ELLIOT EASTON

The former Cars six-stringer talks early guitar exploits, the golden age of vintage- guitar buying, and why he's not as jazzed about amps as he is about guitars themselves

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What was the first serious guitar you bought with your own money?

“The first serious guitar I bought with my own money was a Favilla acoustic. There was a music store in Freeport, Long Island, called Gracin’s Music. At the time, I had a cheap Japanese electric that I got for my bar mitzvah, and it was a really crummy guitar. I got a job working at a bakery making bagels, and I saved up my money for my first real guitar. It was all-mahogany, left-handed and one of their less expensive concert-style guitars. I still have it!

“My first good electric was a Telecaster. It seemed like most of my heroes were playing them, like Robbie Robertson, James Burton and Roy Buchanan. I just love Telecasters; there was something about them that just got me. They seemed so iconic – and I wanted one. So, through working at the baker and washing dishes after I got my worker's permit, I'd earned enough to buy one. I ordered this left-handed, blonde 1971 Fender Telecaster. I think it was $220 with a case and tax.”

What was the last guitar you bought and why did you buy it?

“A Martin D-28 Bigsby. It's like Merle Travis's D-28, which has a Bigsby neck with six tuners on one side of the headstock; it looks like a Fender. I just thought it was super cool. That guitar is just superb. I'll have to get it over to my favourite guitar guy in LA to have it set up.”

What's the most incredible find or bargain you're ever had when buying guitars?