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What Have You Done 'Till Now?


Izzy

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Hi good people of Lounge Gibson.

 

I've been out of the loop a while, but think of posting here often (just lack the time).

I was just thinking about how much I learned from you all and how far I've come as a singer songwriter and musician since I joined The G Lounge.

 

I thought it would be fun for us all to look at that date then make a brief list of what we've gone through or done or whatever (musically or otherwise).

 

Here is my list. Please make a list of your own as well!!!

 

I joined October 2009 (6+ years) and so far:

 

I learned to play guitar from scratch.

I've managed to write and copyright over 60 songs.

I've put out 4 EPs and a single on bandcamp (latest single : Not Again

I've played a few shows of which the one I did in Marfa Texas is the highlight

I've gotten decent at home recording

I've recorded at a real studio :o

I've yet to learn to set up a guitar (Niel Sargent is just so good and reasonably priced!!)

I've learned to keep time to a metronome (thank you Milod)

I've discovered that Stratocasters are SO COOL!!!! and that many of you think so too :)

I've discovered that sometimes the MIM becomes more valuable to you than the USA just because it feels right

I've discovered that sometimes the knock offs of brand name guitars are really good and to trust my hands and ears

 

Thank you all who contributed to my growth and who have been inspiring and supportive and informational :)

 

YOUR TURN!

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Divided my time between guitars, motorcycles, stereos and reptiles with that horrible job thing getting in the way.

 

Bought and sold a Les Paul Special w/ P90s, an SG Classic w/ P90s

Bought back my old Lucille

Had to return a really nice Martin HD-28 which showed up with a cracked neck

Bought and kept a Martin HD-28V and a Gibson Firebird V

 

Thinking about a Firebird VII and an SG Standard

and

Thinking even harder about retirement coming up and forgetting that horrible job thing.

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Ohh man.. where do I even start...

 

Firstly.. I listened to most of your tracks... really good stuff as always and you are building quite the collection of work there [thumbup] (and glad to hear you still using echo/reverb ;))

 

As for whats happened since joining this forum... (and largely due to this forum (thanks again one and all a million times(ands that's still not enough)

 

Started with buying my second Gibson and coming on here to check it was real.

 

Started learning for the first time all the technical details about guitars.

 

Within a few years I had like 9 Gibsons.. which was silly...

 

Became unemployed again

 

Went down to my current 4 Gibsons and was still unemployed

 

Started building guitars to stop me going insane

 

Decided that im going to try and do this for a living (well nothing else was working out at the time)

 

Built like 12 guitars, started my business.

 

To be continued :)

 

Izzy, I know you were around when I started all of this so you may enjoy these fairly recent threads ;)

http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/135826-my-guitar-show-report/

http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/135389-my-first-carved-top/

http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/135947-guitar-nerds-rabswood-interview/

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Nothing like you guys. I joined Feb. 15- 2015 so two years now. I just play at home for my own enjoyment with no plans of ever getting in a band or on stage. I'd be scared to death to play in front of an audience. I've learned quite a bit about guitars I never knew. Got back into playing again at 60 when I retired from the railroad, 5-31-2013. Signed up for guitar lessons on the internet and learned about 40 songs since. Learned from folks here about string gauges and such, how to set up a guitar, amps and such. I've added 3 guitars since here with the help of good folks. I may get rid of one or two I had previously for two I really want, but that's down the line. Mainly I've made a lot of friends here and met great folks and to me that's better then what I've done.

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Hi good people of Lounge Gibson.

 

I've been out of the loop a while, but think of posting here often (just lack the time).

I was just thinking about how much I learned from you all and how far I've come as a singer songwriter and musician since I joined The G Lounge.

 

I thought it would be fun for us all to look at that date then make a brief list of what we've gone through or done or whatever (musically or otherwise).

 

Here is my list. Please make a list of your own as well!!!

 

I joined October 2009 (6+ years) and so far:

 

I learned to play guitar from scratch.

I've managed to write and copyright over 60 songs.

I've put out 4 EPs and a single on bandcamp (latest single : Not Again

I've played a few shows of which the one I did in Marfa Texas is the highlight

I've gotten decent at home recording

I've recorded at a real studio :o

I've yet to learn to set up a guitar (Niel Sargent is just so good and reasonably priced!!)

I've learned to keep time to a metronome (thank you Milod)

I've discovered that Stratocasters are SO COOL!!!! and that many of you think so too :)

I've discovered that sometimes the MIM becomes more valuable to you than the USA just because it feels right

I've discovered that sometimes the knock offs of brand name guitars are really good and to trust my hands and ears

 

Thank you all who contributed to my growth and who have been inspiring and supportive and informational :)

 

YOUR TURN!

 

 

That is pretty impressive...congrats..Now I need to listen to your release.

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Ohh man.. where do I even start...

 

Firstly.. I listened to most of your tracks... really good stuff as always and you are building quite the collection of work there [thumbup] (and glad to hear you still using echo/reverb ;))

 

 

Started building guitars to stop me going insane

 

Decided that im going to try and do this for a living (well nothing else was working out at the time)

 

Built like 12 guitars, started my business.

 

To be continued :)

 

Izzy, I know you were around when I started all of this so you may enjoy these fairly recent threads ;)

 

 

Yes, it was you who suggested me using a bit of reverb on my vocals, lol, now I remember. I try not to overdo it [blush]

 

As for your trajectory building guitars: WOW!!!! I was not expecting that at all. I mean, you've made that many and have an official line and everything!

I am so stoked for you and I can't believe you've gotten this far from that one time I saw you post a thread about how you were gonna try and build a guitar and then we saw the wood cut out and the process of ... well, the whole thread of your progress with your first ... I remember that thread and thought you were doing it for fun and knew you'd finish it but I never thought yo'd get this serious with making guitars. I mean, this is on a pro level! My respects, man, that is unbelievably cool!!!

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That was good. I'd happily listen to that.

My past year has been dreadful.Just been diagnosed with cataracts. But they say every cloud has a silver lining. The doc tells me that after he does it my eyes will be 20/20 and I've had terrible vision all my life. My health has got worse, but I've bought a couple of wonderful Hamers. So that helps. My brother bought me a classic car thumbnail_IMG_20161004_094358-2_zpsjs6rt9wu.jpg, which is nice. So with all the downs, there have been some ups.

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Ciao bella!

 

Well, it appears I've been here right on 4 years. Came here originally having just joined a band with a bunch of other mid-aged guys who, like me, mainly had little or no experience in playing music, let alone performing, but plenty of enthusiasm (and beer). I'd bought an old Epiphone electric guitar which was a nice light weight to play rhythm in the band and wanted to find out a bit about it from people in the Epi section.

 

After that we started playing covers gigs at pubs and clubs, played on trucks and at a festival, acquired the necessary gear and had a lot of fun for a couple of years. I wrote my first few songs and the band performed them which was very satisfying. I left on good terms when I felt the time was right and then a very long term friend had got himself some drums and started to learn them, so we started a band doing all original songs written by me and are about ready to start playing gigs. That has also has been a lot of fun. I'll probably give playing music away later in the year and do some other things, but it's been a really cool experience which I never thought I'd have.

 

I've learned so much on this site that has helped me and entertained me, and still try to listen to the music of those who contribute on these boards fairly regularly - including yours, which I particularly admire. cheers!

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.

Good to see you post again Izzy - I like your thread idea.

 

My learning, gigging days go back to the 60's. When I joined here I had been out of gigging for a while, but was still helping out old buddies with an occasional fill-in at the few still surviving live venues. Now I'm not doing that ... just playing for family/friends and neighbors with-in earshot of my porch and patio - oh, and my rig when I crank it up. B) . . I've also been watching the listings looking for deals on guitars and building up my little stable. I really enjoy the forum here. I'm mostly in the Lounge and Acoustic sub-forum.

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I joined here after buying a Gibson ES-339 acouple of years back. Never had a Gibson before (I used to find the shorter scale awkward).

 

Joined a 2nd Band (my regular band Blown-Out only ever gigs a few times a year). This was a jazz based band. I was the only one of them NOT to sight read music. It was a massive challenge to me. It was a ton of work getting to grips with learning a whole bunch of unfamiliar chords, and soloing over those chords meant changing scale at almost every chord (no modal stuff at all). I never got great at that part but found that I could 'play the changes by ear' 90% of the time, and doing that felt great [thumbup] .

 

The band (Vinyl Frontiers) began to favour more pop tunes rather than jazz (just to get gigs), and while this was easier, I didnt really want to play that music, so I quit near the end of last year.

 

Got some more guitars. Another Gibson (LP), a Squier (Esprit), a Variax (Std), a Rickenbacker (650) and a Fingerbone (Strat).

I got rid some guitars. My Epiphone Casino Coupe, Washburn G5-V and a Jackson Elite.

 

This year, my Boss BR1600 multi-track SIAB hard drive failed and I lost a ton of in-work tunes. I found another on ebay and re-recorded this last week. Proof for Orphans (no guitar until 2 minutes in)

 

I've now replaced the HD in the old BR1600 and will start using it again soon for a fingerstyle acoustic tune.

 

I am still amazed at the depth of knowledge many people have here!

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I can't say I've done anything very much in the time I have been on here. I have "regained" my beloved ES345 which I sold long ago but this time instead of a 1964 I got a 1959 reissue which I prefer given its thicker neck.

 

I moved house nearly a year ago and have only today (11 months later) started to unpack my music gear as we had to do so much work to do to the house to make it liveable for us. But at long last I can start setting up my music studio.

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Yikes! If 9 is silly, I'm currently up to 20 Gibsons, 13 Epiphones and 10 by other makes.

Lol... well its cool if you use them and have a place to store them...

 

Im a home player, haven't gigged or been in a band for many years now.... And I hardly play much these days in general. Also I live in a small one bed flat, so I have no room.. When I had all those guitars half of them would just sit in the case in my bedroom. I hated having all these beautiful guitars just sitting there doing nothing. Seemed somehow wrong to me (plus at one point I really needed the money).

 

BUT if I had a house and a room for them or I was in a band id probably have more.. as it is theres not much point for me to have more than I do.

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Yes, it was you who suggested me using a bit of reverb on my vocals, lol, now I remember. I try not to overdo it [blush]

 

As for your trajectory building guitars: WOW!!!! I was not expecting that at all. I mean, you've made that many and have an official line and everything!

I am so stoked for you and I can't believe you've gotten this far from that one time I saw you post a thread about how you were gonna try and build a guitar and then we saw the wood cut out and the process of ... well, the whole thread of your progress with your first ... I remember that thread and thought you were doing it for fun and knew you'd finish it but I never thought yo'd get this serious with making guitars. I mean, this is on a pro level! My respects, man, that is unbelievably cool!!!

Thank you :D

 

Yes it must be quite something going from seeing me starting from building that guitar out of an old door to what I am doing at the moment... And well it kind of just happened. When I started all of this we were still deep in recession, there were no jobs.. I applied for over two years and at that point and didn't get a single interview and I was building just to keep my brain occupied. Then it seemed that in order for me to get work I was going to have to go learn something new, I was thinking plumbing or something reliable like that. Then it dawned on me that my guitars were turning out pretty good so I thought well why not try doing it for real...

 

So yeah.. while as far as my business is concerned its still early days ive come a long way.. and am going to keep at it as long as I can.. If I can get this to work I will be doing what I love for a living.. You don't get many shots at that sort of thing in life so im really going for it [thumbup]

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I joined early 2012 after finally buying a LP, which totally renewed and revitalized my playing.

Already in one band and occasional duo, was asked to join another band late '13 by a friend of over 40 yrs.

Hoped to start a Gibson guitar collection but was made redundant end of '14 at age 60 (I had managed to buy 2 more by that time).

Not working now, doing guitar playing for the rest of my life. Getting by, getting old and beginning to offload some possessions; not guitars but records.

Trying to keep fit.... if lucky have 1 or 2 gigs a month. Appreciate everything far more now than ever, and not finished yet.

 

Great to hear from you again Izzy!

Best wishes

JohnM

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Well...

 

For me, guitar-wise it's been a bit rough.

 

Almost exactly two years ago I had a stroke that kinda screwed up my left hand. Luckily not much more.

 

Typing speed down from gusts of 150 to, when I'm at it, around 5-60 wpm.

 

Guitar... well, still in cases mostly. Since my typing is part of making money, albeit down to theoretical half time (now about 35-40 hours for less paycheck, actually), I put emphasis on that.

 

I did give away four guitars to nice young ladies aged 20-50, that I knew would appreciate decent instruments.

 

So... when I finally get tired of the baloney surrounding my "job," I'll get back to pickin' more heavily. I can't tell you how much I miss picking up a guitar and messing with updating how I'd do piece "A" or "B" but then I'm not dead yet, either.

 

m

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LarryUK : Glad to hear you're getting the eyes taken care of. I've seen great success with those procedures so I'm not even worried. Awesome car, btw [thumbup]

 

'Scales : Isn't it wonderful hearing what was in your head out loud and then sharing it with people? Just crazy! So glad you've gotten to experience that and grow as a musician.

 

glp2012 : Maybe I have gotten better at recording and singing often has forced me to improve posture and breathing. No lessons, though. Very cool compliment, though [biggrin]

 

jdgm : You are having the best retirement ever. That is awesome.

 

merciful : That was a fun track you posted. Sucks about all the work that got lost, though. Even if you can re-record and better...it still sucks #-o

 

milod : I remember we were all worried that year. I am so relieved to see you still around. Thanks for being one of the most educated, insightful and supportive people on this forum. SO happy to see you [biggrin]

 

I am so glad I'm getting to catch up with you all. I know I can just go through the threads and look at what you all have been saying to see what you've been up to but...sometimes it helps to take stock for your own sake and also....you guys go on loads of tangents on them threads!!! [flapper]

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Hey!! Welcome back!

 

Let's see....

 

4/08/05 is when i joined- right after I found my LP.

 

I've changed jobs 4 times, this last one is my dream job.

 

I picked up a Mahogany Strat, an LTD F104 Bass, a Squier Tele, a Woodrow Titan's guitar, an YJM Marshall head and a 1960 A cabinet, a guitar research 60 watt amp.... and some other rando instruments.

 

I started medieval combat again, bought a couple of helms, some lamellar armor, chain mail, and made some leather armor, fought in Tourneys and wars.

 

Buried my Mom and Dad,

 

Saw my sons graduate HS, saw my youngest graduate from Vanderbilt, start Pharmacy school, and go through his white coat ceremony.

 

Gave my daughter away in marriage, watched both grand kids graduate HS and start college.

 

Bought a new truck, and my wife a new car.... and many diamonds and other sparkly things.

 

Became a professional Santa and got to be Santa for the Troops at Fort Campbell.

 

Played out again accompanying a young lady in a competition.

 

Looking back... it's all rather mundane... I need more crazy in my life LOL!!

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Lol... well its cool if you use them and have a place to store them...

 

Im a home player, haven't gigged or been in a band for many years now.... And I hardly play much these days in general. Also I live in a small one bed flat, so I have no room.. When I had all those guitars half of them would just sit in the case in my bedroom. I hated having all these beautiful guitars just sitting there doing nothing. Seemed somehow wrong to me (plus at one point I really needed the money).

 

BUT if I had a house and a room for them or I was in a band id probably have more.. as it is theres not much point for me to have more than I do.

 

That makes sense if you're not playing too much or in any bands. I only had 5 or 6 guitars for many years, but then in 2011 got a new job and got hooked on collecting. It really can be like an addiction...luckily it's not bad for your health like many addictions, so besides an impact on finances it's all good! Some of my guitars do get a bit neglected in terms of playing, but generally I use most of them quite regularly. I play in a couple of things - one duo and one band, so I do get to use them out and about too.

 

PS, Izzy, I like your song, sounds great - grungy influence [thumbup]

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I joined in 2008, since then I went back to work, can't say I learned anything about music other then to appreciate others ideas. Still can't get into rap ( to angry) metal (too much screaming) or opera.

I guess the lesson I learned is nobody cares what you think and nether should you! ;-) Don't take yourself too seriously, life is too short. Go fishing.

Izzy it's great to hear that you have enjoyed some success with your music, I always enjoyed what you shared with us.

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