Favorite Elderly Instrument:
My 1939 Martin-D28 Smoky (Pictured above)
The guitar was brought in to Elderly Instruments in 1978 and I had to have it. Besides the Army Air Corps insignia and the name Smoky on the face of the guitar, there are also several Michigan and Ohio cities names inked into the top above the insignia. I used Smoky from 1978 thru 1981 while playing with Michigan's Lost World String Band.
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
My favorite instrument is the banjo. Like me, its ancestry is complex and has been influenced by many outside sources. It isn’t stuck to one genre, or playing style, and I am always moved by the sound. Thanks to tattoos, I’ll always have a “banjo on my knee”, just like the song says.
Favorite Album: Gorgon City’s Sirens and the Burns Sisters’ In This World. Both albums make me feel closer to myself and leave me reminiscent. I have fond memories of singing loudly in my car solo and ensemble style to both.
Favorite Concert:
I’ve been to so many concerts, the list I conjure won’t do me justice. My first conference was at 10 weeks old, and I’ve been seeing shows of all types ever since.
Favorite Elderly Instrument: A Used Ellis F5 Mandolin that came into the shop when I worked in the Showroom. It had such a sweet and balanced sound. I played it every chance I could get until it found a new home.
Favorite Album: Frank Ocean, Blonde Even though it's been on heavy rotation since it came out, I still find new details and textures every time I listen. I think it is a masterpiece.
Favorite Concert: Andrew Bird at the Michigan Theatre 2009 - An incredible show! They played alternate versions off of Noble Beast and Armchair Apocrypha that were just as good as the album recordings. "Scythian Empires" in particular blew my mind.
Favorite Concert:
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings @ Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor. It was such an intimate concert with such phenomenal musicians.
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
My Martin OM15. It was the first guitar I bought myself and it's still the main thing I play to this day.
Favorite Elderly Instrument: Early 1900's parlor guitar or early 1990's openback banjo. I love the voices the older instruments tend to have and also like to image all of the history these instruments might have witnessed.
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
My favorite guitar is still my OT22, it is a first edition and sounds extremely good. It was gifted to me by father on Christmas when they first came out and remains my oldest and best acoustic guitar that I own. I only use it around the house and for songwriting.
The instrument that I get the most foot-traffic out of is my Ibanez SRF705. I originally got it because I was I became the director of the Charlotte Community Jazz Ensemble, a 20 piece jazz big band; my wife didn't accept an upright and after playing with Piezo pickups in my Guild B240EF I knew I could get a pretty convincing sound out of something like that. Furthermore it has a jazz pickup configuration of Bartolini pickups, a set that I have installed in my Squire Classic Vibe Jazz Bass 5. With it I play Jazz with the CCJE and other jazz ensembles and recorded my first rock album and gig with J. H. Patton & the Good Companions. It's the bass I most enjoy playing.
Favorite Elderly Instrument: My favorite instrument is my father's Loprenzi bought here in the 80's. That's the guitar I learned how to play on and still get to play it today.
Favorite Album: Continuum by John Mayer
Favorite Concert: The Acacia Strain/Harms Way in Detroit probably 18 years ago.
Favorite Album: Blink 182 - Take Off Your Pants and Jacket.
It was the first album I found/listened to on my own.
Favorite Elderly Instrument: My first nice guitar, which is a Wine Red Gibson Les Paul early 2000's my Mom bought for me from here when I was in High School.
Favorite Album: Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon
Before I heard this album, no other music effected me emotionally the way their music does. It's an album that feels like a story, with no bad track or filler. Just music that keeps evolving, but while repeating familiar themes. Many of their other albums do the same thing. But this one is still probably my favorite.
Favorite Elderly Instrument: My 1996 American Standard Fender Stratocaster. It is a special edition with a matching candy apple red finished headstock. I have had it since it was purchased brand new from a music store in western Illinois that was going out of business at a very deep discount. This is my second guitar and my first "real" guitar. To be fair, I probably play other instruments I own more often, but this one has a very special place in my heart.
Favorite Album: Broken Social Scene's self-titled 2005 release. Smartly structured songs with catchy hooks, layers upon and layers of swirly guitars and vocals. It has been constant in my rotation for nearly the last 20 years and a huge inspiration to my original music.
Favorite Album: This is an impossible question to answer, but for today I'll say Sam's Town by the Killers. It's 45 mins of some of the most incredible indie rock songs ever written, and has been in consistent rotation for me since it came out almost 20 years ago.
Favorite Elderly Instruments: My 2001 Reverend Kingsnake amp head. It was my favorite amp in the showroom, so I saved up and took it home. It's one of only 75 ever made, made in Michigan, and sounds massive!
Favorite Elderly Instrument: My 1988 ESP 400-Series Stratocaster Fiesta Red
Favorite Album: Jimi Hendrix, Axis: Bold as Love - it's the album that got me to start playing guitar.
Favorite Concert:
Funkadelic at MSU in 1976, that should answer the why!
Favorite Elderly Instrument: My Farida OT22. It was my first real guitar, and it started me along my musical journey.
Favorite Concert: A musical performance which comes to mind. It was shortly after the February 13th shootings at MSU. A group of us RCAH students and professors got together and held an open-mic night. Suffice to say, it was an emotional event, collectively processing through expressions of music and poetry.
Favorite Album: The Witcher 3 soundtrack has been one of my favorites. In particular, the song “The Wolven Storm”. Besides just being a beautiful song, it has a strong place in my heart because of how it is used in the game. The world of The Witcher is an unforgiving one filled with danger, betrayal, and sadness. But the scene with The Wolven Storm is, ironically given its name, a true moment of peace and sincere emotion, and a small respite from the surrounding world.
Favorite Concert: Roger Waters 2018 Animals. Just an overall great performance from the theatrics to the sound, touring one of my favorite albums from one of rock's greatest!
Favorite Album: The New Abnormal- The Strokes. Even being The Strokes latest album it still brings me to a nostalgic place instantly, and not a single track is a miss!
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
A Martin 0-15 mahogany guitar (1961) and a black Gibson A-style mandolin (1929), both purchased at Elderly Instruments, and both good choices for someone with small hands!
Favorite Albums: Here's two that are top of mind almost all the time:
1. Parrhesia by Animals as Leaders, for its nearly impossible electric guitar work and treatment of rhythm and meter.
2. i,i by Bon Iver, for wild production and odd, beautiful songwriting.
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
A Toshihiko Nakade Master 50 classical guitar we had in the store for a time. It was my first “staff pick” and had a gorgeous, super beat-up french polish finish, and tons of character. Very warm, rounded sound.
Favorite Elderly Instrument: 1950s Gibson Electric Guitars. Being able to repair and set up the real deal to see the tonal difference and grasp the magic.
Favorite Album: Waiting for Columbus by Little Feat set the bar for groove and pointed toward all of the influences, not to mention slide tones. Also, Lowell George died on my 17th birthday, RIP.
Favorite Concert: The Who @ Pontiac Silverdome 12/7/79, 4 days after the Cincinnati event there was a palpable sense of rock 'n roll danger and attitude.
Favorite Concert:
Pink Floyd at the Pontiac Silverdome 1994. It was one of the few concerts that they played Dark Side of the Moon in it’s entirety from start to finish. It was also to be their last tour and I was lucky enough to see it.
Favorite Album:
"Downward is Heavenward" by Hum. Because it's awesome and just Proggy enough for me.
Favorite Elderly Instrument: That would probably be the Marshall 1967 18 watt 1974X amplifier we had until just recently.
Also the 1959 ES-355 that had been under someone's bed for 60 years that came in for a written appraisal and still had the original strings, and even the strap was still wrapped in the original tissue paper. That was pretty remarkable
Favorite Concert: September of 1996 I saw two of my favorites bands playing for the first time, La Leche and THEMUYBESTIAPOP. At that show on the National Theater in Caracas, Dermis Tattoo also played 4 songs, I think that was the last time they ever played together.
Favorite Album:
First and Last and Always by The Sisters of Mercy
Why? It's great!
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
My Gretsch 6120, is blue.
Favorite Album:
The Stones "Exile on Main Street." Pretty much a Keith Richards album, incredible.
Favorite Concerts:
Jimmy Page and Robert Plant in 1998 at The Palace of Auburn Hills - 98% Zeppelin songs and Jason Bonham on drums. Unbelievable.
I recently saw Darrell Scott at the Ark and got to meet him and that was really special. Amazing songwriter.
Favorite Elderly Instrument: Any Collings guitar, best guitars in the world in my opinion. I purchased a Waterloo Jumbo King made by Collings that I love. Anything coming out of Collings is a special instrument.
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
Martin 0-17s that was made during the great depression. They are pretty bare bones in terms of appointments and all mahogany, but every time I have had the chance to play one it just sounds like a guitar should sound. If there was one guitar that would be a dream for me to own it would be one of those.
Favorite Concert:
Death Atlas by Cattle Decapitation. I really enjoy the imagery and story telling in the album, and I was listening to the title track of the album when I was on the way to the hospital when my son was born, so it has a special place in my heart as being a part of that amazing transitional period in my life.
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
Collings CJ45T. Sloped shoulder and mahogany back and sides from Collings makes an ideal guitar for me, especially with that dark sunburst.
Favorite Album:
Sweetheart Of The Rodeo. As my introduction to country music and to Gram Parsons, this record is near and dear to my heart.
Favorite Concert:
The Felice Brothers opening up for John Prine at the Carpenter Theater in Richmond, Virginia in 2011.
Favorite Album:
Bella White's Just Like Leaving album is one of my favorites and one that I go back to listen through every few weeks. Just a powerful album for anyone of any age but to write and perform that as her first album is insane. Felice Brother's Yonder is the Clock comes in a close second.
Favorite Elderly Instrument: Any bare bones Tele will do the trick for me! I love the simplicity of the Telecaster and the versatility in tone that comes from that straightforward two-pickup setup.
Favorite Album: Modest Mouse's Lonesome Crowded West. It's a wonderful record from 1997 that goes many different places and does all of them well. I just love the way these guys play together! The superb songwriting, crazy idiosyncratic guitar, and melodic bass lines are all stand-outs for me. Teeth Like God's Shoeshine is a masterpiece and may be my favorite song on the album. And Cowboy Dan is without a doubt my favorite song to play to pester our very own Dan Bauman in sales!
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
1992 Custom Shop Telecaster LH - arrived at the store the same day my daughter Hannah was born
Favorite Concert:
Aug 21, 1974 Rory Gallagher and Status Quo at the Brewery Lansing MI
Favorite Concert: Kiss Reunion 1996 Tiger Stadium.
Favorite Album: Steve Stevens "Memory Crash"
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
OM-18GE Custom designed after a 1932 Martin OM-18 owned by Stan Werbin. 35 were built between 2003- 2006
Favorite Elderly Instruments: Martin Custom B-540 Acoustic Bass (1998) / Ernie Ball Music Man String Ray 5
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
Larrivee D-60 Acoustic Guitar (2005)
Like a lot of instruments in my collection, this D-60 was bought here at the store, has worked to earn its keep, and has been one of my musical companions through the years.
Favorite Albums:
Buddy Emmons
The Black Album
The go-to pedal steel guitar record!
Guy Clark
The Dark
Incredible late-career record by one of the best singer-songwriters ever!
Favorite Concerts:
Alice Cooper
Wings Stadium
Kalamazoo, MI
1975
Jefferson Airplane
MSU
East Lansing, MI
1970
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
Right now I love our Gibson Les Paul Special Electric Guitar (1956). I think it feels great, sounds great, and is such a cool piece of Michigan music history.
Favorite Album:
Hozier's Unreal Unearth.
It's an album that already feels old and familiar, despite being so new. I think it's got something for everyone. The Dark
Incredible late-career record by one of the best singer-songwriters ever!
Favorite Concerts:
Moon Hooch at The Stache in 2016. It was packed, and loud. Check them out if you've never heard a saxophone through a traffic cone.
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
Mid-'90s Mike Ramsey Chanterelle 12" banjo, bought here new, and it is still my main instrument over 25 years later. Elderly's amazing staff helped with trying almost every single open back banjo in stock. I picked it out eyes closed, just based on the sound. And I still love the sound of it!
Favorite Albums:
Pick one!? Well, my deserted island playlist would have to include: because it's solid oldtime gold, "All I've Got's Done Gone" by Rhys Jones, Jeff Miller, And Jim Nelson. Also, "World Champions" from the Dysart and Dundonald Pipe band, because someone will need to hear me across the ocean. And because it lives in my head rent-free: Noel Hill and Tony MacMahon's "I gCnoc Na Graí"... transports you into an Irish pub, ceílí included, no pint required.
Favorite Elderly Instrument: Cuica Drum
Favorite Album: Kool Keith - Dr. Octagon
Favorite Concert: The one I haven't been to yet!
Favorite Elderly Instrument: I like my PRS 245 Standard it plays so easy and sounds great. Its the perfect guitar for me. But my favorite is my cat, Rusty, he was rescued from the parking lot! I use Fender pick 346 heavy and a Fender Supechamp XD amp on Bassman setting, it is not for gigging just practicing.
Favorite Album: My favorite record is the only record that anyone really needs, "Return of the Otis Brothers- Let's Go To Huntin'" featuring Bob Guida and Pat Conte.
Favorite Concert: John Lee Hooker and Johnny Winter
Favorite Album: Live At The Regal B. B. King
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
Mid 60's Epiphone Rivoli bass purple refin.
We had a 60s Silvertone ET-460. I instantly loved the way it looked, then I plugged it in and it felt great and sounded good too! What else do you really need in an instrument?
Favorite Concert:
I saw Boris play live in 2025, it was the 20th anniversary of their pink album. We got there early and got a spot right in front of their Orange stacks. Its one thing to hear it on the album, its a whole other thing to hear it live right in front of your face. Definitely an experience I won't forget any time soon.
Favorite Album: It changes weekly. This week it has been Rival Sons LIGHTBRINGER because it’s really good.
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
Warwick Corvette 5-string $$ because I use it just about every gig.
Favorite Album: Can't pick a favorite, as I've an affinity for a variety of music across the board. I'm currently listening to the Yes album, "Going for the One"-- most anything from them is an aural ride through a gateless gate of some kind.
Favorite Albums:
Favorite Concerts:
Favorite Elderly Instruments:
Favorite Album:
Purple Rain - Prince and the Revolution
I am completely mesmerized by Prince's talent, knowledge and character. He was absolutely one of a kind. There are songs, lyrics, voices, guitar riffs, etc. of all genres, that truly speak to my soul and bring about emotions I didn't know were there....but hands down Purple Rain takes the cake for me.
Favorite Concert:
Bruno Mars because the man (and his group) knows how to entertain!! You know it's a good concert when you leave the venue and you feel like you were just in another world, and you're riding on cloud 9 until you get back "home."
Favorite Concert:
Although I mainly attend folk concerts, my favorite concert is probably Paul McCartney, at Detroit's Little Caesars Arena, in October 2017. I've loved the Beatles since they hit America in 1964 (I was in 6th grade) but had never seen any of them in person. As soon as Paul opened the show with "A Hard Day's Night," it felt like I was finally at a Beatles concert -- he played for almost 3 hours, and Beatles songs made up 2/3 of the setlist -- and it was truly thrilling.
Favorite Album:
I have dozens of favorites, but two special ones are Peter Ostroushko's "Heart of the Heartland" (Red House), with gorgeous mandolin and fiddle tunes composed and played by my all-time favorite musician, and "For Pence and Spicy Ale" (Topic) by the great English a cappella group the Watersons, for their powerful vocal harmonies on traditional British folksongs.
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
A Martin 0-15 mahogany guitar (1961) and a black Gibson A-style mandolin (1929), both purchased at Elderly Instruments, and both good choices for someone with small hands!
Favorite Elderly Instrument:
My 000-28H, from back when Elderly ordered that as a custom model from Martin. I got it before I was involved with amp repair at Elderly, but it's been a great companion for 13 years.
Favorite Amplifier:
Fender Vibrolux Reverb. I think this gets overshadowed by the slightly smaller Deluxe Reverb, and larger Pro and Twin Reverbs, but the Vibrolux is a great package that isn't too heavy.
