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Posts: 121
Location: Maine | OK, go easy on the old man now. I used to play when I was a young guy. Bought my first guitar (an Ovation) when I was 20. Life took off and I stopped playing. Now I'm retired at 55 and just bought my second Ovation (Standard Elite). I guess I think I'm ready to pick up where I left off 30 years ago. I hope this was the right model to get back into it. I'll be here lurking and learning from you. Hope you'll put up with a question or two from time to time. It's exciting to get back at it and enjoy this great forum. |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Wagonmaster,
Welcome to the OFC. Lots of knowledge and talent around here. Enjoy your stay.
If you ask a question these folks will have an answer. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Welcome to the "ol' fart recapturing the memories of lost youth club". 
You're in great company here! After a 34 year hiatus I 'restarted' 19 months ago. I won't even tell how bad my GAS has been...  |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Welcome Wagonmaster!!
Most 50 plus guys buy a Porche or Vet. Other get a 22 year old "trophy Wife". The 50 yr old men on this site (BTW,No disrespect to the ladies here) Buy Ovations and try to become Rockstars! LOL!!!
;) ;) :D :D |
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August 2008
Posts: 121
Location: Maine | Whew! Thought I was the only one trying to relive my youth!! Actually, not the case at all. Just time to enjoy what I was too busy to do in my youth. No offense to the younger folks on this site, but there is a saying that youth is wasted on the young. I don't know about becoming a rock star either. My bed time is 9PM these days and besides, my bones would be too stiff. Don't know how Jagger does it. In terms of the gas thing? Now that's something I know how to play real well!!!! Anyway, I'm off and running with this thing, and it's good to be with you all. |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | You're definitely not alone.
Welcome aboard! |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | 55 and Retired! :mad: You've got all kinds of time to 'pick-up where you left off'...
Welcome! :cool: |
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | Rock star? Only if it involves one of those chairs usually associated with the Adirondacks and front porches.... :D ;)
Welcome, Wagonmaster--may you acquire a goodly herd of "dOgies" to help you mosey along in your retirement. (Ovations are like potato chips; once you get started, it's really hard to have just one!!)
--Karen
Proud wrangler of Gertrude (the one who started it all), Jewel, Rosa, Johanna, Jazzey and Ivory |
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February 2008
Posts: 247
Location: Delaware | Welcome Wagonmaster, hope your pension fund will support this habit. Get your callouses back and enjoy !! |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by Jewel's Mom:
Rock star? Only if it involves one of those chairs usually associated with the Adirondacks and front porches.... :D ;) Karen,
Like this?
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | There are plenty here in the same boat. I'm also 55, but can't retire yet. A few more years of college for our baby. The Elite will be fine for awhile until GAS strikes. Learning all those songs you wish you'd learned 30 years ago is a worthwhile retirement plan. |
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April 2008
Posts: 288
Location: New Hampshire, USA | Originally posted by Capo Guy:
Originally posted by Jewel's Mom:
Rock star? Only if it involves one of those chairs usually associated with the Adirondacks and front porches.... :D ;) Karen,
Like this?
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | MikeW,
That's it, exactly--except mine would be Gertrude or Jewel, or Rosa, or Johanna...probably not Jazzey or Ivory; too much work to haul out the amp (and the risk of getting reported for disturbing the peace, too...!)
--Karen |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by Wagonmaster:
No offense to the younger folks on this site... Oh, that would be us guys in our late forties.  |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | 55 and retired. Lucky guy, Wagonmaster. You have a lot of company on this site with old codgers. I turn 57 in two weeks but as long as I keep buying toys, retirement has to be deferred. |
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November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | I'm pretty sure 55 is middle-of-the-pack in this crowd...... |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I would agree
I retired several years ago and have time to focus on learning how to play and all that goes with it. The biggest bitch is that we(at least me) learn slower when we're older. Also we have less patience and get frustrated faster.
On the bright side we have more $$$$ and have a better idea what we want and just go for it.
Play every day and make sure you split the time half enjoyment and half advancement.
and look up www.workshoplive.com. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Bill, if you think us old fogeys get frustrated faster, you haven't spent much time with the younger generation, also known as the "instant gratification generation." If you can't figure it out in 2 seconds, give up.
I am amazed, however, that I took the time when I was much younger to learn songs note for note off a recording that I probably wouldn't have the patience to learn today with a tab in front of me. Maybe it was the lack of distractions from cable or computers. |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| Wagonmaster welcome. You'll have noticed that you sit perfectly in the OFC profile.
Tho' you do seem a mite too cheerful. We'll put a stop to that. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | For y'all Old Farts, remember that 50 is the Magic Age...
When you are 49 you are an Old Young Man...
When you hit 50, you get to start over as a Young Old Man!
[or at least I hope that is true... :rolleyes: ] |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Yes they say life starts at 50. They just don't say what it starts. |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | "I'm retired at 55", good for you...
However, c'mon...your one of the young guys (I just hit 60 last week).
Anyone less than 60 is a whipper snapper...
As to retired, I'll probably be "bangin' heads" for another 15 years. Heck, it pays for the guitars.
WELCOME |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Learning all those songs you wish you'd learned 30 years ago is a worthwhile retirement plan. BINGO! Although just about the time I discover a favored lick, I get distracted by another song that 'sends me back'. Then off I go. Kinda like the internet. I used to get in trouble by following a certain body member, now it's my cyber 'nose'. ;)
Two years ago I had no, none, nada, etc. idea that I would be on 'crack Ovations' with a supporting and encouraging OFC family!
Beware... :D |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Originally posted by 2ifbyC:
Two years ago I had no, none, nada, etc. idea that I would be on 'crack Ovations' with a supporting and encouraging OFC family!
Beware... :D [/QB] Hey there, you want to try some of this? You get real High and go broke but......... ;) |
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Joined:
August 2008
Posts: 121
Location: Maine | I would like to hear from anyone 40 to 60 who played when they were younger, stopped, and then picked it back up again when they were older. How have you progressed? What level are you playing at? Did you take lessons? What was your greatest difficulty to overcome. I appreciate the input. |
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October 2005
Posts: 5332
Location: Bluffton, SC | I played quite a bit from about 15 - 22 then all but dropped it for almost twenty years as life got in the way. Was never without one in the house but if I strummed it more than 20 minutes a month, it was a really good month.Being back at it for the last couple of years, I think my dexterity is much slower (but I played every day back in the day, local bands, etc.) and I just play on the back deck now so, even though I'm back at it, I'll never be able to play as much as I did then.
Have not taken lessons but have considered it and it's been suggested more times than I'd like to admit (feel free to let that one ride, guys). Greatest difficulty to overcome? That's tough (there's a few) - maybe my complete and total inability to play fingerstyle. Second would probably be my inability to understand why anyone plays a banjo. Ok, that was a joke.
Hope that helps. |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| +1 on Weaser's first paragraph for me.
Since I decided to get serious about guitar again (about 2 years ago) I've taught myself a number of songs fingerstyle, which I never played when I was young.
I'm also taking lessons now from a private instructor. It's forced me to break some bad habits like left wrist position - I no longer try to choke the life out of the neck - and no longer anchoring the right hand when using a pick. Lessons also force me to develop good habits, like efficient practice. Check out guitar workshop online.
Don't get discouraged! The more you play, the easier it becomes, and things you used to know will start coming back. Above all, try not to get frustrated if you hit a wall - it's only temporary. As Matt Smith says, there's a reason it's called playing music - it's supposed to be fun. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | There are a bunch of us in that boat. I picked it up in college and played a few rock songs back then, but liked ballads and started trying to learn fingerstyle with a homemade fingerbuster. When I got my Ovation in 77, I learned a few Croce, Denver and the like songs. Never had a lesson. I tried a community education lesson back in the 70s, because I couldn't afford to pay anything, but I was the only intermediate player to show up and the instructor and I agreed he couldn't teach me anything.
When the kids arrived I had been playing less and less, but went through a few phases where I'd brush up on all the old songs and maybe learn another.
A couple years ago I started playing more after I found this site and got GAS. Now I try to practice at least a few minutes a day. Without a regular gig or lessons, it's hard to stay motivated, but the fingerstyle songs are getting pretty good. A retirement goal is still to learn to play some decent electric licks. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4081
Location: Utah | I stopped playing a few years after college, then picked it up again more than 20 yrs later. I've progressed much faster than I expected and do play better and more knowledgeably than I did before. My greatest difficulties are finding uninterrupted blocks of time to play, and hand/finger pain from too much computer. |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Ditto on that, I played when I was younger (although not that good) quit for around 30 years and took it up again at about 53 or so (still not that good) Kind of like milk that has gone bad, you can leave it in the fridge, but it never does get any better. :rolleyes: |
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March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | I've played steadily since I was 17. It just that my playing sounds like I've been playing steadily since July 17, 2008...... |
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August 2008
Posts: 121
Location: Maine | I'm starting private lessons the 2nd week in September. Until then, I play my Ovation everyday to harden up my fingers and re-learn some of the chords I knew back in the day. I'm kind of in training for my training. Give me a few months to brush up on things and then we can start a band. Any ideas on what the name could be? |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Maine-iacs. |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| O'cultists |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 367
Location: Eaton, Indiana | Welcome!
60 years old here. Been on the road for 42 of those years. Still doing between 125-150 concerts a year. The thrill has never left. 2 more years and I will retire then go on the road full time.
I am presently working on a new Contempory Christian CD, Hopefully to be out by the end of this year.
Best to you!
scott lamperd |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 4413
| Originally posted by ProfessorBB:
55 and retired. Lucky guy, Wagonmaster. You have a lot of company on this site with old codgers. I turn 57 in two weeks but as long as I keep buying toys, retirement has to be deferred. '51 was a vintage year. |
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Old guy/new player