TomG76
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Posts posted by TomG76
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Good looking guitar. The saddle makes it look like the guitar is smiling.
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7 hours ago, 12MoreGuitars said:
Hi everyone, great to shoot the bull with my fellow musicians, I am an older country boy (SC) and music has been my passion most of my life. I am 61 and been playing since about 13 or so. I recently had two years where I could not play at all and only after a year of PT was I able to make a fist (Ruptured tendons on my middle and ring fingers and a tendon harvested from my pointer to repair everything) and start using my fingers once again. I am at about 60% of where i use to be and getting my fret hand back little by little. I am so very grateful and happy to be able to play again. While I may not ever be able to play like I used to but I can still do it and getting stronger and better every day. I just wanted to say hi. Most of my experience has been in electrics but the down time and playing alone has made me an acoustic fan too. I look forward to many fun conversations with any and all.
Great to hear you're back in the saddle and enjoy the forum.
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Oh no offence taken. It probably is a bit of a negative though. I actually can do an American accent, but it would be a bit weird.
Would love to hear you sing A New England, mate!
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8 minutes ago, Lars68 said:
Thanks, Lars.
This is an ongoing issue! I love Americana but have a very plummy British accent. Affecting an American one would not sit right, but I can't bear not to sing these songs.
So I think I'll just have to be something of a curiosity!
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Looks lovely. They always strike me as a nice size. Parlour sized yet decent bass response.
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1 hour ago, TomG76 said:
Yes, that's the amp I've got too. I also have a half share in a bigger amp, from a band I was in that lasted about a fortnight. Turns out that I'm much happier playing solo, although I love the camaraderie of playing songs with other people, and enjoy playing with a good lead guitarist.
I've just recorded a version of Speed Trap Town and will post it in the Acoustic Performance section once it's uploaded! I always feel a bit hesitant about covering Isbell's songs, as I do with James Taylor, but it's good to push oneself a bit.
I added my murderous rendition of Speed Trap Town to the acoustic performance section.
https://forum.gibson.com/topic/60851-your-acoustical-performances/page/45/#comments -
36 minutes ago, zombywoof said:
Does this count? There is a Gibson P13 pickup underneath the fingerboard extension and a volume and tone knob.
Yeah!
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Speed Trap Town by Jason Isbell. A terrific song butchered by me on my new J-50.
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42 minutes ago, Lars68 said:
Moreland, yes. I've seen him open for Isbell a few years back. Very good too.
Why don't you post a version of Speed Trap Town with your new Gibson, would love to hear it. When it comes to lyrics, that song is just unbelievably good. John Mayer wrote on twitter about Isbell that “he lives at a level where even great writers can only visit”. I tend to agree.
Back on topic, my desktop amp is the Yamaha THR5, and for use at home this is really all that is needed. Same as yours? Even the smallest combo tube amp will be too loud for home use, and those amps sound crap at low levels. They are designed to be turned up, while the tiny desktop amps are designed to be turned down. I use my THR5 when I want to do my songs electric and sing without mic at the same time.
Lars
Yes, that's the amp I've got too. I also have a half share in a bigger amp, from a band I was in that lasted about a fortnight. Turns out that I'm much happier playing solo, although I love the camaraderie of playing songs with other people, and enjoy playing with a good lead guitarist.
I've just recorded a version of Speed Trap Town and will post it in the Acoustic Performance section once it's uploaded! I always feel a bit hesitant about covering Isbell's songs, as I do with James Taylor, but it's good to push oneself a bit.
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1 hour ago, littlejohnny said:
To me there are two essential guitar designs:
1) Gibson style set neck, humbucker guitars (Les Pauls, SGs, Es 335 etc.)
2) Fender style bolt-on neck guitars with single coils. (Strats and t
I own a ES 355 (basically a 335) and a Telecaster, nothing wrong with a SG, though.
Oh and I know a lot might disagree, there are more cool electrics to consider, p-90 equipped Gibsons, Richenbacker or Gretsch guitars, but to me those are not essential.
One more thing, a good guitar(tube-) amp is mandatory, its like 50% - if not more - of the sound of an electric guitar.
Yes - really need to try my Yamaha on a more sophisticated amp.
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1 hour ago, tpbiii said:
At this point, I am mostly totally acoustic -- but I am pretty old. In the late 50s, I started playing folk revival and "rock and roll."
In my years of making a retirement investment out of old guitars, I did end up with an occasional electric and at least two newish ones- 84 Strat and 84 ES-335S. They were not new, but probably only a few years old when I got them. In about 1990, my Son borrowed the Strat and never came back -- he became a fairly successful musician using that guitar. I got them both from pawn shops.
Here is a picture of my "new and electric" stuff. Most of the acoustic guitars and all the basses shown have pickups -- I have used those in situations where not doing it was not reasonable.
The basses all belonged to my late wife. The "coolest" for me was the 50/60 Kay bass on the bottom left. There are a bunch funky stuff there, some of which I own with my daughter from her ALT ROCK period. The BC Rich Warlock had a big impact on my son' early heavy metal period -- scary. The three Danelectros -- two Silvertones and a Coral -- sound like coming home if you played in the late 50s/early 60s.
The 72 Tele Deluxe was a graduation present for my daughter (she had many graduations) and that got a lot of use in Texas honky tonk bands for awhile.
I don't see the ES-335S -- that is an oversight. The other two "cool" guitars are the 68 Fender Coronado II Wildwood and the 67 Lake Placid Blue Fender Coronado I. These are true hollow body guitars -- not like the ES-335 which they resemble. Feedback is a problem on a loud stage -- they mostly now get use yearly to play Christmas carols.
Here are the Gibsons. 62 Melody Maker, 67 SG JR, 84 ES-335S, 49 ES-150, 67 EM-150.
I am still hoping to play that ES-150 in a Honky Tonk gig - I have never done that except with a harmonica. I probably would not be very good -- but that has never stopped me.😎
Best,
-Tom
Marvellous stuff. Thank you.
I'm sorry to hear your wife has passed away.
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2 hours ago, TomG76 said:
I know what you're thinking: this belongs in another forum.
But actually I'm interested in which electric guitars you folks like. I'm always going primarily to be an acoustic player. As acoustic players yourselves, which electrics do you find to be worthwhile additions to your collection / what do you hanker after?
I have a massive preference for clean tones. After folk and country I probably like jangle pop the most. Johnny Marr is my favourite electric guitarist by a mile.
An ES-335 might seem an obvious choice but I find myself rather drawn to the SG.
Pedals, amps and pick-ups are all very mysterious to me.
Actually I've made a terrible mistake and overlooked Mark Knopfler!
I love his fingerstyle playing. He's fascinating on the relative qualities of guitars. He's also a fantastic guitar teacher.
I've seen both him and Tommy Emmanuel explain technique superbly well. Both claimed to have had to work very hard at it. It seems that even genius is perspiration as well as inspiration.
I love Knopfler on a Strat AND on a Les Paul. (And his National. And on a Martin. And on an Advanced Jumbo.)
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13 minutes ago, Salfromchatham said:
Years back I owned a Gretsch Country Gentleman... It was a royal pain to keep tuned... and that Bigsby Whammy threw it out all the time.
More recently I owned a Tele, which I always have an affinity for, and the one I use occasionally now... a Reverend Double Agent OG. It loos like this one:
https://reverb.com/item/34806120-reverend-double-agent-og-2020-metallic-alpine
It is the best electric I have ever played. I know it's imported, but you can get a lot of different sounds out of it, and it refuses to go out of tune...
Aha! I first learned of those from the movie Crazy Heart. (The novel is brilliant too.)
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1 minute ago, Dave F said:
I still have the one I bought new in ‘70. It was my main guitar for years.
Acoustic Ovation guitars are intriguing. Frailers in Runcorn have a Gibson J-25 that is obviously based on them.
The Tornado, meanwhile, looks very Gibson!
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13 minutes ago, Lars68 said:
Tom, we seem to share a taste in music. I knew you liked Townes, but now also know you like Johnny Marr. Johnny, Jason Isbell, and Neil Young are my favorite electric players, all with extremely distinct styles. (Jason and Neil also happen to be my favorite acoustic players). Johnny is playing on my stereo as I type (The Smiths).
I'm not much of an electric player. I have never figured out how to make an electric sound good in my hands. I mostly do open chords, with hammer-ons and pull-offs, which don't work that well for me on an electric, unless I use a very clean tone. I do have a telecaster, a Yamaha desktop amp, and a tweed Fender blues Jr amp. I don't use them much, but I would never sell them. I love playing them from time to time, and have used them to make a few recordings too. The teles have a very unique twangy sound, which is used often in the Americana style music I love. That's probably why I gravitate towards them.
The Johnny Marr signature Fender Jaguar would be perfect for you!
Lars
Oh, I also like Neil Young. I saw him live at the now defunct Phoenix Festival near Stratford.
I hideously butchered Rockin' In The Free World at a concert at college. (I didnt count that as one of my gigs as I was just singing and not playing guitar. Also I've excised much of it from my memory.)
Strewth that show went badly.
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3 minutes ago, northcntryblues said:
I don't own any electric guitars, but there are a few I love the sound of:
1. Fender Telecasters
2. 12 string Rickenbackers- the Byrds/Heartbreakers sound.
3. Strats.
Yeah - I've certainly enjoyed all of those guitars on songs.
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2 minutes ago, J185cat said:
My favorite electric of the ones I own is my ES137. I have a LP Standard, an old Ovation Tornado (not the round back, think ES335 style) and a Strat copy I made from a StewMac kit. The reason I like the 137 is it is very versatile. Jazz, blues, rock even country. No not a Strat sound but a versatile Gibson. It is a little heavy though.
The ES 137 looks gorgeous too. I wasn't aware of that model. Thank you.
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3 minutes ago, Lars68 said:
Tom, we seem to share a taste in music. I knew you liked Townes, but now also know you like Johnny Marr. Johnny, Jason Isbell, and Neil Young are my favorite electric players, all with extremely distinct styles. (Jason and Neil also happen to be my favorite acoustic players). Johnny is playing on my stereo as I type (The Smiths).
I'm not much of an electric player. I have never figured out how to make an electric sound good in my hands. I mostly do open chords, with hammer-ons and pull-offs, which don't work that well for me on an electric, unless I use a very clean tone. I do have a telecaster, a Yamaha desktop amp, and a tweed Fender blues Jr amp. I don't use them much, but I would never sell them. I love playing them from time to time, and have used them to make a few recordings too. The teles have a very unique twangy sound, which is used often in the Americana style music I love. That's probably why I gravitate towards them.
The Johnny Marr signature Fender Jaguar would be perfect for you!
Lars
Thanks, Lars.
We absolutely have a similar taste. I ADORE Jason Isbell. In fact in my one and only gig to date, I played Speed Trap Town as one of my songs.
Do you know John Moreland? He's awesome too. I'd now be surprised if you didn't like him.
It started with Simon and Garfunkel for me and my favourite artist is James Taylor.
I've got a Yamaha Revstar 320 but like you, I've never been able to work it out. I am sure that's my fault and not the guitar's. I play it through a Yamaha practice amp that may be like yours.
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14 minutes ago, Leonard McCoy said:
Les Paul Standard with an asymmetrical neck and an American Fender Stratocaster. I'd love to get my hands on an ES, though, these days.
Nice.
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I know what you're thinking: this belongs in another forum.
But actually I'm interested in which electric guitars you folks like. I'm always going primarily to be an acoustic player. As acoustic players yourselves, which electrics do you find to be worthwhile additions to your collection / what do you hanker after?
I have a massive preference for clean tones. After folk and country I probably like jangle pop the most. Johnny Marr is my favourite electric guitarist by a mile.
An ES-335 might seem an obvious choice but I find myself rather drawn to the SG.
Pedals, amps and pick-ups are all very mysterious to me.
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Obviously the hogs include the Southern Jumbo and Country Western too.
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1 minute ago, Lars68 said:
For me, when buying guitars, there are factors beyond tone and playability. I also care about history and heritage. Owning versions of some of the most iconic models of all time, guitars which have been involved in creating the genres and classic songs I love, mean something to me. As a music lover, it's a way for me to connect with the past and the artists whose music have played a part in making me the person I am. I love singer-songwriter type music, and what is now called Americana, so my personal choice for two acoustic guitars is easy. I pick the ”big two”, the Martin D-28 and the Gibson J-45.
I think you need to ask yourself what your are looking for in guitars. A working musician would have different needs and priorities compared to a hobby enthusiast. So the only thing we can really help you with is giving you a better understanding of the Gibson acoustic lineup, so you can make an educated choice.
Good luck with your decision! As long as it's a Gibson, it will be fine 😀
Lars
I entirely agree with this. I realised that a ton of songs I love were played (and often written) on a J-45 or J-50.
Above all, I love their warm, mellow tone and have never found another guitar that can replicate it.
I'd also be lying if I denied that I like having "Gibson" on my headstock. It's not a status thing, honestly it's not. Rather, I get a kick out of feeling connected to a fine and unique tradition. And I'd defend that. It's not as though the guitars are actually sub-par and you're only paying for the brand.
I like Yamaha guitars, including inexpensive models, and there are lots of fine guitars out there, made by big companies, medium-sized companies, and independent luthiers alike.
But if you get a good J-45 / J-50 you'll have a very well-made guitar with a tone to die for that is a terrific all-rounder.
I listened to sound sample after sound sample trying to find a non-Gibson that could match the tone of a Gibson before I could afford one. Nothing did.
You've already got a lovely Martin. There's no law that you can't buy another guitar one day, nor that you can't do a swap.
I think if you pull the trigger on a J-45, J-50, or Hummingbird you're going to be very happy.
You might well love another Gibson with a different tonewood on the back, but there is something about mahogany.
As someone who took years to choose his main guitar, I'd also say that there does come a point when it's good to focus on playing! 😜
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Many thanks, Jeff.
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This is the guitar in question.
Need help identifying the guitar model.
in Gibson Acoustic
Posted
There's more on Gibson Marks here:
https://forum.gibson.com/topic/137001-question-for-gibson-mk-series/