A post for 2024

[Six String]

Jeeze, this forum used to be among the most active but I didn't see anything for 2024 and its August already.  I guess a lot of us got geared out.  I can't report buying anything new lately either except a Gruhn's T-shirt and a handful of Gruhn branded picks to hand out to my jam group from our 4th of July trip to Nashville.  I did drool quite a bit visiting Gruhn's, Carters Vintage and the Gibson Garage, but alas, no new gear to report.

I did recently switch from my Helix LT back to using tube amps and have to say I'm really liking the old school stuff that was collecting dust the past several years.  Now the Helix is collecting dust, and maybe I'll swap back but who knows. lol

Hope you all are enjoying whatever gear you have a making progress on your guitar journey.

Rock On Good People!

 

 

[DianeB]

I know, Six, it’s so quiet. See my reply to Abe yesterday. There was no Gathering this summer, so we’re missing that, too. But you might be hearing from me a bit next week, hint, hint.

[Gary Nelson]

One of the unfortunate side effects of retirement is that there is a lot less money to spend on new toys.    On on the plus side, there is a lot more time to learn.      But like you, Six, I have also been considering a switch to an old school amp.    After a career in IT, the last thing I want now is an amp where I have to install software patches and upgrades!    I just want to plug in and play!

[Fretless]

Thank you, Six String, for sharing your recent experiences of amps and Gruhn's.

DianeB, you are the best at motivating forummers; thank you for that.

Gary, I hope that your extra time with your guitar will reap many benefits and give you and your audiences countless joy.

My amp story this year is that with a weekly Sunday School slot, I made the smallest possible cab for an 8" speaker I had lying about to go with my Quilter Superblock US amp head. It means I now just carry my guitar and gig bag ('cos I only have two hands) and I only need one trip from the car to the venue.

[matonanjin]

@Six String thank you for trying to resuscitate this forum.   I have been as guilty as anyone for not participating.  So much so that I did get a new piece of gear and didn't announce it here.  Although a minor one.  I'm rectifying that now. 

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

Posts from 2024. . I did post that I'm going to the Fingerstyle retreat in Oct in the the other section.. 

in gear, yeah not much happening on this forum now that Legacy has died but taken the rights with it for the LMG series.. and the main body of students coming in has died off.

hopefully statute of limitations ends soon and Steve can do GG LMG again. or better yet.. he can chop up his lessons onto TrueFire and really open up access to new live students again.

I digress.. 

Gear..

I've come to the realization that

a) I would like to have "higher end" guitars now.. 

Gibson Songwriter $4600cdn, or Taylor 912cd $7800cdn or even a Gruhn's Veristar (sounds like Sitar) which are $2550 to $10,000usd = $3900cdn~ $15,500cdn; no budget. no retirement pension so out of luck

but I'm not much of an "acoustic guy" (except for this Fingerstyle retreat coming up)

so even a Murphy Lab Les Paul is $9,700cdn

but even more importantly than a) like/want or b) money shortages is:

C) my skill level of playing doesn't warrant any better guitars than what I went 'crazy' on in my initial GAS attack a few years ago when I started and have the Les Paul, MIA Strat, Flying V and the Sheraton which covers all the sounds with guitars that are pro-gig grade and my one lonely Simon&Patrick Acoustic.  

So my real realizations is.. I need to play so much better than I do.. I shy away from guitar stores..

 

Edited August 13, 2024 by Eracer_Team-DougH

[jasn]

This year I've added a couple of items to my meager collection... 

An early 70's, JPN-made nylon guitar made by Ventura Bruno.  Spruce top and (laminiated) Rosewood back and sides.  Rosewood/Mahogany neck; excellent condition and a local price too good to pass up on Craigslist.  It's my first nylon string guitar and I'm enjoying it a lot, as well as appreciating the light fretting touch ☺️

I've also added a very nice little acoustic amp; a Bugera AC60.  It's touted to be a clone for the much more expensive AER Compact 60.  It fits my needs well (literally in my crowded little practice area) and will let me finally learn to use the Boss RC-5 looper I bought late last year.

As far as the (very) light activity here at the GG Forums, I attribute the drop off as much towards the overall decline of forums as a way to connect with online pals.  FB; TikTok and Reddit give a much quicker hit, for some.  I'm an old forum lover for years though, so still enjoy popping in here and leaving a post or two.  I'd love to see it more active.  I'll try to boost my input, and may nudge Steve to do the same when I see him at the Fingerstyle Retreat. 😉  His participation would greatly increase the traffic.

Edited August 14, 2024 by jasn

[Mike Hoodenpyle]

I haven't posted, but I did add two pieces of gear this year. I bought a Fender Limited Edition '65 Princeton Reverb with 12" speaker in May, then about a month ago I bought a Martin D-41. I'm very pleased with both of them.

[Ice9]

Hi Six, I'm still lurking here from time to time but not so often these days. Only gear from this year so far is my Gretsch that my wonderful partner surprised me with. She has as many guitars as I do so she totally gets it 😁

 

[Six String]

On 8/2/2024 at 9:26 AM, Gary Nelson said:

One of the unfortunate side effects of retirement is that there is a lot less money to spend on new toys.    On on the plus side, there is a lot more time to learn.      But like you, Six, I have also been considering a switch to an old school amp.    After a career in IT, the last thing I want now is an amp where I have to install software patches and upgrades!    I just want to plug in and play!

Yeah, the "Computer-iness" took me a little while to get over when I was thinking of trying digital, but the upgrades from Line 6 I think really helped me get over my GAS as every firmware update added a few new amps and effects.  That said, the thing came with more amps and effects than anyone could ever use is a lifetime of playing so I usually ended up toying with the new stuff for a while then going back to my same old Fender and Marshall patches.

[Six String]

52 minutes ago, Ice9 said:

Hi Six, I'm still lurking here from time to time but not so often these days. Only gear from this year so far is my Gretsch that my wonderful partner surprised me with. She has as many guitars as I do so she totally gets it 😁

 

Nice!

[Six String]

On 8/9/2024 at 9:37 PM, Mike Hoodenpyle said:

I haven't posted, but I did add two pieces of gear this year. I bought a Fender Limited Edition '65 Princeton Reverb with 12" speaker in May, then about a month ago I bought a Martin D-41. I'm very pleased with both of them.

A Man of exceedingly good tastes.  I love the PRRI and I love Martin acoustics.

 

[Six String]

On 8/6/2024 at 10:57 AM, Eracer_Team-DougH said:

Posts from 2024. . I did post that I'm going to the Fingerstyle retreat in Oct in the the other section.. 

in gear, yeah not much happening on this forum now that Legacy has died but taken the rights with it for the LMG series.. and the main body of students coming in has died off.

hopefully statute of limitations ends soon and Steve can do GG LMG again. or better yet.. he can chop up his lessons onto TrueFire and really open up access to new live students again.

I digress.. 

Gear..

I've come to the realization that

a) I would like to have "higher end" guitars now.. 

Gibson Songwriter $4600cdn, or Taylor 912cd $7800cdn or even a Gruhn's Veristar (sounds like Sitar) which are $2550 to $10,000usd = $3900cdn~ $15,500cdn

but I'm not much of an "acoustic guy" (except for this Fingerstyle retreat coming up)

so even a Murphy Lab Les Paul is $9,700cdn

but even more importantly than a) like/want or b) money shortages is:

C) my skill level of playing doesn't warrant any better guitars than what I went 'crazy' on in my initial GAS attack a few years ago when I started and have the Les Paul, MIA Strat, Flying V and the Sheraton which covers all the sounds with guitars that are pro-gig grade and my one lonely Simon&Patrick Acoustic.  

So my real realizations is.. I need to play so much better than I do.. I shy away from guitar stores..

I know the srtuggle re the Murphy aged stuff.  My most loved guitar is my 2013 Gibson LP Traditional.  Its been said that we mock what we crave, and I have definitely mocked "aged" guitars and especially Gibsons "fresh antiques made daily" historics. Never the less I got a great deal on a set of aged Sheptone Allman Brothers Tribute pickups, so to make everything match up, I also had to do an aged ABR-1 bridge and aged tailpiece from Faber.  Now I call my Traditional a poor man's '59 Historic. lol  Sad thing is she is  heavy beast and I'm not getting any younger.

So my advice to anyone is to buy whatever you can afford that inspires you and play it as much as you can.  How good we can play shouldn't be our guide, but how good we feel playing the instrument.

[matonanjin]

@Ice9 Really nice looking Gretsch!  I'll bet it sounds and plays every bit as nice.  Thanks for sharing the photo with us.

[Ice9]

3 hours ago, matonanjin said:

@Ice9 Really nice looking Gretsch!  I'll bet it sounds and plays every bit as nice.  Thanks for sharing the photo with us.

Thankyou  It's a departure from what I'm used to but really liking it so far. I've always wanted one.