Music City Pickers Head to St. Charles Seeking Vintage Instruments

Former Little Texas band member Brady Seals has a nice personal collection of guitars, but he's always on the look out for more.

Seals, who launched a solo career, took a break after he finished his last record and started buying and selling guitars. He teamed up with Gabe Hernandez, a former Gibson Web editor, to start selling instruments as Music City Pickers, an online shop.

"It’s surprising, there are so many wonderful instruments out there that we have found and have been blessed enough to purchase," he said.

This weekend, Seals and Hernandez are heading to St. Charles in search of vintage guitars. They'll be at the Comfort Inn and Suites, 1400 South Fifth Street, from noon to 8 p.m. Oct. 8 and 9.

"We thought it was a wonderful musical area," Seals said. "We think it's a cool town. We might find some cool instruments."

Seals and Hernandez have been on three or four buying trips this year and have found some jewels along the way, Seals said. In Cincinnati, they bought an old Gibson Hummingbird that belonged to a guy who was the former director of the Grand Ole Opry.

"We really scored when we purchased a Martin Sigma guitar that was owned by the late, great Keith Whitley," Seals said. "Keith is considered the Kurt Cobain of country music."

Sometimes they get to hear the stories behind the instruments people bring. Often the people selling are widows who have guitars in the closet they don't play anymore who prefer to have cash to hand down to several grandkids instead of an instrument

"Or there's the grandpa who handed it down to the grandson or granddaughter and they need money for college," he said. "It's these stories we hear constantly."

They offer cash for the instruments. Seals said they're looking for vintage guitars, mandolins, fiddles, banjos and horns -- anything that's high quality.

"We look forward to getting up there and seeing what's in store," he said.