A long hiatus, from playing Guitar...Epiphone or otherwise?

[charlie brown]

Quite of few of us Epi players here, seem to be "older than dirt," and

have recently, or maybe not so recently, returned to playing guitar.

A lot of the "Baby Boomer's" in particular, it seems? What

brought you back, especially if there was a really LONG period,

where you didn't play? I had a 30+ year hiatus, which

now seems totally rediculous, after I'd started playing again. Was your

hiatus by choice, fate, life's demands, etc. One word answers,

are OK, as are more elaborate explainations, if need be. And this

is for everyone...you don't have to be a "baby boomer!"

 

Go...

 

CB

[midiman56]

For me it had been about a 25 year break with the guitar. The main reason was ... life. After years of gigging, touring, playing sessions and loads of commercial work, the need for a more stable source of income just won out. I sold or gave away all of my gear except for my Ovation acoustic (purchased from the original Manny's Music in Manhattan in 1974). I went on to a relatively successful career in consumer electronics (I’ve always been a gadget guy), raised two wonderful sons, and maintained a happy 28 year marriage with their equally wonderful mother.

 

A couple of years ago I started to get into keyboards and quite suddenly, I was bit by the guitar bug again. I was shocked! First, at how my skills had degenerated and secondly, at how fast they returned ... at least for a 52 year old guy. I really hadn't forgotten anything ... I was just stiff, slow and had to endure the blisters and pain all over again. Learning to play guitar really is a labor of love and a test of determination.

 

The really far-out thing was seeing my son's reactions to their crazy old man! They had never really heard me play outside of old recordings. Even cooler was hearing their mother say, "I told you he was good!"

 

I really feel that the guitar brings a balance and a peace to my life that had been missing for many years. Meeting all of you good people has been an extremely pleasant bonus! I enjoy your wit, humor and knowledge. This forum is a consistent and highly anticipated part of my day … thanks!

 

By the way, Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

 

MIDI

[Mugatu]

I had a 2 year hiatus... I think I just got bored with strumming the same chords to the same songs (I played covers in a small band that just played small bars and pubs). One day, I put my guitar in the case and it never came out again.

 

About 3 months ago, my wife said she'd not heard me play in ages, and I also got talking to a work friend who plays more regularly, and I decided to give it a go again. I decided that I needed a new challenge though, so I promised myself I would learn blues lead. I bought me second ever epiphone, got a blues tutor, and here I am enjoying it again.

[Old Bob]

OK - I'll try to squeeze forty years into four minutes. I bought a guitar, as we all did then, when I heard my first Bob Dylan LP (I was a very early advocate of Dylan over here in the UK). Alas - I sounded even worse than he did. I then took up an interest in jazz (Django) and then Charlie Byrd, and bought myself a half-decent classical guitar around 1976/7. I've carried that around with me through all the ups and downs ever since, but never really got down to playing it properly. Why? Life - in all it's forms - got in the way I suppose. Another way to put this is that I never did put the effort in.

 

So what changed? Two things I think. At around the age of sixty the jazz urge returned and I began to realise that it really was a matter of 'now or never', so (and thirty years too late) I began trying to make up for lost/wasted time. Also - a niece of mine needed help learning the guitar and I began looking for one for her, and realised just how many great guitars there are out there now. That was about five years ago - I've now got a dozen guitars (inc four Epi's and a Gibby 137) and a vague understanding of music theory. Jazz guitar is now my retirement project - it's keeping the fingers supple and the mind active.

 

Moral of this tale: if you're twenty and thinking of taking up guitar - DO IT NOW, and make it a life-long devotion. Don't leave 'till you retire. And if you've just retired - DO IT NOW anyway; As someone said to me some time ago - I'm too old now to be a good jazz guitarist, but you're never too old to enjoy yourself.

 

By the way - being 'Baby Boomer' somehow makes me feel a lot younger.

 

Young Bob

[andy59]

For me, I was eight and had about a year or so of lessons from a family friend on a kids acoustic. We moved in 69, that ended the lessons. I still played around with it until cars and college. Still loved the music and played "air". Then a few months ago my 7 yr old grandson gets Guitar Hero and wanted me to play it with him. At first it was frustrating for me, partly because my hands would get sore after three songs, partly because the buttons don't relate directly to notes, and because the game doesn't play the note if you miss it, then there's the and getting booed off the stage thing. Once I got the hang of it, it was fun but helped me remember what it was like and how much harder and more rewarding it is to play a real guitar. Then a month ago my wife brought me a "Real Guitar Hero" T-shirt with a guitar on it. So last Sunday (after researching to narrow my choices) I went to Best Buy and bought the beginners player pack, A Hal Leonard Guitar Method book and here I am.

[MarkW]

I started playing in bands at age 12 (I know-a baby) until I was 22. I was in college and needed some cash, so I sold all my equipment. Eleven (I am now 56) years ago I decided it might be fun to play guitar with my son, so I bought a Guild A/E and an amp. Man...It did not come back easily for me. IN fact I still struggle, but I am enjoying it when I have (make) time.

 

The best part is my son and I have shared a lot of time in music stores and playing together and he is very good. THe other upside is I have really enjoyed buying and selling guitars and amps. I am down to 5 amps and 13 ( oh 14 - I just ordered a bass guitar) guitars and my gas has abated for now.

 

Happy THanksgiving Everyone!

[Bender 4 Life]

I was born in the last year of "the boom" 1963, my mother was rocking me when the news about JFK's premature demise came over the radio.

Started playing AT the guitar on my 11th b-day, got serious a few months later.

Traded my guitar for drugs(literally) at age 14.

Played anyone elses guitar, or bass that I could get my hands on the next few years.

Traded a cheap rifle for a cheap guitar at 17, guitar stolen during divorce at 19.

Stayed too messed up to attempt serious playing until I was 21, bought guitar, joined punk(ish) band.

Band imploded at 23, started playing metal and classic hard rock.

Wasted my time with this until about 5 yrs. ago, bought/sold/traded several guitars meanwhile.

Got really interested in acoustic, and electric Blues and Fusion 5 yrs ago.....current harem is 7

quality guitars.

[Whitmore Willy]

Played in bands most of my younger days. Gave it up when it started getting in the way of raising my family. Went 20 years with out playing. (thought about selling my guitars many times, but could never bring myself to do it) A few years back a close friend asked me to teach his son. Started playing again and realized how much I still enjoyed it. My family is grown now and once again I have the time.

[tulsaslim]

In 1984 I quit playing after a 17+-year run of playing professionally. When I started playing for money in 1966, in Chicago, my first gigs were playing rhythm guitar backing up a black blues guy I worked with at my day job. I had so much fun I would've played for free. After that I joined a (white) cover band & did that until I moved to Tulsa in late-'68 when I got a job in a 'road band'. One thing led to another & I was fortunate to have lived & played in NYC for 3 years, spent 6 months gigging in SoCal and generally enjoying the life of a road warrior until the bottom fell out for everybody when disco became the rage and at least 80% of the clubs that had been booking live bands converted to disco djs overnight. I ended up playing a year in a 'pop cover band' at a Holiday Inn.

 

From that moment until 'the end' playing guitar went from being 'fun' to being 'a job'. Even after disco ran it's course & clubs began to hire live bands again it was never much fun for me after that. Finally, in 1984, I quit for good, deciding it was time to join 'the real world'.

 

I didn't so much as pick up a guitar for 10 years after that. Then, after a break-up with a long-time girlfriend, I decided to give it a go again. Not intending to 'go pro' (as by then I'd landed a real good job in 'the real world') and not having the pressure of having to learn 50 songs and having to constantly practice and rehearse, I re-discovered the pure joy of playing guitar that had slipped away from me for so many years.

 

Now I enjoy it as much as I did when I first started. I'm good with the realization that I'll never be as good as I once was but for me that's not the criteria. As long as it's fun I will keep playing.

[taxman]

Great question. I stopped playing seriously for ten years. Why?

 

- marriage and families started happening for everyone. Getting together to play, going to the studio was never happening anymore

 

- the music scene went to garbage. The Seattle grunge music was a boom to guitarists in the early 90s. Songs built around great (sometimes complex) guitar lines and chords. When that scene faded and Beyonce and her ilk took over, guys who loved music just started doing other things

 

Why back to playing?

 

- these new families produced children and they are learning to play guitar, piano, singing. That inspired all of us to get back into our music. We bring the children to the studio with us for an hour or two, let them have their fun; then send them home and the guys continue to play like we used to.

 

- went to a free Beatlemania show over the summer and went home and restrung my Ric, bought a Casino, and an Epiphone EJ 160. The "Beatles" once again got me into guitar.

[layboomo]

Some very familiar themes here and my story is a combination of a few really. I'm 48 and never really stopped playing altogether,but definitely slacked off stopped playing clubs with a band etc...etc... for quite a few years ( 12 actually). I still don't play out with a Band much...but every once in a while I'll go out and play a set with a band I played with in the 90's that are still doing the club thing...or I'll go to a blues jam just for fun. I've been toying with the idea of getting back into a part time thing,but it would have to be with people with very similar expectations and no delusions! I've always been a bit of a tinkerer and I mod and build amps and guitars....buy and sell for fun and profit sometimes! I'm envious of you guys that play with your kids! I don't have any myself,but I do support my nieces and nephews who play. In fact I've really enjoyed having three of them come over and saying to them pick one from my guitar collection.....yeah I set a few limits but it was cool to see the look on their faces when I said "yes it's yours"!

 

I too enjoy the people on this forum! Good bunch of guys with a sense of humor most of the time. Happy Thanksgiving everyone and enjoy your time with families and friends because thats the stuff that really matters!

[stan 58]

Hey Uncle Layboomo, what about me? Stan.

[layboomo]

Hey Uncle Layboomo' date=' what about me? Stan.[/quote']

 

Sorry Stan but the only green one is a surf green strat and that's on uncle Layboomo's keeper list!

[Gordy01]

Taught myself to play when I was about 10 or 11. Had lessons on record. 5 LP records to be exact. And a large chord chart with pictures and diagrams, and a book. Now that I think about it, I had a teacher who would repeat himself endlessly and never get mad!

Started playing in garage bands when I was a teen, and then graduated to dance halls, and bars. Life got in the way at twenty and I didn't pick up a guitar for 10 years. :-( Since I had sold my guitars I had to start over. I now own a 62 Strat, a Seagull acoustic with a pickup, and now a Epiphone Ultra 2. Playing them through a 70's model Music Man HD 210-130. I'm having a GREAT TIME playing with some buddies, and playing in our church.

[bobbyswamp]

Great stories here, man. WE ARE NOT ALONE! Love this thread. You know, I never had a really long hiatus from playing, but I certainly had many intervals...

I started playing guitar at age 12 (that was 1969?!) Played in bands all through high school. From 4-piece rock and roll outfits to 7-piece horn bands. After 2 years of college, dropped out and hit the road with a Top 40 band. Three years later, I quit that band, moved to LA. Auditioned, auditioned, auditioned. Day jobs and life interrupted. I kept noodling on my guitars, but nothing serious at that point. Then, ten years ago, sobriety, marriage, parenthood and suddenly I was playing and writing more than ever. Started playing open-mic nights with buddies. Then a buddy and I decided to make an all original album. The album we never made when we were young and "too stoopid" to know time would fly by so fast. Hit the studio, tracked, mixed, mastered, duplicated and threw it out to the universe. Got some gigs, got addicted to buying gear, and I am still havin' a blast with it all.

[JefferySmith]

I played in a band from 1965 to 1968, but quit when I entered college. I sold all of my guitars to help pay my expenses in college. In 1977, I was struck down with myasthenia gravis while in grad school, and loss most of the use of my fingers for a year. I slowly started getting strength back in them but not enough to play guitar, so I hung it up. Six years ago, I picked up a guitar at a store and found that I had more strength than I did back in the 70's, and I bought an AlleyKat. The guitar became not an instrument for me, but a form of physical therapy to get strength back in my fingers.

[JefferySmith]

Hmmm...this posted twice.

[Randy1281734003]

I'm like a lot of you guys, I started playing when I was 14 I think (i'm 56 now), played through high school, and started playing bars after school. Started a family so I quit the band, I never totally quit playing,but sold all my electric stuff and got an accoustic to play at home so as not to wake the kids. I got totally turned off on rock about the time disco came on the scene, I eventually got into bluegrass and about ten years ago started playing mandolin as well. I was perfectly happy playing in my local bluegrass band, I started playing mandolin at church in our worship team, but mandolin did'nt fit on some of the more "edgy" stuff we do so I started playing electric guitar again, and I'm lovin it! I joined a band made up of mostly guys from from our church geared mostly toward weddings, corporate events,and some clubs. Were not quite ready to play in public but we are really starting to get tight, I'm looking forward to getting some paying gigs so I can buy more guitars, I bought eight guitars in the last two years and I still want more. It's a sickness I tell you a SICKNESS!!!

[Guest alanhindle]

Played from ages 16-21 sufficiently frequently to hamper performance during my student days. Then, started my career, got married, had kids and am now embarking on my midlife crisis. Got back in to electric guitar 2 years or so ago. Still got my old 1986 Yamaha but it is gradually being joined by members of the Epiphone/Gibson family. I used to like heavy rock and metal but I'm now going for more blues and rock.

 

A recurring theme here- I've been studying on and off for various additional qualifications over the last 7 years and the guitar is, once again, starting to distract me from that too.

[dbirchett]

I started playing in 1964 as a freshman in High School. First started playing Ventures songs and similar instrumentals. There was a guy that I would play with, just as a duo and we both progressed pretty quickly. Played through high school and into college. Bought a used Strat in early '65 then a Tennessean in '67. Had a '65 Deluxe Reverb back then with a 12" Jensen from a Bassman.

 

Played some in college, especially with a friend a few years older who played bass. Then sold off the gear and bought a Martin D-18 and played rarely. Never was all that good.

 

Put the guitars pretty much away after college when I began graduate school. I would take out the Martin every now and then and bought a few others along the way ... an Ovation, a Mossman 12 string, a Japanese Strat and a Guild Manhattan. Then I bought a Larrivee and was going to try fingerstyle. Finally, about 3 1/2 years ago, some guys in my Church and I got together to play as a band for a Valentine's Dance. We had a Keyboard player with a lot of talent and he carried the rest of us. For the most part we sucked but everyone liked us and we had a blast. We continued on and did a couple of other gigs. We christened ourselves The Grateful Dads. Not original but everyone loved the name. Everyone in the band was/is between 45-60+. Lots of kids/grandkids.

 

Then our keyboard player/fearless leader/talent moved away and we went back to sucking but we kept on. We have done occasional gigs and have one coming up on the 12th. We have progressed from sucking to mediocre to tolerable. We have "Dadheads" that call various members "Grandpa" and we are having the times of our lives. My grandson told my wife, "Grandma, you're lucky, you're married to a rock star." And I think that's kinda cool!

 

So what brought me back? Several things. A love for music. A desire to get back to playing. The opportunity to play regularly with friends. Some positive feedback. A wife that lets me. Finally, being at that stage of life where I can. I turn 58 next month and am an empty nester. I am fast approaching retirement and have few enough demands placed on my time that I can set aside some time to practice some. I am playing better than ever than I ever have (talk about being damned by faint praise!). I keep saying that I wish I had done this 20 years ago but it probably wouldn't mean as much. BTW, our bass player is the same one I played with in college so it has come back around.

 

The biggest thing that keeps me going is playing with other people of similar abilities. No one gets ticked when some one (usually me) flubs a lick or misses an entrance. Its all good!

[charlie brown]

I used to play guitar, before I started reading (and contributing my own share of "dribble") to the "Ten reasons

the Beatles are Overrated" thread! Now, I can't remember how or why, to play anymore! LOL!

 

CB

[ButchCassidy]

I stopped for about a year due to not trying to learn and playing the same old stuff. Then I met my friend who is a guitar god, and I guess it kinda discouraged me in some way. Maybe I thought I'd never be that good so what's the point? Anyways, I slowly got back into it, and am now WAY better than I ever was. Not as good as my friend but who cares. I like the style I play better anyways.

[Steven Lister]

A long hiatus' date=' from playing Guitar...Epiphone or otherwise?[/quote']

 

No. None. And not a chance.

Especially now after reading the comments posted.

Intelligent humans can learn from history (the goofs of others). Thanks to threads like this, we who haven't put down our guitars are reminded just how important guitar is to us.

 

Adult learners like I may have some slight advantage -- we already had well-defined reasons for learning. Maybe that makes it easier to stay on course than if we had begun as children/teenagers.

 

Hit every BLUE NOTE baaaby..., I'm going to play on:-"

[JefferySmith]

When I went back to playing after nearly 40 years, putting the AlleyKat under my arm and plugging it in did something to my brain, touched that reward center, that brought be back to the turbulent 60's, but mostly the good rather than the bad. The 60's music has the same effect.

 

I expect to ask my wife to cremate me. If that weren't a priority for me, I would ask my wife to place me in the coffin with a Sheraton under my right arm. Linus needs his blanket. I guess I feel the same with a semi-hollow. I'll never feel that way with a Les Paul.

[Just Strum]

I'm not only as old as dirt, I guess I'm as poor as dirt too. I didn't take a break, it just took me 51 years to save up the cash for a G400 and then suddenly I had money for all kinds of guitars. Funny though, my wife keeps telling me we don't have the money for all these guitars. Hell, who needs food, its overrated.