I’ve dabbled with learning to play the guitar off and on for most of my life but have yet to progress beyond the chord-plunking stage. I did take lessons about 10 years ago, and they helped me get as far as I have, but it’s not very far. Since the lessons I’ll occasionally pick up my guitar and play long enough to re-form my finger calluses before moving on to other interests (read: working on the web and taking photos).
And so I find myself once again motivated to advance my guitar playing abilities. I’ve convinced myself that part of my lack of progress was because I didn’t like the sound of the guitar I was using, a generic, made-in-Mexico Fender Stratocaster. Looking back, I’m not even sure why I bought that guitar, but at the time I really wanted a strat, and the price was right; another case of live and learn.
On the other hand, I love the amp I found a few years back, a late-70’s silverface Fender Champ. It’s only 5 watts of power, but it’s more than loud enough for practice, and the sweet tube sound just can’t be beat when compared to similar sized solid-state amps.
In pursuit of my desire to learn to play guitar better, I’m now playing a new Gretsch hollow-body guitar, model G5120. It’s a Korean made guitar that is at the lower end of the Gretsch line, but the sound, fit and finish are on par with guitars costing 2-3 times as much. Sure, there are hardware improvements that could be made, such as upgrading the tuners or the bridge, but those are minor compared to the sound of the guitar, and the Gretsch G5120 is one sweet sounding guitar.
Having decided to pass on the strat for the time being, I spent months trying to decide which Gibson SG clone I should get. I finally realized that as much as I love the sound of an SG, what I wanted, what I really wanted, was a hollow-body guitar. The Gretsch fits the bill perfectly: it’s not as big as a Gibson 355 style, it sounds and plays great, and the orange wood grain finish is very sharp looking. My first few days experience with the guitar match all of the highly positive reviews I’ve recently read; it really is a nice guitar, especially considering its price.
Oh, and in terms of actually learning to play this thing? I’m doing a couple of things differently than in the past. For one thing, I’ve committed to giving this a go for at least one solid year. Meaning, if (when) I lapse, it doesn’t mean I lay off for weeks and months. It means a week or two off as circumstances dictate, but until the year is over, I’m going to keep coming back and practicing on a regular basis.
The other thing I’m doing is taking a new approach in how I learn. I’m still using some of the material from my first class, folk songs with easy chords, mostly strummed with an occasional bass run, but I’ve also turned to the internet for training material.
I’ve found so much great info at JustinGuitar.com that it’s hard to know where to begin. There is a ton of written material, which is very useful, but the best feature has to be the many video lessons Justin has made available; heres a complete list of Justin’s guitar lessons on YouTube. I’m currently practicing some new finger exercises, and learning some easy 2 and 3 chord songs. Overall, I am very happy and impressed with Justin’s teaching skills. By the way, he’s a young man from New Zealand who now lives in London and teaches guitar worldwide; modern times!
And so now we come to the fun part, photos!
Thanks for your review of the 5120!
Like you I have been trying to learn how to play for years……since 1982 to be exact. Through the years, I have become the master of playing the beginning of every song, learning some of the more essential “cool licks”……but pretty much lacking the discipline to learn songs all the way through.
I even thought gear would make up for my lack of discipline. In the early 2000’s, my job (and single status) allowed me to acquire gear with the an unquenchable fervor to collect, collect, collect. an addict feeds the monkey on his back. Despite the fact that I had a Marshall Stack in the living room and a Les Paul autographed by Jimmy Page, my playing simply did not improve much.
Well, life circumstances forced me to sell off my collection at pennies on the dollar & from 2003 to 2009 I had no guitar to play. Interestingly, my itch to learn the guitar never abatted. If nothing else, it increased…I found myself daydreaming for months on end about the “perfect” strat, the “perfect” Les Paul, the “perfect” every guitar……..finally, after 6 years of being without a guitar, a friend blessed me with his “discarded” Chinese-made Squire Telecaster.
The Chi-com tele is not my dream guitar, but I will tell you that the years of humility gleaned from not being able to afford a guitar has made me thankful for the generous gift of music from my friend. I now find myself approaching the guitar differently….taking it more seriously because I’ve been without one for so long. I find myself working through a piece of music now, trying to understand the different parts of a whole piece and understand the relationship of the musical puzzle. Taking this approach has liberated me in many ways…I’m not rushing to enjoy a “lick” when I can be rewarded with playing the whole piece. I’m now listening to music differently now, and as a consequence enjoying music more.
As I have gotten older, my musical tastes have forsaken the heavy metal tones of my long-haired youth in favor of woodier tones that seem to compliment the short-cropped graying hair I am getting in my 40’s. Which leads me to your 5120….
Even when pointy, angry looking guitars were the rage back in the 80’s, I have always drooled over an orange Gretsch 6120. I was secretly a Stray Cats fan when all my friends were swearing allegiance to the Kiss Army….So, I have made a deal with myself that is similar to yours — which is to get very focused, methodical, and disciplined in my learning for the next year. At the end of that year, if I have actually stuck to the regimen for the year & my playing has advanced proficiently enough to justify it, I am buying myself a 5120.
I will check out the Justin’s Guitar website that you referenced in your blog to see if it can be an additional resource for me……..anyway, apologies for the long ramble but I identified with your story and smiled at your victory of being able to acquire such a cool guitar. Best of luck on your lessons….well, its time for me to go work on my guitar callouses!!
Cheers,
Patrick