Guitar Lessons - I'm going to do it!

[El Toro]

Bob is a manufacturing guy who likes guitars, not a luthier. He told me in 1995 that he was not so interested in working specifically on improving the sound, but more interested in manufacturing improvements. Improvements are spelled "c-o-s-t r-e-d-u-c-t-i-o-n".

Kurt has now retired. Andy Powers has joined the team. Andy is a player and a luthier. It is possible that the newest models have good sound, but I have to admit I'm not convinced yet. I play the Taylors every once in a while at Gruhn.

Bob says now that he thinks Taylor's Golden Age is ahead. He wrote that they had not yet achieved their Golden Age a year or two ago in one of his "Wood & Steel" think pieces. Evidence shows that he is right that they have not yet achieved a Golden Age. Whether one is in the offing or not is an open question. I don't see it.

One thing that Bob has accomplished, to some extent because of his frugality, is to lead others in the proper stewardship of the world's exotic woods resources.

Taylor makes incredibly beautiful guitars. And they are consistent from one sample to the next... far moreso than Gibson for example.

However, if you play the Martin, Collings, and Taylor comparable models and price points, a discerning ear may choose one of the others.

For long term resale, the best choices are Gibson, Martin, and US made Fender. There is a steady used market for this stuff, and if you buy smart (discounts of 35% are readily available), or buy used yourself, you can often enjoy your guitar and see it hold its value or increase in value over the years.

FWIW, I've never heard anyone's acoustic bolt on neck style guitar work as well as a Collings. Bob Taylor was an industrial arts guy. Bill Collings was an engineer. Bill's guitars are incredible in every way, not just in appearance.

But for long term acoustic guitar value, you're never going to beat Gibson or Martin.

 

[Bounce]

ESB: Sounds like you need to double check your homeowner's insurance policy to make sure these are covered for replacement value.

 

[El Toro]

I've played McCollums (until he died 6 or 7 years ago, Lance lived and built guitars 8 miles away), Collings, a Santa Cruz Tony Rice (maybe the best guitar I've played), etc. and didn't feel cheated with my $1,900 Taylor. But if that's what has happened to prices for well built models, maybe I need to be be embarrassed to own guitars so far out of the price range my talent deserves. Like I said, that Yamaha, used and under $150, would be just about perfect as my last guitar purchase.

The sign of a really great guitarist would be to make that Yamaha sing. I would rather listen to a truly good guy play that Yamaha than I would like to listen to a recording of my own playing

.

I am mulling over which guitars to sell in the New Year. Actually, as I pare down and prepare for retirement in 2016, there are a lot of things around here that I would like to part with. It's more important to play than to own.

Once at Gruhn I remember a guy from Europe coming in and going to the upstairs "special" area where he had some other guys play guitar after guitar. He could not play, but boy could he collect.

He said "I like the acoustics too, but they require that you care for them. I'm only collecting solid body electrics."

I've seen guitars go for a quarter million bucks ... George is doing his happy dance all the way to the bank when that happens.

Maybelle Carter's L5 went for more than half a mil, and the guy who bought it donated it to the Country Music Hall of Fame. But then he turned out to be a Bernie Madoff type of figure, eventually killed himself when discovered, and somehow the guitar managed to stay in the CMHF collection.

 

[exskibum]

El Toro - having been away from shopping retail music stores for so long, I was gonna ask if it was still common that most new instruments could be had for the standard 30% off msrp just by asking (with up to 40% sometimes possible). Your note about 35% seems to indicate that remains a general practice, and is probably an invaluable bit of info for the OP and anyone else thinking about shopping in retail music stores.

Interesting insights on Bob Taylor's philosophy. A fascinating industry for sure with the old guard (e.g., Fender and Gibson), the high end custom builder/luthiers (e.g., McCollum, Olsen), the offshored manufacture (e.g., in Korea, China, Mexico) by large makers and then the vintage stuff. Mostly over my head or beyond my means, but I'm happy just to have a few guitars I like to play. Most of what I need to do at this stage of life is downsizing, but like I said, a beater beach guitar for short $$ would be fun to find.

 

[exskibum]

ESB: Sounds like you need to double check your homeowner's insurance policy to make sure these are covered for replacement value.

Exactly what I was thinking. Feck, but this phenomenon of getting old and disoriented happens fast.

 

[El Toro]

If you've got valuable guitars, it is best to get them covered with a policy from Heritage, and insurer of musical instruments of all types.

You come to an agreement on the value, based on mutually accepted appraisals, and then the guitar is insured for that amount. Ellis Hershman is the broker. Literally everyone in the business of collecting guitars recommends them. Ellis can be contacted at

[email protected]

The insurance is not expensive. It's designed for the working musician who takes guitars to gigs, or for the collector who mostlly curates his guitars.

 

[Bounce]

Excellent info here. This thread has become very useful thanks to all the contributions. Thanks for the contact El Toro!

Anyone willing to risk it by putting up some links to sound bites?

I'm still a beginner, but did this because of the good natured heckling I took from some fellow riders over on FB. I was playing with the Les Paul and the Marshall DSL40C. The song is being played over the computer's external speakers and recorded in Garage Band on the Macbook using a Blue Seti mic with the mix of my rhythm being pushed to the front on purpose. The room is far too reflective and blah blah blah (fill in the additional excuses to your own satisfaction here).

Shoot to Thrill

Relentless

 

[BugR]

Being playing for almost 40 years now.

Strongly recommend you find a good human teacher, I have spent years correcting poor habits which may get you playing quickly but will rapidly bring your progress to a halt, I got stuck for 15 years at the hobby level messing around with books and DVD's,

First year with my instructor taught me more than anything I could figure out by myself.

Chris

 

[bluesdog]

@ Bounce:

+100

 

[Bounce]

Here's some more cat-skinning. This time with the Martin.

All previous caveats and disclaimers apply. Everything, again, one take wonders.

Setting the levels

Put Your Lights On

Knockin' On Heaven's Door

The song settings are lower than the previous so this mix is biased to me even more.

Cocain

 

[bluesdog]

Good stuff!

A while back I was coaxed on stage to play an improv version for the solo section of 'Mustang Sally' with my (real) musician friend, Jeff Lakey

I played a vintage '67 Guild Starfire I'd purchased for a 'song' (ha ha!) sometime earlier.

Somehow, I managed to pull off a decent performance, and no one threw vegetation.

It was a blast!

Sadly, there's no recording of that seminal moment in rock & roll history, but I remain hopeful that someday I may gain the skills and chutzpah to stand once again in the limelight.

 

[FJRPittsburgh]

Bass guitarist from back in the '80's. I gave it up long ago. I just listen to Geddy Lee's bass runs from all 40 years of recordings with Rush and I'm good. Fabulous work by Geddy and the boys.

 

[Bounce]

Good stuff!
A while back I was coaxed on stage to play an improv version for the solo section of 'Mustang Sally' with my (real) musician friend, Jeff Lakey

I played a vintage '67 Guild Starfire I'd purchased for a 'song' (ha ha!) sometime earlier.

Somehow, I managed to pull off a decent performance, and no one threw vegetation.

It was a blast!

Sadly, there's no recording of that seminal moment in rock & roll history, but I remain hopeful that someday I may gain the skills and chutzpah to stand once again in the limelight.

Sounds like it was (a blast). Nice!

 

[fjrchooser]

If you have a PS3 or Xbox the Rocksmith game software can give you some good practice time with the electric guitar of your choice. So many people burn up hundreds of hours maxing out Guitar Hero and then still come away with no actual guitar skills, not so with Rocksmith.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocksmith

 

[yanktar]

Actually there's lots of great inexpensive guitars out there that play very well.

If I could only have one new guitar and couldn't spend more than $350, I'd get a Yamaha APX500IIFM. It's acoustic electric, with built in tuner, easy to carry, fairly light strings for an acoustic, with a cutaway, and will take a lot of abuse and still play well. I found one used for $200 I leave at the beach and a friend has one that's a real beater that he STILL can make sing (far better than me). Of course, the big acoustic dreadnaught Yamahas are more expensive and compete with Taylor, Martin and Gibson.

But I also have an inexpensive Taylor, a 110CE that's a better sounding and playing guitar, but a bit heavier fretboard. I had the bridge lowered just a bit when I had it set up. It's a better guitar, but more fragile.

As someone pointed out, solid body electrics are super nice because you can play at any time of day or night and not disturb anyone. Fenders and Squiers are like machines, with bolt-on necks with built-in adjusters. A copy of the Fender Stratocaster Handbook is GREAT for guys who know how to work on bikes because it's all mechanical. I happen to think the Squier J.Mascis Jazzmaster is one of the best bargains out there. Inexpensive, but plays like a far more expensive Jazzie. Like the Classic Player, it has a Gibson-style bridge that doesn't go out of alignment like the original bridge.

If you shop carefully, there are good bargains on used guitars out there. But trying to buy them as an investment takes extremely good knowledge. I have one friend who's good at it, and usually has about 20 instruments. He's always buying or selling one and usually makes a profit. He does the same with motorcycles and may be the only person I know who repeatedly gets bargains on Harleys and makes money selling them. Currently, he's on a gold-wing, but next year? That could change!

 

[Bounce]

To go with the guitar they asked we get for their 2 year old son, my daughter got a Seagull and my SiL got a Yamaha fg150(?). I've played the Seagull and it was nice.

Hold your nose for this 1 take wonder. Apologies to Mr. Bowie, but something (beginner try) for his passing.

 

[yanktar]

An FG150 should be a nice guitar. And Seagull makes a really nice product as well. Nothing to apologize for there. The only problem should be the fingers and the seat! (kinda like the only problem with my computer is usually between the keyboard and the chair!)

 

[HotRodZilla]

Hey, Mad German, how are the guitar lessons going? I saw this girl's video and thought of this thread. Holy ****, she has talent. I've already watched it twice!

[Youtube]

 

[Bounce]

Found this as a good supplement since this was last updated.

I blew through the lessons leading up to about level 4 on lead and 6 on chords. Then they got challenging (as in more than 1 or 2 times through to get a challenge right). Self paced and pretty much what basic lessons cover but able to listen and provide feedback on your schedule. You'll not learn to read music with it but tabs will become easier.

https://yousician.com/

 

[s.ga.rider]

I took lessons years ago and the instructor had narcolepsy. It was entertaining with him falling asleep in the middle of talking but also aggravating since I was paying for it....