Guitar Center CEO has two favourite guitars, but can’t choose an outright winner: “It’s like asking, ‘Which kid do you love more?’”
In addition to his strong business track record – with numerous C-suite roles, including his current position as CEO of Guitar Center – Gabe Dalporto is driven by his genuine love of guitars.
But of all the guitars in his collection, which are his favourite? In a new conversation with Guitar World, he reveals he has two…
While attending Guitar Center’s recent VIP event in New York City to mark its Guitar-A-Thon, Dalporto explained his deep, personal connection with his favourite guitars. “I’ve got two favourite guitars, and both of [which] I inherited from my father,” he explains.
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One of his two favourites is his beloved and reliable 1964 Fender Stratocaster – a common staple in many guitarists’ arsenals. “It’s white, and it’s got a rosewood fretboard,” he says. “I’ve played that my entire life and that’s been my go-to.”
The other guitar is a bit more unique; the guitar was a personal Gibson mod project carried out by his father. “When my dad passed away, I inherited his 1956 Les Paul,” he reveals. “He modded [it], took the P-90s out and put humbuckers in. It’s a Goldtop and it’s just beautiful. I love that thing.”
While he is able to narrow down these two guitars as his favourites, he struggles to choose an outright winner. “It’s like [asking] ‘Which kid do you love [more]?’” he jokes. “It’s really hard to say!”
Ever since taking over as Guitar Center’s CEO, Dalporto’s mission has been simple: he wants to improving the guitar landscape, chiefly by looking to create more “long-term” musicians. Back in May, he said he was set on encouraging the next generation of “serious musicians” to emerge.
“One of the biggest challenges we have as an industry is, if someone picks up a guitar for the first time, for every 10 people who start playing guitar, a year later, one person is playing, and nine are not,” he said at the time. “What can we do to change that ratio?”
“We [want to] connect with people early in their music career and really get them deeply embedded, so they’re going to be in it for the long term,” he concluded.
Guitar Center is currently hosting its pre-Black Friday sale, with up to 30% off some items. Browse the full range at Guitar Center.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
