Hello...new member from Jacksonville, Florida

[d18d28]

This is Ken from Jax.  I play some folk, bluegrass, country, Americana, whatever comes up.  My journey started long ago, borrowing an arch top Harmony from my brother in law.  I then bought a Stella from a friend for $25 back in '71 or so.  Upon getting my first job after high school in '73, I got my first 'keeper', a Guild D25 that lasted for years, even though I sort of fell out of love with it after a long time.  In the '90's, my wife bought me a crisp sounding '67 Martin D18.  I loved that guitar, but I longed for a warm sounding rosewood guitar.  Then I played enough bluegrass to justify buying a Stelling Bellflower banjo.  Shortly after moving from Pittsburgh to Florida in '98, I found the sunburst D28 of my dreams and bought it in West Palm.  A few years later, in search of a classical guitar, I found a used Augustino LoPrinzi classical.  Friends of mine played his flat tops and loved them.  The Augustino is a definite keeper.  Then I found a dobro made by Dick Deneve out of Syracuse.  Then I figured I needed an open back banjo to learn to play clawhammer, so I picked up a Bart Reiter at the right price.

Meanwhile, my introduction to Taylors probably occurred at a Sam Ash in Tampa where I saw the prettiest guitar I'd ever seen hung up behind the counter.  It was a glossy koa guitar, top, sides, and back - I think it was a K20.  I tried it out and it was a sweet sounding guitar.  I couldn't really justify another flat top guitar, so I had to pass.  Then just a few years ago when I decided I needed a ukulele, I bought a solid koa tenor Kanilea.  I got my chunk of koa after all.

I'd been longing for a 12 string guitar for a long time, and just recently, I  got the green light from my very understanding wife.  I tried out all the 12 strings in the shops around town, and tried a Taylor from Craig's list.  It felt great and sounded great, but it had a crack in the top and no more saddle to shave down, so I saw a neck reset in the future.  That whole experience sort of sold me on a Taylor 12 string, then I found the 360e SEB online.  It looks like everything I want.  It is the dreadnaught that I prefer.  The shaded mahogany top really speaks to me, and the price is right.

Gruhn Guitars has my name on one of them and it will be waiting for me when I visit Nashville next week.  I'm really looking forward to this one!

[TaylorGirl]

Hi Ken. My first guitar was a Harmony Stella in 1973. My third was a Guild DN35. A little similarity with your history. Congrats on your new Taylor. Be sure to post some pics after you get it.

[d18d28]

Small world.  Incidentally, I did give the Guild to my son who is getting better and better playing and singing.  Last year I treated him to a neck reset, a bone saddle and nut, done by Randy Wood in Savannah.  It now sounds and plays better than it has for the last 30 years.  And it's still in the family.

[donlyn]

Welcome, Ken.

Hope you enjoy your (soon to be) new 360e SEB 12 string.  I also like the look of the new 300 SEBs.  Haven't tried any yet.  I have had a 355 12 string for 15 years and still absolutely love the sound it responds with.

How old is your son?  When did you start him on guitar?  I ask because I have a 3.5 year old granddaughter and would like to teach her to play at some point.  I have gotten some good tips on this in the past, but would appreciate all the input I can get.

Don (from Boston)

[Strumming Fool]

That's a great story, and many of us can relate. I've owned a few of those brands myself. I think that those 300 series guitars are some of the prettiest I've seen in recent years - love that burst on the satin finish. Congrats on your new addition - I hope that it exceeds your expectations. Please keep us posted, and welcome to the forum!

[d18d28]

My son is 29 now.  When he was in his young teens, I told him, 'Learn to play that D25 and it's yours.'  It took a while.  He was always a great singer, since he'd joined Duquesne Univ. Children's Festival Chorus a the age of 8 or 9 or so.  Singing was easy and learning the guitar was work, so the guitar took a back seat.  Finally when we moved to Florida, I was looking to buy a house and he stayed in Pittsburgh with my wife, prepping the old house to sell for about 3 months.  During that time, he learned his first song - a John Flynn song called 'Two Letters'.  He gradually improved, and he's become 'performance ready' over the years, getting better and more adventurous on the guitar, playing open mikes and sometimes joining my wife and me playing local festivals and at church.  He's having fun hanging out with the geezers, and the music has been great for the relationship.  (We still play competitive volleyball and golf as well, but that's a different story.)  He's living about 20 minutes away and life is good.

[donlyn]

congratulations.  sounds like things turned out well for you and your family (and your guitars).  thanks for sharing your son's story too.  yes, learning guitar is not an instant gratification thing at first, but the rewards sure are worth the work.

[timfitz63]

Welcome, Ken!  Fellow displaced Pittsburgher here as well; technically I live in Texas now, but my job over the past several years has turned me into something of a nomad.

[CodeBlueEMT]

 Hi Ken. Welcome to the UTGF. Great intro.

[Jersey tuning]

Welcome. My first guitar ws also a Harmony Stella - in 1967

[dcasey1]

Welcome, I started with a Harmony as well.

[d18d28]

I picked up the 360e SEB a week or so ago at Gruhn in Nashville, sat in on a friend's gig in Franklin the following day, and my wife and I had an incredible week listening to some of the finest musicians I've ever seen in one place for the rest of the week at the Station Inn, Third and Lindsley, and the Midnight Jamboree with Charlie McCoy.  I love that new guitar... the 12 string opens up new ideas and possibilities, and, jeez, it sure sounds good.

[mgap]

Congrats on the new Taylor.  Pretty good intro, I had a few of those brands also, but they have gone down the road in favor of my Taylors.
Anyway, Welcome to the forum, I look forward to your input.

[d18d28]

Now, with this 12 string, I'm running out of things that I 'need'.  I think that leaves a new 'old' neck for my D18, and a steel body resonator blues guitar on my 'to get' list.  I'm seeing my Bellflower as expendable at this point, so maybe someday I'll happen upon a deal.  Meanwhile, I can now comprehend all the good things I've heard about Taylors over the years.  That 12 is fun to play!