A Series of Firsts

When we’re young, there are several firsts that we’re not aware of, though our parents may relish in those moments. These are milestones such as first steps, first words, first trips to the potty, and so on.

As we age, there are more firsts that we become more aware of, such as our first kisses, first dates, and first times behind the wheel (often to our parents’ great fear in the passenger seat).

For us musicians, some of the firsts we experience may remain a mystery to most. They’re unique to us, though no less impactful than other milestones. Those are the experiences of receiving our first guitar.

I’m no stranger to these and have retained some rather vivid memories. Allow yourselves, dear reader, to relive these moments vicariously as I regale you with these tales. Hopefully, these will help you think about your firsts as well.

The first guitar

My first actual guitar came under the Christmas tree when I was 7 or 8. It was an inexpensive acoustic guitar likely found in the Sears catalogue, but it was an actual guitar! It also came with three Mel Bay method books from which to learn. I also remember taking that guitar to some musicians in the family (the Taillefers) to have it tuned. As a bonus, they showed me how to play a melody on the open strings (tabbed below).

The guitar ended up being more of a prop. I was never fully able to grasp the method books on my own until I started taking lessons with Jean-Marc Guenette in 1989. After that, we get...

The first “real” guitar

That would be the purchase of a Fender Gemini II acoustic guitar at the Audio-Video Centre in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario. It was clear that the little acoustic I was using needed an upgrade, so this one entered my life not too long after starting lessons (and probably after my parents saw that I was taking this seriously).

It was bigger, sounded better, and had an actual case! Gone were the days of taking my little acoustic guitar to lessons without any protection from the elements!

This guitar was my most travelled guitar up to the end of high school, following me everywhere from lessons to campfires to extra-curricular activities and beyond. It’s also the guitar I’ve owned the longest, and it's still in my collection.

The acoustic guitar is all good. Eventually, however, one does want to rock. This called for another upgrade, which we got...

The first electric guitar

It’s Christmas again, likely 1991 (if my synapses serve well), and I have a box under the tree with my name on it. I opened it, somewhat puzzled, to find a Yamaha combo amplifier in it. At this point, my dad presented another box, and everything became clear! Inside that second box was a red Ibanez HSS guitar (something akin to the RG series). The only thing left to do was plug in and turn up!

I was finally able to rock and keep up with my friend Paul Duchesne’s drum set. I discovered distortion, and this was the start of something special!

A couple more electrics came my way over the next couple of years. We later sold that red Ibanez and Yamaha amplifier to purchase my cousin Fern Laporte’s black Squire Telecaster and Peavy Bandit amplifier, which I later (regrettably) traded for a blue Charvette Super-Strat of some kind. Tastes and techniques were evolving, so I was looking for something to put these new interests into practice. All of this will eventually culminate in...

The first electric guitar that I bought with my own money

Having worked a couple of interesting jobs at the local TV station and the public library, I managed to earn enough money to buy THE guitar—but not just any guitar.

My friend Daniel Sauvé and I learned about the late René Roy, a luthier in Chelmsford, Ontario, who built custom guitars. We both made the pilgrimage to see him and discuss getting instruments built, design, woods, pickups, etc.

I finally settled on some sort of hybrid that was unique: the body shape of a Peavey Wolfgang, neck-thru construction, maple and mahogany body, ebony fretboard, 24 frets, APC humbuckers, (a now blocked) Floyd Rose, a fat neck, and transparent blue finish. It took a few months to complete, but she was beautiful when she was done. At the time (1998), it cost USD 1,100 for that custom-built instrument, which was a lot of money for a kid with two part-time jobs, but it was worth it!

That guitar saw me through university and my first pro gigs. It’s also the second-oldest instrument in my collection as far as ownership goes. Some guitars (including the Gemini, as mentioned earlier II) are too special to let go.

Since then, other guitars have come and gone. Each has been special, but you only get a few firsts. Do you have some stories about your first instruments? If so, do share them in the comments; we’d love to read some of your stories!

By Kevin Daoust - instagram.com/kevindaoust.gtr