Nick Lowe accompanied a friend on an errand to a guitar shop in Portland, Ore.; implored to try a guitar by a store employee, Lowe originally dismissed the instrument as "ugly." But after playing it, Nick Lowe bought it. Read the story and learn about the guitar in the latest installment of The Current's Guitar Collection.

Mike Doughty keeps two guitars at home so there's always one nearby when an idea strikes him. One of those guitars is always on tour with him, and Doughty took some time to tell us about it and the decals he's applied to personalize the instrument.

When Nikki Lane was in The Current's studio for a live session, she played a brand-new, shiny, black guitar. Asked about the instrument, Nikki shares a great story that involves a tour of the guitar factory and a great deal of respect for Johnny Cash.

For Brad Barr, his 1950s Gibson J-45 not only sounds great, it's a priceless memento of and tribute to a late, beloved uncle. "He was a great teacher to me, and I'm ever grateful to him," Barr says.

While in the studio at The Current, Delta Spirit's Matt Vasquez played a Fender Kingman, which actually has a connection to Elvis in the movies. Matt explains, and he also describes some of his other favorite guitars.

When Sydney's Boy & Bear were in the studio for a live session, front man Dave Hosking took some time to talk about his vintage Gibson guitar. One of the things that drew him to the instrument was how "it sounded like all [his] favorite Neil Young records."

The Preatures' Jack Moffitt walked into a Sydney guitar shop on a whim and found an instrument he describes as "me in a guitar." Find out more about what Jack has to say about his Gibson 335.

After playing a set in The Current's studio, Field Report's Chris Porterfield and Tom Wincek took some time to talk about their guitars. Both describe interesting modifications they've made, including why Chris's guitar looks like an antique.

By strange coincidence, a guitar make that we hadn't covered before was mentioned by two different guitar players within one week: Anthony LaMarca of The War on Drugs and singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle both describe their acoustic guitars built by San Francisco-based The Loar.

When you're 21 years old, as Mikaiah Lei of the Bots is, a guitar built in 1993 qualifies as vintage. Mikaiah loves guitars; he's got a shedload of them, many of which are in for maintenance right now. But he shares their stories and also talks about his road-ready effects board.