Hi everyone, new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

DarkStarAstro

New member
Hi everyone,
I hope this introduction post is OK, I didn't see any place specialized to post it.

My name is Chris, I started playing in the mid 80s. Began with bass for aprox. 8 months ( finger picking ), but quickly realized I wanted to play guitar and fell into a rhythm spot which the "local jam group". We never had ambitions of "making it" but loved getting together and just jam into the wee hours and beyond. Due to the varied group of guys we played everything from The Dead ( from my taste ) to Zeppelin, Metallica, Hendrix, Etc...

During this time I had everything from an Old Strat though a Charvel, LP, and even a Frankenstein axe put together with all manner of pieces lol , nothing to fancy, but got the job done. However in July of 96 ( working as a head Chef ) I got a very serious cut across the top of my right ( picking ) hand. There were severed nerves, tendons, you name it and I quickly realized do to a series of complication and PT spanning over 3 years I would never play again.

Well,
Here we are nearly 2 decades later and a few things have changed. My picking hand/arm has slowly recovered over the years, yet during the last 8 years I have also become disabled due to Chronic pancreatitus & Pancreatic insufficiency, as well as a few other tid bits ( as not to bore you with "woo is me" mumbo jumbo )

I replaced my passion for music with a serious passion for Astronomy, especially in regards to Astrophotography. Living in the Southeastern US can be dreadful at times, waiting on those perfect conditions to be able to do an imaging session. Also sometimes those really great condition nights don't always fall on my "good" health days, so there are occasionally a few weeks gap between each imaging project. About 2-3 week ago I was watching some Dead concerts and something in me opened up again to the possibility of playing. Luckily my Wife's Uncle had a Dean Electric/Acoustic I was able to borrow. After adjusting the 1" action issue it had I have been doing a lot of playing around on it Basically relearning EVERYTHING. It is NOT like riding a bike, I was really let down to have remembered literally nothing.

I know this post is closely reaching book status so I will cut this as short as possible.

Put bluntly I am hooked again, I am already planning to purchase a new guitar and a small amp. I will only be playing to amuse myself and really have nobody to jam with. Since it will be just me, as mentioned above my musical interest is mainly The Dead Has been all my life ( but since they play everything from bluegrass to psychedelic rock, there is plenty to work with ) . While I am relearning from scratch I may even sway more towards lead play, but all in all I am just looking to jam by myself ( impress my wife when able lol:jester: ) and seriously sit down and learn all the things I arrogantly skipped over back in my younger days.

I have been working on learning my first song, as well as learning some of the basic starter chords.

Hope that wasn't too much to scare people off, after a lot of searching I found this forum to be suggested over and over. I was reluctant due to thinking it was pickup specific, but reading through many past threads I see that all are welcome ( at least that's the impression I get, please correct me if I am wrong ) Plus I really like how the "snob level" is turned down to nearly mute here compared to MANY MANY other boards.

Hope you will have me in the community and I look forward to talking technique, theory and all things guitar in the near future!
 
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Re: Hi everyone, new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

Welcome to the forum and we are glad to have you here. As the saying goes it's never too late to learn or in your case relearn the guitar.
 
Re: Hi everyone, new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

Good luck on your renewed journey and welcome to the fray. :cool2:
 
Re: Hi everyone, new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

Welcome. I look forward to reading your posts.
 
Re: Hi everyone, new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

Welcome aboard and thank you for the honesty man!
 
Re: Hi everyone, new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

welcome aboard dude!

sorry to hear about the health problems. them things are a real b!tch. But great to hear that you're dealing with it in your own way and taking steps toward regaining that ability.

Also, I am a bit of an astronomy buff, but I don't have a fancy telescope or much experience stargazing. I guess I lean more towards the physics side of astronomy than just the pretty pictures and knowing where stuff is located.

Anyway, once again, welcome! Hope you become a valued rug err.. I mean member of this community that is able to really tie the room together.

Cheers!
 
Re: Hi everyone, new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

We need to talk. I will PM you.
 
Re: Hi everyone, new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

Thanks for the welcome everyone, sorry I didn't respond back sooner. All my notifications were going into spam folder, so had to fix that.
I hear you CTN, I used to do much more visual when I first got into it. Then once I started imaging I got hooked on it fast.

Unfortunately the loaner Dean had to be returned, but I hope to have my own guitar within 1-2 weeks.

Talk with you all soon!
I will check the pm and get back to you Aceman, thanks!
 
Re: Hi everyone, new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

Your post was the perfect size. It automatically weeded out the trolls who wouldn't take the time to read the whole thang. :D

Welcome aboard.

Artie
 
Re: Hi everyone, new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

Continued thanks for the welcomes everyone!

I live in a very small town, so will be having my wife take me to the local pawnshop tomorrow. Apparently they have an addition that is strictly for instruments new and used, so I will see what hidden gem may be lurking.
 
Re: Hi everyone, new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

Welcome to SDUGF Chris!!! Here's hoping for the best at the pawnshop! May you find the "diamond in the rough"...
 
Re: Hi everyone, new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

Son ... have you developed a level of mutual respect with the woodland creatures ? (this includes the trees).
 
Re: Hi everyone, new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

It always nice when some articulate joins the party. I'm quite new myself and find the general population educational and entertaining. Cheers.
 
Re: Hi everyone, new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

Welcome. All things being equal, it is better to play, even poorly, than to not. I went 13 years without doing so until a friend of mine reintroduced me to it back in '05. Enjoy the forum. I can be an interesting place.
 
Re: Hi everyone, new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

You've inspired me to learn Sugar Magnolia and Uncle John's Band.
 
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