I walked into the
music store and saw it instantly—I felt like the star of a bad romance movie
seeing his true love across a crowded room for the first time. But it was love
at first sight, and I did literally let out a gasp. I had never before seen
such a beautiful instrument.
There were so many
factors that added to its beauty: the round back took my breath away; and the curved
lines of the headstock—it reminded me of an elegant swan in motion, gently
gliding across a glassy pond. I had no choice; I just had to touch it. The
storeowner graciously handed the instrument to me, and I gently took it into my
arms. The glossy lacquered finish felt smooth, almost silky, in my hands.
Though more than a dozen pieces of carefully shaped wood made up the round back,
the lacquered finish left it feeling not just smooth, but almost soft to touch.
Likewise, the back of the neck was also smooth as my hand slide across its
length. The rich color of the multiple pieces of wood added to the experience,
as did the tight, straight grain of the soundboard.
Craftsmen in
Bavaria, (German state—the same place BMWs come from), patterned this
instrument after the lutes of the Renaissance, but with the fret board of a six
string guitar, allowing a guitarist to easily play it.
I did the only thing
I could do under the circumstances—I bought it. It now sits in my home. Though
the initial emotion has slightly waned, I still take great pleasure in holding
it and making music together.
And, yes, I do
believe in love at first sight.
