I’ve decided to revamp this story and make it just about Nashville. There are photos and video added. The Guitar Player story is it’s own post now.
Hi everyone- sorry to disappear! The AS Trio is on tour with my good friends, instrumental superstars Rodrigo Y Gabriela. It’s been an amazing experience performing to thousands each night with AST then sitting in with RyG during their set. Yesterday we played the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Earlier in the day, Rodrigo and I went on a guitar outing. First we hit the Gibson custom shop. The folks working there were very gracious, some of them confessed to being fans and none of them seemed to mind that I endorse Heritage, a company their bosses have had their differences with. He bought a Les Paul (his first) from the retail shop. 
Later, we hit Gruen Guitars, Nashville’s famous guitar store (anyone remember them from that old Visa ad?). I’ve always wanted a great tele and I found a vintage blonde beauty. Did I need to spend $2500 on a guitar? No! But encouraged by my inner voice (and Rod, who’d just spent more than that on his Gibson), I went for it. What better place to get one? And how often do you get the chance to debut it on the same stage where the ghosts of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and countess other legends can still be felt, their pictures surrounding the backstage? The crowd loved it when I told the story and used it for the slide guitar romp of our trio tune ‘Western Sabbath Stomp.’ It was a great day in Nashville. (Photo’s: Rod at Gibson and me showing Gab the tele backstage)
When I posted this the first time, I’d forgotten to mention that the night before, we’d stumbled into a bar and heard an incredible group, the Don Kelly Band (pictured above). Their guitarist, JD Silo, is a quintessential Nashville tele player. Quite honestly, I can’t remember the last time I’ve heard someone who so represents everything that is great about the guitar. Seeing him certainly helped enhance and inspire the whole Nashville
Telecaster experience. If you’re ever down in Nashville, drop by Robert’s on Broadway, where he can be heard several nights a week. Here’s a clip I found on YouTube.
The only downside to this tour is that it’s been really hard to write. However, I have managed to finish a piece which appears courtesy of Guitar Player Magazine, where I’ve brought aboard as a guest blogger. You’ll be seeing more of my guitar-centric pieces over there, but we’ll always have announcements links here on Skolnotes.
http://www.guitarplayer.com/BlogComments.aspx?id=110167&blogid=967