Thread: Instruments

I have played the oboe for 17 years now.

I've been playing guitar seriously for a year or two now and I got a mandolin a few months ago for Christmas and I know a few chords on that. I've been playing trumpet for 4 years. I like messing around with other random instruments too though. Harmonica, piano, blah blah.

I can't play a lick on anything. I love the piano. I just love all the different things that can be done with it and the way the sounds are that it can make. If I could learn the piano I would be happy. I don't think I am willing to commit the time and effort it would take to do it.

So I had the opportunity to sit down at a piano for about an hour on Thursday. I haven't touched the ivories in at least eight years and haven't done any serious playing in more than ten. I was amazed at how much I remembered. My music reading skills are rusty but still pretty servicable. The strength in my left hand, particularly my pinkie is horrendous. But what was so shocking was I haven't lost nearly as much as I figured it would have. I could still plunk through most of the last major piece I did (Clair de Lune by Debussy). Badly but still. I thought I would have regressed much more than that.

For the guitarists out there, what gear do you have/want?

Beef has been playing the skin flute since he was knee high to a grasshopper.

I play the guitar, but not extremely well. I need to spend more time on it, like many other interests I have.

I have an old Charvel electric (Charvel was bought out by Jackson later), and a Takamini acoustic/electric.

I love playing, but just don't ever find the time anymore.

Originally Posted by aberdien

For the guitarists out there, what gear do you have/want?

I have an old ESP (LTD) Eclipse back from about five years ago that needs a new input jack, but it was solid for how much I played it and abused it. I still have a small Marshall (solid state) practice amp. I sold my Marshall half-stack a long time ago because it was simply too much, and there's no way I could have played it in the dorms in the first place.

I recently purchased a Hofner CT Club guitar (semi-hollow) that my friend and I both play. I used my Musician's Friend car, and he's paid me cash so I can make the payments. I still play it more than him, and I wouldn't doubt that he gives up trying to learn and gives me it after the summer's end. It has great sound, real quality for 400 bucks (it's originally 1,000 -- but Musician's Friend kicks ass) -- and I'm very impressed. Love the Piezo sound you get out of it being a semi-hollow, and I dig those acoustics. It rocks well for the blues and jazzier stuff -- but isn't the kind of guitar you want to play metal or hard rock with. It's pretty versatile. Here's a few pictures.



You can check out the others here.

Hofner's are bad ass. Just ask Paul McCartney!

As far as future gear goes: I'm in debt right now and just started working, so before I get any more new gear I have to get back into the + category with money. I hope that next summer (it was originally this summer) that I'll be able to get a nice tube amplifier and cabinet (I'm thinking Orange Tiny Terror with a 2x12) and perhaps another guitar to go along with my ESP and Hofner. In reality, it'll probably be longer than that.

If I go into the Peace Corps as planned, they have a limit on how much stuff you can take -- so I'll probably just get a cheap acoustic, play my heart out wherever I am -- and when I get back to America, use the money they give me to get some better stuff.

I know that when I get a house down the road, I'll want to make one room a studio just for music. I am so excited!

I played the Trumpet (cornet, actually) from 5th to 12th grade. I was never very good, but in 10th, when I first started learning baritone and later Tuba... I noticed a very pronounced increase in the quality of my tone on my cornet.


If I could learn any other instrument, it would be piano or guitar second. With Any wind instrument, you're usually a part of a larger group making a piece of music. On the piano especially, you can be a large piece yourself. I once dated a very talented pianist and I could listen to her play forever. I was insanely jealous of her ability.

I've played bass guitar for over 20 years. When I was in college, I played in a progressive bluegrass band (it was called progressive because we used some electric instruments).

I also play guitar (I own an Alvarez 12-string that sounds awesome), mountain dulcimer, hammered dulcimer and autoharp.

Originally Posted by broncos_mtnman

I've played bass guitar for over 20 years. When I was in college, I played in a progressive bluegrass band (it was called progressive because we used some electric instruments).

I also play guitar (I own an Alvarez 12-string that sounds awesome), mountain dulcimer, hammered dulcimer and autoharp.

That's very awesome Mtnman. Do you have any German-Russian heritage? Those sort of dulcimers prompted me to ask.

Originally Posted by aberdien

What instruments can you play and for how long have you played?

Or if you don't play an instrument, what instrument would you most want to learn and why?

My mom has always been musical, and made sure we all played instruments- I started piano lessons at 7, clarinet at 10, and flute at 13. I quit everything at 14. I hated practicing. For a long time I could still play tunes on the piano, but not much anymore. I can still read music, but that's about it.

Originally Posted by Dream

That's very awesome Mtnman. Do you have any German-Russian heritage? Those sort of dulcimers prompted me to ask.

Not to my knowledge, although that's exactly my wife's heritage (German father / Russian mother).

My attraction to those instruments comes from frequent visits to the Ozark Mountains. They are also common to Irish music. Celtic music is one of my favorites to listen when winding down at the end of the day.

Originally Posted by aberdien

For the guitarists out there, what gear do you have/want?

I already mentioned my 12-string.

My bass is a collectable. It's a 1976 Fender Precision. Still plays as clean as the day I bought it.

Originally Posted by broncos_mtnman

I already mentioned my 12-string.

My bass is a collectable. It's a 1976 Fender Precision. Still plays as clean as the day I bought it.

*drools at your bass* What kind of color scheme does it have? That's rockin'. I wish I was born back in the day and collected all the sweet equipment some have!