Best Guitar Show 'like a flea market' for the instruments in New Kensington

Patrick Varine, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.
·2 min read

Oct. 16—Michael Pencak owns Michael's Auto Sales in Creighton. But like many people, he also has a passion for music, which he has been playing for most of his life.

In Pencak's case, it's playing guitar.

"I play Gibsons, and my favorite is probably my Gibson Les Paul," he said. "My partner and I have both been playing all our lives."

Pencak, a Harrison resident, and partner Allen Jones will host the third annual Best Guitar Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Quality Inn in New Kensington.

Last year, about 40 vendors filled the hotel with all manner of guitars.

One of them was Bryan McLain of Tarentum. McLain has been in the guitar business for 46 years. He served for 16 years as the musical director for Pittsburgh doo-wop group The Marcels, whose 1961 song "Blue Moon" was a massive hit.

McLain has had a booth at the Best Guitar Show each of the past three years.

"I've got tons of guitars I've acquired over the years, and it was just getting to be way too many," he said. "I thought it would be a good chance to get rid of some of them."

One that won't be going anywhere is the 1974 Gibson Marauder that was McLain's first guitar.

"It's one I wouldn't want to part with," he said. "Not that it's a big-ticket guitar, but it's worth a lot more now that there aren't many of them around."

In fact, Gibson produced just over 7,000 Marauder guitars between 1974 and 1979 before discontinuing it.

Interesting and rare instruments like that are part of the reason McLain makes sure to always leave himself time to walk the floor at the Best Guitar Show.

"I do make the rounds every year, to see if there's something that interests me," he said.

Vendors at the show are typically either hobbyists like McLain or smaller regional luthiers and instrument sellers.

"Most of the bigger places like Guitar Center and N Stuff Music won't usually leave their stores," Pencak said. "But we've gotten locals and vendors from Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia. It's kind of like a flea market for guitars."

The show also offers a chance to catch up with musical pals.

"A lot of times, I'll see people I haven't talked to for decades," McLain said. "It's just a great show."

Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Patrick by email at pvarine@triblive.com or via Twitter .