My Instruments

[Gary W]

Some of the stuff I mess around with at home. Good enough for an old guy like me:

[Fitzie]

Some nice looking gear , Gary , my youngest son has a good collection of electric guitars and a couple Acoustics , I will get him to post them some time for you to take a " BOO " at

[Gary W]

Thanks Fitzie. I don't have any really high-end instruments now.
In my younger days I had Martins (D-18/28/35), a couple of Gibson acoustics, a 70s Telecaster with Twin Reverb amp, banjos, Dobros, and mandolins.

The instruments I have now all hold their tuning well and are nice to play. My fingers don't work as well anymore due to arthritis. Some days they are okay and other days I can barely make a G chord. My ears still work pretty good for figuring out chords so I enjoy doing that from time-to-time.

I look forward to seeing the pictures of your son's guitars. If he has trouble putting them on, let me know and I'll pass on how to do it.

Cheers.
Gary
PS: Is it wet and cold in your part of NS? It has been miserable here.

[Cajunmichael]

Love the old square neck resonator. How you like those Washburns after playing Martins? I have fender Cd-60 accoustic, Fender Strat, and Gibson The Paul, Yamaha 12 string D-12 I call the cheese grater. I play through a crate Modeling Amp, will get some pics for yall soon. Been dreaming of owning a Marin since first time I played one when I was 13. Read the other day Vince Gill just bought a 1950 Martin Dreadnaught Not sure which one, he got it at the bargain basement price of 60, grand.. :-O. Got my eye on a Martin Johnny Cash signature for $3,000 On this workers Comp Budget I guess I be a while.
Thanks for the new section!

[Gary W]

The resonator guitar is fun to play and easy on the fingers... just have to move the steel around. I don't play it well but I love the sound of it. I found a funny youtube video of a guy playing the same model guitar. It is only one person but he made it look like twins playing (good player): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o83WUun3-c
You can hear the sound of the Eastwood Stormbird at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U4itU8NLgY

Of the 3 Martins I had, the one I wish I had kept was the D-18. It was the least expensive but it had a terrific sound. The 28 and 35 were okay but a lot of less expensive guitars that my friends had sounded as good as and some better than the Martins.
My Washburn DM2000SCE has a better neck (action) (for my hands) than the Martins did and sounds as good as the 28 and 35. I should add that I bought the D-35 in mint condition from a guy who bought it to "learn" how to play guitar. Pretty good beginners guitar. He got fed up and sold it to me, with the blue molded Martin case for 500 bucks.

When you get a brand name like Gibson, Martin, Taylor, etc., you can expect to get a decent guitar. However, I believe a big part of their price is because of the name. I have seen some inexpensive guitars that, for whatever reason, play and sound as good as the big brands.

I look forward to the pictures of your gear.

I have an opportunity to buy a Fender Protone Strat. There are some good writeups on them.

Thank you for this section. It was your idea.

PS: I might get a guitar like the one Vince Gill got. I just have to scrap up anther 59,800. lol

[Cajunmichael]

I tell ya, my lil Fender CD -60 Has an awesome sound and pretty versatile. Especially if ya like some delta blues type ( what I call beating on it ) but it will also make some pretty music too. Only spent 100 on it 6 years old in a pawn shop. Changed the saddle and nut to bone and had a luthier file the frets for me . so the action is custom and FAST and clean for a low end guitar. the bone nut and saddle made a huge difference in the sound. I don't like buying any acoustic guitar new . Older the guitar the better the sound, provided it was taken care of. I also have a trick I do every time I leave the house. whether an hour or a week I leave my stereo on not to loud with my acoustics in front of the speakers. the sound vibrations going through it ages the sound even more.
No matter the name, Taylor Martin etc. new or used, nothing like a couple hundred bucks at a good luthiers shop getting it set up to you and your playing style. I can do a lot myself, just don't trust myself filing frets yet. bought a pawn shop special last week for 50 bucks to practice on though..LOL
After watching those vids you posted I'm thinking bout checking into some dobro's myself love the sound

[Gary W]

Cajunmichael, lol I have also left acoustic guitars near speakers with music playing. I do believe it helps.

In my photos at top you will see the little Stella made around 1928. These were an inexpensive guitar back then that were given out if you took a correspondence guitar course. The ad said the guitar was valued at 15 dollars. LOL
These little guitars sound great. Here is a guy playing the same model on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2NGonYDtQA


The newest member of my guitar family.
It is a Fender Squire ProTone Strat
This is a great playing and wonderful sounding guitar. Mine was made it 1997 in Korea. The ProTone (which is top of the line Squire) were of a quality that rivaled the more expensive made in Mexico and USA Strats. I have played both and this ProTone does not take a back seat to them. It plays like butter. SWEET guitar!!!



I found this write up on Ebay:
If you know Fender, you know the Pro Tone... Only made for three years, this guitar is above and beyond the average squire ! Pro Tones have satin finished necks amazingly smooth unlike the vintage gloss finish. You will also find they have better full size 'CORTEK' pots and a full size bridge and block with hardened steel saddles. Plays well, ... the action is unbelievable ! As one review stated "I would buy it without a second thought. From what i've read about them, they're a hell-of-a-lot better than the mexican fenders and squier discontinued them because they wanted to stay as more of an entry level brand and these were WAY MORE than an entry level guitar and it was hurting the sales of the american strats which were four times the money.

[reddevils]

hi guys, what a fantastic range of guitars you've got Gary. I was so in awe of seeing them, that i decided to share my collection with you all. At the moment, the fender is the one i play the most, because like you Gary, i have trouble with Arthritis. The only trouble is to find time to play them all in the day with sorting the dogs out and having my grandchildren. The accoustic is a Guvinor. I chose this make to take advantage of the five year guarentee. Then there is my favourite the Epiphone which makes a terriffic sound. Then comes my Gibson Les Paul Studio which i keep for sunday best.

Best Regards reddevils

[Gary W]

reddevils, thanks for the picture. Some nice stuff. We both have too many guitars and not enough hands, lol.
Do you play the keyboard or use it for some rhythm to play along with?

[reddevils]

I use it for both gary, sometimes I use it to play songs and other times I use it for back up for my guitar.One I like doing best is
( Running Bear ). I use the tom toms on the keyboard as backing for my guitar and vocals. But as I say finding time is the hardest
especially this time of the year, winter time is best when the weather prevents me from doing jobs outside. My wife recently asked me if I was going to open a shop with all the guitars I had.

Best regards reddevils.