The Love Affair with Your First Guitar – A Journey Through Sound and connection

Owning many guitars is a somewhat typical joy for any guitarist, but there is something uniquely special about the first guitar you ever owned. Often it’s more than just an instrument; it’s a companion that marks the beginning of a life-long journey with music. If you are lucky, you still have yours. For me, that guitar is called The Ocean — a name that captures its character.

The Ocean

The Story Behind The Ocean

My first electric guitar was a made-in-Japan, Les Paul copy by Electa. It was already old when I bought it from Troy House of Music, along with a small practice amp. It was painted black and as far as I recall, stock from the factory.

Over time, I heavily modified it to suit my style and preferences. It was an iterative process, starting with pick-up surounds in quite zany colours. One of the most memorable changes was the paint job—or rather, a strip and stain process, which gives the guitar it's name.

My dear friend, Rod McGregor (RIP) took on the task of doing this significant change to the instrument. At the time, I'd just purchased my second guitar, an Ibanez Roadster II (525 model), so I could spare my primary instrument for a while. Which was fortunate, as the process did take a while. I'd purchased a stain with a planned result of having the wood grain explosed and coloured a rich mid-blue. However, the wood’s natural characteristics and salts caused the stain to take to the wood unevenly, resulting in patches of green and in parts, being rejected by the wood almost completely . This unexpected effect inspired the name The Ocean.

The guitar’s body is light and thin, made of a veneer over chambered wood of unknown type. It’s definitely not heavy like mahogany, which would be typical for Les Pauls, but the choice of lighter wood and cavities, has given the guitar a unique voice and an almost hollow-body tone and feel.

Modifications That Shaped Its Voice

The Ocean suffered some damage during the staining process when it fell over, causing the classic Les Paul head-stock / neck damage. The repair is still visible, however Rod did a good job of repairing it.

Other changes that I'd already made on the instrument are focused on upgrading playability, reliability and sonic flexibility.

• Machine heads replaced with Schaller tuners for better tuning stability.

• Bridge pickup swapped for a DiMarzio Dual Sound, which offers a wide range of tonal options.

• Advanced switching system including series/parallel wiring, three-way phase change, and off switches for each coil.

• Tone-bleed circuit on the bridge volume knob to let through only high-frequencies as one rolls down the volume.

  
  

The circuit changes were made using the impressive book, 'Customising Your Electric Guitar' by Adrian Legg and made by myself with substantial work by a gentleman we called 'Sharky' - however his real name .. that will be another story.

These changes allowed me to summon a huge variety of tones from a single instrument, from warm, creamy leads to sharp, biting Telecaster-style rhythms. The versatility made The Ocean a truly special instrument. These modifications were permanent and meant-to-stay. It meant drilling holes - that's commitment.

Why Your First Guitar Matters

Your first guitar is often the one that taught you the basics, the one you struggled with and fell in love with at the same time. It holds memories of early practice sessions, first songs learned, and the excitement of discovery. Even if you own dozens of guitars now, that first one carries a unique emotional weight.

Many guitarists name their instruments however I've not really been that guy. However, this guitar is the exception... I'd like to name some of my other guitars, however they've not told me their names. The Ocean is not just a tool; it’s a reflection of my journey as a player and a reminder of where it all began.

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Sharing Your Guitar Story

Every guitarist has a story about their first guitar. Whether it’s the sound that hooked you, the hours spent practicing, or the modifications you made, these stories connect us. If you have a first guitar, think about what makes it special to you. Maybe it has a name, a unique finish, or a history of gigs and jams.

Feel free to share your love affair with your first guitar. What memories does it hold? How has it shaped your playing?

These stories celebrate the bond between musician and instrument. I look forward to reading yours.