I've thought for months, maybe years, that I should probably consider getting an electrified acoustic guitar. I've played guitar for some time, yet always an acoustic, and when I play for church it's always been on that same acoustic, with a little passive pickup fitted into the soundhole.
That's changing.
I finally went out and bought an acoustic-electric from one of the local pawn shops (the reputable one). The shopkeepers told me they'd just put out a lovely Washburn acoustic-electric that day (here's specifics about the model), and when I played around with it, I realized it would be a good bet for what I was looking for. Good acoustic sound that still sounded acoustic when plugged in (at least, more than some acoustic-electrics).
Sometimes I wonder how to tell the difference between simple serendipity and genuine Providence. Is there one? This was one of those times I wondered if God hadn't inspired me to look for an acoustic-electric at just that time, in just that shop. Because it was even better than I had originally thought of seeking. The sound is just right. It had an extra touch of decoration, subtle, to make it more elegant in a way I didn't even know guitars were made. It even came with exactly the kind of case I wanted -- a hard-sided case with shoulder straps. I could ride my bike with my guitar on my back. I've heard from a fairly reputable source that the guitars at this particular pawn shop hardly ever have cases.
(It was the same way when I bought my house. I had thought and thought, then all of a sudden went and checked a house out, and it was perfect. I'm a case study in the exceptions to the rule about not buying the first one you look at.)
On top of all that, I can't find this model of guitar even online for less than twice what I paid for it. And that's not counting what a case would have cost.
I won't be getting rid of my first guitar. No siree. It was a gift from my grandmother on my mom's side, who died my freshman year of college. It was my great-aunt's before it was my grandma's. There's some sentimental value in it.
I've picked a couple of new songs to practice playing and singing: "Wild Montana Skies" and "Darcy Farrow," both by John Denver (links go to YouTube videos). I'm highly pleased with how this new guitar handles finger-picking (the technique I chose for my rendition of "Darcy Farrow") but I'm looking forward to trying out the built-in pickup when I next play guitar for the church worship band -- Jan. 26, I think.
An electrified guitar is a whole new world for me. I'm just now learning what to do with a preamp and how to use it to make the guitar sound acoustic even when it's plugged into the PA system. And I'll have to bring an extra 9-volt battery with me like I bring picks, since the built-in tuner and preamp runs on that size battery.
So many things to learn. Such a pretty instrument to learn on.
I finally went out and bought an acoustic-electric from one of the local pawn shops (the reputable one). The shopkeepers told me they'd just put out a lovely Washburn acoustic-electric that day (here's specifics about the model), and when I played around with it, I realized it would be a good bet for what I was looking for. Good acoustic sound that still sounded acoustic when plugged in (at least, more than some acoustic-electrics).
Sometimes I wonder how to tell the difference between simple serendipity and genuine Providence. Is there one? This was one of those times I wondered if God hadn't inspired me to look for an acoustic-electric at just that time, in just that shop. Because it was even better than I had originally thought of seeking. The sound is just right. It had an extra touch of decoration, subtle, to make it more elegant in a way I didn't even know guitars were made. It even came with exactly the kind of case I wanted -- a hard-sided case with shoulder straps. I could ride my bike with my guitar on my back. I've heard from a fairly reputable source that the guitars at this particular pawn shop hardly ever have cases.
On top of all that, I can't find this model of guitar even online for less than twice what I paid for it. And that's not counting what a case would have cost.
I won't be getting rid of my first guitar. No siree. It was a gift from my grandmother on my mom's side, who died my freshman year of college. It was my great-aunt's before it was my grandma's. There's some sentimental value in it.
I've picked a couple of new songs to practice playing and singing: "Wild Montana Skies" and "Darcy Farrow," both by John Denver (links go to YouTube videos). I'm highly pleased with how this new guitar handles finger-picking (the technique I chose for my rendition of "Darcy Farrow") but I'm looking forward to trying out the built-in pickup when I next play guitar for the church worship band -- Jan. 26, I think.
An electrified guitar is a whole new world for me. I'm just now learning what to do with a preamp and how to use it to make the guitar sound acoustic even when it's plugged into the PA system. And I'll have to bring an extra 9-volt battery with me like I bring picks, since the built-in tuner and preamp runs on that size battery.
So many things to learn. Such a pretty instrument to learn on.
Comments
Carol: I dunno about the video, but you're absolutely right about thanking God for this little find!
Looks like a hippie guitar. ;-D
Nah, hippies play electric guitar these days.