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How old can a new guy be?


Dadgad1046

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65 is a perfect age to start at. Well not perfect but sometimes you have to go work with what you have. I seem to have 65 birthdays behind me. I took the plunge to take up Guitar last summer. I bought a broken down used Strat and took on fixing it. I didn't know ANYTHING about how electric Guitars work. Life experience helps on most everything. Wasn't long it was working again. A previous owner tried a upgrade with poor soldering skills. Shorted wires don't work well on anything. I then taught myself how to set it up. Thank goodness for You Tube! Then came the real challenge. 65 year old hands with arthritis. I had to be patient. Learning guitar isn't easy or fast for most people and hands that simply do not want to move are a issue. While I am no where as far along as I would like to be I have gotten my hands loosened up and my arthritis has improved from the effort. That is a win in my book. Still behind the learning curve but I can see it being more possible than I thought in the beginning. I am considering rewarding my efforts with a new Gibson. Maybe I don't need it or deserve it but that won't stop me from buying one. Looks like I picked a good time. Lot of dealers have some really good sales going on now. Makes sense. Right after NAMM and Christmas is probably a good time for dealers to move some inventory. Everybody is broke from Christmas and a lot of people want the new stuff just announced at NAMM.Perhaps the timing is right for some shopping.

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Sorry Dadgad, but a new guy cannot be over 64 years old - [flapper]

 

Just kidding of course - glad you made the commitment to start learning to play and to refurbishing the Strat as well.

 

You are correct that this is a great time to buy a Gibson. They have struggled the past few years, but are under new management and ownership now, and are going back to their roots in what they are building (especially in regard to the iconic Les Paul model). Prices have even come down on brand new guitars. I'd recommend Sweetwater.com as a place to view what's available. Then is you have big box stores near you like Guitar Center or Sam Ash you can go and try a few out in person.

 

Welcome to the forum and here's to many years of fun learning about guitars and to playing.

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A big welcome to the Gibson Forum Dadgag. msp_thumbup.gif Actually this is an older for the most part guitar forum so you will fit right in. There was a thread way back asking members how old they were and the most part were in their 50's, than 60's and the oldest in their 70's. Many have arthritis too and other problems so your not alone. I learned to play at 13 but gave it up at about 28 and when I retired from the Railroad I decided to pick it up again. I was shocked at all what I forgot so got back into it learning as fast as I could. I honestly think I'm way better than I ever was so practice like no other and have fun doing it is the best way. Cheers!rolleyes.gif

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Sorry Dadgad, but a new guy cannot be over 64 years old - [flapper]

 

Just kidding of course - glad you made the commitment to start learning to play and to refurbishing the Strat as well.

 

You are correct that this is a great time to buy a Gibson. They have struggled the past few years, but are under new management and ownership now, and are going back to their roots in what they are building (especially in regard to the iconic Les Paul model). Prices have even come down on brand new guitars. I'd recommend Sweetwater.com as a place to view what's available. Then is you have big box stores near you like Guitar Center or Sam Ash you can go and try a few out in person.

 

Welcome to the forum and here's to many years of fun learning about guitars and to playing.

Thanks!

I was concerned my hands wouldn't loosen up and allow me to learn. Seems I can work that out enough to be workable now. My Medical Doctor was thrilled I was up to the challenge.

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A big welcome to the Gibson Forum Dadgag. msp_thumbup.gif Actually this is an older for the most part guitar forum so you will fit right in. There was a thread way back asking members how old they were and the most part were in their 50's, than 60's and the oldest in their 70's. Many have arthritis too and other problems so your not alone. I learned to play at 13 but gave it up at about 28 and when I retired from the Railroad I decided to pick it up again. I was shocked at all what I forgot so got back into it learning as fast as I could. I honestly think I'm way better than I ever was so practice like no other and have fun doing it is the best way. Cheers!rolleyes.gif

Thanks Herman,

I grew up in the greatest era of Guitar Music but never saw myself as interested in learning. Back then it was Hot Rod cars and Motorcycles. Of course they were just props for the constant hope of meeting a hot girl. I didn't know at the time a Guitar could get you all of that!

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hey Dadgad (one of my favorite Alternate tunings by the way!)

 

great intro right there.

 

happy to hear you are coming along, as for arthritis, it's inevitable, and yes, a big win that it improves with movement.

 

I'm 3 years behind you (62) but been playing all my life... Lately I can feel a bit of stiffness and pain in my fretting hand index finger on some chord shapes. (on some days a full F chord just makes it go wild) I am almost certain it's the start of arthritis I'm using an aspirin cream and that helps. I plan to see an ortho about it soon.. comes and goes..

 

Welcome to the forum!

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Welcome, Dadgad1046,

 

I admire your attitude and your sense of humor, good sir.

 

You are in good company here on the Gibson boards.

 

I'm 59 staring down the barrel at 60 later this summer, and I'm still a fresh-faced kid on this forum.

 

Congrats on your new guitar endeavors, and we look forward to photos please sir.

(Guitar photos are like porn to the people around here. And if you have any guitar cases, rct would love to see those too.)

 

Again, welcome, and glad to have you aboard, mate.

 

:)

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Welcome aboard Dadgad. I too got what would be considered a late start. After a couple of very feeble attempts to learn guitar in my teens, I gave up. Then, after a health scare in my early 40s, I finally put forth a serious effort to learn guitar in 2003 (age 43) and bass in 2005. I have played in a few bands over the years, but play mostly for fun.

 

I have both Psoriatic and Osteorthritis. Fortunately, my hands and fingers are about the only joints that aren't affected (knocking on wood). I'm thinking my playing has helped stave off the effects.

 

Good luck on your journey.

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Welcome aboard Dadgad. I too got what would be considered a late start. After a couple of very feeble attempts to learn guitar in my teens, I gave up. Then, after a health scare in my early 40s, I finally put forth a serious effort to learn guitar in 2003 (age 43) and bass in 2005. I have played in a few bands over the years, but play mostly for fun.

 

I have both Psoriatic and Osteorthritis. Fortunately, my hands and fingers are about the only joints that aren't affected (knocking on wood). I'm thinking my playing has helped stave off the effects.

 

Good luck on your journey.

I don't know the medical term for it but my hands wanted to stick like a rusty hinge. I would get a pain stab trying to grip something and lose grip unexpected. My doctor advised I use one of the soft hand balls like office workers use. That made it worse. However I found some stretching exercises on Guitar videos that were more effective. That made a huge difference for me. At one point I thought my hands would be my biggest issue. Memory is more of a problem now. I have to work anything in Muscle memory and let my brain tag along. While its not easy or quick for me to learn it is the best thing I've found for reversing Arthritis effects.

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  • 2 weeks later...

65 is a perfect age to start at. Well not perfect but sometimes you have to go work with what you have. I seem to have 65 birthdays behind me. I took the plunge to take up Guitar last summer. I bought a broken down used Strat and took on fixing it. I didn't know ANYTHING about how electric Guitars work. Life experience helps on most everything. Wasn't long it was working again. A previous owner tried a upgrade with poor soldering skills. Shorted wires don't work well on anything. I then taught myself how to set it up. Thank goodness for You Tube! Then came the real challenge. 65 year old hands with arthritis. I had to be patient. Learning guitar isn't easy or fast for most people and hands that simply do not want to move are a issue. While I am no where as far along as I would like to be I have gotten my hands loosened up and my arthritis has improved from the effort. That is a win in my book. Still behind the learning curve but I can see it being more possible than I thought in the beginning. I am considering rewarding my efforts with a new Gibson. Maybe I don't need it or deserve it but that won't stop me from buying one. Looks like I picked a good time. Lot of dealers have some really good sales going on now. Makes sense. Right after NAMM and Christmas is probably a good time for dealers to move some inventory. Everybody is broke from Christmas and a lot of people want the new stuff just announced at NAMM.Perhaps the timing is right for some shopping.

Welcome, started playing as a teenager and just knew i was going to be a rock star. guess what it didn't happen. Then life happened with marriage and kids and mortgages and all that goes with it. So i put away the guitar and really didn't think to mush about picking it up again until i retired 12 yrs ago. long story short, I now can jam with some friends(we love the blues) and play songs while accompanying myself on the acoustic. I'm 70 so its never to late. playing an instrument is a great way to keep your mind and body active.

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Welcome, Dadgad!

 

I joined Wednesday, and turned 69 YO yesterday. I started out as a drummer, but found out I should be singing, and I was one of those who couldn't sing and play drums at the same time. So at 15, I started playing guitar, originally on an old Gibson f-top that belonged to the State of Washington. (long story) The first time I taught myself a song and connected with people (Solitary Man)my life was changed forever.

 

I always wanted a Gibson, and finally got one about a year and a half ago. It is everything it was supposed to be.

 

Play on, brother. I find that when I play every day, I make progress. When I get distracted, my skills erode. Muscle memory seems to work about the same as regular memory at my age. :)

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