inspiration to start playing guitar, probably Dave Matthews' 914.

After Zissou, I would like to experience that '33 original dread.

If Zissou steals it away, I might be consoled by a bit of time with Jimmie Rodgers Martin 000.

As a long time fan of Guy Clark, I'd love to see the guitar that he built for himself (I played his old Heiden SJ200 style - it was ... not great!)

Rex Trailer's Gibson J200.

I can remember being glued to the TV every Saturday and Sunday morning like nearly every kid in the greater Boston area in the 1960s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iGvRtOGNUk

An early '20's Gibson L-5...and Lonnie Johnson's SJ-100.

Not historically significant and actually readily available, but the one guitar that I have never seen in person and want to try is a really good SCGC D12---just to see if it is all that.

So, possibly if historic, it would be one of Norman Blake's 12 fretters.

Charles Sawtelle's 1934 D-18

Ha ha--any of what JP Cormier calls the "holy trinity" of Yamaha guitars, the 26, 36, and 56. Or even one of the new FG9s.

I can not for the life of me figure out why high-end Yamaha guitars are so well-hidden from the American guitar buying public.

I’m not really into celebrity guitars or even signature models, but if I were given the opportunity to play any celeb guitar, it would be Elvis’ J200, or Scotty Moore’s Super 400, since he and Elvis both played it.

More than any other guitar, I would want to play my uncle’s old Gibson LGO. He taught me to play, and we both spent a lot of time with that guitar. He passed in ‘95, and I have no clue where the guitar is today.

I'd like to take a Ryan Nightingale Grand Soloist for a spin.