WORKING -- CLAY JAMES

HE IS

The guitar aficionado

UNIQUE WORK

James, 40, has been a musician for most of his life. For the last four

years, he has had a dream gig at Huntington Beach Loan and Guitar, a

music store and pawn shop, where on any given day, he can be found either

repairing, appraising, buying or selling guitars.

“It’s cool. I get to buy at least two guitars per day,” James said.

“When it comes to repairing guitars, I usually do everything from

adjusting strings to fixing a bent neck or the electronics.”

James, who cites such legends as Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, Jeff

Beck and Steve Morse as influences, said he received his first guitar

when he was 16 and indirectly attributes his love and familiarity of

music to his mother.

“My mother loved music and had a big record collection, which I used

to listen to all the time,” he said.

PAYING DUES

Ever since those teenage years, James has paid homage to his love of

music by dedicating the last 15 years as a working musician. With this

experience and knowledge came a love for the instrument, its mechanics,

its history and its value.

Having played in a slew of local bands over the years, James said he

was able to learn how to repair guitars more out of necessity than

anything else. He was also able to manage to start his own diminutive

collection that boasts his prize pieces -- a 1971 Fender American

Stratocaster and a 1973 Gibson Les Paul.

GETTING THE JOB

In 1996, the drummer of James’ band was also the manager of Huntington

Beach Guitar and Loan. The store had a job opening and was looking for

someone who knew what they were doing.

“At first, [they] were looking for someone who could sell guitars,”

James said. “But then they found out I could fix and appraise them as

well, so my job gravitated in that direction.”

BOTTOM LINE

James digs his digs, and it’s a great environment for a guitar lover.

Being surrounded by about 1,000 guitars, with new and interesting models

coming and going every day, is intriguing for this avid fan. He still

gets to play every day on the job, and enjoys being able to fix a problem

and ease an anxiety he is familiar with.

“Kids will come in thinking it’s going to cost a fortune and take

forever to fix their guitar,” James said. “But it’s real neat when they

find out it’ll take five minutes and cost them only a buck.”

SH-- Story by Torus Tammer, photo by xXXX