[croth]

Hi! I have been a member of the Gibson Forum for quite some time, but other than the odd post here and there (yes, you may define "odd" in any way you see fit...), I have been relatively inactive on this forum for a number of reasons.

But now, in my (amateur) playing career, as I am swinging around from a love of flattops and electrics to the wonders of the archtop, both acoustic and electric, the Gibson name has become one of greater focus for me.

This changeover was prompted by several things. First, in getting a little older, I began to move away from playing rock n roll (I mean, after all, only guys like Jagger/Richards can still pull that off) to 1. returning to my folk roots and 2. deciding to try to learn to play jazz and gypsy-jazz. Second, I went to the Guitar Heroes exhibit last Fall at the Metropolitan Museum which opened my eyes a lot to the beauty and history of the archtop design, and third, I saw Julian Lage playing a 1932 L5 at the Woodstock Invitational in 2010 which began the transition for me.

I collect guitars. Partly because I love them as "artwork" in my mind, and partly because (and this is serious) I am better at collecting them than I am at playing them...

In my role as a "collector" I studied some history of guitar making and learned to really appreciate the groundbreaking design work in the development of both the Martin OM and the Gibson L5, as well as the work of modern luthiers like TJ Thompson and pasttime ones such as John D'Angelico, merely as two examples of the many fine luthiers out there both in the past and today.

These days, I'm trying to focus on two main aspects of guitar playing: fingerstyle playing especially in the "Travis" or "Atkins" vein (which is what motivated me to the guitar in the first place so many years ago), and gypsy jazz Django-style playing, the latter being somewhat more challenging to me.

I am, and have never been, a "talented" guitar player and I have to work at it every step of the way, none of it seemingly coming "natural" to me. But then again, I never spent 8 hours a day practicing either and neither do I now. 30 minutes a day might even be exaggerating the truth. But I am satisfied with what I can do and I can't see ever not playing.

My daughter, an artist with some ability in her own right as a painter and a photographer, and my son, a guitarist/singer-songwriter of some really unexpected inherent abilities have taken what their parents have bestowed upon them to the next level, and probably a couple of levels beyond. And I prefer it that way: that they exceed their parents in the talent department, as opposed to the other way 'round.

There you have it, my introduction of myself to this group in what might be an unusual circumvented way, but in the way I wanted to express it. I hope the inner self shows through!

ADDENDUM: While reading around other threads, I saw comments that made it occur to myself that by calling myself a "collector", I could have opened myself up to being misinterpreted, and as I returned here to straighten out any misconceptions about that, I saw that D-Poland had posted something related to this. I thank him/her for that.

So, while I personally have no issues with pure collectors, for reasons I'm not going to try and defend here, I will qualify for myself that it is important to distinguish that I am a "collector-player". NONE of my guitars get locked away in a climate-controlled room behind glass cases. ALL of my guitars get used, all get playing time, regardless of how "valuable" they may be, both by myself and by my son who uses them for recording and has actually used a couple on tour gigs. And sometimes by playing partners who try them out for awhile. While I believe guitars can be collected, I am strongly in the camp that believes that primarily they are to be PLAYED. Make no mistake about that. Any of you would be more than welcome to visit and play any of my guitars. I would be happy for it.

I hope that clears the air on that issue and puts it to rest. Thanks.

[D-poland]

howdy! welcome on board! the only thing I'll warn you about is that there are some who lurk about have an aversion to collectors?! but not me my collecting interests far exceed my finances! so don't be bashful speak right up!

[croth]

D-poland, on 13 March 2012 - 10:37 AM, said:

howdy! welcome on board! the only thing I'll warn you about is that there are some who lurk about have an aversion to collectors?! but not me my collecting interests far exceed my finances! so don't be bashful speak right up!

Yes, you've made a good point about the "collector" part. I am not a "collector" in the way that it is most often interpreted as I will try to explain in an addendum to my original post. As a matter of fact, I came back to this thread to qualify how I labeled myself because of a post I just saw in another thread.

So thanks for the welcome, and thanks too for the heads up regarding the labeling. Right after this, I will be addending to my post to address this.

[Cruznolfart]

Welcome, Croth, it's always a pleasure to be allowed a glimpse of another's passion. Hope you find the forums enjoyable.

[croth]

Cruznolfart, on 13 March 2012 - 10:58 AM, said:

Welcome, Croth, it's always a pleasure to be allowed a glimpse of another's passion. Hope you find the forums enjoyable.

Thank you. The sincerity of your welcoming is much appreciated.

I do like moderated forums best and have been active sporadically on a few of them. I will like this one. Thanks again.

[LPDEN]

Welcome aboard! Many guitarists here collect guitars whether they realize it or not. I call myself an accumulator as I play my guitras far more than the time they sit in their cases, but (as the budget allows or disallows), I am never bashful to go after a guitar that I fall in love with for whatever the reason may be and bring it home...

And sometimes I fall out of love with a guitar and replace it with something else, but overall like most here will agree it's not a fickle thing to seek another instrument you'll play or enjoy more.

So with that said, let's see some pics of your "playing collection"!