What's your "one" that got away story?

[AKA]

My Dad and I had about a 150lb. Bluefin tuna we lost right at the boat after a half hour fight. Now that my Dad is gone, I will always remember that "one that got away".....

For me it was a huge blue marlin that I practically spoon fed a bait one evening during a long-range fishing trip. The other anglers were all worn-out after a long day fighting large blue-fin, and were in their bunks or in the galley having a brew. I was hanging out in the stern when two feet of fin slowly emerged from the water. Whatever it was, it leisurely lolled about long enough for me to grab a rod and large live bait, which I gently sat right on top of the fish. Almost immediately the bait and fin disappeared and the line moved around the stern and headed toward the bow at an increasing speed with me following rapidly while feathering out the line between my fingers. When I reached the tip of the bow (this was an 85’ long sport fishing vessel) I engaged the reel and all hell broke loose. The fish took a blazing run; the reel was screaming, and my jaw dropped as this absolutely giant blue marlin took a soaring leap, dove, took another screaming run and emerged in full flight 150 yards out seemingly in slow motion doing it’s absolute best to toss the hook - which it did. Locking eyes with the skipper in his wheelhouse perch we quietly acknowledged the one that got away and agreed that I needed to work on my big-game hook setting technique.

As to guitars, too numerous to mention.

AKA

[Max405]

The one that got away, I didn’t have a chance on so it really didn’t get away.
Before it’s over for me, I want to own a L4CES. With the mahogany back and sides. I think I’d really love that guitar.
I’m fixing for one in the coming year, maybe.
JD

[Cunamara]

My “one that got away” story is actually of several different instruments but all with the same theme. It became available, I believed that I couldn’t afford it (earlier in my life I couldn’t, but now I could afford most any instrument that I might want- such are the wages of privilege). And then they were gone.

In terms of an actual instrument in hand, I harken back to my G&L F-100. That was a great axe that I foolishly sold off on consignment and got screwed. Stratocaster shape and feel but with two humbuckers. It could have a big fat warm tone, a screaming rock or blues tone, and with the coil taps and phase switches could do a convincing Stratocaster or Tele sound. I got rid of it because I was having too many tuning troubles with the tremolo; this was probably due to not knowing what I was doing with the tremolo rather than a problem with the actual instrument. Its replacement is a fine guitar, a Stratishcaster that I put together with a pickup arrangement and wiring schematic of my own design. I’ve been happy with it for 30 years, but even still I miss that old guitar.

It is kind of like Girlfriend 3.0 prior to Wife 1.0. Wife 1.0 is a better relationship in every respect (I got really lucky, what can I say), but there’s still some occasional irrational nostalgia.

[rlrhett]

A Collings 00 flat top from the late '90's or early naughts. It was perfect, and $6,000. I just didn't have the scratch. Beautiful to look at, played itself, and had a voice I heard in my heart as much as in my ears. I don't know who the lucky bastard was who got it, but I've never played its equal.

[wintermoon]

For me it was a huge blue marlin that I practically spoon fed a bait one evening during a long-range fishing trip. The other anglers were all worn-out after a long day fighting large blue-fin, and were in their bunks or in the galley having a brew. I was hanging out in the stern when two feet of fin slowly emerged from the water. Whatever it was, it leisurely lolled about long enough for me to grab a rod and large live bait, which I gently sat right on top of the fish. Almost immediately the bait and fin disappeared and the line moved around the stern and headed toward the bow at an increasing speed with me following rapidly while feathering out the line between my fingers. When I reached the tip of the bow (this was an 85’ long sport fishing vessel) I engaged the reel and all hell broke loose. The fish took a blazing run; the reel was screaming, and my jaw dropped as this absolutely giant blue marlin took a soaring leap, dove, took another screaming run and emerged in full flight 150 yards out seemingly in slow motion doing it’s absolute best to toss the hook - which it did. Locking eyes with the skipper in his wheelhouse perch we quietly acknowledged the one that got away and agreed that I needed to work on my big-game hook setting technique.

As to guitars, too numerous to mention.

AKA

Just a great story Albert. The thing that really makes it cool is it was late in the day w no one around, that always makes it more exciting for me, but the cap was there to back up your "fish story"

[Tom Karol]

I found a mint condition 1959 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 in a friend's attic
in the summer of 1968 and bought it from the original owner for $200.
I sold it in the summer of 1969 for $200.
They seem to go for around $10,000 now!

[Herbie]

I am sorry, but after buying and playing and selling dozens of guitars I have now the best guitars in my life. All that I have sold were worse than these contemporary instruments and I don’t miss them. Amps too. No regrets.

I suppose this is a benefit of starting with rubbish gear and updating it slowly!

[EarlBrother]

Back in 80s played ibby lawsuit 175 stupidly backed out of the deal to purchase it it lived with for a few weeks.

[EarlBrother]

Back in 80s played ibby lawsuit 175 stupidly backed out of the deal to purchase it, it lived with for a few weeks.Like new with case.pretty sweet.I think it was 7-8 hundred.

[Gitfiddler]

Only one piece of gear came to mind when thinking of 'the one that got away'. It was a very nice mid-60's Fender Pro amp. That sweet blackface rig had no Tremolo or Reverb, just a single 15" speaker that roared. For outdoor gigs I connected it to a matching Fender 1x12 extension speaker.

I bought the amp in '68 in preparation for two USO tours in Viet Nam and Thailand, (summer vacation from high school '68 & '69). It was tossed in and out of Huey helicopters, DC3 and C130 transport planes. NEVER had a problem. We set it up on flatbed trucks, GI-built stages for audiences of between 50 - 200 GI's, and one performance in a cramped bunker to entertain a handful of Green Beret troops...and local civilians dressed in black pajamas...(daytime camp helpers...likely nighttime enemy combatants). Even in hot, humid and dusty venues, it always fired up and sounded glorious to my young ears. After starting college I needed money more than an amp, so I sold it.

Many amps have come and gone since the mighty Pro was let go. Many sounded good, and others sounded great. But sentimentality for that old Fender Pro still remains...likely due to what we both went through...and survived back in the day.

[mr. beaumont]

It didn't really "get away," but a dozen years ago a member here (don't think he posts anymore) was selling two different Hofner Jazzicas...

I went and played both and fell in love with one. The other was good, but that ONE, daaaaaamn. But after hearing someone else play it (not that my playing was that good, it's just sometimes you need to hear a guitar in front of you) he decided he didn't want to sell.

I don't blame him one bit, that guitar was fantastic.

[omphalopsychos]

I posted mine before. There was one that got away and then I eventually got it. Very happy I did. Below is the thread I wrote about it back in september. It has been every bit as amazing as I could have wanted.

The pursuit of a specific guitar can often be a long and arduous journey, filled with anticipation, disappointment, and sometimes, sheer luck. My quest began with a desire to find a slim body carved archtop guitar, a desire that was primarily sparked by the enchanting sound of Anthony Wilson's 1958 Byrdland on the Diana Krall Live in Paris album. The tone was nothing short of mesmerizing, and I was determined to recreate it.

My initial attempts involved trying out a few Byrdlands and ES-350t guitars. However, the short scale neck of these models did not resonate with me. I found it difficult to establish a connection with these instruments, which led me to explore other options.


After conducting extensive research, I discovered the Gibson L5 CT, a cutaway thinline model. I was immediately intrigued by its unique design and decided that I needed to try one. However, this proved to be a challenge as these models are extremely rare. Every time one became available, it was quickly snapped up before I could even consider purchasing it.


During my research, I also discovered that there was a rarer, one pickup version of the Gibson L5 CT. This discovery further piqued my interest as I have always preferred one pickup over two. To add to the rarity, I found out that there were only a couple of these models made in a blonde color. To the best of my knowledge, only two blonde single pickup wesmo L5 CTs were ever produced.


One of these rare guitars was sold at Norms a few years ago, while the other was available for purchase in Japan at Walkin. Unfortunately, I discovered the one at Norms only after it had been sold. The one in Japan, however, was within my grasp, but my hesitation cost me the opportunity to acquire it. It was sold before I could make up my mind.


However, fate had a different plan. The same guitar that I had missed out on in Japan was once again up for sale. I saw it on Walkin's Instagram page and without wasting any time, I purchased it before the listing was even complete. The guitar was delivered to me today by USPS.


As of now, I have not had the opportunity to set it up or plug it in. But the anticipation is building, and I am eagerly looking forward to the moment when I can finally play this rare and beautiful instrument tonight.

[medblues]

A transparent cherry Gibson Tal Farlow at Chicago Music Exchange for $3500. Shouldn't have waited that long.

[icr]

I recall when I went to buy my brand new Mesa Tremoverb in 1994, they also had an expensive beat-up amp with brown suede. I didn't know anything about it at the time, but the salesman insisted it was good. "It is the kind Larry Carlton uses" he told me.

As I recall it was $6,000 ($12,600 today) and I didn't like the brown suede, so I passed.

If only I could go back in time...

[pawlowski6132]

I traded a pre-war blond L5, along with a few others, for a '24 Loar L5. The Loar's neck was a huge V and too difficult to play. Doing a lot of big band stuff these days, I wish I had the blond back.

Wow, i'd think you can always pickup a pre-war blond L5 but, you're lucky to have the '24 Loar L5.