What piece of equipment do you have to show us today?
This is my main Guitar, her name is April.
How did you come across this particular item?
My Father had it custom-made back in 1981 by a guy called Dale Coulthard. It cost him $180 dollars at the time.
What is it that you like so much about it?
A few things – being that it was my Fathers, that makes it pretty special to me. He’s passed away now. It’s also had three restorations. Once my Mum and Dad had a fight and Mum threw it down the stairs, which smashed a big chunk out of it. Another time, it was left out in the rain at the Woodford Folk Festival for a few days, which really ruined it.
I came home from travelling overseas for a few years and found it hidden in the cupboard, the action and intonation were terrible, it was barely playable but from just strumming a few chords I could tell it had a beautiful sound. I took it to get restored (again) and the luthier basically did a terrible job. So a year later, I took it to another luthier and he fixed it right up. New fretboard, new bridge, thinned the neck, fixed all of the cracks in the body and gave it a coat of lacquer. Since then it’s been a dream.
How do you use it, and how has it shaped the way you write music?
I use it almost daily, in writing and practicing songs. I use it for all of my live shows and it travels with me everywhere I go.
Any other interesting points/stories about it?
Yeah, Dale Coulthard, the original luthier didn’t make very many guitars. I actually got in contact with his daughter as he’s now passed away and told her I was playing one of her Dad’s guitars. She was so happy and ended up coming to a show. It’s pretty special to know that I’m playing and using something that will never be recreated or used by many other people.
When’s the next show?
My second album Furthermore is out on August 26th and I’ll be touring nationally for the rest of the year on that.
Keep up-to-date with the latest from Josh Rennie-Hynes at joshrenniehynes.com.
