Guinness Guitar

Look at this beaut!

This post is simply the story behind the guitar I just bought. Yesterday, I bought a guitar from a guy named Juraj, who is from the Czech Republic. I connected with Juraj on gumtree.com.au, which is Australia's version of Craigslist. I saw that he was selling this guitar, and that it was posted as a "Quinness guitar" - that told me he wasn't a huge Guinness fan. I later learned he wasn't even a musician, and hence why he was willing to part with this amazing instrument for just $50! He and his wife are actually expecting a baby, and would like to be home and around family once they start their own family. I can't argue with his priorities.

This guitar has "Arthur's Day" written on the pick guard. Arthur's Day is a music festival that was first organised in 2009 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Guinness brewing company (which was founded in 1759). The events that constitute the festival take place in several locations around the world on the same day, with performances in New York, Dublin (of course), Kuala Lumpur, Lago, and Yaoundé. Well, for the 2012 celebration of Arthur's day, the organisers decided to ramp up the promotional material with custom-made professional acoustic Guinness guitars, which would be put on display as an impactful attraction piece. They were fumigated before they were painted, so that they would meet requirements for transportation into countries (such as Australia) with quarantine requirements at the border.

I'll drag and drop the next bit of the story from a website that tells the rest:

"The promotion was launched nationwide in September 2012. During the event, the Guinness guitars were showcased behind bars, next to Guinness drinks displays in participating venues. To get their hands on a guitar, customers who purchased Guinness drinks were given entry forms to fill out and drop into the entry box. The highlight of the event was the lucky draw: designating winners in every participating venue."

Not bad, hey? I think that's pretty lucky! A spectacular guitar at a spectacular price, if I do say so myself. I do find it quite amazing, and incredibly fortunate. I will very much value this guitar, and surely find a way to bring it home.

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