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GUITAR
AID CELEBRATES 2000TH GUITAR
Since setting up Guitar Aid in 1991, Dave Sumner's mission to provide
much-welcomed musical and spiritual relief to some of the most poverty-stricken
regions in the world has been hailed as a major success, not least by
the recipients of the instruments. Dave, a toolmaker by profession and
church band leader in his local Riverside Christian Centre, originally
set up 'Guitar Aid' - reported on in Gear magazine back in 2002 - by
buying second grade (marked/damaged, etc.) acoustic guitars which he
would then repair and make good. When he had enough to make up a shipment,
he would transport them himself in a Land Rover and trailer to specific
destinations, such as the post war-ravaged Balkans of the early 90's.
"Rather than someone thinking, 'I've got this old coat that I don't
need any more, I'll send it to Romania', my original idea idea was to
give something of real quality that could be used and appreciated,"
was Dave's original Guitar Aid concept. "Something to provide a
diversion amidst the despair of these awful situations where ordinary
people through no fault of their own find themselves with nothing."
As the success of Guitar Aid grew and sponsorship became more established,
Dave approached music distributor John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd.
about manufacturing small production runs of 'Guitar Aid'-branded Vintage®
acoustic guitars, when funds could be made available. In 2002, the first
run of 100 Guitar Aid guitars was duly delivered for Dave's project.
Since then,
Guitar Aid has expanded into general band instruments, including bass
guitars, electric guitars and electro-acoustics as well as acoustics,
all provided to help get people playing together and to unite communities
through music. Dave has now taken GA instruments as far afield as Africa,
Cuba and recently, India.
Recently Dave took possession of the 2000th Guitar Aid guitar, presented
by JHS MD, Dennis Drumm. The Guitar Aid acoustic is an all-solid wood
guitar with a solid spruce top and mahogany body with a '2000th' laser
cut inlay, alongside Dave's signature and attractive 'Tree Of Life'
rosette work.
"I'm delighted with the guitar," smiles Dave. "We've
had two made, one I'll keep as a memento, one we'll give away. Apart
from the number, this guitar represents 18 years of hard work, and symbolises
the recent transition of Guitar Aid to full individual charity status,
with Inland Revenue-sanctioned 'Gift Aid' tax relief allowing us to
include more accessories and so on. Obviously a project like this relies
on a lot of help from a lot of people, and so it's a big thanks to everyone
from us."
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