Re: Accustic Guitar Questions-Thanks and Les Paul Story-One more comment

One last thing. I have read time and again about playing different
guitars and deciding what you like. As a somewhat "non experienced"
player, this can be a little difficult to understand, since when I go
to a store, most of the guitars sound somewhat similar to me. For
those of you starting out, let me give you an example. I was in Sam
Ash a few weeks ago and was playing many different guitars. All pretty
much the same in a general sense. I had mentioned in my original post
about a Taylor I found. What happened was that after about an hour, I
noticed this Taylor hung high up in a corner. I was finally able to
reach it and pulled it down and sat down to strum a few chords. At
first I thought that there was something wrong with the guitar since
it sounded different that those I had been playing. As I continue to
play, two thoughts crossed my mind. The first caused me to look around
to make sure no one was witnessing how long it was taking me to change
between cords! The second was to realize that there was nothing wrong,
but that this guitar was something special. To my ears, it didn't
sound so much like a guitar, but the ringing of church bells. Almost
like wind chimes....hell, maybe there was something wrong, but I
realized that this guitar was special. When that happens, I suspect
that you have found "your" guitar. Unfortunately I was not in the
market for buying a new guitar. NOW, with all your helpful hints about
what to look for in a new guitar, I am starting to obsess about
another guitar even though I am not ready. I just wanted you all to
know that "so help me god" if I go out this weekend and spend all that
money on that guitar, if it is still there, may the 'pox from hell" be
on you all.....;0
PS.... A special thanks to Mr. Heineken for this post!











On Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:03:26 -0400, Jim White <jim.white@xxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Thanks for the advise you have given so far. Clearing up some
questions for me. Just as an "aside" and in response to another
posters questions about spending a lot of money on a guitar. I have
been obsessed with guitars and guitar players for many years. Played
in a few small bands nearly thirty five years ago, but dropped it when
life became "serious". I was in the hospital yet again a few months
ago for a recurring problem..clogged arteries...and I way laying there
thinking that someday, I might not get out of the hospital and if I am
going to start playing again, I'd better start now. Couple days after
I am out and while watching TV, Woodstock, the movie came on. I had
never seen the whole movie. It was when Alvin Lee came on that I was
blown away. I love watching Vai etc playing but something just clicked
with Lee. Next morning I am at guitar center and buy a beautiful
Epiphone to see if I am really into it. Unfortunately I have always
been hooked by the Gibson name....I know, I know....and after a week,
it was back to Guitar Center to trade on a Gib LP Standard. While I
was at the counter, I happened to glance up near the ceiling and
notice what can only be described as a work of art. I asked what it
was and turns out it was a Gibson LP Custom 60's thin neck reissue
(Guitar Center run, so cheaper than the regular reissue.) What a
beauty, but cost more than I was willing to pay. For three days I
looked at the one I bought and thought of the one I had left behind.
Finally it becaume too much and BACK to guitar center I went and left
with my "Mona Lisa". I have never seen a gibson or any other guitar
with this wood pattern....picture page's guitar with a carmel edge
instead of red and the light wood patterns going up and down like
flames instead of the usual gibson pattern going across. Anyway, my
instructor kept hammering me about buying an acoustic to learn on,
which would make playing the electric easier... which it does. I won't
go into the story of how many accoustics I traded for in a month to
get to my Seagull, but think 3. I have always hated holding and
playing an acoustic, but the SQ "fits" me so perfectly from a physical
and sound standpoint that now I almost never play the electric. The
only way I can justify paying so much money for a guitar with my
experience level is that just practicing on the acoustic and looking
at the les paul has made me obsessed with learning and playing. It
would suck to think that so beautiful a guitar would not be played at
least marginally well. To the guy that asked about spending a lot on a
guitar a few weeks ago, my advise is ONLY if you have got some money
in the bank and ONLY after all this crap with his wife is just water
under the bridge. Don't care what his justification was and NO I
don't always take my own adivse...:)
Sorry for the long post, but what got me started was that I wanted to
say that I went to the Iridium Jazz club in NYC (I live in Brooklyn)
and saw Les Paul this past Monday for my birthday. He is over 90 years
old and can still really kick it up. He plays two shows every Monday.
Worth going to see if only from the historical standpoint. Funny guy
and good backing band.
















On Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:07:15 -0400, Jim White <jim.white@xxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Realizing that sound is in the ear of the beholder etc, I have the
following questions.

1. Does the electronics etc. of an electric acoustic effect the sound
in any sort of negative way, compared to a non electric setup. Not
sure I am calling this type of guitar by the right name, but you know
what I mean....hooks up to an amp.

2. Is it worth the money to go to a good custom luthier as opposed to
buying off the rack, so to speak.

3. Anyone know a good luthier who builds acoustic in the New York
region.

4. I have a seagull which sounds pretty good. My instructor has a
Martin that sounds better, but I'm not sure it sounds that much better
for the money he paid. I played a Taylor off the rack that had the
best sound I have ever hear. It was a couple thousand and I wish I had
bought it. My instructor didn't seem all that impressed with Taylors.
Any opinions on the Taylors in general.

5. If money was no object (which it is), what is your dream electric
acoustic guitar. I say electric acoustic since that is what I want for
my next guitar....don't know if it makes any difference.
.

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