A: Beverly, I have been around this world and toured the country since I was knee high to a grasshopper. I have fought in wars, walked the streets of New York City at night when our bus broke down, wrestled alligators for rent money, sailed down the Nile river with nothing but a pair of shorts, signed a record deal, let my two sisters manage the band for nearly two weeks back in '53, was nearly thrown from a moving train, remodeled a bathroom, chased by pack of angry Black Bears in the Alaskan wilderness, ate sushi, let my blind brother Elliot drive from El Paso to New Orleans, pole vaulted across a raging fire pit, survived countless hospital meals, was trapped underground in a coal mine for nearly a week, misplaced the TV remote, wrongfully accused of murder, sat through an entire Wham concert, ate Chinese food 30 miles away from my house,  but to this day nothing in the world can scare me more than when my wife says to me "Honey, I have an idea....." THAT is scary!

A: Matt, what you have been hearing is true! The good folks over at The Indiana Guitar Company let me check out the new Solace model and when I first got it I thought UPS had done some of their "magic" on it! Turns out that the guitar's body is bent on purpose! They say it makes the guitar more comfortable to play and when I sat down the first thing I noticed was how free my right arm felt when I played it. Its like the guitar naturally conforms to your body and was so comfortable I nearly missed my wife's 10 O'clock feeding! You would think there would be some loss of volume or tone but that wasn't the case at all because the Solace had a big, rich tone and a neck so sweet I could hardly put it down. When the sun went down my wife came out to the RV and remarked "Jasper, next to my mother's sheepskin couch, this is the most comfortable thing I have ever felt!" Let me tell you, if SHE noticed then the Indiana Guitar Company is on to something! As far as how they do it? It's kind of like my wife's cooking, you just don't ask!

A: Marcy, while I do like the intimate feeling I get from a backyard bar-b-que I would have to say that playing the big festivals is something you never get used to no matter how many times you do it so for that reason I guess I like the big shows. Back in the late 60's I played some big affair out in New York (which I never got paid for) that was fun but was scary because all my brothers got sick after eating some tainted pie and the only one left that could perform was me. Nothing but me and my guitar in front of a sea of people. I had to end up doing a 45 minute version of my hit "Wake Up Darling, I'm Home" which didn't go over too well because in those days I refused to use a microphone. I've learned a lot since then...

A: Dear Jim, I didn't know much about them until the folks over at SHS sent me one to try out and MAN what a great little invention! The neat thing about that Intelli IMT-500 is the big bright light that comes on when you turn it on and for a fella my age that is a great thing! With my old tuner you had to stop, unplug your guitar, take the saddle off of the horse, change pants, make a safety line out of rope, tie it between two trees, get two sets of pack mules to pull the rope in opposite directions, feed and water them,  plug in the tuner, tune it up and then plug it all back in again. With this new one you just clip it on, tune it up and you're done! It even shuts itself off after you use it which is a function I wish my wife had!

A: Yes I have played the new Morgan Monroe guitars and let me tell you that they are probably the sweetest things I have ever put my hands on (other than the Mrs of course!). The folks over at Morgan Monroe sent me the first M-50 ever built and its a gorgeous work of art! I think there are four new ones in the line and each one is just fantastic! The one that I got has a great "V" neck shape like the one my Grandad used to have that he traded for my Grandmother. As far as a tour this summer, we are planning to go out with just myself, my brother Jack, cousin Earle and his wife Louise who plays a dulcimer and stand up bass at the same time! That is something you should see! She can do all that and still throw stuff at cousin Earle if she catches him looking at the ladies!

A: Those Devlin guitars you've been seeing are part of brand new line of guitars that all the kids in the holler are crazy about! They come in several different models and have cool graphics, set necks, spitfire pickups and as they say, are not your daddy's guitar. I got one that I gave to my grandson Junior Jr. and he took that thing home and his momma made him take it out to the garage because she said it scared her! To see the whole line go check them out here!

A: Well Danny you're mom is half right. While its true that I was there I wasn't supposed to be a performer. The Hazzard Holler Boys had a show the night before in Woodstock and the club owner never paid us so we had to camp out in the woods at nearby Cooper Lake. It was about 3:30AM when my brother Vernon told me that the campfire was out and that I needed to "...stock the wood...." and being that I was still half asleep I thought he told me to drive back to Woodstock for more camping supplies. When I got there I stopped the car and started gathering firewood when out of nowhere this freaky looking guy comes up to me from out of the forest and offers me $20 to fill in on the conga drums because his regular conga player was "feeling weird" and couldn't perform. Knowing that $20 would be enough to get us back home I said yes and the next thing I know I am onstage with this guy playing songs I had never heard! I don't remember much but I do recall him being a really good guitar player, I wonder what ever happened to him?

A: Emily, I too have some old guitars that several of the cases had fallen apart due to the fact that they used to double as beds that we would use in the old bus when we toured the southwest back in the late 50's. Anyway, I had looked all over for a vintage style case and the people over at SHS sent me some of their new Vintage Tweed cases to check out. They make them for electrics, bass and they even have an acoustic model that has a built in Hygrometer in it so you can check the humidity level of your guitar. At first I thought it was a clock and that I was late for a show but then my wife pointed out what it was! They are great and each one has that new case smell!

A: The instruments you saw were the American Series from the Indiana Guitar Company. They make an acoustic model as well as two electrics that all have the "stars and stripes" custom finishes. Too bad you had to waste an evening with your mother-in-law because if you would have had the time to check them out there at the store I think you would have been impressed with the tone and feel of all three of them. The people over at Indiana Guitar Company sent me the first three ever made and I will tell you that once you pick one up and play it, everybody will notice you! Even my mother-in-law shouted her approval from the kitchen window when she saw me getting them out of the truck. Later after she left and I was able to go inside the house, she called and asked where she could get one for herself! She must have really liked them because that's the most she has ever said to me in forty years!

A: This is another reason I don't like getting my picture taken! Unfortunately as crazy and unstable as your sister probably is shes right about the photo. This was taken near my home at a place called "Mario's Pork-N-Pastry Deli" where they host a monthly talent show. Although I don't sing in my tribute act (I usually just stick to the dance moves and do the karate kicks and stuff) anyway, I remember your parents taking the picture because it was right before I was going on and in a panic I was on my way to the truck to get my other outfit after placing second in the pork eating contest. If I remember right, I didn't get to change and at the end of my number I tried one of my difficult martial arts moves off the drum riser and  pulled a back muscle! I was out for nearly two months but was back up and performing in the show not long after but nowadays I always remember to wear the bigger suit!

A: The first thing you need to know Shane is that everyone goes through this at sometime in their career. Believe it or not no matter how old you get this sort of thing can still happen. I was recently asked to cut my set short while performing at the Concord Assisted Living Facility's annual bake off! I was almost at the end of "Foxy Lady" when some genius in the front office said my rendition was not only too loud but also was a safety risk and promptly cut all the power off. It just goes to show you that no matter how established you think you are you still run the risk of being shut down by "the man". Wait until they see what I have planned for next month!

A: You should check out the Morgan Monroe M-30 model! Its a scaled down solid top version that sounds great and for some people, doesn't feel as "bulky" as a regular acoustic. I got one for my wife and even with just her two fingers, she swears its easier to play.

A: They say if you can remember the 60's then you weren't there! Your Dad however is right about my short lived attempt at a solo career. After an argument with my brother Vernon on our way back from a bluegrass festival in Carson City Nevada, I (in the heat of the moment) quit the Hazzard Holler Boys and announced that I would try my hand at going solo. Vernon bought out my share in the group and with the money I constructed a "one man band" out of an old drum set, accordion, kazoo, finger cymbals and my banjo. For the next 6 months I wandered the southwest and finally ended up in San Francisco opening for Santana at the Fillmore on a Monday night. After a less than enthusiastic response and my back aching from carrying a drum set around all day, I decided to rejoin the group and put my solo days behind me. That is, until you brought it up Tommy! Thanks a lot.

A: Hogwash! First off tell your son its time to move out of the basement and let you enjoy whatever time you have left. Second, you CAN get a great instrument for little money despite whatever he says. The Bean Blossom BB-100 is a great banjo to start off with and I only wish I had something this good when I first started out! I actually own two of them and they both play great and sound even better. Your son just needs a girlfriend and a life, or both!

A: Thanks for the question Amy! Since nobody back in those days were smart enough to save the original master tapes its highly doubtful you'll ever see them appear on a cd. You might check swap meets and flea markets but beyond that its pretty unlikely. If you find any let me know, I would love to hear them myself! As far as any new recordings, the only members still alive are me, my brother Zeke (who played the washboard) and my brother Curtis who played the bass. We've talked about it but until Zeke's legs heal for good we'll just have to wait and see!

A: This is a battle I've been fighting for a long time. Although this might not work for everyone, here is what I do. Keep buying them as often as you like then hide them in the garage until she goes to bed. Sneak them in and set the new one in with all your old ones. Before long she wont know which one is new and which one you've had for years! That and apologize everyday, even if you haven't done anything yet! Oh and bringing her flowers helps too!

A: My grandfather had an old metal bodied one that he used to let me play on from time to time. After months of begging he finally let me have it and I used it on the first two trips we made to Arizona to play with local legend Tex O'Brien. Unfortunately on the way back home from one of these trips we lost the transmission in our truck and I traded the repair guy the resonator for the work he did. Wish I still had it! The good news is Morgan Monroe has some new  Resonator Guitars that are excellent! Now my grandson wont leave me alone about playing it! What comes around goes around huh?

A: Don't quit and don't die!