Being the most spoiled man in the world, I got an early birthday present! My birthday isn't for another 2 weeks, but a couple weeks ago my wife bought me a new guitar. (my latest Mr. Toad-like mania) She wanted me to have a "real grown-up guitar". It's a Gretsch 5120. I got Vintage Orange for the cool retro vibe. It has a great sound and feels really nice to play (once I got rid of the extra heavy store strings). The tone is amazing. This is the first hollow body I've played and I am hooked.
Marilyn has said my playing has already gotten better just in the last 2 weeks.
I am so jazzed. I started playing guitar again about 6months ago after a hiatus of 20 years or so. It's a good de-stressor after work and a good mental puzzle for me.
The past year or so I have been listening to mostly jazz and instrumental rock; except of course for Cheap Trick and Bowling for Soup. The reason is since I am in classrooms all day long; I don't want to hear words on the way home in the truck. Most of the instrumental stuff I listen to is Surf-Rock. I've never surfed but don't see that as an impediment. At least not yet.
I've been learning a few of the classics: Having An Average Weekend, Pipeline and Apache as well as a couple things by Django. I just started lessons because I want to learn to read music as well as unlearn the bad habits I have. I will keep you posted.
