Just Joined the Forum
Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 7:58 pm
Hi everyone. I've just joined the forum so I thought I should introduce myself.
I've recently turned 61 (a bit of a shock to have to start to say that I'm now in my early 60s as it sounds so much older than saying I'm 60) and have been playing guitar since my teens with that traditional long break so many players have when they have a growing family. All my playing has been in a strictly amateur sense.
I got quite serious about classical guitar for several years but overdid it - finger strain and a feeling of a lack of creativity then caused negative feeling s and a bit of a break in my guitar playing. The finger joint problems from then still remain with me but lower tension strings are now helping to make it bearable. As it happens the Newtone Heritage Strings that Gordon recommends - great sound and a boon to my aching joints.
After that break I took up electric blues - played with fingers (great suggestion by my wife) - and then branched off into modal playing and lots of improvisation to backing tracks. The creativity of improvisation probably has kept me (relatively) sane over recent years. Playing music when I get to take part in creating it is so much more fulfilling - for me at least, but maybe not any unfortunate listener.
About 2 1/2 years ago I finally saw sense and converted from electric to steel string acoustic guitar, and have been getting lots of help and encouragement from members of the UK Acoustic Soundboard forum. I now have built a collection of 5 steel string acoustics (plus a shared one with my better half) and the most recent is a Gordon Giltrap signature. More of that in a post I'll do later elsewhere on the forum, but I will say here it is very good indeed. I mainly play in altered and open tunings and the new guitar seems to love those too!
I had not realised about Gordons health issues until I researched getting the new guitar and I hope that all goes well for you Gordon. I understand that you're currently in hospital and I hope they are treating you well and that you are progressing well on the road to recovery.
I will try and post about the Signature guitar soon and I must explore the topics already on the forum - I am very, very busy at work at the moment so it may take a few days as I seem to have so little spare time. I look forward to finding out about you all and about your guitars.
Mark
I've recently turned 61 (a bit of a shock to have to start to say that I'm now in my early 60s as it sounds so much older than saying I'm 60) and have been playing guitar since my teens with that traditional long break so many players have when they have a growing family. All my playing has been in a strictly amateur sense.
I got quite serious about classical guitar for several years but overdid it - finger strain and a feeling of a lack of creativity then caused negative feeling s and a bit of a break in my guitar playing. The finger joint problems from then still remain with me but lower tension strings are now helping to make it bearable. As it happens the Newtone Heritage Strings that Gordon recommends - great sound and a boon to my aching joints.
After that break I took up electric blues - played with fingers (great suggestion by my wife) - and then branched off into modal playing and lots of improvisation to backing tracks. The creativity of improvisation probably has kept me (relatively) sane over recent years. Playing music when I get to take part in creating it is so much more fulfilling - for me at least, but maybe not any unfortunate listener.
About 2 1/2 years ago I finally saw sense and converted from electric to steel string acoustic guitar, and have been getting lots of help and encouragement from members of the UK Acoustic Soundboard forum. I now have built a collection of 5 steel string acoustics (plus a shared one with my better half) and the most recent is a Gordon Giltrap signature. More of that in a post I'll do later elsewhere on the forum, but I will say here it is very good indeed. I mainly play in altered and open tunings and the new guitar seems to love those too!
I had not realised about Gordons health issues until I researched getting the new guitar and I hope that all goes well for you Gordon. I understand that you're currently in hospital and I hope they are treating you well and that you are progressing well on the road to recovery.
I will try and post about the Signature guitar soon and I must explore the topics already on the forum - I am very, very busy at work at the moment so it may take a few days as I seem to have so little spare time. I look forward to finding out about you all and about your guitars.
Mark