A Secret Society of Maniacs

A layman might guess mother-of-toilet-seat inlay is a nasty communicable disease. It’s not. Rather it’s just one of the many products at the Newport Guitar Festival guaranteed to drive collectors crazy. Prewar, hand-carved archtops; scalloped bracing; Vendetto; Epiphone: These are buzzwords to guitar freaks. Mention them to someone planning to attend the fest, and you might have a riot on a scale (get it?) not seen since the French Revolution.

Don’t miss the fest if all of your friends have string calluses on their fingers and enjoy discussing the merits of Brazilian rosewood versus Sitka spruce. These people are crazy. Trust us. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and ends Sunday at the Miami Beach Convention Center. A live performance by the John Jorgenson Quintet begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $20 daily, $36 for a two-day pass, $48 for a three-day pass.
April 11-13, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., 2008