Your First Guitar/Instrument

Subject: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,Anonny Mouse
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 01:20 PM

(Disclaimer: did a search on this and nothing came up. So if it has someone let me know via a post so I can see why it gets zip responses)
Ill start-piano was my first but I wasnt cut out for it. About then the Folk craze had begun (yeah the KT) and my Mom had some old junker banjo-uke with nylon strings so I learned some basic chords on that. Had to have a steel string guitar and got a Silvertone from our local Sears-knew nothing about woods, saddles, nuts, spacings, bracings, etc. But it did fine. My pal had a Stella which as was pointed out elsewhere has some kind of nostalgic value now.

Always was a "trader-upper" and have gone thru Guilds and a not so hot D28 that never sounded right to my ear-prolly needed a good set up but like I said, if I knew then what I know now wouldnt have ditched it. Got into a Guild 12-er for a few years. Also picked up some cheap banjos along the way. Ears changed over the years along with interest in luthery and guitar shapes/sizes to the point that I decided dreadnoughts for me at least lost their appeal but I wanted the volumn. Anyway, that ol' Silvertone with the tailpiece was my first guitar and a lot easier to tote around than a PIANO!! Like I "advised" Michelle in the BS section, theres so much out there these days its worse than the cereal aisle at the grocery store--still have Martin, Taylor, Gibson, Guild (owned by Fender along with Tacomas) and a bazillion imports from China, Korea....but I think the best imports in reasonable gits are coming in from Canada, along with single builders lke Thompson, Kronbauer, Alberico, etc. But that old Silvertone still haunts me and I wish I had it still as a knock around. Anyone else wanna chime in on this one? Some of you DO play, right? Also-you UK or non U.S. posters, what's out there besides Lakewood, Lowden, Flyde, etc. that's decent but won't cost yer first-born?

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 01:34 PM

I took piano lessons from the neighbor lady up the street when I was about 6 years old and hated it. I didn't understand the notes business and what Every Good Boy Does Fine bologna meant..I just didn't get it.

When I was 8 years old, my Mom brought a violin home from school and presented it as something really fun and wouldn't I like to try it. OF course I wanted to try it...I was the only kid in 3rd grade who got to take music lessons. I played for 8 more years and then the orchestra program was done away with. I was estatic as by that time I hated the violin. I was the queen of excuses when it came to reasons why I couldn't make orchestra practice. I didn't seem to mind all the other extra curricular activities though (band, marching band, basketball, German Club, AV Club, drama, chorus, etc). After graduation though, all things musical came to a halt.

Then came the guitar from my mother-in-law. I didn't really know what to do with it and when I went to a local jam, someone tried to show me a few chords on it and I just wasn't comfortable with it. I did, however, love the music and wanted to play. I knew I had played the violin about 15-17 years prior and thought I'd give that another try. I rented a student violin for a few months until I knew that I really wanted to play. My husband then bought me a violin for a Christmas gift (that I had picked out on eBay). It was nothing fancy but it sounded pretty darn nice for what he paid for it. Finally, about a year and a half later, when I was STILL playing my violin and enjoying it, I visited a local luthier and bought a nice violin...one that will last a lifetime, I hope! I also had the eBay violin fitted with strings that are an octive lower so I have a "chin cello." I have some other instruments as well, but I have to say that my violin is my favorite. :)

I think I gave you way more than you wanted to know..but what the heck?!?!? :)

Do you play any other instruments?

Michelle

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: kendall
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 01:39 PM

a second hand Gene Autry guitar.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Wesley S
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 01:41 PM

Not counting the trombone ?

The first good guitar I played was my brothers Gibson B-45 12 string. I own it now. The first guitar I bought was an Eko Ranger 12 string which I kept for many years. My senior year in high school I bought a 1967 Martin D-18. I still own that one. It's a fine guitar to be sure.

My favorite guitar however is my Collings OM2HG which I bought about a year ago.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: leftydee
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 01:46 PM

My first guitar was an awful Stella with action so high you could throw a cat under the strings. I fooled around with it for a couple of years but with limited results. After a slightly better Kay, I spent all my savings on an Epiphone Texan. What a great guitar! I was able to learn because I wasn't in agony. There have been lots of guitars come my way since then('65) but I still own the Texan.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Wesley S
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 02:20 PM

I just figured out that I've owned a total of 8 guitars in my lifetime and I still own 5 of them. Unless someone wants to buy my Lowden 12 string so I can whittle down my collection a little. {Besides - I have a mandolin on order}

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 02:56 PM

Like Lilyfestre, I've recently gone back to the instruments I learned or tried to learn at school. So, for last 4 or 5 weeks have been relearning guitar, flute and descant recorder. So far all is going well in that I'm enjoying it and doing some work every day (almost!). The guitar has a really horrible action, but if I'm still playing it in 3 months time I'm going to treat myself to a new one.

So maybe all that time spent playing tunes or styles I wasn't really into wasn't wasted after all.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Janie
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 02:57 PM

My first guitar was a very cheapo Kay Classic. My sister's first guitar was a Gibson--I forget what model--with a sunburst finish. It was a very nice beginner's guitar---(until she left it laying (lying?) on the couch and I sat on it:<()

Janie

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Don Firth
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 03:26 PM

My first guitar was a Regal that I paid $9.95 for. I also bought a fiberboard case for $5.00. The store threw in a free pick (never used it) and a copy of Nick Manoloff's "How to Play the Guitar" manual (can't remember the exact title—this was back in 1951 or 1952). The manual came with a handy-dandy patented chord wheel. This was a sort of circular slide rule. You could dial a key, and it would show chord diagrams through little windows—the primary and secondary chords and relative minor chords for whatever key you wanted. Very handy gizmo! Later on, I studied music theory, but this silly little gadget was a good start.

I was really lucky with this guitar. By the grace of pure happenstance, the frets were in the right place, the intonation was true, and the action was fairly soft. It sounded like it was made of apple-crate wood and probably was, but it was easy to learn on.

My first really good guitar was a Martin 00-18, spruce soundboard, mahogany back and sides, very nice. I got it in summer of 1954. But about six months later, I decided I wanted to learn some classic guitar. I traded the 00-18 in on a Martin 00-28-G. Spruce soundboard, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, wide fingerboard (ebony), nylon strings. Gorgeous instrument, rich sound!

A few years after that, I became acquainted with hand-made Spanish instruments, which I've played ever since. Can't beat 'em for excellent workmanship, playability, and full, rich tone. Carrying power, too. I currently have a José Oribé classic and an Arcangel Fernandez flamenco. I also have a GO-GW nylon-string travel guitar made by Sam Radding in San Diego. Surprisingly good sound for such a little box (looks like a canoe paddle with strings). Very handy. I keep it close by and grab it whenever the spirit moves me.

I sing mostly traditional folk songs and ballads, but not exclusively. I also play some classic guitar (Sor, Tàrrega, Carulli, pieces written for the lute, etc.), and if I've taken my vitamins and have a good tail-wind, I might take a whack at a bit of flamenco.

Welcome aboard!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: number 6
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 04:27 PM

a plywood (complete) guitar, with a braided string strap ... Palimino was the name ... got it for Christmas when I was 9.

sIx

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 04:40 PM

I took piano lessons for six years, but they didn't stick. I saved my allowance and bought a Sears Silvertone for about $24.00 in 1969 and got a page of xeroxed chords, a Phil Ochs songbook and taught myself better in six months. I now have a couple Taylors and a Santa Cruz. The action on the silvertone was high. I think having a guitar like that to start, helped me appreciate better guitars when I got them.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Beer
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 04:43 PM

1962 I had a Sears $15.00 axe that I learned on. Bought my first good guitar the following year in St. Thomas Ontario for $300.00 It was a Yamaha 180. After 26 years of not having it. I just got it back the week before Christmas and I just got back from the repair shop to have new heads and fretts installed. Fellow told me it would be ready this Saturday. I can hardly wait. It use to have a great sound. Hope age has contributed more to it.
Beer

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,Anonny Mouse
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 04:54 PM

Thanks so far for the replies. Amazing how many seem to have snagged that department store git or started on somethin' pretty cheap. I taught myself thanks to a Mel Bay guitar learners book with chords galore. And yeah, first time I got a decent all wood (not ply) git it made me realize that ol' Silvertone wasn't a keeper, tho I wished I'd kept it now.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 05:10 PM

Beer,

My first was a Yamaha FG 180 as well. Still has a great sound. I paid $ 135.00 not including sales tax which didn't come into play for a few more months.

Don Meixner

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Metchosin
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 05:29 PM

My first guitar was an Epiphone Texan, many years ago. My brother and a friend talked me into buying the beast, because they couldn't afford it themselves at the time and they were probably pretty certain that they would end up "borrowing" it, as I wasn't destined to be a master. They were correct.

My husband's first guitar was a Berwind parlour guitar that his mother picked up for him in a pawn shop for $4.00, when he was small. According to George Gruhn it was built ca. 1860 to 1875 and even with its violin style tuning pegs, its still very playable. Although it wasn't in use this Christmas, you can catch a glimpse of it on our wall here.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Beer
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 05:49 PM

Don,
New that store ripped me off.
Just kidding. You got a great deal at $135.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Grab
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 07:14 PM

A second-hand Kay classical, bought by my folks. The nut was fitted wrong so the intonation was shot, and the saddle was much too high, so I learnt how to do simple guitar setup at the same time as learning to play it. :-) It sounded good though. I've still got it, cos it's got no trade-in value so it doesn't make sense to sell it.

Although my first instrument, like Lily, was violin (and piano, since my mum taught piano). Still play (and on the same violin), but only fiddle tunes on the violin these days.

Wesley, how did you get a Lowden 12-string?! Me want! (Even though me can't afford...)

Graham.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Kaleea
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 07:25 PM

When I was three, my first instrument was Piano   My older brother was taking lessons, & since the Piano was in my bedroom he couldn't kick me out so I sat on the Piano bench & watched. When he went outside after practicing, I scooted over & played exactly what he played. He once clobbered me when he heard me playing his recital piece, "Indian Rain Dance." I learned Flutophone in 3rd grade. Chord Organ about 4th grade. I started Flute in 5th grade. In 7th grade, I started playing the Guitar my brother borrowed from our cousin. When I was in 8th, a friend gave me my first Guitar, an old Harmony. It was one that had all the tuning pins on the top side of the head which sort of resembled the Fender head. The action must not have been too horrendous, cause I was playing ok. In 9th, my brother got his first Hammond B-3, which I had to learn, even though I'm so short I still have trouble reaching Organ pedals. I took up Harmonica (Marine Band) about 10th or 11th grade.    In the spring of my 12th grade year, right after I got married I got a 12 string and passed on the old Harmony to someone who had no Guitar. Since then, I no longer have the Flutophone, Chord organ, & the 12 string caved in. I got a used Gibson J-45 when I turned 21, & I still play it. In college, I even learned Euphonium so I could get a bigger scholarship, & having a boyfriend who was a Bass Violin major I got to learn Fiddle & a little Bass, too. I still play all the instruments, got my own fiddle, & have also taken up the Tin whistles, Bodhran, Mountain Dulcimer, Autoharp, Mandolin, Celtic Harp, Ukuleles, Zither, lots of Flutes & Flutelike thingies & lots of Percussion instruments & oddball whacky things from all over the planet.
Remember I started playing a 3? The earlier a child learns to play Music, the more likely they are to stick with it, & learn other instruments, too. I also graduated college with a 3.64 gpa--Music Teachers have known for many years the value of early Music Education.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: number 6
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 07:30 PM

Beer ... you did get ripped off ... remembering that the Canadian $$ back then was worth more than the American $$. :)

sIx

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 07:44 PM

We have been here before , I feel , but what the Hell !!
I started off with Clarinet lessons at school , aged twelve , for a whole six weeks , then we moved and the new school didnt have an orchestra . I joined the Royal Air Force as a boy recruit and learnt to play bagpipes , and got turned on to Traditional Jazz at the same time . My Eighteenth Christmas present to me was a second hand clarinet - look out Johnny Dodds , here I come ! That old B&H Regent has to qualify as my first instrument (I dont count Mouth Organs , not
even Chhromatics) . An old Hawks Soprano Sax came next , then an Alto
closely followed by a Tenor . Before I got the full set I discovered folk ! Obviously , Tin Whistle was the start of folk playing until my Lovely Buescher Tenor went to buy my first DECENT guitar , a
Levin L60 , having learnt the basics on a couple of REAL cheapos .
The Levin went the way of all things when I got my D35 Martin , by which time I was dabbling at banjo (5 string) and later added mandolin.
Currently I have four guitars , two 5 string banjos , one Short scale
Tenor and one Antique 7 string banjo , two mandolins , and a banjola
along with what seems like dozens of different whistles , as well as Ukuleles and odds and sods !

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Beer
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 07:48 PM

Forgot about that Number 6
However, the stories I could tell about my Yamaha and this crazy country kid who moved to the city is worth more to me than the $300.
Beer

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: thefunkysocksgirl
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 08:03 PM

had one or two rented 'cellos for a wee while, then a rented violin, finally got me own fiddle for my 18th ("daisy"), complete with terrible korean bow - but then got a very sexy bow for my 21st!

first guitar - well, I borrowed my mum's for a year or so, okay-ish nylon-strung classical which I strummed (or tried to strum!) very loudly with a thick pick and hit all the wrong notes, and successfully jarred my 2nd yr uni housemates off enough that they walked around wearing ear plugs!

after uni I had no job and no money and spent the last £50 on my barclaycard on a cheap steel-strung little number I found in cash-generator ("clarence)! Niiiiiiice... still, I learned how to pick a bit better and strumming steel strings didn't sound quite as bad!

a couple of years later I took a trip to ireland and met a nice man in a music shop in kilarney, who I chatted to lots and in who's shop I tried out all the guitars (away from home for a month a la bicycle I was missing my own guitar and needed a fix). my attention focused on a rather nice seagull guitar (mmmmmmmm, tasty!) which - to cut a long story short - was eventually given to me for nothing by the music shop man :) such a charmer! that was 4 years ago and we're still in touch, and I still play that same seagull guitar that I strapped to my back and rode home on my bicycle with... thinkin' about getting pickups fitted as it's completely acoustic but a little worried I'll change the sound quality which is lovely at the moment.

one day I will think of a name for that one too... :)

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Peace
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 08:10 PM

"Some of you DO play, right?"

Yes.

Stella--Fender Telecaster--Favilla--Guild 12-string--Gibson 6-string--Martin.

Still have the Martin.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: number 6
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 08:25 PM

Had a Palimino ... a Guild ... a Gibson 335

I now have a Taylor !!

sIx

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 08:29 PM

I got my first guitar in 1964, when I was 13. It was purchased new from a pawn shop for $12.95. That was more money then than it is now, but it still wasn't much. I'm sure it had a label inside but I have no idea what name was on it. It was followed a couple of years later by a Kingston electric. Between those two crappy guitars I pretty much learned absolutely nothing.

I didn't play at all for seven or eight years until I bought a Yamaha FG-160 around 1974 and discovered that it's a whole lot easier to make music on a decent instrument than on a piece of crap. Got a Martin D-35 a couple of years later and, though I no longer own that Martin, I now have way more money invested in musical instruments than in the house I live in.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Peace
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 08:31 PM

The FG-160 isn't all that bad a guitar. However, good guitarists tend to make them sound better'n not-so good guitarists.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 08:34 PM

A borrowed CG Conn B-flat cornet, even though I supposed to play treble-clef baritone. They were out of baritones, which are also called euphoniums. I was 10.

An old player piano at home and an upright at the piano teacher's house. I was still 10.

When I was very, very young (about two years or so) I had a toy glockenspiel, but my mother took it away and burned it. Something about the noise, I think.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,Paranpoid Android
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 08:42 PM

Oh YEAH!!! You guys and your MARTIN guitars. I started on some yoke with two f holes. My nephew (2 yrs old) stood on it and broke its neck. Glue and screw and I was back in business. I still haven't got a Martin. PARTY ON !!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Scoville
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 08:48 PM

I started on my mom's little studio upright piano. I haven't actually played that in 16 years but still use it to pick out tunes once in awhile.

I learned guitar on my mother's Guild F-30. My own guitar is an Alvarez Regent 5212, purchased at a pawnshop, which actually isn't bad for a cheap-o. Nothing to write home about but it stays in tune and has a balanced sound.

My first dulcimer was hand-built by a friend from dulcimer club. Unfortunately, he made it as an extra-inexpensive custom order for someone else and it has a cheap walnut fretboard that is now, after 12 years of heavy use, wearing out and can't be resurfaced (long story). My second dulcimer is almost identical but has a better fretboard and tuners, and fancier wood. The man who built them has since passed away (the second dulcimer was one of his last).

The fiddle was a freebie. Sort of. My mother's uncle bought an "empty" fiddle case, rusted shut, for 35 cents at a church rummage sale about 30 years ago. I don't know why he bought it--all the leather is gone off of the outside and it looks pretty gross. He took it home, popped the latch open, and found a fiddle inside. Somebody looked at it for me and guessed it was a high-end mail-order catalog instrument (Sears & Roebuck kind of thing) from between 1890-1930. Mom's uncle played it for awhile, then gave it to my mother, and now I have it. I've put $34 worth of work into (nothing serious, just age-related issues such as glue drying out) it so I think that, even for a cheap fiddle, I'm still ahead.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,SunnySister
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 09:17 PM

My first guitar... ever was a Martin V28 Herringbone. I bought it used and yet it still cost more than the car that I still am driving. I can't believe I did that!

My second guitar was a Lavivee parlor guitar. Very simple and light. I practice on that most of the time as the Martin feels too precious.

My hope is that I can learn to be a good enough player to be worthy enough to play my Martin... crazy? You're telling me! :)

--SunnySister, who is still learning guitar so that I can accompany myself... someday...

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 09:50 PM

I played conga drum as a kid and rock drums through the 60's and got a John Grey banjo in London in 1970 .. Loved it .. after playing out for some years on banjo I got a 1932-1934 deolian National steel as my first guitar . Blues slide guitar comes easily after G tuning bajnjo . All the best , Guy .

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Once Famous
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 10:10 PM

First guitar was a Kay with a big body like a Gibson J200 and a neck like a Louisville Slugger. bought new in 1962. Still lives in some incarnation with my brother.

First good guitar was a 1962 Gibson LG-3 bought in April, 1963 with Bar Mitzvah money for $120. Still have it and was my only real guitar for the next 35 years.

Main guitar is a 1971 Martin D-18. Back up is a 1969 Gibson J45. Also have a 1963 Harmony Sovereign

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 11:38 PM

First guitar was a small-body EKO which my sister nagged my parents to get her for Christmas 1963. When she realized she was going to get calluses she gave it up and I got it. Second instrument was an old bowl-backed Italian mandolin.
Third, and first professional guitar was a Hagstrom dreadnought, followed by a Yamaha FG-180, followed by a Martin D-28 with a big chunky neck which I didn't like because of my small hands, followed by a Guild D-45; then came a Gibson F-2 mandolin, a paramount tenor banjo; an Adamas (one of the very first models which I still have); a Gibson A-2 Snakehead mandolin circa 1927; A Weymann tenor banjo; followed by 5 Takamines and a Shiro Japanese copy of a Gibson F-5.
Shit - I've purchased a music store!

Seamus

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: CarolC
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 12:26 AM

First instrument I played was the family Wurlitzer piano. The first instrument I ever owned was a Kung rosewood soprano baroque recorder. The second was a Kung ebony sopranino baroque recorder. They were really nice recorders.

The first of the kind of instrument that has become "my instrument" was a 42 (?) bass Hohner piano accordion. It was a start, anyway.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: mooman
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 07:05 AM

Guitars: Dallas > Eko Ranger > Framus Nashville + Hofner Senator > Guild D25 > Manson Kingfisher > "Japanese" (1983) Lowden > Lakewood Custom M18 + Regal RC 1 + Korean luthier-made jazz archtop ( current guitars - the last one is the one I use the most)

Mandolins: My father's Portuguese mandolin + banjo mandolin > Martin A-style > Chris Eccleshall A5 > Gideon Weigert mandolin + Gideon Weigert tenor mandola (current instruments)

Other mandolin family: John Roberts bouzouki > John Le Voi OM > Paul Hathway OM > Terry Dochert OM (current instrument)

Banjos: Kay 4-string G banjo > John Grey Tenor > Vega N-style tenor > Abbott tenor > Lyon & Healy tenor > Deering Goodtime tenor (current instrument)

Percussion: Assorted bodhrans > full Meinl latin percussion set + cheap but good 14" Malachy Kearns bodhran + numerous ethnic drums (current instruments)

Woodwind + lung driven: Overton G whistle > Chieftain D whistle + Riccardo Von Vitorelli boxwood D flute (current instruments>

Many other interestings and exotics passed through my hands when I owned an acoustic musical instrument shop some time back but the above are what I actually owned myself or that I now have. I'm down from a high of about 38 intruments in the house to the above current ones and my GAS/MAS/IAS has finally been cured!

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: mandotim
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 07:37 AM

Oh boy, here we go; *means I still have them
Guitars;
B&M 'Classico', >Egmond Jumbo with an action you could drive a bus under,>Eko Ranger 6 (still have this, damaged)*, >Yamaha FG something or other,>Takamine EN20* >Seagull 12 string* >Crafter S7>Fender USA Strat>Martin D35>Hohner resonator* >Rob Armstrong 6/12 string doubleneck acoustic*>Aria pro2 electric, with coil taps and such*>Warwick bass>Martin travel guitar (POS!)*>Triumph archtop (repair project)*>Rainsong WS1000 carbon fibre acoustic*.
Mandolins etc;
Aria imported POS with pickup (out on loan), Ozark F5 copy (a really good one)*> Stuart Wailing brass-bodied resonator*>David Freshwater strange-bodied thing, only 6 made*>Rigel A+ deluxe Custom*>one of my home made spruce/wild cherry mandolins, having sold the last 8 of them*>Musikalia Octave Mandolin*>Rob Armstrong Mandocello*
Banjos
Ozark POS (on loan)>English no-name zither banjo, 1928 John Grey banjo-uke, 1940's no-name tenor banjo (repair project)*>Gold Tone OB250G Plus, with Keith Tuners*>Gold Tone IT250F short scale Irish tenor
Others; pianos, keyboards, flutes, saxophones, clarinets, whistles, harmonicas, bodhran, couple of fiddles, accordians etc. etc.
Total in the house is around 130. I should add that my spouse and two daughters play more instruments than I do.

That felt cathartic!
Tim from Bit on the Side

Glossary: POS = Piece of something not very nice.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: muppitz
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 08:21 AM

My first ever intstrument was a penny whistle that I bought myself aged 7 or 8 at Stainsby Folk fest, it cost me half my week's pocket money and I still have it somewhere!
After that was a classical guitar which my step-dad forgot to take with him that I used to learn on.
Then I was given a Yamaha for my 17th (I think) birthday, I still have that along with a Tanglewood and I'm now in the process of aquiring a Vintage.
Have a range of Whistles, can't play very well but I show willing, and one bodrhan.

(Tim I think you have an addiction, you should really see someone about that!)

muppitz x

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 08:21 AM

My first instrument was a snare drum. My music teacher in elementary school felt I was tone deaf. Some wmight say he had a good ear. My sister got to play the accordion. However, she lost interest. My older brother talked my parents into letting him trade the accordion in for a Gibson Les Paul electric. That was the first guitar I picked up.

The first guitar I owned came as a Christmas present. It was a Gibson classical guitar. My first wife may still have this one. It was great to learn on. However, I longed for a steel string guitar. I was lucky to find a Martin D-28 in a pawn shop and plopped down $185 for it (circa 1965). I have been a proud owner for lo these many years. It's been better to me than I have been to it.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 08:43 AM

In chronological order: Arnold Hoyer arch-top, Levin Goliath, Hagstrom, Gibson J-45, Martin D-28,Takamine Santa Fe, Martin D-18,Santa Cruz 12-string, Martin 0000-28H.
Still got the Martins and the Takamine.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: mandotim
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 09:11 AM

Muppitz, I did see someone about my addiction not long ago. Bastard sold me two mandolins and a banjo...
Tim from Bit on the Side

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 09:28 AM

1963/4 recorder

xmas 1974 shaftsbury steel string jumbo acoustic guitar [made in Italy]
out of my mums [marshall ward ???] winter home shopping catalogue

1975 added a schaller pickup to it, and a 100 watt HH 2x12 combo amp

1976 black Shergold Masquerader English hand crafted electric guitar..



2006.. 50 or 60 or so well chosen cheap good quality english and far eastern manufactured guitars..
and numerous various string folk instruments


.. and plenty more bargains still to find off ebay and in provincial junkshops

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 09:31 AM

My first instrument was The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, but I traded it in for a proper flamenco guitar.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 09:57 AM

My first guitar was a Harmony Soveriegn which I bought from the Sears catalog. Sometime in the late 60's I was climbing Mt Lemon near Tucson with the Harmony on my back (no case) and crushed it on a granite boulder. Then I got an Ovation Troubadour with the round fiberglass back and played it for a long while. I bought a Martin J-40 in the early 90's and a second Martin two years ago. (I don't take the Martins rock climbing).

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Mooh
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 10:04 AM

Voice, trained in church music. Piano, gave up lessons for road hockey to my everlasting regret. Continue to use both regularly.

First guitar was my sister's Suzuki piece of crapola. Second was a Kent electric piece of crapola. Third was a decent Giannini from Brazil which I loved. Fourth was a Yamaha electric piece of crapola. After that it's a blur of Fender Teles, Strats, basses, Taks, Washburns, second hand 335...literally dozens of axes. Settled down now to Beneteau acoustics, House acoustics, Godin acoustics, Moon mandolin, a variety of basses (OLP, Godin, homemade, upright), one Tele, Godin electric, and misc other instruments like ukes, piano, hand drums etc.

What I want is a longer list...more mandolins, more electrics, second 12 string, resonator, amps...

So many guitars, so little time.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 10:50 AM

First guitar cost my sainted Mother about $20.00. The action was so high that it hurt my hands to play it. I was about 13 years old. My instructor had a beautiful Country Gentleman that he let me play while I was with him. I knew I would never have one of those, so I quit playing for 3 years.

LESSON: Parents, buy a decent guitar if you want the kids to learn. They hold their value well enough that you can sell it later and recoup most of your investment if you take care of it and the child doesn't like it.

My first real guitar was an Epiphone FT-79. I believe they called it The Texan. It was cherry red with a sunburst finish. I loved that guitar, but had to pawn it to eat. I would love to have another of these just for posterity sake.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GLoux
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 12:50 PM

My first guitar was a Harmony mahogany guitar. It was my 12th birthday present from my parents. In college I upgraded it to a Yamaha FG-180. After college, I upgraded that to a Martin D-28.

-Greg

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 04:15 PM

Geez, a lot of Yamah FG-180s on this thread.
I really liked that guitar too.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Beer
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 04:31 PM

Seamus,
This is weird. I just finished counting and was going to comment on this fact. The "buzz" word if I recall back in the 60's was "Made in Japan". Wonder if this was because they were just hitting the North American market and they had a good sound at very reasonable prices? Now of course it is "Made in China" and I've seen a number of their guitars hitting the market. Don't know about sound though.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,Anonny Mouse
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 05:18 PM

Beer--Blueridge (Saga corp) has made a big splash with its laminated AND solid wood guitars getting some great feedback from diehard U.S. guitar buyers who vowed theyd never own an Asian import. Johnson guitars is also some Chinese brand too I think and they have a new line out that supposedly beats Blueridge for sound and quality. I think Guild, which is Fender now, has a Chinese imported line and Breedlove has a Korean import line. Anyway the Blueridges supposedly are pretty popular and good quality and sound great according to independent reviewers.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Beer
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 05:31 PM

Thanks for the information.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Genie
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 06:06 PM

My first (and still favorite) guitar was/is a 1955 Martin 00018.   
A guy I was casually dating at the time (1960) was in a rock band and had just bought two guitars that were more suited to that kind of music.   I was eager to try folk music so I asked him if I could buy his "old guitar."   He said, "No, but you can have it." So he gave it to me, including an oversized wooden case.

The narrow neck and easy action made it an ideal guitar for me, but I had no idea what a great guitar I'd been given -- until people I met when playing it kept saying, "You have a MARTIN!!!???" and offering to buy it from me (usually for about $500.)

That guitar, along with the nickname he casually tossed at "her" when he have "her" to me, is still my treasure. She's pretty beat-up looking, having been my only guitar for decades and going to parties, the beach, picnics, etc., as well as travelling cross-country, but sounds better than ever.

I wished I aged as well as old Martins do. LOL

Genie

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: number 6
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 08:18 PM

Anononny and Beer ...I'm one of those that vowed I would never own an Asian import let alone a laminate ... guess what .. relunctantly I tried a Blueridge BR60 out last February ... it blew me away completely, I bought it .. I can acutually say I use this axe more than my Taylor ... incredible guitars, great price too bad they're Chinese. Overall I recomment them to anyone who wants a top of the line sounding guitar at a resonable (very resonable) price.

BTW .. the BR60 is rosewood lam, spruce sold top. It it clean in it's construction ... time can only tell how it will last ... but I'm confident.

sIx

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Peace
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 08:22 PM

"Ovation Troubadour with the round fiberglass back"

I had one of them for a very short time but could never get used to the rounded back. Kept 'slip slidin' away from me.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Beer
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 08:23 PM

When I pick up my Yamaha on Saturday I'm going to check them out.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: number 6
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 08:33 PM

Peace ... a lot of people knock the Ovations .. the only players I have seen playing them are female ... one fantastic female guitar player in town here plays an Ovation

sIx

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Peace
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 08:34 PM

I thought the sound was fine--action, etc--but I just could not get used to the rounded back.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: number 6
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 08:39 PM

Actually I agree with you ... they sound good, action etc. .. but it's that rounded back.

sIx

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,Anonny Mouse
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 08:39 PM

Beer-give us a report whacha think. Somebody on the Martin forum supposedly traded a D28 straight up for a Blueridge that had solid rosewood back and sides-not sure of the number 100 series which are the solid rosewoods or mahognanys. The Lams are the 2 digit #'ed ones. See if they carry any Johnson "Carolina" series too--theyre the new ones sposed to be even better than the Blueridges.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: number 6
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 08:49 PM

The solid body ones are the 100 series, lams are the 2 digit series. The BR160 is the solid rosewood ... selling for under $1k cdn ... that is pretty good ... sound wise they are pretty good as I stated ... now as good as a Martin D28 ... it's getting a lot of the Martin guys upset.
The way I look at it ... a Martin is still a Martin, and the BR is an affordable clone.

sIx

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: number 6
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 08:52 PM

I should add ... one common complaint about the BR's is the thin neck .. this I don't mind at all, in fact it reminds me of my old Gibson 335.

sIx

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,Anonny Mouse
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 09:36 PM

6--oh the Martin guys were INCENSED...I wish I still had the link some guy pasted in from the thread the traitor-trader started and why he posted it to the Martin guitar forum is nutso. It was awhile ago maybe 6 or 8 months. Maybe if you go to the Martin forum and search it will come up----they just wailed on the dude but he stuck to his guns. Im with you tho-no Chinese git is gonna equal a Martin but this one he got he was really sold on and said it was louder and did better bluegrass leads etc. blah blah. You think things get hot here it was like a flame-o-rama there. And yep>>>it was a 160. thanks-must be 140 is mahogany. Like half the price of the D. Unreal. Maybe MG is a member there and knows about this and could find the link-its almost as good as reading Esteban reviews on Harmony Central but not quite as funny. LOL!!!!

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: number 6
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 12:11 AM

I've never visited the Martin Forum, Anonny .... but do visit the Taylor Forum .. I've heard there how the Martin Forum is very sensitive to any blasphemy directed at Martins. Silly, but good for a laugh. Estebhan, ever got to his webside ... I suggest you do when every your feeling a bit down. It'll revive your sense of humour in no time.

sIx

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 12:13 AM

Beer, I think you hit the nail on the head. The FG-180 was inexpensive and sounded fine.
In fact, like the Taks I currently own, you could get some really GREAT sounding FG-180's if tried enough of them out.
And this was in the days before built-in electronics made them all sound good - on stage.
No question - Martins, Gibsons, Guilds, Taylors, etc. are great guitars, but not everybody can afford one.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 12:14 AM

Peace, I've owned a couple of Ovations as well, and I think I share your problem.
When two convex surfaces meet.......

Seamus

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Duke
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 10:57 AM

My first real guitar was a Goya G-10 Classical. I had it for many years before I went to steel strings. A friend talk me into selling it to her and the first night she had it, a drunk stepped on it and as she did not know any better, she tossed it in the garbage. It broke my heart!

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 11:19 AM

I just bought a Blueridge BR-43 for my son Geof as a first guitar. I played it at an open mic and was very pleased by it. The sound guy said it miked very easily and had so balanced a tone he had little to do.
Based on this and what I hear from others I may be buying Rosewood model in the near.

I agree with Number Six, it is a shame they are Chinese.

Don

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Beer
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 09:18 AM

Well I was informed last night that my Yamaha will not be ready for today as the set of tuning keys were all left dided. Three were supose to be right. Has to make a new order from Toronto. Damn it.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Garry Gillard
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 10:09 AM

Dim memories of a ukulele and an autoharp both of which I thought were toys. Then the 4-string banjo on which my father courted my mother. But then I started piano lessons aged 5. The only guitar I ever owned, since 1968 and still have, is a Levin LG-20.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Beer
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 03:50 PM

Was at the music store today and my parts for the Yamaha180 still hasen't arrived. I asked the owner if he had any Blueridge guitars in shop. He had one which he said was the bottom of the line. A BR40. Laminated(3Layers)mahogany back from I think he said Honduras. Solid top made of B.C. spruce.
I couldn't beleive the sound. I've got to save my money and get one. Here in Quebec or that is at the store I was it, it sells for $600.
And this was the bottom of the line.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,Anonny Mouse
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 04:15 PM

As mentioned "Johnson" guitars seem to be the new "Blueridges". Big quality construction, woods, etc. Seem to be creating quite a stir. Don't know if you get them across the Pond-but they may be worth looking at (the Carolina series). Don't like Laminated guitars-have yet to find one I thought was really good. Thats me.

See where Blueridge isn't offering the under 2k Brazilian one anymore. Guess like Martin, they ran out of Braz. Mostly stumpwood or slab as I could detemine-although they looked purty!

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: number 6
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 04:32 PM

Anonny .... I'm pretty sure those Johnson Carolinas are made in the same mysterious factory somewhere in the vast industrial lands of China. They look almost identical.

Those Blueridge Braz models sound good too ... but who in their right mind would pay over $2K U.S. for a Chinese guitar. Might as well spend your money on an East indian Rosewood D-28 or whatever.

sIx

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: number 6
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 04:49 PM

Beer ... I bought a BR60 a year ago last February ... it's a Rosewood laminate, solid sitkas spruce top. I'm very, very pleased with it. Setup was perfect, clean construction, intonation is remarkable.

sIx

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Beer
Date: 25 Jan 06 - 05:50 PM

Six,
The owner of this small music store is a fabulous player. He told me that many guitars have passed through his shop and this is one of the finest instruments he has been exposed to.
beer

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 26 Jan 06 - 12:02 PM

Fascinating thread. However, can future contributors kindly include their addresses along with a list of times that they are likely to be out?

Thank you.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,AR
Date: 26 Jan 06 - 03:08 PM

My favourite instrument is a guitar, a Yairi YW130 model which my pop bought in Cologne, Germany in that year. Sweet low action, holds bizarre tunings very well, good tone, best described as crisp, not too boomy. Anyone else had any experience with Yairi guitars of this kind of vintage? I've never seen one like it...

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 26 Jan 06 - 06:27 PM

My first guitar, circa 1960, was a Goya Goliath, made in Gothenburg Sweden. It was a maple backed dreadnought shaped sunburst guitar and it cost me $75, second hand at Pilgrim's Music in Hamilton Ontario. I sold it, not realizing that guitars could be fixed, when the action started to get high. I always regreted losing this guitar and about 4 years ago I found another 1958 Goya Goliath at Encore Music in Toronto. It cost me $300 more than the first one, and it needed a neck set which cost $200, since it has a bolt on neck, but now it's a great little guitar.
My favourite guitar is a 1962 D-21 that I bought at Ed's Music Workshop in Peterborough about 27 years ago.
My wife says,"The concept of ENOUGH instruments hasn't gotten through to Jim yet." My friend Dennis O'Toole says,"There's no such thing as ENOUGH instruments."

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,john
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 07:11 PM

my first gat was a shergold masquerador , bought in sussex 1977, i miss it, john

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Jack Campin
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 07:49 PM

As a kid at primary school I tried to learn the recorder using and early 50s German one my father had found on a park bench.

I didn't find until years after giving up in frustration that it (a) had German fingering and (b) was a semitone flat. I think I disposed of it like nuclear waste so nobody else could suffer from it.

The first usable instrument I had was the flute I got when I was 15. A rather quiet French-made Selmer solid silver Boehm flute with an open G sharp.

Part of the reason for going for the flute was that, having a cleft lip and palate, it was a challenge to get any sort of embouchure to work with the scars. Sorted that pretty fast, but it took me many years to work out how to seal my palatal fistula enough for sustained clarinet playing. I now play clarinets about as much as flutes.

I have a ridiculous number of instruments of ridiculous organological diversity. About the only family of instruments I don't own one of is brass. (Was given a guitar once. Hated it).

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 09:28 PM

I first learned a few chords on a friends archtop Silvertone. I bought a no name at an auction that had an action from Hell and near gave up in frustration. I then bought a special from Sears, a D-28 clone that had weak sound but good action and was a good learner. I used that for a few years until I replaced it with a much better Yamaha.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Callitfolk
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 11:12 PM

My mom brought me to her cousin's music store in Philadelphia, to buy a saxaphone, since I took a few lessons on a borrowed sax at the local Boys Club. Walked in the door of the store, saw a new Japanese version of a Gibson hollow-body electric, and I convinced my mother to buy it for $100. Never held a guitar in my hand, until that day. 40 years and at least a hundred high-end guitars (and a few recordings) later, still playing. I'm currently down to two custom Martins (OM and 00). If you like instrumental acoustic, you can download my latest CD of originals for free at Bandcamp:

John O'Hara - Fingerstyle Guitar CD

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: beeliner
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 12:45 AM

Began with a Suzuki uke, then a Sears (Silvertone) guitar, butt-ugly but sounded OK. Was in a music store and saw a Regal, asked to play it, the action was so great compared to mine that it almost seemed to play itself. I think it cost $85, brand new. That was about 1964 or 5. It mysteriously disappeared from a storage locker at a much later date.

Became enamoured of 12-strings due to live performances by Bob Gibson and recordings by Fred Gerlach, bought the only one I could afford at the time, a Stella. Later sold it.

Ordered a Schmidt autoharp from the Sears catalog, it cost $35 with the hard case in the mid 1960's. Later sold it.

Bought a really nice Casiotone keyboard for the family in the 1980's, which is still in great shape, within reach as I type this.

Recently returned from nearly 10 years in Germany, I've bought a few autoharps on eBay, fixed up and resold a couple of them, am currently searching the pawn shops for a replacement for the Regal of my youth.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Tootler
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 04:55 PM

My first instruments were a Schott descant recorder and a Hohner harmonica of some sort. I don't know which model Hohner but it was a 10 hole diatonic.

I learnt to play from notation on the recorder and by ear on the harmonica.

I picked up the recorder again when my elder daughter started to learn it at school and I am still playing this wonderful but much maligned instrument.

I rediscovered the harmonica more recently and although I have tried chromatic and tremolo harmonicas I kept going back to the 10 hole diatonic. Many of my harmonicas are in Paddy Richter tuning which makes playing folk tunes very much easier.

My latest acquisition is a shruti box which is great for providing a drone accompaniment either for singing or for playing harmonica over.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: PoppaGator
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 03:42 PM

My first guitar was a no-name nylon-string classical type model. Got it for Christmas 1963 (junior year of high school) and learned to play using it. (I had no prior experience at all).

That one served me OK for six years, until I moved up to a new 1969 Martin D-18 upon college graduation. It took me a while to adjust to the steel strings, and to using picks. I tried both flatpicks and fingerpicks for a while, but as I began to spend long hours every day as a full-time street player, I quit flatpicking altogether (my technique must have been faulty; I always got cramps in the base of my thumb) and found a way to alternately strum and pick with thumb-and-fingerpicks. I still have that guitar today, and it's still my only intrument.

That's it ~ two guitars in 47 years. I owned a 5-string banjo briefly in about '64-'65 before giving up and selling it, and later I carried a couple of harmonicas around throughout the early 70s without ever learning to play harp as well as I would have liked. I basically just used 'em as pitchpipes, and lent 'em out to real harp players on occasion.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: banjoman
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 06:41 AM

Bought a no name guitar for £2 in a pawn shop in Liverpool in 1961 with my first weeks wages (£2.10) Learned to play, mainly self taught which probably explains the "unique" style which I still use. Then bought a five string banjo for 10shillings in Shurrocks Music Store in Breck Road Liverpool (Sadly now gone but were famous for selling Ted Ray his first violin) and never looked back. Now have about 10 guitars & 20 banjos, including the ones I made. What a life

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Anne Lister
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 06:49 AM

Christmas 1963 ....my parents got together with the parents of my best friend and bought us each a guitar, convinced it would be a 9 days' wonder. Cost about £5.00 per guitar. They were plywood, made in Russia, and 3/4 size, with necks that weren't firmly attached. And we each had a copy of Bert Weedon's "Play in a Day", so we spent the Christmas holidays attempting to master the first few pages.
A few years later I saved up my pocket money and bought a Spanish guitar in Spain ... can't remember how much it was, but it couldn't have been much more than £15, and it had a remarkably good tone all things considered.   My next guitar was bought with money I won by writing a short article for a teen magazine and that was a better Spanish built guitar which lasted me all the way until I was able to get a custom made guitar from Ralph Bown in York in 1986.

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: MikeL2
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 10:33 AM

hi

I started by trying to learn to play the piano. My parents both played and my sister ( two years older ) and I were "encouraged to play.

My sister was very good ( but she excels at most things ) while I struggled to find the enthusiasm.

At about the age of eleven I saw a guitar hanging in a swap shop we had in our town. Not quite a pawn shop cos money never changed hands. You just found something you wanted to swap and bartered. I offered my sister lol...but did a deal with a pair of ice skates that were too small for her.

The guitar was a steel stringed Italian job....don't remember name. The action was so high that you could chip potatoes. I took to this quite well and domestic harmony ( duh) was restored....not really!!
But my fingers were perpetually sore and I asked my dad to buy me a "proper" guitar.

Dad got me a Hofner Senator from somewhere - didn't dare ask !!

After some years I was able to treat myself so I got a Hofner President. I got this cos at the time I was playing a lot of jazz.

Many years later I "refound" folk music and went acoustic with a Martin D28. This was great for what I wanted and I had it for several years until coming home from a gig I was involved in a car accident. Luckily I was OK but my Martin "died".

I needed to buy something quickly and bought a Yamaha FG-360 which I still have to this day. I also still have my Hofner President but the Senator was sacrificed for a three piece suite to keep my woman happy. I'm that sort of guy....lol

After a long illness I have started to play ( for my own pleasure ) my Yamaha. I give my President an occasional outing when I feel like getting the amps etc out.

My parents are sadly gone but my sister still plays the piano - mainly classical but we do busk together at family occasions.

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: MikeL2
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 10:40 AM

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: Anne Lister - PM
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 06:49 AM

< " And we each had a copy of Bert Weedon's "Play in a Day", so we spent the Christmas holidays attempting to master the first few pages." >

Hi Anne

When I swapped my sister's skates for an old Italian guitar the shopkeeper threw in an old ragged copy of Bert Weedon's Play in a day.

Bobby Shafto's gone to sea
Silver buckles on his knee.......etc etc

Ah nostagia's not what it used to be...lol

regards

MikeL2

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: GUEST,Guest - Jim Younger
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 11:47 AM

That Russian guitar of Anne's sounds very much like my first guitar too. They sent a blue plastic plectrum with mine.

First instrument though was the dreaded piano accordion that my dear old mum decided I should learn to play. I had lessons on that, and learned to read music - the first tune I remember picking up by ear was the Robin Hood TV theme (the 1950s one ...).

Subject: RE: Your First Guitar/Instrument
From: RamblinStu
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 07:01 AM

My first guitar was an Eko six string, three quarter size I think, certainly not a dreadnought.

I was thirteen, and worked on Saturdays in a filling station and saved up for it.

When I got it I was a pleased as punch, my parents helped me tune it with their piano

It was quite soon afterwards when I realised that it shouldn't have been tuned to one octave.

Back to the shop, where they repaired it and told me the error of my ways. Then with a couple of guitar books, and a Bob Dylan LP, shut myself in my bedroom and practiced and practiced.

It paid off, I've had over forty years of pleasure playing guitar, and I'm still learning.

I've owned loads of guitars over the years, although as a result of playing in the sixties I can't remember what they all were, I've ended up now with a hand made Preacher guitar which I love, oh and a few others scattered round the house.

But that little Eko started it all

Stuart Pendrill