Lunch Report - Thursday 15th september -

[supereiv]

Hi, here we go for day 4.
A big thank you for all the compliments I received for the pictures I showed you in yesterday's LR,
I am very touched !

Lunch was a curry chicken with rice, a fat-free chocolate yoghurt and a pear. I love pear and my daughter would crush the entire house for one! it's funny how things are handed down from parents to children.

My daughter is only 2 years and 4 months old, but she wants to make music since she can say the word "no" . At the moment, she says she wanna play drums !!! I hope she will change her mind because I live in an apartment... For those of you who have children, do they play an instrument ? Do you think you being a musician led them to do so ?
I wonder how I will manage her future daily "boring" exercises if she plays an instrument one day

Well, let's go for the questions of the day :

G&L question :
Would you buy a G&L sight unseen ? Why ?

Me... mmh... actually I already did it. Partly because I saw only 2 new G&L in a store for the past 7 years, and partly because the prices, custom fees included, are still better in the U.S. I don't regret it at all, I know myself well and I had a Legacy at the time, I was really confident. I wouldn't have done this with other brands.

NON-G&L question :
How did you learn music, with a teacher/mentor, or by yourself ?

I learned guitar by myself at the age of 15, and I graduated a private music school at the age of 20, where I didn't learned lots of things that I didn't already knew, except harmony. Actually this school got the music more complicated for me. Recently I've been in collective lessons of jazz improvisations, and the teacher, a saxophone player, really made me go several steps further as a musician and that's what I was looking for

cheers, have a good day
Xavier

[astutzmann]

great week so far!

I bought all 3 of my G&Ls sight unseen. Reason being that I'm a lefty and there aren't any lefties hanging around. Also, to get what you really want, I don't mind ordering new. No issues with getting my G&Ls. I would be much more worried if I had ordered a fender or gibson sight unseen.


When I was a little kid, my parents said I had to take up an instrument (anything except drums). Since I couldn't decide, they decided I would learn accordion. So, I took 4 years accordion lessons and hated it (accordion being so uncool). The best part was that I wound up with grade 4 music theory which has really helped me to pick up the guitar at an advanced age. I can read the music, learned tabs. Now just need the fingers to work! In high school, I played clarinet and sax, same thing, the music theory was a blessing.

Now I take guitar lessons biweekly, they are great and more of a motivational thing to keep me going and trying new things. Learning a bunch of jazz chords now.

I don't have kids, but feel that you need to figure out a way to have the child self-motivate and learn the stuff (cause they want to), as apposed to having it jammed down their throat (like in my case). Kids today are much smarter and more interested! Its cool! Good luck with yours!

[blargfromouterspace]

I've bought all three of G&Ls unseen, and fully anticipate doing it again. They each feel very different and I love them all equally. The exchange rate for $AU-$US has gone up by 27% since I bought mine, and the new dealer in Australia has brand new US G&L guitars for about the same price as the US once you factor in shipping/taxes. It's a particularly good time to buy an instrument. I'm hoping to win some money to be able to spec out a nice ASAT before the $US recovers.

I started playing when I was 13, and taught myself from TAB in magazines. By far the best, quickest and most fun way I have learnt is by playing with other people. I too hope to be able to play jazz one day. I'm putting it off until after uni - as an engineering student I have enough confusing stuff to deal with without the added ???? of jazz chords.

No kids here either. My girlfriends niece and nephew (4 & 6 years old) come over quite a bit, and her nephew always wants to play my guitars, and I let him. That sort of thing should be encouraged. I plug him into the amp with the pedals and let him make obnoxious noises until he gets bored. Thank god kids have a limited attention span! He loves music and has a little accordion. We get, ahem, "treated" to concerts where he'll play and his sister will dance about to it. They're very cute. It's always a relief when their parents come and pick them up...

[darwinohm]

I really like the early lunch reports!

I am a self taught musician and started at 4 when I found a Banjo in the attic. My daughter, who is 41, started playing guitar about 4 years ago and now is a member of her church band. She has become quite accomplished and always razzed me about my guitar habit. She now has 13 , some of them given to her by me, and I will bet that she will not stop there. She has picked up on the visual beauty of a guitar, and discovered the bonus is playing them.

I have purchased a guitar on e-bay and it was exactly as described, in pristine condition. I was lucky. I like to see the used ones before buying but I would not be afraid to buy a new one on line. I have done that several times.

We have been empty nesters for at least 10 years but do spend a lot of time with the two grand daughters. It is really fun as they are now 8 and 11. They also have guitars and play them but are not as interested as their mother. When they stop over, the first thing they do is check for new ones and they do find them. Grand kids, another bonus in life-- Darwin

[yowhatsshakin]

Good morning Xavier (at least over here)

Quick answers before I have to scoot off to work.

G&L question :
Would you buy a G&L sight unseen ? Why ?

Most of my guitars were actually bought not necessarily unseen, the web and good pics do an excellent job there, but certainly unplayed. But would I buy one unseen? Yes, if it is a trusted source: my collector friends and certain stores.

NON-G&L question :
How did you learn music, with a teacher/mentor, or by yourself ?

Never had a lesson in my life and used records and the radio as my teacher learning to play along with songs. And many times I scold myself that that shows (or sounds) Wish I would have learned to read music. Oh well, ... I still love it for the relaxation and the brain exercise it gives me. The importance of music and playing guitar for me is more than I'll ever be able to express in words. I always know I have a trusted friend in the corner of my living room.

- Jos

[Dave_P]

My daughter is only 13 months old and has already expressed interest in music She loves to explore my music room and strum the guitars or dance to whatever I am playing, although it gets a bit dangerous sometimes with the risk of guitars falling over. Best part is whenever she hears a guitar now she perks up and says "da-da?" I hope it lasts, I think it is so important for kids to be involved with music.

Would you buy a G&L sight unseen ? Why ?

Both ASAT's I've bought unseen, the first was absolutely perfect, not a scratch on it and fit almost all of my preferences, couldn't have done better special ordering one from a dealer. Second ASAT, was much older, for it's age it's in great condition but not immaculate, it sounds great, even a little nicer than the first. I don't really have any G&L dealers locally, so the internet is the best way to purchase for me, and probably will do it again.

How did you learn music, with a teacher/mentor, or by yourself ?

I learned for the most part by myself, tab was a huge help. I did take lessons on and off but never found a teacher who I really clicked with. At one point in time I could read music but that knowledge was lost somewhere down the line, wish I still could read it.

-Dave

[supereiv]

Reading... Well... I can read, and that's what I think : unless you're a classical music player ( and in that case you can read already, as 80% of classical lessons is spent reading music) or a studio musician, you don't really need it ! On the other hand, what you need is a good ear : being able to pick up a phrase on the fly, or visualize it in your head before playing it, replay the phrases that you love, it's how it's been done in jazz and blues since 2 centuries, it's how one builds his/her style,
But a good ear is being able to play with a good touch too, a good sound, pleasant to the other musicians and the public, isn't it what we're here for ?
As always, IMHO AFAIK and all that sort of things.

[Philby]

I've bought 2 instruments on EBay and I'll probably buy more. An '84 Japanese strat from Japan was a much nicer guitar than I was expecting though it came with a woeful setup. A '95 S-500 that I bought from Sydney was somewhat less satisfying, probably because I had such high expectations. Everything about it was set up wrong and the PTB system did not work as I've seen it described. It still needs a comprehensive fret level and crown to play properly and then I'll be a satisfied owner.

I have a 6 year old son and 3 year old daughter. The 6 year old doesn't really pay much attention to music or guitars except to complain about how much time I spend playing them. The 3 y.o. strums the electric guitar by my bed every morning and asks for a song. When she's naughty (quite often) we send her to her room. Lately she's taken up the habit of sitting in the corner with a toy harmonica and playing the toddler blues. It's hilarious. I think she'll be the musician in the house.

I did enough piano as a kid to be able to sight read. I don't know if I still can. I haven't had the need for years! I've never had a guitar lesson in my life but could definitely benefit from some good tuition. I read an interview with Mark Knopfler where he said he tries to sit down with a good instructional book once a week to try some new exercises. I think recognising the need to improve is a really important attribute, but doing something about it is the hardest part!

[zapcosongs]

Fantastic week you have going here, Xavier. I apologize sincerely for my lack of participation of late. The kids just started back in school, we're getting them enrolled in their other activities, and helping to care for my elderly parents and I haven't had much time.....

I really enjoyed your photographs. I also appreciated the way the different cameras/films influenced the way the pictures told the stories....

As far as today's questions, here goes (quickly, unfortunately, as I need to set up two weeks of medicines for the folks who I will be seeing tomorrow AM in connection with doctors' appointments.....

btw, lunch today was actually a bit interesting: Sandwich on whole wheat containing sliced roasted chicken, thinly sliced ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, mayo, lettuce. Reduced-salt potato chips, half a banana, and filtered water. (I'm saving my Pear for tomorrow!!!)

As to today's excellent questions:

1) I have two kids, boys age 8 and (nearly) 10. The older one has taken interest in guitar. I am instilling in him an appreciation for G&L. These were taken when he was seven or so:





2) I have purchased all my G&Ls sight unseen on eBay. I have NEVER been disappointed. Perhaps I have been lucky, but I do my homework and only buy from the very most reputable of sellers.

3) I learned music through taking piano lessons from the time I was four until age twelve. I HATED to practice, and although I was good for my age, I no longer enjoyed it. I took up the guitar at age 14 or so. I play poorly, due mostly to my lack of practice and my sub-par level of physical coordination, but I enjoy it. I am a VERY modest man, but I think I may have some songwriting ability - which is an entirely different talent than being able to play guitar well.

Thanks again for a very entertaining week. Would love to get to Paris one day... I'm a bit afraid, as the only French words I know are Pierre and formage..... - ed

[zapcosongs]

I just want to post a correction. In retrospect I did NOT purchase ALL of my G&Ls sight-unseen. I learned of my '86 ASAT when I visited Zombywoof a few years back when he lived in the area, and he offered to sell me that guitar or a Broadcaster her had of the prior year (duh!).
Well, the ASAT spoke strong to me, and I let the Broadcaster go. (I know there are Some Broadcasters out there that would kick some ASAT ass though. Only natural....

Anyway, I think my point is that I got to play a Brother's guitar before I decided to buy it. Never mind. Go back to whatever... ;+) - ed

[darwinohm]

Ed, good looking young uns, good looking guitars, you da man!!!-- Darwin

[darwinohm]

Ed, good looking young uns, good looking guitars, you da man!!!-- Darwin

[KenC]

Great questions again today, Xavier!

G&L question: Of my seven (soon to be eight) G&L guitars and one G&L bass, three were bought sight-unseen. The F-100 was purchased from a G&LDP member's collection, and I have to say it was better than he described (in my opinion - his "nice" was my "excellent-plus"). Six months later, I'm still ecstatic with that purchase. A mid-90s ASAT ordered from Guitar Center was exactly as described, but just didn't have the right feel to the neck and the tone wasn't what I anticipated. It went straight back, to be exchanged for an '88 ASAT which became my go-to instrument. I'll get my first glimpse of the SC-2 when the shop opens on Saturday morning.

I would definitely consider buying more G&Ls without seeing them first, but it needs to be from somebody I trust or a shop with a solid return policy. I almost pulled the trigger on a mid-80s Invader on eBay last spring, but backed out when the seller told me "all sales are absolutely final, even if it's not as advertised - but don't worry, you can trust me".

Kids and music: I have two boys, ages five and eight. Both of them have guitars on the brain (must be heredity). I gave the older one a short scale MIM Fender bass for his birthday, but he seems much more excited about having it than about learning to play it. He's also about to take cello lessons at his school. He has been making up humorous songs since the age of five. Most of them are quick improvisations, but he did write a song that he sang for his teachers last year.

I had my younger son in a local guitar shop a couple of months ago (it's a weekend ritual for us), when one of the guys working there mentioned they had a used child-sized electric. It was a very scaled down version of a Les Paul goldtop, with a single pickup. It actually played very well. They were selling it for not much more than pocket change, so I bought it so my son could make the inevitable gouging/dinging/dropping mistakes on a very inexpensive instrument. He was thrilled and wouldn't put it down for anything. That night I looked it up on the internet and discovered that it was actually an early-80s rarebird. It turns out that Eddie Van Halen used to play one in concert, and Frank Zappa used three of them as his main guitars in his last couple of years. That was a new dilemma for me: risk a rare guitar's destruction at the hands of a five year old, or take away my kid's new toy? We went out and bought a VERY well padded ukulele gig bag the next day (which fit it perfectly), and he decided on his own that he wanted to keep it safe in his closet until his hands are big enough to play it. Problem solved, at least for the next year or two. I know he will be thrilled one day that he made this decision...

Ken C

[sam]

Fun stuff Xavier!

My kids actively taken piano lessons a few years, oldest also picked up a wooden flute and plays for fun, and both strum my guitars and bang on the house drum kit.

Only one of G&L's, ASAT sig, was bought unseen. The others were off ebay and web guitar shop with pictures. Only one truly sight unseen, my 88 ASAT, great score. Would not hesitate buying G&L unseen, with pics and some verification of geetar and seller.

Primarily self taught starting about 13. Have taken some lessons and toiled over instructional books, online instruction, VHS and DVD lessons with some success. Success in learning techniques, not success in sounding better!

[Boogie Bill]

Yes, many of the sixteen G&Ls I have were bought from E-bay; two from Harmony Central, and now two from Dwasifar in the Marketplace. I bought one new from a store; and I've bought two used in face-to-face sales. One Ebay Legacy had some undisclosed damage to the maple fingerboard, and I got a $30 rebate. I have one Legacy that I bought from Ebay that has a very weird neck that I don't care for, but the guitar is otherwise perfect. A G&L is one of the very few guitars I would buy online. A Taylor or an Ovation would be about the only acoustic I would buy sight unseen, because of their consistency.

I took a few drum lessons when I was about six. Started on guitar when I was about 14-15. My "formal music lessons? came from my mother, who played violin and piano, and she taught me out of Mel Bay's "Fun With The Guitar" book.

Bill

[Ledergeist]

For those of you who have children, do they play an instrument ? Do you think you being a musician led them to do so ?

My 8 yr-old son has been taking drum lessons from a friend of ours for a few months now. Mainly on a practice pad, but he does get rewarded with some time on the kit in our basement after his lesson.
What's neat about that is the kick and some other bits are from my Dads kit, which I banged around on as a young'un.

G&L question :
Would you buy a G&L sight unseen ? Why ?

With no pics? Only from a member here. But all my current ones were bought online with the benefit of good pics and an honest description...

NON-G&L question :
How did you learn music, with a teacher/mentor, or by yourself ?

As for guitar, I took some lessons from a guy a couple years ahead of me at school. Probably around 20 sessions with him during the summer when I was 15 as well...
Toward the end of those, I was just bringing him records for him to learn so he could show me... Nothing formal after that.

cheers, have a good day
Xavier

Ciao