Plantsman13

@matonanjin Your promise: Oh, and I did mention the guitar stores, didn't I? Well I did hit Gruhn's and Carter's Vintage and Rumble Seat! And, yes, there will be a NGD post coming in the next day of two. I just have to get a photo. It's probably not going to be what most of you expect. It appears to me that you have insider connections for NGD(s) this year...can I include a wish list of my own for special delivery? My normally brown eyes are definitely taking on a greenish hue! Bryan

But that is what makes it special when the music world gets treated to someone like a Vince Gill...incredible talent with a large dose of humility after reaching great heights. 🤗

The reality of being a 'working class' musician...there's only limited space at the top, where the bigger bucks circulate!

Doug, The best straight-up advice I've received when using a metronome is to NOT CHASE THE CLICKS. It is a tool to MEASURE time...not much else. Jason Isbell's lyric in Last of My Kind cites 'everyone else claps on the 1 and the 3' makes me appreciate the backbeat (often snare) falling on the 2 and the 4. :-0 As for live, a recent story surrounding the passing of Charlie Watts, recalled Keith Richards intentionally altering the beat during a song, only to be amazed how quickly Charlie got the beat back under control. Richards always claimed he had worked with one of the best, in Charlie, when it came to keeping everyone on the beat and it made his life on stage so much easier. IMHO, if everyone is not synced on the beat, an overall 'disjointed feeling' is generated, whether it is live or recorded, and the listener is left feeling uncomfortable. Bryan

@Wim VD1 D. Hamburger and Eric Skye have posted You Tube presentations, in the past, focusing on using a metronome focusing on the 2 & 4 to maximize groove. E. Skye's was in a 30 Day Challenge format (very casual and chock full of great ideas each day) and D. Hamburger was in a Fretboard Confidential presentation. Both sources are free. Bryan

@Wim VD1 Great job. Very clean and well played. Don't take this wrong, but I would love to hear you inject some of 'your soul' into it to develop a groove with dynamics, not just a lot of well played notes.

@matonanjin Sad news indeed. I had recently watched an interview clip of him back in the 90's and he really came off as a polar opposite to Mick and Keith's 'oversized, outlandish' persona! He ranked only behind those two in time spent as a member of the Stones. He was always in the background keeping everyone on the beat...even when Richards intentionally changed it during a song to mess with him, and Charlie quickly got it back. R.I.P. Mr Watts.

@matonanjinAsk me again on another day…and you might get another answer! 😎

Hope it goes well. Sounds like a great time. 😎

A recent Acoustic Guitar article was based on these guitar shops of Nashville. Fun read. Acoutic Guitar - Nashville shops.pdf

@Wim VD Enjoyed your rendition. Thanks for sharing. 👏👏👏

Fretboardconfidential.com with YouTube pdf download page I believe.

@Wim VD1 I liked the muted base, good ‘thump’ separation from the melody. Your right hand timing is coming along nicely. Well done!

@DianeB Thanks for sharing! Hope everyone has a great experience. Note: Can you adjust your text color? Currently I’m getting black on a dark grey background and it’s tough to read…

@matonanjin My only question is why did you make TWO trips to the guitar shop?!? 🤣 Congratulations!

@matonanjin And here I figured it was going into a 'sinking fund' for your next PRS baby! 🤣

@Wlm Van Damme Great job, the mandolin at end was a nice touch. My only suggestion would be a little more damping on the base line to separate the melody...but again, that's everyone's own taste. Enjoyed listening. The guitar sounds nice too. 😎 Bryan

@matonanjin Besides, Mike is a far better fingerstyle picker to showcase its attributes! I’ve been ignoring the Sirens’ call lately for a quality ’whole hog’ 00 14 fret with cutaway...😳

@Mike Hoodenpyle Congratulations. That is a real beauty!! I've always admired Koa guitars but hesitated because of the longer 'break in time' I've read associated with them. Now we wait for you to post a recording of you playing it for all of us to hear how it sounds. 😀

@matonanjin So true! Steep Canyon Rangers did a wonderful rendition of his Let Me Die in my Footsteps; but Tangled Up in Blues is still one of my favorites. I recall reading Dylan's quote on Neil Young, 'Why do I want to listen to someone who sings as bad as me (very loose translation)! If I ever get courage to sing along with my guitar; I'll just announce it's a Dylan Phase I'm passing through. 🤣

Cautionary note: Always check with the guitar manufacturer's recommended string gauge on your guitar. I have heard of medium strings 'over powering' the guitar's design limits; especially, small-bodied guitars. Bridge lifting can occur in some instances. Bryan Dave White - please let us know how your two new arrivals work out. I've been interested in the XS D'Addario, but seeing some negative reviews on discoloration of fingers from the coating. I tried SCGC Parabolic Tension lights on their H13 model and they were wonderful...I often regret selling that guitar.

Phosphor Bronze lights, 12 -53, for me as well. I prefer coated strings because I truly hate squeaky strings and I'm not the best at changing my strings in a timely fashion. I've probably used Elixir the most, but a great sale price is never a bad thing either. 😎

Nairon, Randy makes some very good points in answering your question. I have evolved to solid wood guitars; however, there are ' upper entry' level guitars being offered today that are very good as compared to a few years back. Laminated quitars appear louder from the start, but they won't break-in with age. I would look for playability, quality of construction, presence of a truss rod, and any buyer reviews over time ( I have played some all wood guitars that should have served as kindling). Does the guitar feel good in your hands, play smoothly, have good intonation, have a straight neck, and is adjustable for tweaking to maximize the quality of music the two of you can make? And truth be told, there will always be a beautiful guitar on the horizon with its 'Sirens' Call'! 😎 Bryan

Does it come with pixie dust to allow the user to reach VH's zenith while playing it? And here I was ogling a Santa Cruz OM at Eddie's Guitars with The Tree figured mahogany and Tunnel 13 Redwood top for around $22K new (notice I did NOT say shopping). Fun Google lookup tone wood adventure for inquiring minds.