Here's how I got my Goya:

I've been a Melanie fan since 1971 when I was 15 years old. Her music moved 
me so that I wanted to take classical guitar lessons, much to the delight of 
my dad who was a self-taught guitarist and singer. I was already good on the 
piano and had a knack for picking up music by ear even though I can read 
notes. So, to better play and sing my favorite Melanie songs, I had to learn 
the guitar.

The lessons went well and enjoyed my weekly lessons at the local music store 
just outside of Pontiac, Michigan. It was called Grinnell Brothers and sold 
mostly pianos and organs made by that company (Grinnell Brothers has since 
gone out of business). They also sold sheet music and the latest records and 
classical and electric guitars. The guitar I originally had for my lessons 
was all right but I had to press really hard on the strings to get a good 
tone. I thought all guitars were like this. Wrong! One day in 1973 I saw a 
guitar that looked very much like Melanie's hanging in the guitar room. A 
friend of mine who worked at the store told me it was marked down to a really 
good price simply because it had a little scratch on it. He let me play it. 
It practically played itself! It was easy on my fingers as I hardly had to 
press down on the strings to get a beautiful, rich tone. No wonder Melanie 
played this kind of guitar. I looked at the close-up pictures of her and her 
guitar and it was the exact same model! When my birthday came up, I told dad 
that I really loved that guitar and it was MARKED DOWN! Well, dad came 
through, we sold the other guitar and to this day the Goya is one of my 
prized possessions.

I learned to play quite a few Melanie songs on it (I Am Not A Poet, Babe 
Rainbow, etc.) and even though I don't play it as much today as a 
45-year-old, I keep it polished and practice when I do have a little time. 
I've never seen anyone else other than Melanie who owns a guitar like this 
one and I look forward to the day when I finally meet her and that she can 
sign it for me and maybe even play it. It does have a beautiful sound!

I found a little information about Goya guitars on www.locksley.com under 
vintage guitars (Goya serial numbers). It is made by Levin Instruments from 
Sweden. Swede H.C. Levin worked in the U.S. as a trainee at Martin Guitars. 
And so did his son just before World War I. H.C. went back to Sweden and 
formed the Levin Guitar Company (Goya in the U.S.). They also made banjos in 
the 1920's and 30's. The catalog is at www.cats.se/banjo/plevin.html. (this 
info is from the site I mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph).

So, David, hope this information helps you. You are welcome to print my 
little Goya story (hope Melanie reads it). What happend to her Goya anyway? 
I've been wondering. I will continue to hit your site on a regular basis as I 
enjoy it very much.


I took it with me to the 2001 Ann Arbor Melanie concert and she 
signed it. Also was very surprised to see it. She confirmed it was 
the exact same model Goya she used to play. She also told me that her 
famous Goya was accidentally backed over by her father's car. 
Apparently, this was before Beau was born or old enough to appreciate 
guitars and he was totally fascinated by it. He held it and kept 
saying it was surprisingly heavy and he strummed it too. Peter took a 
photo of Beau holding my Goya with me. It was surreal. I still try to 
play it from time to time although the guitar punishes you if you 
don't practice! But you don't have to press down too hard on the 
frets. That was a huge difference from other classical guitars I 
played and I really understood why Melanie always played hers and 
rarely switched guitars. Such a rich sound.

I understand Martin bought out Goya in the mid-to-late 70's and yes, 
they are no longer made. Melanie's and my Goya model was produced in 
1967.