#16
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61 years old, and still play a slope-shouldered J-50 pretty much every day.
The combination of the shape and short scale provides a comfortable position while playing seated. For me, anyway. I have several 00's, but they don't give me that extra volume and bass I often look for when working on a new tune.
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Neal A few nice ones, a few beaters, and a few I should probably sell... |
#17
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Im actually down to one guitar...an OM-28, and I figure it's all I'll need heading into my older years. I keep getting boughts of GAS, but then reality checks in...and I remember what a great guitar the OM is.
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#18
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I have both rotator cuffs torn, and I have arthritis, so I’m sure these are factors many older players are dealing with and it is a no brainer that smaller bodied guitars can give some degree of relief for these conditions when sitting and playing. Standing with a strap is a different ergonomic issue, at least for me.
Regardless of my age at any given point in time, 000 and OM sized bodies have always been more comfortable for me to play. I’m an “older” player and have been playing since I was 5 years old. I’ve had every size guitar I know of and of course there are certain sonic benefits (I’m not going to try to describe tone as I believe it is a waste of time to do so) that the different sizes can be attributed with in a broad sense. I still have dreads, jumbos etc., but they are not used for comfort, only for specific sonic wants and needs. When I play for my own pleasure in my living room, it is always on a small bodied instrument. |
#19
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I'm 72. I have 7 Martin Dreads.
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#20
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I’ll be 68 in a couple weeks. Still playing nothing but dreads. An hour or two every day. Never a problem. Just as some folks like beefy necks I like beefy bodies. Those small-body guitars throw this heavy strummer/picker way off...
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2021 Edmonds OM-28RS - Sunburst (Adi/Old Growth Honduran) 2014 Walker Clark Fork (Adi/Honduran Rosewood)…incoming FOR SALE: 2023 Martin 000-15SM 12 fret w/ K&K mini |
#21
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I am not in the older category unless 50 counts but I have had two right shoulder surgeries from the old sports days but very comfortably play a D size. I am 6'5" though so maybe that would contribute to not having issues...
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Martin D-18 Custom Shop (Sinker Mahogany and Adirondack) Gibson J-45 (All Mahogany) Custom Built by Me (Reclaimed Walnut and Adirondack) Gibson R0 Les Paul |
#22
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Nearly 69 and agree the best combination I've found is a dread and a 000.
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NOT from Queen - he's much cleverer I am English, so are all my spellings Two guitars I'm happy with . . . |
#23
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Heck, I’m 72 and just bought a D-18. Not causing any shoulder discomfort. Of course I had my right shoulder (and my left) surgically repaired a while back. Both shoulders feel way better than ever. So, no dreadnought issues here.
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Thanks, Mike Guitars: A few, but on the hunt for the "one" |
#24
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Well, this ol’ gal seems to be managing the dread at the young age of 88
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Hope. Love. Music. Collings|Bourgeois |
#25
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Hi, firstly, I'd suggest that dreadnoughts, esp. the more common 14 fret designs were designed as rhythm boxes for combos and so, intended mainly for being played standing.
However, if they are to be played whilst seated - posture is very important, as a box nearly 5 " deep and 16' wide is a fair lump to tuck under your armpit. I first experienced this issue in 2017 after throat cancer treatment which caused me to lose about 40lbs in a few weeks as I was unable to eat. Much of that weight loss was muscle, and when I regained enough strength to attempt to play again, and it gave me pause for thought. I have not regained that weight, but I go to the gym three times a week to rebuild my strength, particularly my upper body. I made this video in Feb last year, and I hope that it might be of use to you.
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |
#26
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Quote:
Very cool! Thanks for posting.
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2021 Edmonds OM-28RS - Sunburst (Adi/Old Growth Honduran) 2014 Walker Clark Fork (Adi/Honduran Rosewood)…incoming FOR SALE: 2023 Martin 000-15SM 12 fret w/ K&K mini |
#27
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I'm not really an old guy yet at 52 but I have predominately switched to 000 size guitars. I still have two dred size guitars with my Taylor and J-45 and they are still awesome to play. But for most of my playing life I thought that an acoustic guitar was a dred, there weren't size options (I wasn't a member here yet). A few years ago I was playing a gig with a buddy and broke a string towards the end of the night. Instead of taking a break to change the string, my buddy handed me his backup guitar which happened to be a 000. Well dang it just felt good to play, kinda like playing my Telecaster. I wasn't having to reach around that big ol' dred body and I enjoyed the daylights out of it. So now when I look for a performing guitar, I always look at a smaller body. I also discovered that my 000's just sound better to me. They have more clarity with the boominess gone and still have great volume.
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'59 Gibson J-45 "Spot" '21 Gibson LG-2 - 50's Reissue '94 Taylor 710 '18 Martin 000-17E "Willie" ‘23 Taylor AD12e-SB '22 Taylor GTe Blacktop '15 Martin 000X1AE https://pandora.app.link/ysqc6ey22hb |
#28
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Quote:
Thanks Silly, that was useful. BTW, that couch can't be good for your back...just sayin'
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Nothing bothers me unless I let it. Martin D18 Gibson J45 Gibson J15 Fender Copperburst Telecaster Squier CV 50 Stratocaster Squier CV 50 Telecaster |
#29
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I will give you my jumbo's when you pry them from my cold, dead hands.
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Brucebubs 1972 - Takamine D-70 2014 - Alvarez ABT60 Baritone 2015 - Kittis RBJ-195 Jumbo 2012 - Dan Dubowski#61 2018 - Rickenbacker 4003 Fireglo 2020 - Gibson Custom Shop Historic 1957 SJ-200 2021 - Epiphone 'IBG' Hummingbird |
#30
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I've found that I can play the dread for an hour without it bothering me, but after a three-hour gig the dread is dragging me down in ways that my 000 guitars don't. It's not just the weight, because my mahogany b/s dread is pretty light. I think it's the depth of the soundbox as much as anything that adds to the fatigue, but much of the problem is that I really need to stand to play a dread properly, and at 65 more than an hour on my feet is draining. Even with an 000 I need to be on a high stool at some point.
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1 dreadnought, 1 auditorium, 1 concert, and 2 travel guitars. |