Some of us started to get to know each other on another thread. I realized that most of the other Forums I belong to have a section for introductions. Usually the moderators and senior members will chime in and say hello and welcome the Newbies.
Over here, it seems we are all newbies.
So I'll take a shot at putting up a post where the few of us who hang out here can get better acquainted.
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My name is Barry.
I'm a
slide-aholic. I can't ever seem to get enough. I used to be happy just with regular guitars, acoustics, electrics, 12-strings. I always liked to listen to slide players, and marveled at their singing. vocal quality compared to regular fretted playing.
I'm 53 years old and have played guitar most of my life. In my teens and twenties I always played in local bands.
Growing up and living on Long Island in the shadow of New York City I have had the great advantage of being able to attend many shows and to have seen almost every guitar hero and great band live at some point in their carreers.
I quit playing music as a business in my twenties, and 'retired' for more than ten years. Later on my wife insisted that I start to play again, for fun as a hobby.
Of course hobbies become obsessions.
I always loved Ry Cooder and traditional acoustic/electric blues/rock guitar. The Allman Bros and Southern Rock always appealed to me, as did the California sound of the Eagles, and of course all of the British Invasion groups- Beatles and Stones. Each of those genres featured a fair amount of slide guitar.
Somebody remind me to go back to the 50 Greatest thread and post George Harrison and Joe Walsh.
In my rebirth as a hobbyist guitar enthusiast I began to teach myself some slide. Warren Haynes emerged as a modern slide hero and I tought myself to slide on the electric guitar in natural tuning as Warren often does. I had played a fair amount of acoustic guitar during my 'sensitive singer-songwriter days' so I was also familiar with open G and drop D tunings and the various fingering possibilities.
Over time my slide abilities progressed (slowly) and at the same time I began to network with other players such as myself with careers and families. I began to accumulate guitars and amps and a small PA- all gear I bought second-hand, over time.
At this point I have a home studio in basement. I am fortunate to have built up a rotating group of musicians who come over regularly to play music.
We have a great time, there is no pressure, no equipment to move, no cigarette smoke, no 3rd set to play, no bar owners telling us to turn down or drunks making requests.
I am always trying to improve, reading practicing and playing. I have made friends all over the world thanks to Internet Forums such as this and others.
While I am far from a virtuoso slide player, I'm proud of what I have accomplished so far. I really enjoy the music, and as you guys probably realize, we slide guitar players have our own niche, which few regular players fully understand, but is universally admired.
Oh- my screen name refers to my two main guitars- both made from parts of various vintage stratocasters, but customized for my needs as a slide guy.
Thus Frankenstrat2.
But enough about me.....
Next?
me!
