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Post by fernwood on Dec 10, 2018 8:28:45 GMT -5
I love to learn more about the members here and connect with those who have similar interests to mine outside of lapidary.
If anyone would like to PM chat about any of the following, let me know. Posting here is fine as well. Share your special instruments, either present or from the past. The one that got away.
Vintage Martin, Sigma and Ovation Guitars.
Appalachian Dulcimers.
Pick ups/amps for acoustic instruments.
Stage performances, either your own or those of friends/musicians you love. Any special memories of those or current, go to performances you feel others should attend.
How you obtained a love for acoustic instruments.
Here is my initial contribution.
I learned how to play guitar when I was 8 years old. Still have that plywood, classical, 3/4 scale guitar. It cost $20.00 at the time. Took lessons for 3 years. That guitar went to college with me. In college I was involved with a campus group that scheduled performances every weekend in a coffeehouse setting. Met many very special performers through that.
Met my future husband in college. After we were married, he decided I needed a better guitar. He played both a vintage Sigma acoustic 12 string and an electric Fender bass. He took me to the local music store. Tried out several Sigma guitars there. He selected one for me, that mirrored the sound of his dream guitar, a Martin D 28. It was a Sigma D 5.
In college, I performed on stage with both the Sigma 12 and 6 string guitars with my husband. He was also in a local band, which I ran sound for. That D 5 traveled with us to Arizona, back to Wisconsin and various places in the state.
I was allowed to keep it when our marriage ended in 2002. Unfortunately, had to sell it to pay the electric bill when times got tough in 2016. One of my biggest regrets.
Recently found a D 10 Anniversary Sigma for the same price as what I sold my guitar for. Photos and discussions with seller say that this guitar is in pristine condition. It will be delivered to me soon.
A Martin find. While living in AZ, we often went to the Gallup NM Flea Market. While there, my husband found his dream bass guitar. A Fender Anniversary special. The sellers only spoke Mexican, which I did as well. My husband was so enamored over the bass, he missed seeing his dream guitar, the Martin D 28. When we were going back to the car to get our reserve cash, I mentioned it to him. He could not believe it. Got the extra $100.00 for the Martin.
Let husband know that the sellers felt they were making a great deal, as the Bass did not work. We paid $250.00 for everything. Then left the flea market. Went to a local music store to have the bass checked out. All that was wrong was that the sellers must have used a bad cord for the bass. My daughter now has both of those guitars in her collection.
1969 Glen Campbell Ovation. We found this at a pawn shop. Only $150.00 with original hard shell case. Over the years husband wanted to remove the Glen Campbell truss rod cover plaque. I talked him out of it. Yesterday, daughter mentioned this guitar to me. It is hanging on her guitar display wall. She asked if I knew how valuable it was. Said yes.
Custom made Walnut, 6 string dulcimer. Received this from a friend who was a master Luther for dulcimers. This instrument has also traveled thousands of miles with me. I love it.
Will hold off for now on further experiences, instruments, pick ups and amps.
Please share your passion and finds along the road of life.
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Dec 10, 2018 10:59:16 GMT -5
Finally, at the age of 62 I bought a guitar to punish my Mom I didn't like school, and you know I'm nobody's fool.
Seriously, I just bought an acoustic (Jasmine brand) and an electric guitar (Oscar Schmidt Les Paul copy). An amp is in the mail. I also bought a preamp to add to the acoustic to electrify it. Haven't installed it yet as it requires cutting out a section of the guitar.
I hope to learn to mimic my favorite players such as Andy Latimer from Camel Steve Hackett formerly of Genesis Carlos Santana David Gilmour of Pink Floyd Alex Lifeson of Rush and many more.
We'll see if I actually put effort into learning.
I'll report back as I progress or send a link to my recordings on iTunes & links to tickets to my concerts! Lynn
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Dec 10, 2018 14:24:36 GMT -5
Music is a passion that has followed my family and I for several generations..........
My Mom and Dad both played woodwinds, mostly Clarinets of various types. Dad also sang in an Italian quartet, being a Tavern owner, gigs were nightly events. I was told that my Grandpa was a tenor and two of my Uncles were "brass blowers" in military bands........never met Grandpa, but heard my Uncles play often when I visited them during the summer months back East. My parents discovered I had an ear and pitch perfect abilities when I was about 6yrs old, so they got me into choirs (I went to Catholic schools up until Jr. High).
At 11yrs old, we moved to a school district that had a 6th grade only school that specialized in the arts. We were allowed to pick an instrument to specialize in and I picked the Cello. We didn't have room at home for a Piano, otherwise that would have been the first choice. Why the Cello....?......well, because my Dad had a friend who played one and I was mesmerized by it's tone........was not interested in horns, heard enough of that over the years.
Anyway, when I got to High School, we discovered that there was only a marching band......Cello rental and lessons were getting expensive and trips to the local University where I took lessons were becoming a hassle..........and I lived next door to a guy who played in a rock & roll band.......the natural progression became a six string instrument called a guitar.......lol
My Dad brought home an acoustic Sears Silvertone and the transition was seamless........been playing ever since.......Over the years I've owned quite a few vintage electrics and acoustics (more than I can remember).........to date, I still have a Hohner HG 310, Takamine G 230, both 1970's vintage I use for Bluegrass and various other genres. A few months back, sold to a friend a Martin D28 made in 1973........he got a good deal since it was collecting dust and my Hohner is actually a better instrument. As far as electrics, still play my DeArmond M75, and the 1981 Less Paul Custom......have owned Strats and Telecaster's, a few Gibson ES 335 and 339's, but the Less Paul and DeArmond now serve the purpose..............!
I only use vintage tube amps when gigging.......The 1981 Fender Bassman and 1989 Fender Chorus/Reverb amps mic'd up work well for everything I play now.......besides, my old back can't take lugging anything larger around.......lol
I'd expand on my "play for pay" days gigging and recording with a few decent rockers back in the day.......rather for another time.....I've still got some pretty good "chops" left, but only do local gigs at Bluegrass festivals and car shows now with a group of other "over the hill" guys I've known for years..........It's still a blast....... and a "job" I'm glad I never took as a means to survive on......became an engineer and had a family instead.......a much happier ending than most who I was acquainted with back then.....!
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Post by MsAli on Dec 10, 2018 14:43:49 GMT -5
I played the flute, learned some chords on the guitar and my daughter plays Violin
I come from a huge family of musicians. Mom played flute, my dad plays the Banjo, my cousins all play multiple instruments as do the majority of my aunts and uncles Family get togethers were a blast as you never knew when a random jam session would occur. I think that is why I have such a huge love for music.
One day I will pick up the guitar again and finally get serious about learning it.
Side story about a guitar
My ex and I were hitting the block sales one spring and we came across a gentleman that was selling a guitar with a broken headstock. It just happened to be a Gibson Les Paul "Black Beauty" which at that point we did not know if it was authentic as China had reproductions. It also came with a case. He wanted 150.00 for it and my ex talked him down to 50.00 After a lot of research and calls to Gibson it was indeed an original. We sat on it for a bit getting estimates to fix the headstock Then the whole split happened
Anyways long story short-I got mad one day, went to storage pulled it out Sold it on Ebay for a nice little sum to a man in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
That guitar paid my paralegal fees ; )
It was so dang pretty though and every now and then I have regrets about selling it.
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Post by fernwood on Dec 10, 2018 14:50:29 GMT -5
Great stories everyone. Need to go to work soon, but will comment later.
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,196
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Post by dreamrocks on Dec 10, 2018 22:09:00 GMT -5
Well, I currently do not have a acustic yet but would like to one day get a fender acoustic or close second. I do go to the local music store and have played a number of different ones that I have liked.
The one I like the most and I could play it nearly as good as it sounded. It was a limited edition 12 string fender acustic. I could not believe how easy it seemed to play nor could I get over the $2000.00 price tag for a used guitar that's the reason I did not buy it.
Any way I started playing in 2008 I bought a silver tone with 20 watt amp from finger hut. Learned the few chords from the sheet that came with it. Eventually i bought some Hal Leonard books from barns and noble and that's how I have learned to play. By playing with the cds that came with the book it was a little easier than I thought it would be to learn.
Since the silver tone I upgraded to a Jay Turser solid body and still have the 20 watt amp. I still play when I find time and my fingers are not to badly banged up from the can king.
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Post by Pat on Dec 10, 2018 22:46:07 GMT -5
A few years ago, I thought it looked like such fun to strum a guitar or such like Johnny Cash or Kris Kristofferson.
But I didn’t want something that big. Quizzed clerk at music store. Checked out the sound of the various models. Asked a few newbie questions such as — do finger tips go on the raised lines, or between the raised lines. Answer. Between the frets.
Bought Book 1 and tuner and my ukulele and dove into it. Helpful friend met with me weekly. Much fun. I got pretty good st LITTLE BROWN JUG.
Alas! It was taking up all my time. I wasn’t making jewelry or playing with rocks.
Rocks et al won. Maybe I will get back to it when I am older.
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Post by fernwood on Dec 11, 2018 7:58:15 GMT -5
A few years ago, I thought it looked like such fun to strum a guitar or such like Johnny Cash or Kris Kristofferson. But I didn’t want something that big. Quizzed clerk at music store. Checked out the sound of the various models. Asked a few newbie questions such as — do finger tips go on the raised lines, or between the raised lines. Answer. Between the frets. Bought Book 1 and tuner and my ukulele and dove into it. Helpful friend met with me weekly. Much fun. I got pretty good st LITTLE BROWN JUG. Alas! It was taking up all my time. I wasn’t making jewelry or playing with rocks. Rocks et al won. Maybe I will get back to it when I am older. Cool on the Uke. I have my Uncles from the 1950's. My son in law recently made his own. He already had a mandolin and was tinkering with my daughters guitar collection. His Uke has a license plate for the pick guard. Musical instruments, like rocks, can be so relaxing and a creative outlet.
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Post by fernwood on Dec 11, 2018 8:00:24 GMT -5
Well, I currently do not have a acustic yet but would like to one day get a fender acoustic or close second. I do go to the local music store and have played a number of different ones that I have liked. The one I like the most and I could play it nearly as good as it sounded. It was a limited edition 12 string fender acustic. I could not believe how easy it seemed to play nor could I get over the $2000.00 price tag for a used guitar that's the reason I did not buy it. Any way I started playing in 2008 I bought a silver tone with 20 watt amp from finger hut. Learned the few chords from the sheet that came with it. Eventually i bought some Hal Leonard books from barns and noble and that's how I have learned to play. By playing with the cds that came with the book it was a little easier than I thought it would be to learn. Since the silver tone I upgraded to a Jay Turser solid body and still have the 20 watt amp. I still play when I find time and my fingers are not to badly banged up from the can king. To me, Fender acoustics are highly over rated. For half the price of a Fender you could have a luthier custom build you a great instrument. I am all about supporting small businesses.
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Post by fernwood on Dec 11, 2018 8:09:44 GMT -5
Here is my beautiful, walnut Appalachian Dulcimer. Custom built by a friend. 6 strings. I have a pick up for it. The Dulcimer is a very easy instrument to play, especially for those with large hands. Luthier showed me how to transpose sheet music to use with the dulcimer in a variety of keys. I print my own music to start, via a number system. This system is similar to musical notes, but uses numbers. I know exactly where to place each finger on a fret. I play the dulcimer both for lead and rhythm. The pick up I have also works for connecting to my vintage Fender Amp. A great amp that has many settings. Using the amp prevents the dulcimer, a quiet instrument, from being over powered by guitars. This pick up will also attach to my tuner. Please post your go to instruments also.
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Post by fernwood on Dec 11, 2018 8:17:35 GMT -5
I had a more traditional style walnut dulcimer, built by the same luthier. My husband got it in divorce and I do not know what happened to it.
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Post by fernwood on Dec 11, 2018 8:25:26 GMT -5
My Sigma DM 5 that I had to sell to pay electric bill. A wonderful guitar that rivaled many Martins. It was an early 80's model, purchased new, which had the bear claw marks. Bear claw marks are only found on old stock woods. A slow growth pattern in the tree and healing from trauma, which results in excellent sound and durability.
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,196
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Post by dreamrocks on Dec 11, 2018 9:49:44 GMT -5
I very much like the sound from a good or we'll built acoustic guitar. I also support small business for the simple reason, they like some or all lapidarians put so much pride in there work. Personally I believe that's because! There work comes from the love of what they do, the pride comes from the the pit of one's heart and soul and is incorporated into ones work. That's were the finest work comes from and not from high volume commercial work they just push it out the door. At one point in late summer here on the radio there was a advertisement to support local luthiers, and do want to explore that route they are close by a 10 minute ride down the road. So here's my Jay Turser with my digitech sound effects machine fully loaded with metronome and drum beat.
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