It's the worst hobby in the world. You'd be better off to shoot yourself in the toe with a bb gun.
Is Guitar Really That Crappy Of A Hobby?
- Thread starter sax4blues
- Start date
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howardlo
Friend of Leo's
Well, it sure has been a great thing for me since 1957 when I began playing. Rock and roll bands from 1959 until the mid 70’s, nylon string guitar in a folk trio during college in the late 60’s, mandolin and vocals in a bluegrass band in the late 70’s through mid 80’s, solo acoustic singer/songwriter gigs from the mid 80’s through the 90’s and home recording and jamming with friends since.
Made a lot of really good, and long time friends through music. 74 years old and still at it and still enjoying it.
I have always thought that learning to play a musical instrument is one of the best things a person can do for themself. It certainly has been for me. It can last a lifetime unlike most sports, etc. that by middle age you can no longer do.
Made a lot of really good, and long time friends through music. 74 years old and still at it and still enjoying it.
I have always thought that learning to play a musical instrument is one of the best things a person can do for themself. It certainly has been for me. It can last a lifetime unlike most sports, etc. that by middle age you can no longer do.
Nope. Not a crappy hobby. IMO. IME., etc.
It may take longer for some to see it that way or not.
But so what, either way. Yeah, It’s just stuff.
I still love it.
It may take longer for some to see it that way or not.
But so what, either way. Yeah, It’s just stuff.
I still love it.
Are people really advocating that? The threads I've seen (and maybe I've missed some) are more along the lines of people who have already thrown in the towel, and want to get rid of the guitar they've decided to get rid of, but want an unrealistic price (according to the market) for them. Like everyone here, I like to get a bargain when buying....and top dollar when selling.....but unless those sellers are just absolutely insane in their asking price, I'm happy to sit back and watch what develops.
The almost unceasing escalation of gear prices since the early 1980s may or may not continue. Demographics for musical instruments are always in flux. When I was a kid, MANY people wanted to have a piano in the house, (we always had a nice grand) and even modest uprights and spinets were easy to sell, at decent prices. Nowadays, you literally have trouble GIVING them away. I see similar situations, though not as extreme, with massive amp stacks.....that's one reason why a Deluxe Reverb sells for more than a Marshall stack.
People (and that means us) are always going to complain about prices when we're trying to buy......but isn't that human nature?
Refugee
Friend of Leo's
Guitars? Not even close. Your average, like MIM grade cellos go for around $7000!
rickthescot
Tele-Afflicted
Babe, I'm so glad you play video games instead of guitar... Said no spouse ever...
dutchaxedude
TDPRI Member
I used to do windsurfing when I was in high school. When there was wind I'd be in class looking out. When I was free there was no wind. On the rare occasions there was wind and I was free I got to the point I didn't want to any more. And the kit was way more expensive than guitar.
So I kept the hobby that the weather has no influence on. Still doing it 40 years later.
So I kept the hobby that the weather has no influence on. Still doing it 40 years later.
50ShadesofOrange
Tele-Meister
I started almost 11 years ago and still feel like a relative newcomer. I started just shy of 40, and I’ll never fulfill any childhood rock star dreams. I doubt I’ll ever play for an audience.
While I wasn’t pushed by pandemic-induced boredom, my situation doesn’t feel far removed from them.
The hobby took. I love playing.
Maybe, just maybe, more people than expected found enjoyment and are sticking with it.
I hope they do and are getting even half the enjoyment I get from the guitar.
While I wasn’t pushed by pandemic-induced boredom, my situation doesn’t feel far removed from them.
The hobby took. I love playing.
Maybe, just maybe, more people than expected found enjoyment and are sticking with it.
I hope they do and are getting even half the enjoyment I get from the guitar.
Yeah, it's a crappy hobby, but not any crappier than any other "stuff hobby" stuff. Oh, btw, here's the way the Austin Lounge Lizards put it:
not really sure what the fuss is all about.
Can I have all your stuff when you're dead?
not really sure what the fuss is all about.
Can I have all your stuff when you're dead?
sax4blues
Poster Extraordinaire
When we moved in 2018 I PAID $400 to have the family upright hauled away.
LOSTVENTURE
Friend of Leo's
So what year, model is it? I have a few around that age that I've never had appraised.
Kandinskyesque
Poster Extraordinaire
It doesn't feel like a hobby to me.
I played it because I had to, as if driven by some necessity.
When I got my first guitar aged 9, it all ready felt 3 years too late since I'd spent 3 years sneaking into my uncles room attempting to play his.
I always wanted it to be my main source of income in order that I could meet the food, clothing and shelter needs which would then allow me to play more guitar.
For a few years I was lucky enough to have my guitar as my main source of income and since paid employment has eluded me for a few years due to health, my main motivator for regaining my health is for the purpose of playing more guitar.
This evening, I had some hunger pangs and decided to drive to the local shop to buy something quick and easy to eat. While at the shop a Chic song came on their pa system and the guitar part caught my ear, the result was I drove home a bit faster than normal, forgot about eating the food I bought and have just spent 2 hours learning the guitar part I heard.
Right now it feels like my biggest achievement in weeks.
Every year for the past 46 years, I've got better at it and significantly so over the past 10 years.
Moreover, I was at my neuro rehab this afternoon and called into question my ASD diagnosis that I got 5 years ago with a Psychologist. He just grinned at me and replied: "Do you think there's anything 'normal' about how you relate to your guitar?"
I had to admit there isn't any logical normality about it.
It's a way of being, a part of my identity as much as (possibly more than) my gender, skin colour, nationality or any other criteria I use to identify my sense of self.
I have a wife of 30 years, 2 kids, 4 grandkids who I love with every fibre of my being but to resign my guitar playing to a mere hobby would reduce my 55 years of living into utter meaninglessness.
I played it because I had to, as if driven by some necessity.
When I got my first guitar aged 9, it all ready felt 3 years too late since I'd spent 3 years sneaking into my uncles room attempting to play his.
I always wanted it to be my main source of income in order that I could meet the food, clothing and shelter needs which would then allow me to play more guitar.
For a few years I was lucky enough to have my guitar as my main source of income and since paid employment has eluded me for a few years due to health, my main motivator for regaining my health is for the purpose of playing more guitar.
This evening, I had some hunger pangs and decided to drive to the local shop to buy something quick and easy to eat. While at the shop a Chic song came on their pa system and the guitar part caught my ear, the result was I drove home a bit faster than normal, forgot about eating the food I bought and have just spent 2 hours learning the guitar part I heard.
Right now it feels like my biggest achievement in weeks.
Every year for the past 46 years, I've got better at it and significantly so over the past 10 years.
Moreover, I was at my neuro rehab this afternoon and called into question my ASD diagnosis that I got 5 years ago with a Psychologist. He just grinned at me and replied: "Do you think there's anything 'normal' about how you relate to your guitar?"
I had to admit there isn't any logical normality about it.
It's a way of being, a part of my identity as much as (possibly more than) my gender, skin colour, nationality or any other criteria I use to identify my sense of self.
I have a wife of 30 years, 2 kids, 4 grandkids who I love with every fibre of my being but to resign my guitar playing to a mere hobby would reduce my 55 years of living into utter meaninglessness.
I don't know the model and the appraisal didn't say. 1969. Gruhn charges $75 and turns the appraisal in a couple of days.
<Edit> Gruhn offers 2/3 of the appraised price on the spot.
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Slim Chance
Tele-Afflicted
Hobby? More like self flagellation, but I keep coming back for more. Fills my need for masochism. And I get to hang out with all of you.
Chester P Squier
Poster Extraordinaire
As I have posted before, playing music is good for the brain. It connects neurons that were not previously connected. Music makes you smarter!
It's possible to play music past the age you are able to play sports. And less likelihood of injury.
It's possible to play music past the age you are able to play sports. And less likelihood of injury.
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David C
Tele-Holic
Yeah, seems like really good older guitars should have a few nicks and dings. You gotta have some wear on them.
ping-ping-clicka
Doctor of Teleocity
after the tedium of endless hours of burning through scales and modes for decades, while watching Hollywood Squares and Final Jeopardy, endless reruns of Gilligan's Island a person with any ambition would have to admit that guitar as a hobby may be a secret obsession that everybody knows about with the exception of the clueless one with the obsession.
Some of us do both.
That said, I know several husband/wife and husband/wife/kids teams who play video games together.
Family time is family time.
