When I first started……

[airborne1]

in this hobby of learning guitar, I had certain likes/dislikes.

Initially, I couldn’t stand bursts of any type. It strictly had to be an unstained, pure natural top. I now own 6 acoustic guitars and only the Eastman E40 OM has the natural top!

When it came to solid body electrics, I wouldn’t consider any with a blonde, maple neck. I now own a Fender Tele Pro with, you guessed it, a maple neck, and I love it!

In my short time in this hobby, I have gone through many, may guitars. Some, I wish I had kept. But a learning process none the less.

I do know I prefer the smaller body guitars for ease of playing, and comfort.

Anyone else have this change of heart as far as wants/needs for their guitars?

[beatcomber]

When I was a kid, for some reason I had an intense dislike for the appearance of slope-shoulder and dreadnaught bodies. I have no idea why now, LOL.

[RP]

As far as acoustic guitars go, I used to be a strictly rosewood back and sides guy, but as I've aged I've grown a much greater preference for mahogany...

[gfspencer]

Originally Posted by beatcomber

When I was a kid, for some reason I had an intense dislike for the appearance of slope-shoulder and dreadnaught bodies. I have no idea why now, LOL.

When I was a kid - 60+ years ago - I only looked at dreadnaughts. That's because The Kingston Trio played one.

[rllink]

I've not had very many specific likes or dislikes with the exception when I first started playing that dreadnaughts were overrated and too big. Four years ago I got big into bluegrass and old time music so I succumbed to peer pressure and bought a dreadnaught. I quickly learned that I prefer it and play the dread most of the time now.

[Monty Christo]

When I got serious about acoustics, I thought a cutaway was a must-have, and I wouldn't consider a guitar that didn't have one. Now 25 years later, I don't own a single guitar with a cutaway, and I doubt I ever will.

[rmp]

Green Guitars!

Didn't like em, had no idea why anyone would want one.

But now? Sea Foam green, Surf Green, Sea Mist Green, (Fender) Cadilac green (I think that's what Gretch calls it) are among my favorites now.

As for Burst, Me 2 for acoustics, kind of the same, ddn't like em


then I got this.

[Glennwillow]

Hi Bill,

Yes, I have gone through the same transitions you have. I didn't like sunbursts originally, now I do. I didn't like maple necks, now I do. We evolve, at least many of us do. And that's kind of nice, really... Guitars are so much fun and they are works of art, as well.

- Glenn

[JackC1]

Originally Posted by airborne1

Anyone else have this change of heart as far as wants/needs for their guitars?

Opps, I didn't read the topic carefully enough.

Change of heart. Yes, I used to avoid Martin guitars because I read that they have high action; but now I know there's a thing called "setup" that can make any well-made guitar any action I want, Martins are not a problem any more. In fact, they've become one of my favorite brands.

[mercy]

Many yrs ago I met a guy that knew a guy that had a whole room of Martins. He took me there and I mean it was a carpet of black cases. The owner got one out to play, I played to chords and put it back then crossed Martin off my list. The nut action was so high it was impossible for me to play. So I got a Gibson, ah what memories that guitar brought me. Since then Ive owned 2 Martins, they still arent my favorite factory guitar but I did really enjoy that used 000-18 until my hands told me the nut 1 11/16 was too narrow.

[Methos1979]

Yep, many changes - most of the complete 180's!

When I started I felt I much preferred small body 00 12 fretters in rosewood and I hated burst finishes. I 'needed' short scale necks with at least 1 3/4" nuts and 2 1/4" string spacing and preferred V necks.

A decade later I much prefer large dread bodies, love (most) burst finishes, find I gravitate more towards mahogany, and that I can acclimate to just about any neck shape and string spacing. Go figure.

The one thing I really do still prefer is short scale though.

[Brent Hutto]

Like yourself, I never liked any sort of burst finish. Then I found my John Walker Lolo Creek and I think it's just beautiful...but I still don't much like burst finishes other than that one



I also thought when I started out that playing with my fingernails classical style was the only guitar playing I was interested in. Now I can't remember the last time I played without a flatpick in my hand.

P.S. I won't go into all the various cork-sniffer-ish notions I had after my first year or two of reading about and discussing guitars online. Most of which I eventually found out mattered about 1% as much as people pretend they do, if that.

[mawmow]

Tone !

Then I learned about more comfortable specs,
say how a guitar could suit me better.

Color has never been part of the equation for me.

[Mandobart]

When I started guitar (at 13) I used Martin Marquis extra light strings and Jim Dunlop .73 mm nylon picks. I used a hard, 3" wide leather strap (like a weightlifting belt). I had two acoustic guitars that I really liked to play.

I pretty much stuck with those until I was in my 40's. Then I had a musical reawakening prompted by starting mandolin. I came to prefer medium gage strings, 1.5 mm to 2.5mm PEEK picks, slim supple Lakota Leathers straps. I also now have 5 additional guitars, and I'll probably get one more this year.

[TBman]

I used to hate a cutaway. Now it's almost required.