Official Luthiers Forum!

You know that song by James Taylor - Carolina in My Mind? Oh sure you do... you know... "in my mind I'm goin to Carolina..." Yeah well in my mind I've already built a dozen or so guitars. Yep, I have gone over so many of the steps so many times (in my mind), it seems I have truly tricked my brain into thinking I have built guitars. I am slowly working on my first one, but last night I had a dream that I already knew how it would play, sound and look - so I abondoned it to begin #2 and #3. Strange huh. Why I am divulging my nighttime dreams? Don't know.

I guess I tend to get a bit compulsive when it comes to thinking the different process' through - i.e. joining plates, rosettes, bracing and shaping the neck. By the time I get around to these things I have already done it countless times in my dang head (usually during work, or when my wife is telling me about her day). Please tell me there are other neurotics out there... or at least that this is all part of the initial excitement of building my first guitar - which by the way I already know what will it look, sound and feel like.

Christian

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Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Louis Hector Berlioz

Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian

Christian, isn't that what the well paid sport coaches teach you to do? See yourself (doing whatever) and with perfect form. Now do it again. Now this time see yourself adding.... Same concept, no? Sounds to me you are perfectly healthy and doing what the experts tell you to do anyhow. Wow, you've saved yourself a ton of money. Time to go shopping.

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Aoibeann

I know guitar teachers that use the same technique.  Visualization of the music and how you will play it.  They even use practice techniques that do not include the guitar - just the right and left hands individually.  It is an interesting concept.  I could never get it.  However, I, like you, have thought of doing each part of the process over and over.  It seems, though, that the other parts don't always cooperate in the fashion that I have visualized.  

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I know that dream well as I have dreamed it a many a time. Keep the good thoughts rolling and you will succeed in your endeavors.

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Reguards,

Ken H

I have had similar experiences to yours, although mine wasn't not as useful. I had never really tried juggling before I started having dreams about doing it, and shortly thereafter I was juggling four golf balls on my first attempt at juggling ever. I just wish it was with something a little more useful that juggling.
Jeremy

In case the sarcasm wasn't quite thick enough... I really have no idea what this first guitar will look, sound or play like.

Well I don't think the whole "playing over and over in my head" thingy has helped (so far anyway), I just kind of thought it was funny that I dreamt I could bypass the whole first build thing. Apparently I'm quite cocky in my dreams... quite timid during the day though

Christian

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Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Louis Hector Berlioz

Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian

Cool Christian. That's a good sign. Now put those dreams to work.

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Ah, yes! If we could only be what we dreamed we could be!

Christian, you’re on the right path!

I say, full steam ahead, and d_mn the torpedoes!

Robert

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Everything has beauty, But, not everyone see's it!

Christian,
Whether you are sane or not. I'm there with you. I haven't even received my first set of plans yet and I have already built a couple in my head. By taking part in this forum, I know the jigs and techniques I intend to use and know who to ask when I screw it all up! I know the woods I am using and just how they cooperate with adhesives and weather. Unfortunately, I also know how each of my custom projects falls under Murphy's law.
Regardless, if sane people don't dream this way... I don't want to be sane. Just remember to keep putting those dreams in action or you will always be just a dreamer.
chris

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

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