Guitar Playing Leather Workers

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy Gents 

         Over the past few years, I've noticed there seems to be a lot of us leather workers that play the guitar, so I thought it would be fun for those of us to check in and tell about what they play and the kind of music they play, show off your  guitar straps or any thing else you want to show us , or just check in , you don't have to have pictures.

         I started out playing when I was ten, then when in High School was in a Rock band, and after that three more groups, I played lead guitar, we were playing some big gigs back then and it became too demanding, it wasn't fun anymore , so I stopped playing for a while, then picked it up again in my adult life, my daughter plays now, which really makes me happy, I haven't been able to play since my fall 4 years ago, but I'm looking forward to the day I can. So this is a little back ground on me, we have 8 guitars in the house now, 4 electric, 2 electric acoustic, and 2 acoustic, and this drives me nuts sometimes , not being able to play let, but I will do it again someday.

                                So Pards come on and check in 


                                        tEN wOLVES 

[Big Bear Johnson]

I am a poor guitar player. I started playing it in high school. We had a a guitar class. I was a sax player, still am, and was taking every music class I could to avoid taking real classes.
The only guitar I had access to was my step sisters yamaha classical. I am left hand though, so I learned playing right handed. This is what I attribute my lack of ability to now, I can't get beyond a certain point because the right hand breaks down. I am a trained musician, in the sax and synthesizers, played a lot of local LA jazz clubs on sax, have an album of electronic ambient music on synthesizers, available on CDbaby or iTunes, my day job is a product manager/designer of synthesizers.

I love the guitar and wish I could have been a better player but I enjoy it none the less.
I have a:
Harmony Classical that was handed down from my dad.
Sigma steel string that I bought 20 years ago.
Fender Strat Squire (made in Mexico) that I bought 18 years ago.
Fender Custom Shop Strat (bought for $250 from a friend who is endorsed by them).
my son has a Fender Telecaster Thinline that he is learning to play.

I dream of getting a Gretsch 6120 but it' way more guitar than I deserve (so is my custom shop but I'm keeping it)

[Irish Dave]

Been playing since a very young age (too far back to remember exactly when )
Played in local bands etc. in high school.
Played pro and semi-pro afterwards.
Cut an album in '76. Sold well under a million.  Now apparently a collectors item (especially in Europe of all places.)

Play mostly for my own pleasure anymore.

Have had lots of guitars over the years: Firebirds, SGs, Telecasters, Rickenbackers, Gretchs and a bunch of different acoustics.

Only ones I've kept are a Gibson J-200 (mid '70s model) and a 1974 Alvarez-Yairi.

[Curley Cole]

Well I started out in highschool, and never learned to even be half decent, but always had at least one guitar. Now I have several and the plan was when I retired i would practice and get good..hmmm joke on me. Arthritis arrived. I somedays can't even make a chord, best days I can noodle a few minutes then the pain catches up...however I have:

a 1970 Yamaki (bought it from the OLD Guitar Store in Pomona when it was in an old victorian house, old days!)
a 1980's Sigma DM-2
BrownsVille acoustic
Takamini 12 string...
and a cheap Carlos Rebelli classical guitar, which actually has pretty good sound.

I had a pretty nice older Yamaha that I gave to mybrother in law (he was pro a few years back) because I knew he would appreciate it and enjoy it.

I actually currently have no straps on any of them..

curley

[cowboywc]

Howdy
I've been playing for the last 25 years, just good enough to play by myself. I was sound man for my father in laws band for many years and I would get up and sing with the band but they would not let me plug in my guitar
Here are pix of my strap and pick guard.
WC

[cowboywc]

Hit the button too fast

[HorsePen Henry]

You don't need to know hpw to play that guitar, just hang it on the wall. Sure is nice leatherwork on there.
I don't play a guitar but I like listening to it. I tried to learn fiddle a few times in my life and haven't quit trying yet. I mostly just play the radio or listen to Bluegrass on the TV. I sure love fiddle music with a little guitar thrown in.

[cowboy316]

well i cant claim that i play worth  a hoot but i try ive got a just a cheapy Silver tone acoustic with a strap i made ill have to get pics take soon  but i play ( or i should say try )
 Cowboy316

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Very nice pick guard, WC. It really looks good. The traditional design with the greater amount of background really is a nice look.

You don't need to know hpw to play that guitar, just hang it on the wall. Sure is nice leatherwork on there.

Now why didn't I think of that. I have a beautiful Telecaster I can't play for beans. Now I know what to do with it.

[JD Alan]

Well, this is right up my alley. Playing guitar has been been a big part of my life, and now (at least temporarily) I'm not able to play. I started around 12, learning from my dad. I played electric lead in a bunch of bands through high school. I played and sang in bar bands for a living, then made a move toward the Lord. I started singing and playing in churches, a sort of singing evangelist.

Since then (1973) I've played mostly in churches, though a lot of it was more rock than most people would imagine. (Contemporary Christian music has a wide span). I've owned a lot of different guitars, electric and acoustic over the years. Besides guitar, I play the banjo, mandolin, and a little dobro. I play the harmonica some, but it is a real challenge to play it well,

I've been leading worship (with a rock edge) since 1979. My main guitar is a '95 Taylor 410. It's the same as a 510 by today's standards. I have an American Tele, and a '72 Gibson 335. I play through a class A tube amp with a Celestion Blue speaker.

I would like to make a strap one of these days. Looking at the leather pick guard, I think I would mess it up pretty quick.

WC, I love your Strat pick guard. I agree with HP, just hang it on the wall and look cool. Good guitar players are a dime a dozen, but a good, reliable sound man is a gift! 

JD     

[Big Bear Johnson]

Howdy
I've been playing for the last 25 years, just good enough to play by myself. I was sound man for my father in laws band for many years and I would get up and sing with the band but they would not let me plug in my guitar
Here are pix of my strap and pick guard.
WC

Love the pickguard! I was thinking about doing a pickguard on my mexican strat but now I'm thinking of doing a decorative piece that just goes on the back.

[Johnny McCrae]

This Subject is a great idea TW.

I wanted to learn how to play the guitar when in grade school but being raised on the south side of Milwaukee, I was forced to play the accordian. I hated it and never picked up a musical instrument again. The only thing worse than my accordian playing was my singing voice. Whenever I sang in the church choir the nun actually told me to just move my lips. But seriously, I really admire people with musical talent especially guitar playing and singing.

A good friend of was one of the founders ot the Hal Leonard Corporation. They do a lot of things with guitars. Here is a link to their website that may be of interest.  http://www.halleonard.com/guitarBass.jsp

[JD Alan]

Hey Johnny, I started out with the accordian too. There were accordian studios all over in the 50's, I think because Lawerence Welk and Myron Florin were so popular on TV. I think you will find lots of guys close to our age (I'll be 60 in June) got started on accordian. I was lucky that my dad played guitar, and he made me prove my interest before buying me an old used electric guitar by learning a bunch of chords on his old archtop. I sure wish I had that old Sears (Dan Electro) guitar today! My dad's archtop fell apart, but I bought one just like it and hung it on the wall to remind me of my dad, who passed on in April of '05. JD   

[cowboywc]

Howdy JD
Speaking of old Sears Guitars,Here is Al Sheltons old one he still plays on with the original amp.
WC

[Gun Butcher]

  I never learned to play as a kid but I always wanted to and a few years back i started. My better half bought me a yamaha and I started in, three years later and I think I can play four songs with the 8 chords I can remember without looking.

I also picked up, at yard sales, an Ibannez Artwood that needed a little TLC and a brand new Austin acoustic-electric that probably has the best sound of the three. Only have about $100,00 in the two of them. Never thought about a leather pickguard until I saw one on here and now I have one in the planning stages.
  I just hope I am not to old to get better at playing.

[Ace Lungger]

Howdy All,
I think I am like most of you, I have had a guitar since I was 7 years old, played with a couple local bands when I was a teenager, never was very good, didn't what to spend my spare time practicing, I was more into Girls , and Hot Rods , i have had my moments when I will get all fired up and get things going, a friend and I was putting the Old Band back toghter, right before I got hurt Now I can't play, to hard to do it laying down, can't stand, and I can't sit still without streching or doing something to get the spazems to settle down!
i sold a lot of my stuff here 3 years ago, I sold my Brand new American Made Fender Strat Deluxe  Cherry Sunburst, My Jap Strat, My Vintage Kramer Strat Cherry Sunburst, my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Amp, most of my petals,  I still have one of the most AWESOME Blues Amps Corcia Supro, I have My 58 Tele, 63 Hoffner very Thin, a Vintange Harmoney Strat that is all hopped up, and a homemade Guitar! Never played nothing but ryhem, tried lead A little, nothing but Old Rock, Eagles, L.S., Three Dog night, Eric Clapton various, and many many more! Mark Knoppler best Guitar Player alive, then Eric Clapton, love Stevie Ray, B.B. King, and list goes one> All my dad's family have that gift, but not me, allways had to work hard at it!
I thank God that I, and a lot of us got to live in the Greatest Time In The World!! Peace, Love, and Rock and Roll!!
What more could we have wanted??

Later Pards
ACE

[Dr. Bob]

I lead a deprived? life.  Played trombone in the band in Jr. U Senior HS and now only play the CD player   Bought a guitar when I was in my early 20's but never learned how to play.  Not enough energy these days with my Lyme's to do all the thing that I enjoy like shooting and dancing, so learning an instrument is not on my list.

[Hank Rugerman]

In the words of the great "Waymore"

"Got my first guitar when I was 14, now I'm crowdin ~40 50 and still wearing jeans

Played the gigs, recorded some tunes life took over, and the dream was put away...

Coolest thing that ever happened during that time....sang a set in Las Vegas at the Allladin...walked off the stage and an elderly man was standing at the base of the stairs to meet me...he gave me his praise and told me, in his eyes, I had what it takes..I thanked him kindly, and on he went.

I did notice that when we walked away he was a frail and broken up old man, that seemed familiar to me.
When I made my way to the lobby, and the crowd of people, started asking the old guy for autographs, I had to ask..
The old guy turned out to be Evel Knievel...http://ayawaska.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/evel-knievel.jpg

anyway...

Telcaster circa 89
Ovation Thinline
Yamaha Flat top
Taylor GT 500 Custom
Mike Kelly Mandolin....

No leather work, If anyone knows how to load up a soundclip or tune, be glad to load up an original wrote, sang, recorded...(professionally)

thanks for asking TW

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

   Howdy All

        Hank I just knew you played the guitar too, go figure, it amazes me how much all we leather worker/craftsman have in common, I told my better half, when I got involved in leather craft, thanks to CowboyWC, and this forum that I felt like I had finally found my people,if you think about this, it is really funny 

      I never mentioned that we cut a few 45's back then but most of our playing was done live, we won a few talent contest , and the battle of the bands that set us up for quit a journey, which was a lot of fun until it wasn't anymore, but that's another story.
     I started out on a
  Silver tone acoustic
  then a Gibson electric
  then in 1961 a Fender Jazz Master, Fender Pro amp. and Fender Reverb unit, the first one made
  Now I have an American made Strat. Erick Clapton 2004
  Ibanez Tallman electric with two humbuckers 2003
  Canary acoustic from 1970
  Ibenez Acoustic 2002
  Ibenez electric acoustic 2003
  My Daughters
  Ibenez  electric
  Slector She Devi
  Estaban electric acoutic
   2 Fender amps
  Line 6 lux 3 amp, with floor pedal setup
  large Crat amp
                               
                                               tEN wOLVES   

[cowboywc]

TW
You been holdin out on me son.......
WC