The 25th Annual Dallas Guitar Show Report - 2002
By Larry Meiners
This years Dallas Guitar Show, the 25th Anniversary of this event, was held in the Automobile Building at Fair Park on March 23rd and 24th. Since the show's humble beginnings in 1978 with 20 dealers, this mammoth show now includes hundreds of guitar and instrument dealers, and thousands of patrons. The Dallas Show's format has been expanded to include a music festival that in previous years has hosted the amazing guitar talents of Eric Johnson and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
Besides the domestic dealers, many European and Asian buyers were in attendance. Both the dealers and the public were able to view and play the latest new models from Gibson and other manufacturers, as well as many highly collectable vintage instruments on display. After a football field length-plus stroll through the show, a few of the gems in the dealers booths included: a 1958 Goldtop, a 1959 Flametop, an original ES-335 Dot-neck, several 1950s-60s Strats, some pre-1960 Martin flat tops, tweed Fender amps and vintage Marshalls. Any guitar nut would have an endless smile for days after a visit to the Dallas Guitar Show.
If you are buying, selling or just looking… this show is worth the journey.
Fred Oster from Vintage Instruments of Philadelphia is pictured below at the Dallas Guitar Show holding a custom made guitar from Germany. Fred's shop has many fine acoustic instruments as well as classic violins. Fred is an expert regarding these acoustic instruments and several well-known auction houses and estate sellers depend on his expertise.
2002 © Larry Meiners All Rights Reserved