Joe Pass discusses his decision to play guitar

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Joe Pass discusses his time at Synanon

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Joe Pass discusses his success

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Q: “Why do you play guitar in the first place? How did it happen that that’s the instrument you play?”

A: Joe Pass: “No, it's just accident. I asked for a guitar when I was nine. I think I asked for it, I'm not sure. Nobody in my family plays an instrument. So I think I asked for a guitar for a birthday present and I got one and started playing.”

Interviewer: “Right out of Seers catalog?”

Joe Pass: “Yeah, I got one at Harmony Guitar. You know, everybody has got that story right. My guitar costs $12, you know, and the other story ...”

Interviewer: “Right out of the box?”

Joe Pass: “Yeah, and the other story is, are you self-taught? Yeah, I'm self-taught. You know, sometimes, I like to get to the point where, you know, I like to see a person say, "And I started off with a thousand dollar guitar and I went to five years of conservatory and that's why I play."

Interviewer: “That's how I play.”

Joe Pass: “Yeah, right.”