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The author circa 1980 with his first guitar, an Epiphone Genesis.

Our Last Call columnist reflects on a big birthday with some thoughts about living one’s best life.

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” —Allen Saunders (via John Lennon’s “Beautiful Boy”)

By the time this is published, I will be 60 years of age. I’ve been writing this bit of infotainment for nearly 18 years, so it feels like I should have some life lessons to share. Let me preface it by reminding you I’m not particularly wise, nor have I accomplished much. But I have been gigging for 44 years, and I’m still standing, so here are a few tips that might help fellow musicians on the long journey.

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With internally adjustable midrange boost and versatile Voice 2, these pickups are designed to capture the killer tones of 80s & 90s high performance Strats.

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Squier Affinity Starcaster Deluxe

Two extra-affordable versions of quirky instruments from Fender’s late-1960s-to-mid-1970s period deliver unexpected—and out-of-the-ordinary—playing pleasures.

High style on the cheap. Excellent construction for this price class. Nice feel under the fingers.

Pickups can sound brash.

$349

Squier Affinity Starcaster Deluxe
fender.com

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The years 1969 and 1976—which bookend the releases of the original Telecaster Thinline and Starcaster—mark a strange period for Fender. They don’t signal a lost era as pre-CBS purists might insist. But there’s no doubt Fender was firing more wildly at an increasing number of moving targets—from shifting musical sands to improving import competition.

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