Is Perfection getting in the way?

[Robin, Wales]

I was watching this YouTube concert by Tim O'brien and Jan Fabricius this evening and was struck by the non-perfect nature of Tim's old 1937 00-18 and the way he uses it as his "does it all" primary guitar. He flat picks, uses a thumb and finger pick, uses a capo at many frets all the way up to the 7th and plays from the middle of the sound hole all the way back to the bridge. The guitar buzzes and rattles and has little sustain or bass. Yet in his hands the non-perfect becomes the perfect.

Do we actually expect too much from our guitars? We want a buzz free low action, rich tone, round bass singing highs and feel the need for a selection of different guitars for finger style and flat picking or strumming. I bet if a new Martin arrived in many players hands with the rough tone and buzzing frets of Tim's it would be sent straight back!

Anyway, pull up a chair grab a beer or two and enjoy this 90 minutes of great music. And ponder if the search for perfection is getting in the way of your guitar journey.

[DukeX]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

Do we actually expect too much from our guitars?

Nice video.

I don't. I don't need or expect perfection from any guitar and it's certainly something I'll never come close to achieving as a player.

And I'm not sure what having multiple/different guitars has to do with perfection. I call that "variety."

[fitness1]

Yes, way too much time and energy can be wasted in pursuit of perfection.

I only know because a friend told me so

[gmel555]

As usual/always, it's really about the player not the box.

[jklotz]

Or maybe, it's not about the player or the guitar. It's about the music?

[Lillis]

Perfection never gets in my way I just get out of its way.

[nightchef]

While the guitar may not be perfect, he is perfectly at home with it. I get the feeling as I watch him that he has played this instrument for a very long time, learned to work around its weaknesses and make its strengths shine, and it has become so familiar to his hands and brain that he can speak through it easily and fluently. He and the guitar have become one flesh.

So maybe the answer is that we don't need perfect instruments, just instruments we love enough to commit to.

[gibpicker]

Yep, I think we do. Nice vid.

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by gmel555

As usual/always, it's really about the player not the box.

Exactly.....

- Glenn

[chopinhauer]

Originally Posted by nightchef

So maybe the answer is that we don't need perfect instruments, just instruments we love enough to commit to.

Very wise words indeed! GAS often gets in the way of appreciating what we already have, especially if it's already objectively a fine instrument.

[Howard Emerson]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

I was watching this YouTube concert by Tim O'brien and Jan Fabricius this evening and was struck by the non-perfect nature of Tim's old 1937 00-18 and the way he uses it as his "does it all" primary guitar. He flat picks, uses a thumb and finger pick, uses a capo at many frets all the way up to the 7th and plays from the middle of the sound hole all the way back to the bridge. The guitar buzzes and rattles and has little sustain or bass. Yet in his hands the non-perfect becomes the perfect.

Do we actually expect too much from our guitars? We want a buzz free low action, rich tone, round bass singing highs and feel the need for a selection of different guitars for finger style and flat picking or strumming. I bet if a new Martin arrived in many players hands with the rough tone and buzzing frets of Tim's it would be sent straight back!

Anyway, pull up a chair grab a beer or two and enjoy this 90 minutes of great music. And ponder if the search for perfection is getting in the way of your guitar journey.

Robin,
If anyone listening to that performance, or almost any of Tim's stuff, is paying attention to the buzzing, etc, then Tim failed......or rather the listener just didn't get it/missed the point.

Find any number of live recordings by Tim and it quickly becomes clear that he likes his action higher on the bass strings, and lower on the trebles.

He also has one of THE best amplified acoustic sounds, ever.

Between his voice, playing & presence, he's got it all.

Regards,
Howard Emerson

[Robin, Wales]

Originally Posted by Howard Emerson

Robin,
If anyone listening to that performance, or almost any of Tim's stuff, is paying attention to the buzzing, etc, then Tim failed......or rather the listener just didn't get it/missed the point.

Find any number of live recordings by Tim and it quickly becomes clear that he likes his action higher on the bass strings, and lower on the trebles.

He also has one of THE best amplified acoustic sounds, ever.

Between his voice, playing & presence, he's got it all.

Regards,
Howard Emerson

Absolutely Howard. That's my point. No one listening is focussing on the guitar's tone or other "faults". Tim has reached the performance level that I'm working towards (though may never reach!). And that is to play well enough that no one notices my playing.

[DownUpDave]

Perfection is the enemy of excellent

[SprintBob]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

Absolutely Howard. That's my point. No one listening is focussing on the guitar's tone or other "faults". Tim has reached the performance level that I'm working towards (though may never reach!). And that is to play well enough that no one notices my playing.

That’s what I was thinking. I’m listening to Tim’s voice and “stage” presence. They sound “perfect” to me .

[JayBee1404]

Great show! I had the pleasure of meeting Tim a few years ago when he was on the ‘Transatlantic Sessions’ Tour in the UK, such a nice guy!

And, to my ears, that guitar in the video sounds exactly how a Martin 00-18 should sound!