Stephen Colbert's Rockin' Birthday Present

Yesterday was Stephen Colbert's birthday, and since great people deserve great presents, he was given a 1973 Martin D41 guitar.

Colbert had a 1973 Martin D41 guitar presented to him at his "Colbert Report" staff birthday party, said Boulder musician Rob Ober, who sold the guitar to the show.

“They’re presenting it to Stephen as a surprise,” said Ober.

I don't actually know much about guitars, so I don't know why someone would prefer a guitar made in 1973. I guess guitars must be like wine, getting better as they get older. They are also like wine in that if you take it to a frat/sorority party, you are going to wake up with crabs.

…Colbert had played his current guitar on a previous segment of the show and complained about the quality of the instrument as “not cutting it” and that he then made an off-hand comment about a guitar he would like.

“Stephen said, ‘I want an early ’70s Martin D40,’” said Ober. “We were able to get him a ’73 D41.”

Kind of sounds like Stephen was fishing for a present, doesn't it? How uncouth! I have a crappy old TV, but I would never ask for a Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ85U 50-inch 1080p Plasma HDTV for my birthday, which is coming up in twenty-one days, mom and dad, now would I?

The show’s staff said there is a chance that Colbert will use the Martin to play along with Cat Stevens, who will be a guest on "The Colbert Report" Thursday night, according to Ober.

His name isn't Cat Stevens anymore, by the way, guys! It's Yusef Islam. Get it together, local Colorado newspaper, before he runs a Peace Train over all of your asses.

If you really want to make Colbert's birthday dreams come true, be sure to donate to DonorsChoose.org! Happy birthday, Stephen!

The Colbert Report airs Monday through Thursday at 11:30pm / 10:30c.

[via No Fact Zone]