Joined: 10 Jul 2004 Posts: 71 Location: northern California
Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 7:43 pm Post subject: Hey
Hi -
I'm Greg and new to this forum. I've been playing guitar since the mid 60's. But I quit for a while in 1980. In December of 2000 I picked it up again and found that it's NOT like riding a bike. I basically have been learning it all over again.
I've been studying theory a little bit and have been going over scales. But my biggest challenge is application, application, application. I'm just trying to sound melodic in everything I play.
I say I'm a jazz/blues guitarist. But saying I play jazz is a bit of a stretch because there's so much to learn. I'm learning it. Trying to, anyway.
Joined: 06 Oct 2003 Posts: 70 Location: Lake Tahoe
Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2004 6:59 am Post subject:
Welcome Greg!
Where 'bouts ya from? You might want to edit your profile, to list a location..
A lot of us gear heads here would love to hear what you're playing with these days. I myself have collected too much, and too much debt as well.. So, I think I'll be putting a few up on ebay soon.. but, it would be nice to get some of those cards cut up again. heh
Joined: 10 Jul 2004 Posts: 71 Location: northern California
Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2004 8:07 am Post subject:
Hi Patrick -
Well, my gear is relatively small compared to what some people have. My guitars are: Fender strat with Bill Lawrence pickups; a Washburn Nuno N1 with BL pickups ( put a split on them, and the guitar has a very nice strat quality to it; plus, I like the small body); an Epiphone EJ200 acoustic; and a Cort M800 (a poor man's Baker or PRS).
As for amps: I currently own a Peavey Classic 50 410 and a Peavey Prowler - neither of which meet my needs. They've both been in the shop too much (and the Prowler is currently there again). So I'm looking for a good amp. I would love to get a Fuchs, but budget is a problem.
For recording I'm using a POD. It's OK, but I would rather use a good tube amp.
And that's about it. Like I said, I really don't have much.
Joined: 06 Oct 2003 Posts: 70 Location: Lake Tahoe
Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2004 9:48 am Post subject:
Greg, cool.. I have a Peavey Classic 50 (2x12), although I havn't played it in a couple of years. Hey, you could have worse amps.. Atleast it runs with a couple 6L6 power tubes! I can't bring myself to sell my Fuchs. It's the best amp I've ever played. I just need to do some more tweaking with it, and of course work on my technique!
ttyl,
Patrick
Last edited by midc74 on Tue Aug 03, 2004 4:16 pm; edited 1 time in total
Joined: 19 Sep 2003 Posts: 646 Location: City of Trees, USA
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 3:27 pm Post subject:
Welcome aboard!
I enjoyed checking out your web site, and listening to some of your music. Your background info is very thought-provoking. As the offeratory prayer says, "All things come of thee, Oh Lord, and of thine own have we given unto thee."
So where in NorCal? It's a big place. Bay Area? Sacramento Valley? Modoc country? Redwood corridor?
By the way, down here we think anything north of Santa Barbara is Northern California. In fact, even some neighborhoods in Santa Barbara are Northern California. _________________ - BlueRunner
Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Posts: 943 Location: Terra Firma, Ether Sea
Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2004 7:53 am Post subject:
BlueRunner wrote:
By the way, down here we think anything north of Santa Barbara is Northern California. In fact, even some neighborhoods in Santa Barbara are Northern California.
LOL!
I recently, upon return from a tour, tried to rent a car at LAX from Enterprise to get me home to Bakersfield, one hour above L.A.'s "valley" communities. They wouldn't do it because their policy is to not rent one way vehicles to northern California!
In all my on again-off again years of living in many different parts of this state, beginning at the age of 5, that was the FIRST time I have ever heard anyone, anywhere, refer to any city from Fresno south being in northern Cal.
In fact, there has been that continuing debate to split the state, just below the San Francisco bay area, into a "North California" & "South California" going on for many, many years. Makes sense in some ways, as the two are entirely different worlds (something many visitors to California don't realize... most think the entire state is L.A.-esque), but I really doubt it will ever happen in my lifetime. _________________ B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)
Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 886 Location: SF Bay Area
Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 3:09 pm Post subject:
Daved wrote:
In fact, there has been that continuing debate to split the state, just below the San Francisco bay area, into a "North California" & "South California" going on for many, many years. Makes sense in some ways, as the two are entirely different worlds (something many visitors to California don't realize... most think the entire state is L.A.-esque), but I really doubt it will ever happen in my lifetime.
I've often thought that was why Robben lives in Ojai. As a native northern Californian, it's in our blood to dispise anything south of the Tehachapies (sp?).
Many years ago I used to do a lot of water skiing in the delta, and had to drive the boat past the inlet to the Delta Mendota canal (that big concrete sluiceway running next to hwy 5 that sends "our" water down to naturaly parched LA). So much water was being sucked in there, it was hard to keep the boat straight. I used to think that a couple of gallons of expanding pour foam dumped suriptitously over the side of the boat would jam up the works long enough that LA would shrivel up and go away Opps, hope none of those nasty folks are reading this Sorry homeland security investigators, I was just kidding. _________________ There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com
Joined: 19 Sep 2003 Posts: 646 Location: City of Trees, USA
Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 6:05 pm Post subject:
Aeolian: Assuming you've visited Ojai, you've probably figured out that it's like a little slice of Mendocino stashed away in the Los Padres ... except that it's a lot hotter in the summertime.
Jazzyblues: Going back to your introduction, I know what you mean about "time off." I stopped playing guitar around 1977, and didn't go back until two years ago. Fortunately, unlike a bicycle, I can fall off of the guitar without suffering road rash. _________________ - BlueRunner
Joined: 10 Jul 2004 Posts: 71 Location: northern California
Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:40 am Post subject:
Hey BlueRunner -
I was born, raised and live in Sacramento.
As for taking time off for guitar: well, during that time I broke both of my wrists (different times). So when I started guitar again, I had no coordination. I've been literally learning how to play again from scratch, as far as coordination is concerned. I try to practice my coordination, but if I take just a few days off, I'm back at square one.
My little finger on my left hand (I'm right handed) has a mind of its own and just has no desire to cooperate.
That's the main frustration in playing again. In fact, I get so frustrated sometimes that I think about quitting again for good.
So when my website says the Lord humbled me by taking everything away for a while, I really have to rely on him to play anything anymore. Some days are OK. Other days....ouch!
And as for equipment, I just updated a little. I sold both of my Peavey amps and am having Fuchs mod done to my Bassman head. And I just bought a Wolf LP. (Nice guitar.)
_________________ www.mrseamusic.com
My little finger on my left hand (I'm right handed) has a mind of its own and just has no desire to cooperate.
That's the main frustration in playing again. In fact, I get so frustrated sometimes that I think about quitting again for good.
I don't know if this will help, but try taking a look at Robben's instruction videos and note how uses his little finger, backed up with his 3rd and even 2nd finger sometimes, where another guitarist would probably use the 3rd finger. It's almost like he is using just his 1st and little fingers, which in fact he often does. If you try that, you may find that though it is a different feeling, it actually starts to feel pretty good after a while, and may help you to whip that unruly pinky into shape.
Joined: 10 Jul 2004 Posts: 71 Location: northern California
Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2004 6:22 am Post subject:
Thanks, Bill. I actually have Robben's videos and noticed he does that. I guess I've been a little stubborn, wanting to play the way I used to. But obviously that isn't working.
So I think I'll try Robben's way...and see what happens. _________________ www.mrseamusic.com
My little finger on my left hand (I'm right handed) has a mind of its own and just has no desire to cooperate.
That's the main frustration in playing again. In fact, I get so frustrated sometimes that I think about quitting again for good.
I don't know if this will help, but try taking a look at Robben's instruction videos and note how uses his little finger, backed up with his 3rd and even 2nd finger sometimes, where another guitarist would probably use the 3rd finger. It's almost like he is using just his 1st and little fingers, which in fact he often does. If you try that, you may find that though it is a different feeling, it actually starts to feel pretty good after a while, and may help you to whip that unruly pinky into shape.
Bill
I learned a lot from this video : Backing up with other fingers is a great way to slave the pinky : for me it was a matter of pain (my pinky got stuck in a door while i was a kid ) so backing with other fingers was obvious.
Then making each finger doing the same work (touch tone feeling) must be a goal for every Fordabbes......
Joined: 10 Jul 2004 Posts: 71 Location: northern California
Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2004 1:52 pm Post subject:
I practiced "the claw" method a little today and found it helpful in some areas. I'll just have to continue to work with it and see how it progresses. _________________ www.mrseamusic.com
I practiced "the claw" method a little today and found it helpful in some areas. I'll just have to continue to work with it and see how it progresses.
Keep at it for a while. I think it will grow on you. What I like about it is that it keeps your fingers more together rather than splayed out like a rake, so it feels more like you're massaging the fretboard rather than poking at it. It's a much more comfortable feeling. It also keeps me moving around the neck instead of staying in one spot because I move to notes more instead of reaching for them. It means you need to be more comfortable all over the neck, but that too is something worth developing. And finally in my case, as I have a touch of arthritis in my hands, the spread-out fingers approach can actually be painful for me, whereas Robben's "claw" approach is much more relaxed and comfortable.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
but, it would be nice to get some of those cards cut up again. heh
Atleast it runs with a couple 6L6 power tubes! I can't bring myself to sell my Fuchs. It's the best amp I've ever played. I just need to do some more tweaking with it, and of course work on my technique! 
Welcome aboard!
Opps, hope none of those nasty folks are reading this 
