Start of the journey

A tribute blogg to a physical object 

I intend to write “short” stories, with hopefully interesting stuff and some fun-facts to enjoy for others than myself.

The Guitar have been a part of my life since  childhood, but also with the utmost respect and thanks to my late father Bjørn whom gave me the “gift”,  - these articles will come to life.

About me in short: - I’m born in the 50’s, and much a product of rock’n roll, blues/jazz, and pop music of the 60’s and 70’s.

Luckily I was born into a musical family, not that that mattered much, but in this way music was impregnated to me as an important value already from childhood.

My late father used to play restaurants, and venues locally from abt. 1946 to 1975, and at early age I believe he had aspirations for me. Already from the age of abt. 3 ½ years he startd to push. To little or no luck at the time, it was to early …

However I picked up playing the guitar at the age of abt. 11.

My teens came, and at abt. 14 I started as a band member in some of the local bands.

At that time I had “inherited” the “Skau King Delux” from my father, and this is what I consider my first “serious” guitar. 

My  father  had at that point invested his savings into a  brand new Hopf Galaxy (1967).

The “Skau King Delux” , was handmade, and only 15 guitars were made. Oscar Skau  (1904 – 1980) was a Norwegian luthier and guitar player. He developed  the  «Skau-guitar» which were made by  Hansen & Christiansen Strengeinstrumentfabrikk (Fredrikstad). (Picture, source: Norske Gitarer; http://norskegitarer.no/?page_id=45)

Sadly the "Skau K DL" don’t exist anymore, it was trashed by my youngest brother in 69. He is forgiven, - only eleven at the time.

The Hopf Galaxy still exists.  I inherited the guitar in 1978, at which point my father stopped playing restaurants and venues.

I used the guitar on occasions until abt. 1985, from where it sat idle until 2010. 

I got it restored to former glory, and gave it to my son (whom also play the guitar), and whom is named after his grandfather, with the strict instruction that he is not allowed to sell the guitar. - He may hand it further down the “bloodline”, to my grandson if he wishes.

PS. My father passed quietly away  on October 22^nd 2015, 87 years young, and practised and explored the guitar to the last as much as his health allowed …

RIP father!

To be continued …