Hello from Scotland

[VikingBlues]

Hello everyone. 

I stumbled on this forum by accident today. I found Robert Renman's YouTube video 'Hagstrom Viking and Marshall Class 5'. As you'll see from my Forum name and avatar I have a Hagstrom Viking Deluxe - which I'm afraid I do not play as well as Robert! I followed the website link under the YouTube video - saw the forum - found a lot of you are of a blues music mind - and here I am.

I played when in my late teens / early twenties. It fell by the wayside while marriage / family etc took priority. Guitar playing started back up about 10 years ago - but with cheapish gear and a 4 track cassette recorder and no sense of direction it was all a bit low key and unsatisfactory.

My better half sparked my interset in the blues just under 3 years ago - I discovered a genre I hadn't previously really understood (or noticed other than some blues rock). I discovered how much I could learn on the internet and got some good gear. So it's now an obscession - and one I like to share by finding friendly guitar forums.

In December 2009 I took the risk and posted up a recording to a forum since when I've been trying to keep getting better. I enjoy hearing others work, getting feedback on mine, and have reached a point where I can often play what I can hear in my head. At least I feel I'm starting to get somewhere - about time too at the age of 57! 

I've got a huge amount to learn - I feel I play a sort of watered down blues, a bit of watered down jazzy tinged stuff. I'm not very knowledgeable on licks and struggle to get an authentic sound and style BUT I really enjoy playing and find it theraputic.

I look forward to joining in with and starting threads on the forum and learning from you all here. Sorry this post is a bit long - I get carried away with enthusism for guitar. 

[robert]

Welcome! Glad to have ya here!

Feel free to share your recordings! You'll get honest and polite feedback here... don't worry.

We're all having fun playing guitar here. Welcome to the family.

R

[hillbilly-joe]

Hello Viking and welcome to the site.  And yes, please post your music here

[diaper head]

welcome 

post often 

[pictoratus]

Welcome to the forum, VikingBlues! Looking forward to hearing some of your work as well as hearing about your gear.

Keep that enthusiasm! The more you enjoy it the more you'll learn and progress.

[reb]

i've played a Hag...they do blues well. welcome!

i have the sense of direction of a compass in a conex container.  i don't let it bother me. grab for the brass toe ring!

no, wait...the toe ring was on this exotic dancer i dated once....never mind.

[VikingBlues]

Thanks you all for your warm welcome. 

I'm afraid I'm a bit pushed for time - I have a week off work next week but am working evenings to try to leave as little as possible to go back to the following week. So I'll not be able to give this forum the attention I want to till the weekend.

i've played a Hag...they do blues well. welcome!

It was seeing Matt Thorpe playing blues on a Hag on YouTube that persuaded me to chase one on e-bay. Though Matt Thorpe can probably make any guitar sound good.

Feel free to share your recordings! You'll get honest and polite feedback here... don't worry.

Looking forward to hearing some of your work as well as hearing about your gear.

please post your music here

Once I get into the weekend (and freedom!) I'll see about picking a track or two that may be less embarassing and post up links to them. I'm glad of the reassurance of polite feedback Robert, and honest is good to - need that to develop and improve. One thing I like about having done these recordings over the last few years is itgives a chance to hear whether things have got better or not.

pictoratus - you asked about gear. Currently on guitars there's the Hagstrom Viking Deluxe as mentioned. Then there's another semi-acoustic (in the Casino mould) with a Vintage VSA590 (P90 pups). There's two solid body electrics - A PRS SE Soapbar (with stock P-90 pups replaced with vintage style Alnico II Tonerider P90s) and a self assembled S/S/S style 'Strat' with northern ash single piece body with natural finish and maple neck. Also with strings attached  are a Hofner Ignition Violin Bass and a Tanglewood Acoustic. If I'm using an amp it's a Vox AC4TV but we live in a flat so volume is an issue. I have a Vox Tonelab LE which I tend to use for recordings which I do on a fairly cheap Windows Vista Laptop using Samplitude Music Studio (it was a struggle getting anything to work with Vista - used to use Windows XP with much fewer problems.

Must sign off now - thanks again - I look forward to talking to you all some more.

[pictoratus]

Cool, someone who's willing to dig in and do a little modification.

Hey, no hurry. We'll be here when you're ready. 

[VikingBlues]

Cool, someone who's willing to dig in and do a little modification.

Hey, no hurry. We'll be here when you're ready. 

Cheers! 
Well built and beautifully finished as it was I just couldn't get the sound I was after (clear sparkling and uncoloured) from the stock P90s in the PRS. Y'know how it is - once you've doubt in your mind you can't get rid of it. The Toneriders were everything I hoped for and more - and at a hell of a good price too. I dunno - the older I get the more I veer towards vintage style guitars and hardware. The self assembled 'Strat' was attempt number 6 at a diy guitar - it's the first 'keeper' - I may just end up resting on my laurels now but you never know when the bug will bite again.