This guitar made me change my mind about Les Pauls. I usually wave the flag of "they were made to be played, so play them", but with this Old Hickory, I sat back and rethought that mantra. There's nothing exceptionally fancy or ornate about this piece, but it does possess a beautiful simplicity that I can't help but appreciate. The body makes me think of a walnut with a nice, olive tint. The grain isn't all swirly and twisty- it's smooth, with a hint of crotch figuring behind the bridge. The appointments accent the body's coloring and figure and in the end, it's really an elegant guitar. So, were I a Les Paul guy, I wouldn't play it. Instead, I'd display it where others could see and enjoy it's beauty and craftsmanship. Now to do this effectively, you would have to learn the guitar's history and story: The tale of the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson and the mighty Poplar tree that was struck down from the heavens by a bolt of lightning. That makes for a good tale and gives the guitar some flesh, if you know what I mean. Call it art or call it a conversation piece. In either case, you always have the "code red" option as well. That's the move where, if the world is coming to an end, with volcanoes erupting and the ocean rising with tidal waves, you would break the glass of the display case that held this guitar. Then, you would go to the bookcase and pull down on Herman Melville's "Moby Dick", which would activate a revolving platform to reveal two 1967 100- watt Marshall Plexi full- stacks. Throwing all care and caution to the wind, you plug the Old Hickory into the looped- together stacks and pull off your best Zeppelin or Sabbath. Then you go to heaven where you'll be one of the few guys that have a guitar, so you will share the stage with Hendrix, Bonham, Morrison and Woody. That's one heck of a house band and since they're looking for a second guitarist by now, the job will be yours. That's how easy it will be with this Old Hickory on your wall, so give us a shout today and eventually become a member of the greatest band to ever strike a chord!