Arian Sheets, Curator of Stringed Instruments, had the opportunity to visit with R. C. Allen, an influential southern California guitar builder, at the California World Guitar Show in Costa Mesa, California, on January 16, 2010. Allen strums a guitar he made in the 1960s, while Sheets holds Allen's own electric guitar made by Paul Bigsby in 1948 (bought by Allen in 1952). Bigby's work inspired Leo Fender to produce solid-body electric Spanish guitars.

During her trip to California in mid-January, Sheets attended the trade show of the National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim. The NAMM show is the premiere international trade event for music product vendors to show and sell their wares to American retail music merchants. Upwards of 100,000 people attend this annual event, which is only open to trade members and pre-approved visitors. At the Rickenbacker booth, Sheets admired a new, 5002V58 electric mandolin.