We all know Townsman Hrrundivbakshi‘s most-coveted, would-be “signature” piece of gear is the “harlequin” Gibson Firebird played by Adrian Gurvitz, of Baker-Gurvitz Army fame. (See video.) What piece of musical gear that you own or covet could be (or would be) considered your “signature” piece of gear?

It’s not something I could carry around and impress folks with, but mine is my “Coltrane box,” a Maestro Parametric Filter. If I had the energy to buy a signature axe and really learn to play the way I wish I could play I think I’d get a Fender Jazzmaster, like Tom Verlaine‘s.

Take it from me, you don’t have to be much of a musician (or a musician at all) to have an entry in this thread!

[Setting: Two young musicians are discussing a possible significant recording equipment purchase with Italian-born owner of long-running music store. Music Store Owner discusses his competition in relation to his quoted price.]

Music Store Owner: You know, everyone’s going to give you this: [makes crude gesture by inserting and removing forefinger on right hand through circle made with forefinger and thumb on left hand]. But I use Vaseline.

What’s the most memorable thing you’ve heard in a music store?

Here’s a personal favorite from a few years back. I’d never heard this song before it was mentioned by a Townsman. The resulting video that I uncovered is astounding on at least 25 levels. Plus I’m still fascinated – and intimidated – by the practice of playing a flashy song on an instrument in a music store. I’m way too clumsy and way too self-conscious to ever pull this off. I don’t even know what I’d play if I could play anything substantial and flashy. As it is I’m most likely to play the riff to The Kinks’ “Gotta Get the First Plane Home.” That’s easy, and it’s a good test of the low strings, which I favor.

This post initially appeared 3/29/07.

Very simple set up: Yesterday General Slocum mentioned a Stanley Clarke tune called “School Days” and the theme from Barney Miller than any bassist of a certain age felt compelled to play when testing out a bass in a music store. He likened this to guitarists playing the intro to “Stairway to Heaven”. What songs to you play on your instrument of choice when giving an instrument a test run in a music store? What do you play in hopes of turning on the other customers?

And while you’re at it, please see if you can’t help me list 25 things that are so wrong they’re right in this video.

I look forward to your responses.