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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 12:13:54 GMT -5
Post by connrock on Jun 18, 2005 12:13:54 GMT -5
Hi folks, Man have I been busy!!I haven't had time to reply to many posts at all but I guess things will settle down when the cold weather sets in again!! I was wondering if anyone in the group plays the guitar? I've played since I was a kid and still love it.I played in a few local Mickey Mouse R&R bands when I was in high school but when I was in the Navy I was introduced to all sorts of different and interesting styles of guitar. When I got out of the Navy I heard an older friend playing fingerstyle like Chet Atkins/Merle Travis and that was it!I couldn't believe one man could make a guitar sound like it was 3 at once!My friend was playing "One Mint Julep" which was played and arranged by Chet. It's like it was yesterday and here I am some 40 years later still hearing and seeing my friend George play that song!! I played every day for quite a few years but got side tracked about 6-7 years ago when I met Mr.Rocks!!I am an "all or nothing" guy and it's VERY hard for me to slow down on one or the other,guitar or rocks! I have just about every type of lapidary equipment except a faceter and have 4 guitars,several amplifiers,recording equipment,sound processors and a recorder.If that's not bad enough I have about a ton of rocks,over 150 minerals and am having a custom guitar built that Iwon't get until next February or March! Here's a link to the type and Model guitar Gerald Sheppard is building for me. www.sheppardguitars.com/mad_gallery.htmIt's kind of a general description and starting price.From this point we start customizing the guitar for me and me alone.It's not a production model like the other guitars I have.It's a one of a kind that will suit my needs for size, playability,sound,types of wood used and cosmetics. It's a VERY expensive guitar and will take a HUGE chunk out of a small inheritance I'm getting but I'm getting older and am willing to spend this kind of money that my mom and dad left me.They both loved music and I know they would both be very happy for me in buying this guitar. Like I need another guitar or a rock!! The war goes on!! It's a good war though,,,,,,Now if I could only retire and let my "friends" fight!! Tom |
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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 12:33:08 GMT -5
Post by Cher on Jun 18, 2005 12:33:08 GMT -5
I love listening to guitar music. My father and my son used to play a lot too. Dad's gotten up there in age and would rather listen now. My son still loves to play but whenever he takes the guitar out, his two year old wants to play so daddy just does the chords while the little one strums. Sounds like you really got into it a lot with all the recording stuff. Think of how much you could sell it for and BUY MORE ROCKS ... hehehehe, just kidding. *smile*
Cher
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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 13:59:37 GMT -5
Post by krazydiamond on Jun 18, 2005 13:59:37 GMT -5
i used to play, never was very good, but had fun. i still have the Yamaha six string acoustical in the closet and occasionally get it out for a while, tho it doesn't take long for the fingertips to get sore, so back in the closet it goes.
my sister-in-law is quite accomplished on the guitar, mandolin and recently has taken up the banjo. (no, not OUR Banjo). she teaches as well and plays in a band now and then.
Connrock, you never cease to amaze us, are you as good on the guitar as you are putting a shine on rocks??
KD
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 14:13:40 GMT -5
Post by MichiganRocks on Jun 18, 2005 14:13:40 GMT -5
Hey Tom, I played the guitar a lot when I was younger. When I started raising a family there just wasn't time anymore. I now play around with playing the guitar, violin and harmonica. Not very good at any of them anymore. I guess that's why I became attracted to singing karaoke, because I can't play well enough anymore to accompany myself. Finger picking is the way to go. That's my real problem now, I just can't control my fingers well enough now. Music is why God gave us ears. I could do without the talking, but I would sure miss my music.
Ron
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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 15:08:37 GMT -5
Post by connrock on Jun 18, 2005 15:08:37 GMT -5
Hi Cher,
I used to do the same thing when my kids were kids!! lol
I always hoped one of them would like to learn to play but no luck!
I used to write and record a lot but haven't lately.
My recording equipment is ancient and I can't understand the new "lingo" of todays high tech stuff so I guss I'll just have to do with waht I have!
Tom
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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 16:07:10 GMT -5
Post by connrock on Jun 18, 2005 16:07:10 GMT -5
Hi KD,
LOL,,,,,I wish I could get the shine I'm looking for on my rocks and play the guitar the same but,,,,,,,,,,,,
You say your fingers hurt when you play the guitar.This is quite common for beginners and also people who don't play enough to get their fingers in shape.
You can remedy this in a few ways.
Buy a guitar with a good "action".The "action" on a guitar is judged by the distance of the strings from the neck.If the strings are too high even an accomplished guitar player will have problems playing it.
Of course I don't see you running out and buying an expensive guitar with a good action just because!However,if you do enjoy playing enough I can make a few suggestions as to what type,model and brand are within reason.
You can also buy a lighter guage set of strings for your existing guitar which will make it a little easier for you to manage.When you go to a music store ask for a set of "light guage'' strings with thickest string (low E) being around 0.053"- 0.054" and the lightest string (high E) being 0.010"- 0.012".The lighter the guage the better off you'll be.This is the easiest and least expensive route.
Theres another little trick some folks do and that's to tune the guitar lower then normal.This will "ease" up the strings and they won't be so hard to push down.
Another option is to buy a decent nylon stringed guitar.The problem here is price.You'll have to stretch the ole pocket book to buy an instrument that will stay in tune.The nylon strings stretch very easily and go out of tune.
I have a guitar with the lightest action of any guitar I've ever owned or played.It's made in Canada and is a production made guitar but you would never know it was.The name is Godin (pronounced Godan).I have one of their higher end guitars that cost me somewhere around 1200 bucks about 10 years ago.I can put it down for several months,pick it up and just play it like I never stopped without having the slightest ache on my fingers!
Oh yea KD,,,,,,,,,,,
Did I ever mention that I used to fly airplanes??? LOL
Tom
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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 16:21:47 GMT -5
Post by connrock on Jun 18, 2005 16:21:47 GMT -5
Hey Ron, Holy Moly,,,,,,,, Guitar,harmonica AND violin?  ?? Could you pick anything more difficult to play??? I only picked up a violin once and it didn't like me much!! LOL Now that harmonica,,,,,That's another story.I went out to buy a harmonica thinking it was about as easy to play as blowin' yer nose!!Well I was soooooooooo dumb I bought 3 of them!One even had one of them shiftin' levers on the end!! Well being a chain smoker I learned in a few short notes that I'd better quit smokin' or shove an air compressor hose up my butt!! LOL WOW!!! I didn't know it took that much wind to keep the damn thing goin' !Plus,,,I didn't know you had to breath in to get some of the notes!!! Oh well,,,,live and learn,,,,,but NOT the harmonica!!! LOL You mentioned karakoe.All I can say is the last time I was dumb enough to try to sing on a stage in public I came home with all sorts of vegetables all over me!!! LOL Take care Ron and keep playin and singin,,,,,,,,,,, Tom |
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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 17:59:08 GMT -5
Post by Original Admin on Jun 18, 2005 17:59:08 GMT -5
Hey Conrock - keep at the music. Its not the Instrument its the "music". Im crap at it  I'll not deny it - and my brother is crap at it too - though he strums away and has this lound amp and that speaker set - etc etc. Personally - I like the Violin and Piano. I have the latter and I cannot play it - AT ALL - grim. When I say Im crap at it - I do ****feel**** it - I just cannot reproduce it. If that makes sense? |
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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 18:27:13 GMT -5
Post by docone31 on Jun 18, 2005 18:27:13 GMT -5
Connrock, back in my New Riders days, I actually had Martin build me a D14/28 double neck acoustical rig with 11cm necks. They warned me. It was a total waste of money.
Every time I hit a note, the alternate neck would cram harmonics down my throat. I had to soft capo the alternate neck to kill the sound.
Good luck with your up coming rig. I hope you love it to death. I bet it will play your sound for you. Love it.
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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 21:19:59 GMT -5
Post by stoner on Jun 18, 2005 21:19:59 GMT -5
Hey Tom. I'm an old guitar picker too. Just recently I was able to fulfill a dream I've had since I started playing guitar and with wood. I built a nylon string classical guitar. Here's how it turned out.   It has a BIG sound for such a small guitar. The guy that showed me the steps sells his guitars for $3000, and when I asked him how much the one I made could fetch, he said $2500. It was a lot of fun and I got a lot of satisfaction out of building it. Ed |
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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 21:23:29 GMT -5
Post by docone31 on Jun 18, 2005 21:23:29 GMT -5
Ed, lots of wow there. Great job. I really like the bright finish. She is a beauty.
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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 21:51:49 GMT -5
Post by Cher on Jun 18, 2005 21:51:49 GMT -5
Hi Ed  Nice to "meet" you!! *smile* You built that guitar yourself? WOW it's gorgeous, you did a beautiful job ... I am amazed. What a treasure you have there. Dang you are so talented, I can't believe what you do. Cher |
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 22:54:42 GMT -5
Post by WarrenA on Jun 18, 2005 22:54:42 GMT -5
Tom, do you write your own songs I know there are a few members here who like me mess around with song, I figure if Elvis can just write new lyrics for an old song and sell a million copys I can too. Ed, That is one beautiful instrument "ATTA BOY"
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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 22:59:40 GMT -5
Post by connrock on Jun 18, 2005 22:59:40 GMT -5
Mark,
I know exactly what you mean when you "feel" it but can't reproduce it.
I've always had the bad habbit of trying to play a piece that sounds beautiful but is very difficult to play.Instead of doing it the simple and basic way I jump right in on the way it's played and have to struggle my way through it.
It's in my head but it won't come out of my hands.
Tom
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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 23:01:30 GMT -5
Post by connrock on Jun 18, 2005 23:01:30 GMT -5
Hi Doc,
Martin sure makes a fine guitar and if they made it to your specks it must have been a dandy!!
Do you still play?
Tom
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Guitar
Jun 18, 2005 23:12:14 GMT -5
Post by connrock on Jun 18, 2005 23:12:14 GMT -5
Ed,
That is one gorgeous gi'tar !!
You must be very talented and have the patience of a Saint to have done such a fantastic job!!
I applaud you!!
What style of music do you play?
I don't play any of the "new" stuff.I think the most current song I play is "Take Good Care Of My Baby" and that's not very current at all!! LOLI love the older music.It jut seems more pleasant to listen to and also to play,,,,for me at least.
I can listen to and appreciate any type of music if in fact I consider it music.Some of this modern crap doesn't fit into my idea of music.But i'm an old fart and that's that!! lol
Congratulations on your guitar she must "sing" beautifully!!
Tom
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texmom
spending too much on rocks
When life gives you lemons, squeeze it on fried catfish!
Member since February 2005
Posts: 344
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Guitar
Jun 19, 2005 15:13:57 GMT -5
Post by texmom on Jun 19, 2005 15:13:57 GMT -5
In my flower child days I played the guitar and sand folk songs... Michael Row Your Boat Ashore.... Never amounted to much, just played for my own entertainment
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Guitar
Jun 19, 2005 15:51:43 GMT -5
Post by connrock on Jun 19, 2005 15:51:43 GMT -5
texmom,,,
I don't play as a pro or anything like that.I play as you,,,,for my own entertainment.
I would love to pass my style of playing on to someone but no one wants to take the time to learn it as it's a very difficult style to master,,,,,at least for me.
The southerners were born with this type of playing and lived it where me being a Pollock Yankee,I was raised on the clarinet and The Beer Barrel Polka!!
I always say that I'm a Yankee with a Southern heart!!
Tom
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Guitar
Jun 19, 2005 15:58:06 GMT -5
Post by krazydiamond on Jun 19, 2005 15:58:06 GMT -5
 ;D ;D (adds Stoner to the list of people that never cease to amaze me). that is incredible that you MADE that guitar!! i'm in awe of all the talent on this board.  KD
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Guitar
Jun 21, 2005 10:40:07 GMT -5
Post by stefan on Jun 21, 2005 10:40:07 GMT -5
Thought I'de jump in- I play a bit too- Self taught- don't know many chords but a can pick out notes pretty good- Love to just sit back and pluck away! Just got a cheapy Yamaha knockoff- (same company cheaper line) But it does help me to unwind when I need it!
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??
I'll not deny it - and my brother is crap at it too - though he strums away and has this lound amp and that speaker set - etc etc.
;D ;D
