New Member Introduction

[Opa John]

Just wanted to introduce myself here. Just found this forum this evening. I go by "Opa John", or just "Opa". Casual guitar player (acoustic only) since I was about 17. Been retired for about 8 years now, so I've been playing for over 50 years. Never played for money, but I've played in a lot of open jam sessions, a few open mics, backyard cookouts, family parties, etc.

I got into guitar playing back during the late 50s folk craze. Still play a lot of "folk", but also some blues, bluegrass, country and American Roots music. I also play the ukulele, some mandolin, a little fiddle and I've got a nice set of Hohner Special 20 harmonicas that I sometimes use with my guitar.

Some of my influences are Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Gordon Lightfoot, Blaze Foley, John Prine, Eric Clapton, John Sebastian, Willie Nelson and quite a few others. Hope to have fun here and I might even be able to contribute something meaningful from time to time. I'm also a member at Harmony Central and AGF under the same user name.

Cheers..........Opa John

[Hiker]

Opa John, Welcome!

[fountainhead]

Welcome Opa!

[zombywoof]

Welcome!

Like you, I have been playing over 50 years now. Started on acoustic and then moved over to electric. While I have never been without an acoustic in the house, about 6 or so years ago I pretty much sold off the electrics (with the notable exception of an Oahu Tonemaster lap steel). But I will still slap the same DeArmond 210s I have been using since the 1960s across the soundholes. Like you I also play a bit 'o mandolin (being me, I have a DeArmond monkey on a stick pickup on the thing) and fiddle although I pretty much stick to the da' bluz' with sometimes a dash of Chuck Berry thrown in.

[rustycaster]

Welcome aboard !

[Opa John]

Originally Posted by zombywoof

Welcome!

Like you, I have been playing over 50 years now. Started on acoustic and then moved over to electric. While I have never been without an acoustic in the house, about 6 or so years ago I pretty much sold off the electrics (with the notable exception of an Oahu Tonemaster lap steel). But I will still slap the same DeArmond 210s I have been using since the 1960s across the soundholes. Like you I also play a bit 'o mandolin (being me, I have a DeArmond monkey on a stick pickup on the thing) and fiddle although I pretty much stick to the da' bluz' with sometimes a dash of Chuck Berry thrown in.

First off, let me say thanks for all of the "welcomes".

I've owned a total of only one electric guitar in my life. Back around 1972 a friend of mine owed me $25 and didn't have the money. He offered to give me an electric guitar instead. I figured I'd better take it because it didn't look like he'd ever have $25 all at one time. I put that guitar in a consignment type flea market and sold it for $35. The flea market kept 10% and I walked away proud and happy. Electric guitars just never did a thing for me. Everything I ever played on one sounded like Duane Eddy having a bad day!

[drb1346]

Welcome to the board!!

[Chiogtr4x]

Welcome Opa!

Can't go wrong digging John Prine and Bob Dylan- Huge influences on how I would "pickup" fingerpicking as I was learning to play guitar as a kid- I'm 53 now play all kinds of guitar music but now I can't get enough now of listening to Dylan's first 2-3 albums specifically listening to his guitar playing....

Have fun here!
Joe C.

[Opa John]

I got hooked on folk music the first time I heard The Kingston Trio singing "Tom Dooley". Then came Dylan, The Limeliters, PP&M, Judy Henske, Cat Stevens, James Taylor, John Prine, Joan Baez, Gordon Lightfoot, Chad Mitchell Trio, Arlo Guthrie, The Greenwood County Singers, The Christy Minstrels, The Lovin' Spoonful, Tom Paxton and all the rest that I've enjoyed all these years. Folk music was always my first love when it comes to guitar.

Funny thing is though, it seems whenever I write a song for myself, it's almost always more of a "blues" piece. Just one of those things, I guess. I don't understand it...or even try. I just enjoy it.