Official Luthiers Forum!

I've played guitar for 45 years and could play a lot better when I was in school than I do now. Mostly rhythm, I'm a front porch player, strumming and humming. I've been learning to play the banjo for several years and am only fair on it. I probably don't play anything more than 4 or 5 hours a month! I have recently started playing some with a fellow from church, though, so I hope to regain some of the knwledge and abiliy I used to have.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

I started playing at 12 and played daily through college and into my 20's. I have only owned Acoustic and Classical guitars. Got my first handmade when I was 16 a present from the folks. I play 1-2 times per week now with and for my Grandkids and we do a few performances on a local level. Played in a few Rock and what we called Progressive Country bands as the acoustic fingerpicker who always looked stoned in the background. Started playing Cowboy music in my late 30's at Poetry Gatherings, Ranch Rodeo's and events like Chisolm Trail Days and Pioneer Days in Fort Worth. I like the older ballads and trail song stuff, Bob Wills, Gene Autry, and a host of others. Also like Classical as well. It got me into some repair which led me into building.

Mike
White Oak, Texas

I would play great, but every time I try to practice everyone keeps interupting me to say things like "PLEASE STOP!" or "What's that Aweful Noise?" Critics, who needs em?PaulB38933.0470023148

i practice nearly an hour a day, i have for a long time, i split it up into 15-20 minute sessions. I have practiced on and off for 35 yrs... Oh, you asked if i play.. nope.. i would not call it that. but i do love to practice. Its funny people always say,oh i bet your being modest,,I bet your good,,, nope, you really don't want to hear me..
Mike

Sam
Bass and Guitar player 40yrs,builder 35+ yrs
I would say go with the flow, when you feel
like building, build. and when you feel like
playing, play. Both activities have a way of
feeding each other. A two week lull in playing
is nothing I went over 6 months without
touching a guitar.(two fractured fingers on my
left hand)My playing skills improved after I was
able to get back into playing.
absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Tom

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http://www.moriciguitar.com

I used to practise and play a lot ...those were the days
Had a few years that i made a living from playing..
studied Jazz and have dabbled in a lot of different styles like funk,Jazz,african,latin,country and rock over the last 20 years
can't say i have any natural talent though..unless i play regularly it feels like I'm starting over again....but its therepuetic

Playing is what got me into building, and the music will always be the most important thing to me. I have played mostly electric, but also acoustic since the beginning almost 30 years ago. Still, I spend a lot more time in the workshop than playing these days. That's life I guess...

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I try to play at least an hour a day, even if I'm just futzing around. The rest of my free time is pretty much spent in the shop. (EDIT: No wonder I'm single. )



-Mark Mark Tripp38933.3642013889

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Pullman, WA

The more I know, the more I know I don't know.

trippguitars.com
OR
Find me on Facebook

Good one Todd!

I try to play everyday & have been since around '95, when after not playing for almost 15 years, I got back into playing again (w/ electrics). Now, that I'm not in a band anymore, I like to noodle away at home on my Martins. When working on guitars, I do find my play time is cut short.

I haven't picked up my guitar in months...maybe over a year even.
I spent a month or so trying to learn the Dobro and realised I'm even worse at that than I was on a 6-string.
Being a bad guitar player but loving the guitar was one of the things that got me started in building them.

When I was young and starting to learn, they were using the term "prodigy" around me.
Unfortunately they were talking about other people.

I was the guy they labelled "hopeless".

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Play a few chords, just enough to check out the tone of the guitars I run across. I'm very impressed when someone takes a guitar and fills the room with music. Very impressed.

Keaggy, Saturday, Memphis, comes to mind.

[QUOTE=Brad Goodman] John D'angelico did not play the guitar.[/QUOTE]
So THAT's why his archtops were so lousy.

Leo Fender didn't play either.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I started playing guitar when I was in high school (about 40 years ago) and played regularly for at least 15 years. I did a little performing, both by myself and with a couple of friends. Then I started dancing more than playing. And then I had kids and didn't even think about playing.

After the eldest child was off at college, I started again. I bought a new guitar (a Taylor 314) and signed up for lessons. I've been back at it for about a year and a half now. I like it enought that I'm spending time practicing rather than building.

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John Cavanaugh
Saint Paul, MN
"What could possibly go wrong?"

I play for my own pleasure now days, I use to perform many moons ago. I developed CTS and it severely limits my duration and technique anymore.

I play guitar but have a total lack of talent. You'd think
that after playing for about 35 years I'd be pretty decent but that isn't the case.

Dave

Head Banger! That's me! Still!
    
      Electrics were my blood! Almost got signed by Capital, thank goodness the CEO was an idiot. I don't know if many of you people know this but the music industry is loaded with weirdos and ego manics!   

    As I got older and started to get back into playing acoustics. I wanted to know what made these babies tick( buzz and rattle too). I still play heavier styles, it freaks out some of those young people in the music stores! I guess they expect a 50 year old to geezer all over the place!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Why I could play guitar before I got out of my crib. Matter of fact, I teethed on a capo and could do string changes blindfolded before I was potty trained.

I could do arpeggios and for a while there I majored in Minors and minored in Majors.

I liked doing harmonics and was famous for being able to play in any key signature by the time I was three.

Classical is my bag, but I feel right at home doing rock, soul, funk or reggae.

I wrote the chord chards when I worked for Mel Bay there in the hills of Missouri. Married one of his daughters, he's got a big shotgun.

That's about it, now I hang out at the Folk Center a lot, got too old to drive the tour bus. Hang out a bunch now down on the square, me and my D18. Someday I'd like to trade that in for a new guitar. I hear there a guitarmaker down by Searcy, who builds 'em cheap and good. I'm gonna go see for meself.

Signing off now, Really Old Man

I play better than I make. But then I've been playing for 40+years and only making for 5.

Playing is the biggest de-stresser I know (well apart from one other activity) and I'd go mad if I didn't.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

[QUOTE=Dave White] I play better than I make.[/QUOTE]
Hmmm...then you must play pretty darn good!

[QUOTE=jwsamuel]Remember, Leo Fender could not play guitar and he did okay for himself.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, but I bet he WISHED he could play guitar!

I play a bit...a little bitty bit, though I've had guitars since about 1965. Inspired by the Beatles.

I have improved lately, as a friend and I have been performing original songs (on, it seems, a quarterly schedule) as an acoustic duo. Maybe there is still hope!

Bozo Taylor huh? Do you happen to live in Beebe Arkansas my friend?

I guess one could be a luthier and not play.....but I'm still to find one!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com