A Lot Can Happen In 50 Years

[alantig]

Fifty years ago this April - April 29, 1971, to be exact - I saw my first concert. Johnny Cash, with June Carter Cash, The Statler Brothers, The Carter Family, and Carl Perkins. Johnny Cash was my first big musical hero. But that wasn’t his biggest impact on me that year.

The exact date is long gone from memory, but it was fifty years ago this month, January 1971, that I took my first guitar lesson. A loaner acoustic for a short period before I had my first guitar - a Harmony that’s still around somewhere at my parents’ house.

Music has always been a big part of my life. Much like I don’t remember discovering a love of Johnny Cash’s music, I don’t remember when I realized that music was something special to me. Both have just always been.

Fifty years is a long time. A ton of music and artists that I’ve loved. A ton of songs that I’ve wanted to learn, and a fraction of those that I actually did learn. A lot of GAS over the years - my old guitar teacher used to tease me when I said I wanted something. He’d just smile and ask, “How about I just get one of every color, and you have your dad bring the truck up to take it all home?”

Eventually, I got my Hondo LP copy. That led to an Aria Flying V copy. I played the crap out of those guitars. In the early 80s, I found myself with a chance to buy a goldtop Les Paul. My first real guitar. A few others followed until I finally got my first PRS in 2004 (after a long time of wanting one).

All in all, this hobby has given me a lot - a lot of practice time, a lot of learning, a lot of frustration, a lot of satisfaction, and a lot of pride. I can still lose myself for hours when I’m working on something, and when the thing is finally done, a lot of satisfaction. It’s also let me meet a lot of wonderful people, including the people in this forum (and a couple others). I’ve talked to some wonderful craftsmen over the years who make the instruments and the parts of the instruments that I love.

My wife calls it my happy place, and I’m fortunate to get to spend time there. I’ve spent a lot of time and money on music, concerts, equipment, and instruments over the years, and I don’t regret any of it. It’s been a constant journey of learning and discovery. And after all this time, the only thing I can say is...

I thought I’d be better by now.

No, wait, not that. Well, that, but moreso - I love this stuff. What a fun ride it’s been.

 

[Warmart]

Sounds perfect to me, rock on brother!

 

[Egads]

50 years ago on April 24th, I was negative One year old. We have so much in common!

 

[DISTORT6]

Happy Golden Anniversary!

 

[Bill SAS 513]

Great write-up, Alan.
Love those stories...and most of ours are probably similar...but for each person, it damn near plants a seed that will fester for a long time!!!
Thanks very much for sharing.

 

[gush]

Fifty years ago this April - April 29, 1971, to be exact - I saw my first concert. Johnny Cash, with June Carter Cash, The Statler Brothers, The Carter Family, and Carl Perkins. Johnny Cash was my first big musical hero. But that wasn’t his biggest impact on me that year.

The exact date is long gone from memory, but it was fifty years ago this month, January 1971, that I took my first guitar lesson. A loaner acoustic for a short period before I had my first guitar - a Harmony that’s still around somewhere at my parents’ house.

Music has always been a big part of my life. Much like I don’t remember discovering a love of Johnny Cash’s music, I don’t remember when I realized that music was something special to me. Both have just always been.

Fifty years is a long time. A ton of music and artists that I’ve loved. A ton of songs that I’ve wanted to learn, and a fraction of those that I actually did learn. A lot of GAS over the years - my old guitar teacher used to tease me when I said I wanted something. He’d just smile and ask, “How about I just get one of every color, and you have your dad bring the truck up to take it all home?”

Eventually, I got my Hondo LP copy. That led to an Aria Flying V copy. I played the crap out of those guitars. In the early 80s, I found myself with a chance to buy a goldtop Les Paul. My first real guitar. A few others followed until I finally got my first PRS in 2004 (after a long time of wanting one).

All in all, this hobby has given me a lot - a lot of practice time, a lot of learning, a lot of frustration, a lot of satisfaction, and a lot of pride. I can still lose myself for hours when I’m working on something, and when the thing is finally done, a lot of satisfaction. It’s also let me meet a lot of wonderful people, including the people in this forum (and a couple others). I’ve talked to some wonderful craftsmen over the years who make the instruments and the parts of the instruments that I love.

My wife calls it my happy place, and I’m fortunate to get to spend time there. I’ve spent a lot of time and money on music, concerts, equipment, and instruments over the years, and I don’t regret any of it. It’s been a constant journey of learning and discovery. And after all this time, the only thing I can say is...

I thought I’d be better by now.

No, wait, not that. Well, that, but moreso - I love this stuff. What a fun ride it’s been.

Hahaha I've often thought the exact same thing......I thought I'd be better by now!

 

[gush]

My very first concert was maybe 1980 or so. Foghat and Blue Oyster Cult.

My very first amp was some sort of bastardized fender head and music man 4x12

2nd amp was marshall super lead with both cabs. Never knew what I had............HAD............

My high school band played a party for some friends and there was these huge giant lights mounted on the windmill pointing at our "stage".

While on break I was standing in front of my stack and with those giant lights I could see through the grill cloth. My slant cab had all the paper chewed off of 3 of the speakers. I hadn't noticed!

I guess with distortion pedal dimed it didn't make any difference.

 

[andy474x]

Happy 50!

 

[bodia]

Man, Alan, that sounds just like me, but 10 years later. My journey started in 1981. Although, music had been a big part of my life before that. Lots of great memories when I look back at how much music has been a part of my life.

My only regret; not putting in more time learning, practicing and playing.

 

[Tony M.]

Yes, a lot can happen in 50+ years.
You can even get a wider tie.

 

[goat-n-gitter]

1979 was my first year both for concerts (Alice Cooper) and guitar lessons (a borrowed classical followed shortly later by a Sigma acoustic). Music has such a deep meaning in my life and I can truly get lost in both listening and creating music. When I try to talk to someone who doesn't feel music this deeply, it just doesn't compute - they look at me like I'm speaking Martian, and I just wonder how anyone could not feel a deep love for music.

 

[Glenn Gross]

Jefferson Airplane and the Paupers, 10/21/67, my twelfth birthday. I already had started lessons. First guitar was a Harmony Stella.

 

[Davey]

Thanks Alan
I enjoyed the read and getting to know you a little bit about you.

Thanks for sharing

 

[Alan Jurgens]

That's a fantastic story. I have been in the home audio business for over thirty years. I came back from CES last year and bought an SG. In one year I know have six guitars, with two being PRSi. I have two more coming next month. Sold my bought and 9 guns this year and flipping them into guitars. I wish I would have started earlier like you and I'd be much further along. Id probably be dead though because I would have moved to Hollywood in the eighties and run sunset blvd.

 

[John Beef]

1983 for me, John Denver at Hampton Coliseum. I fell asleep probably four or five songs in, because I was about 6 years old and it was after 9 PM. My dad carried me out to the car and I rode home in the back of our 1983 Camry hatchback. John Denver was one of my namesakes (according to my Mom), Johnny Cash was the other (according to my Dad) so it's fitting I play guitar and sing.

1979 was my first year both for concerts (Alice Cooper)

A couple years ago, my daughter sold girl scout cookies to Alice Cooper. Apparently we shop at the same grocery store.

 

[veinbuster]

I’ve been not taking guitar lessons for 50 years. But I did formally study double bass for 4 years starting in 1971. I figure that’s close enough.

First concert was about that time: Lighthouse, playing in a movie theatre.

 

[dmatthews]

I’ve been not taking guitar lessons for 50 years. But I did formally study double bass for 4 years starting in 1971. I figure that’s close enough.

First concert was about that time: Lighthouse, playing in a movie theatre.

In a similar boat here. All self taught (erm... it shows...) but I scrape by in the bands.
I'm glad the hobby doesn't demand as much from me as I do of it.

 

[Tony M.]

I’ve been not taking guitar lessons for 50 years. But I did formally study double bass for 4 years starting in 1971. I figure that’s close enough.

First concert was about that time: Lighthouse, playing in a movie theatre.

Lighthouse!
I saw them a bunch of times.
1/1/70 They warmed up for Jimi.
I was like "Strings? Horns? What the Hell?
.and then they totally rocked the Fillmore East.

They rocked enough to warm up for Jimi and they
won the crowd. No Boos. Nothing like that at all.
They got and held our attention.

 

[ScottR]

Awesome read Alan! Thanks for sharing it. My first (I'm sure you'll appreciate) was KISS Alive II tour in Birmingham 3 weeks before my 10th birthday. December 29 1977! My "cool" aunt and uncle bought me the tickets for Christmas that year. That's one I'll never forget.

I was fortunate enough to be exposed to all kinds of great music growing up, my mom and dad had a monster collection of vinyl, and their musical tastes were as eclectic as mine, or the other way around. My dad played a little but my grandad played guitar and piano so I was exposed to so much music that I am eternally grateful for.

I lost my dad to cancer in '07. He always wanted to learn to play guitar well but, he was a busy man and never took the time. We talked about music so much, but even more so when he was sick. He asked me if there was one thing I had always wanted to do, and made me promise I would dedicate some time to doing it, before it was to late. I immediately said, learn to play the guitar, just like him. He made me promise him I would do it. So I made him the promise and so far I've managed to keep it. Best thing I've ever done for myself and for him! My only regret is not doing it sooner.

Music has brought so many great memories and I'm more passionate about it now than ever before. It truly is the greatest drug, medicine, therapy, the list goes on and on. Like you, having a community of like minded people and friends is one of the greatest things about it!

 

[alantig]

I’ve been not taking guitar lessons for 50 years.

Oh, me either. I took them for about 10 years, then probably about a year somewhere around 10 years ago. I wish I'd had more formal lessons about theory.