The Arista recording artist played at Music City's 328 Performance Hall last night, touring in support of Peace And Noise, her critically-acclaimed album, released over 20 years after her celebrated 1975 debut Horses.

While Smith, longtime drummer J.D. Daugherty and young guitarist/songwriter Oliver Ray were quite fascinated with the complexities of the guitar building process, Smith and Ray were also tracing musical roots of sorts.

"My first guitar is a Gibson L-00 acoustic, made in the 1930s," Smith said. "I bought it in 1971 and I still have it. It's the guitar I write most of my songs on."

Smith said she is amazed at the guitar's longevity.

"It's been beat up quite a bit over the years, but it's very durable," Smith said. "It feels like a tree in my hand. It's my most precious guitar."

Ray's most precious guitar is also a Gibson.

"I have a '48 SJ sunburst," Ray said, noting that aside from a fret job, the guitar is all original. "It's one of the greatest acoustic guitars ever and it's mine!"

During their tour of the facility, Ray strummed a few chords on another one of the greatest guitars ever... the one formerly belonging to Wes Montgomery, recently restored by Gibson's expert repair staff.

To learn more about Patti Smith, visit www.aristarec.com/psmith/home.html.