Guitars

[Whalebot]

Nice topic. In the search for my perfect guitar I have had many hiccups. Some had the wrong voice for my music, worng neck, wrong tone etc. I think that I was happier when I had no idea what the hell a truss rod or micarta was. I had a beater and I loved it. I could shoot arrows with it the neck was so bowed. But I wrote songs and practiced and practiced and I became pretty damn good at playing guitar without thinking about Lam Vs. Solid or one piece necks with no wings. Not that I'll stop GASsing, just noticing and adjusting my attitude accordingly.

[BMCS]

I'm currently GASing for an 000 size guitar and I wish I could just buy some POS and be happy, but I can't:(

 

I know what you're saying:thu:

[allthumz]

I'm GASing so hard these days that my wife is getting jealous of all the guitar pictures I look at. The other day she said I should look at some porn instead of guitars.

She was being serious.

 

Time for me to be very, very careful.

 

- Robert

[JasmineTea]

I have a Guild JF4 Jumbo, I bought it new in '91, it was my only flattop till '02 when the fretsboard got so grooved it was painful to play. So I went shopping and found a 000-1 Martin. At about the same time I got my first computer...

[knockwood]

My first guitar, the one on which I learned to play, was - is (I still have it) - a Guild DV52-NT (lovely boomy rose dread). Being simultaneously a novice and an idiot, I put a bigass crack in the top and allowed two more to form below the bridge due to humidity issues (I knew as much about the impact of humidity/lack thereof as I did about truss rods, micarta, etc.). About two years ago, I got it into my head that I would need to "replace" the Guild. This kicked off a {censored}load of surfing and window-shopping and also led me to this forum, which kicked off still more surfing and window-shopping and book-purchasing and magazine subscriptions and catalog-ordering... all of which led to GAS and the subsequent purchase of ultimately four new guitars... one of which - the unfortunate 310 - I have let go. And the GAS, rather than being sated, only seemed to get worse with each purchase... And after all of this hooha, I've come to the conclusion that the git best suited to my taste and style is a big boomy rose dread... and that I couldn't love one more than I love my original Guild... though I've been so busy spending every spare dime on guitars that I'm currently too broke to pay to have it repaired. It seems I've taken a pretty roundabout way to get to where I began...

 

Ultimately, though, I don't consider any of my wacky git adventures to be a waste. In the process of blowing money, I've learned a {censored}load that I consider to be worth every penny, and I'm still trying to find out more at every opportunity. The most fortunate - as well as, admittedly, the most GAS-inducing - segment of my wacky little journey has been stumbling onto this forum. It has been amazingly rewarding on its educational merits... Plus I like you {censored}ers.

[BMCS]

Originally posted by knockwood Ultimately, though, I don't consider any of my wacky git adventures to be a waste. In the process of blowing money, I've learned a {censored}load that I consider to be worth every penny, and I'm still trying to find out more at every opportunity. The most fortunate - as well as, admittedly, the most GAS-inducing - segment of my wacky little journey has been stumbling onto this forum. It has been amazingly rewarding on its educational merits... Plus I like you {censored}ers.

 

Very well put:thu:

 

Except for that "Plus I like all you {censored}ers" part:D

[Whalebot]

Originally posted by BMCS Very well put:thu: Except for that "Plus I like all you {censored}ers" part:D

What, you don't like all of us {censored}ers?

[kwakatak]

I think sometimes that I actually like talking about guitars more than I like playing them. I've been trying to rectify that while balancing family time and keeping up on the forums too!

 

I'm kind of like Whalebot and knockwood, I'd been playing the same acoustic for 10 years and even though I had no idea that it wasn't the highest quality instrument, I did notice that it was beginning to succumb to some sort of neglect on my part. I began to look around and along the way I discovered this forum (about 3 years ago). I instantly felt at home with the sense of community (which my local music scene seems to lack) and I've been happily posting away ever since. Along the way I got lots of good advice (which I try to remember and pass along to the Johnny-come-latelies) and feel as if I've picked up a little bit of common sense along the way (even though I do admit to slip up from time to time). After a little while I got the bug for a guitar that was at least a step up, if not a lifelong player's guitar. Happily, I may have gotten just that.

 

I must admit that now that I know a little more about acoustic guitars I've also succumbed to more urges than when I was just sitting on my couch with my old beater. The old guitar as shoes analogy comes to mind: one (pair) will not do for every occassion. Sometimes you need something pretty and other times you need a workhorse. Sometimes you want to bellow out loudly and other times you want to have the notes drip softly from your fingertips. Sometimes you want to dig in with a big, thick plastic pick and other times you want to thump on the strings with the side of your thumb and a little bit of fingernails, etc. etc.

 

This doesn't seem to be helping and I'm chafing to visit my local Martin/Taylor/Breedlove/Gibson/Larriv

[BMCS]

Originally posted by Whalebot What, you don't like all of us {censored}ers?

 

I jest;)

[Hudman]

I spent the first 12 years of my guitar playing life focused on the electric guitar. In that time span I owned 4 inexpensive acoustics. 2 Ovations, a Fender and an Ibanez. I never gave it any thought. In each instance I walked in the guitar store with a budget and bought the coolest looking acoustic I could afford.

 

I went 4 years without an acoustic. I was listening to the radio and heard "Building a Mystery" - it inspired me to buy another acoustic. I was a little older and wiser. My regular guitar salesman (I've been dealing with him off and on for 22 years) suggested a Seagull. I bought an S6. I played the crap out of it for 8 years before I came across acoustic guitar forums. I sold it and began the never ending quest.....

 

The internet educated me and turned me into an acoustic guitar nut.

 

I like you {censored}ers too -

[d03nut]

me too.....

[Michael Martin]

I like all y'all fookers too. I think it was Kwak who said this was a community, and I had never quite thought about it that way. But it's very much true. I joined the forum long ago, lost my password right after joining, didn't bother to find it because I was not really in the habit then of using websites this way. It was after I started playing a lot more, and then taking playing/composing/performing really seriously, that I discovered I really wanted to get involved in discussions about what I love (and obsess over). There aren't many people around here who I can do that in person with, beyond my neighbor the artful Taylorite and a couple of others I've met at open mike sessions. Most people I work with and spend lots of time with are not into music at all.

 

I have learned a huge amount of stuff already from youse guys, and also have been entertained!

[AK47]

My first acoustic guitar met an untimely death about 30 something years ago. It was not an expensive guitar but it was my first love. I think the rest of my gas has been trying to recapture the inspiration of that first guitar. I served my time doing the electric rock-n-roll thing but it was the acoustic that kept calling me back. I sometimes wonder if what I listen for in an acoustic guitar has something to do with that kindred spirit I had with the guitar I learned on.

I think you {censored}ers are pretty cool

[Sweb]

With the exception of Kwak, I don't who else has been in the military but I see this forum very nearly has the make up of a barracks. There is a comraderie here that I haven't experienced since those halcyon days of old. I may take an occasional break, or leave of absence, but I'm never gone in the purest sense of the word. We're all spring-loaded to the topic and there are stories past, present, and waiting to be had and told. It's what it is about a thing that brings folks together under one roof that never runs out of room. Whatever it is we know it well but no one can aptly describe it.

 

Beer...it must be that. I had way too many tonight. My playing sounds way too good.

[Hudman]

Originally posted by Sweb With the exception of Kwak, I don't who else has been in the military but I see this forum very nearly has the make up of a barracks. There is a comraderie here that I haven't experienced since those halcyon days of old. I may take an occasional break, or leave of absence, but I'm never gone in the purest sense of the word. We're all spring-loaded to the topic and there are stories past, present, and waiting to be had and told. It's what it is about a thing that brings folks together under one roof that never runs out of room. Whatever it is we know it well but no one can aptly describe it. Beer...it must be that. I had way too many tonight. My playing sounds way too good.

 

Nice post -

 

Have a couple beers for me too.

[Sweb]

Originally posted by Hudman Nice post - Have a couple beers for me too.

 

Thanks. Never toasted with a beer before but I tip a long-neck to the good folks here.

[BMCS]

 

Originally posted by Sweb With the exception of Kwak, I don't who else has been in the military but I see this forum very nearly has the make up of a barracks.

 

 

 

 

 

[Sweb]

 

Originally posted by BMCS

 

 

I see man. You out? One never really gets out I think. Not mentally. It's always that lingering memory of when something really important was happening to us but at a time when we were too young to realize it.

[kwakatak]

Sweb, I don't know if I'm comfortable with the barracks analogy. Too many bad vibes: stuff going missing, blanket parties, hazing, etc.

 

I prefer to think of this place more as like my old dorm back at college: there was a guitar in every room, a few folks had some pretty good CD collections, the RA was a fellow musician and there was always something going on at any hour. Folks there were also laid back so if you flipped out they'd usually let it slide.

 

Did I mention that it was coed too?

[t60 fan]

My $.02

 

I really enjoy this community as well. Feel like I know you all - just a little bit at least. Been good for my soul, I'll tell ya'. Thanks.

[Whalebot]

I love it here. I like the dorm analogy as well. Most people are just plain nice here. I've made some friends, and the IKFC was one of the coolest things that I have ever had the pleasure to be involved in. Keep playing and GASsing! BTW, D-16 or Larrivee D-50? Any preference?

[knockwood]

Originally posted by kwakatak I prefer to think of this place more as like my old dorm back at college: there was a guitar in every room, a few folks had some pretty good CD collections, the RA was a fellow musician and there was always something going on at any hour. Folks there were also laid back so if you flipped out they'd usually let it slide. Did I mention that it was coed too?

 

Your college dorm sounds pretty much like my barracks... I was in a military intelligence unit (quit that goddamn laughing!) in Germany. Very, very laid back crew, for a buncha grunts. We were in civvies an inordinate lot of the time, the CO was an acoustic guitar fanatic, I used to keep an inflated blowup babe out in the open as a gag for surprise inspections (really - only for inspections... no, seriously...)... And the barracks was coed...

[knockwood]

 

Originally posted by Whalebot BTW, D-16 or Larrivee D-50? Any preference?

 

 

http://elderly.com/new_instruments/names/huss-and-dalton-%22td-m%22-traditional-series-dreadnou--HDTDM.htm

[Whalebot]

You're a bastard. I played that one when I was up there. If I had the money!!! There was a fantastic Froggy Bottom OM too.

[Tony Burns]

I think my tasts have changed over the years , use to be a dread person in the 70's ( particularly a Guild guy - swore id never buy a Martin ) in the 80's i wanted a Custom Jumbo , so i bought a Greven - but now its too boomy for me , dont think ill ever get rid of it , its a super instrument i could never afford again - back then it was about 1100-1200 dollars and that same guitar is around 7-8 grand ( believe it or not ) picked up vintage stuff in the late 80's , like old Washburns , Howard foote etc ( you know ) Even went threw the play in bar phase , had to get a couple of different Ovations -- which now im glad are gone -- last year had to get a OM-28v Orchestra model ( simalar to the 000 size -) now its the Mahogany phase - whats next , an Arch top Jazz guitar ?

So who knows , its all fun in the long run - just more pricey than it use to be -- the guitars from the late 70's to the early eighties were cheap compared to whats out their now - an example is a friend bought a D-35 in 76 or 78 new for about 600 dollars ( which was a high price for that instrument back then- going price was about 550 -- so a Guild guy turned Martin -who'd ever thought !