Mike,

Welcome to you.  You and I are similar in a few ways.  We are the same age.  And there are a couple others on here that fall into the "geezerly" category. 🙄  My last spinal fusion (which was the last of three) was lumbar rather than cervical, fused from L2 - S1. It sounds as though you received some positive outcome and I'm pleased to hear that.  I've had plenty of other procedures trying to relieve my back pain and the specialists are still working on that.

Oh.....and the "started stocking up on guitars. Went a little crazy,"  The similarities continue......  Nuff said?  🤣  

You have come to the right place to pursue your goals.  Whether it is smooth jazz, or any genre you enjoy, Robert has a huge inventory of lessons to aid that pursuit.  And there are a helpful, knowledgeable group on here (some geezers and some non-geezers) that always respond with help and encouragement.

I look forward to seeing your posts and progress reports.

Mike,

Welcome to MGA. You're gonna enjoy learning here.

You got me by a couple years in the age department. I also started with trumpet and moved onto guitar!

Have fun!

Mike,

Welcome from a beginner „lady“  - even in advanced age - to an almost lifelong guitarist. It sounds like you are very motivated for starting with Robert’s lessons. You will see, here is so much to discover and learn.

I would be very pleased if you could share your practice/performances with us.

Enjoy playing, Birgit

Welcome, Mike, glad to hear to brought your passion for music to the MGA, and that your fusion has positive results.  

So, out of all your gear, what's your desert island guitar and amp?

And whereabouts is home?

Regards from Baltimore, Maryland.

Hi Mike, welcome! Interesting to hear your comment about smooth jazz. I have thought about making a solo lesson in that style. Do you have any favourite players? George Benson for one, I bet! 

Thank you for the warm greetings. Very much appreciated.

Mantonanjin: Before I can even hope to accomplish anything, I will need to find some kind of "rust" removal tool. It's incredible how fast you lose the "muscle memory" in this great obsession. I've also managed to lose the "stretch", but hopefully it will return.

jestme: So, was trumpet too boring, not loud enough or not cool enough? I think for me, it was all the above. Looking forward to this.

Bluesiline: Birgit, thank you for the greeting and encouragement. It's nice to see the ladies active with guitars. I don't know what musical genre you prefer, but there is a cool smooth jazz guitarist who does that genre proud, her name is Joyce Cooling. Give her a listen some time.

Clayton: Hmmmm.... Desert island guitar and amp. Interesting question... Well, if said island has no electricity, then it would be the Martin 000-18. If there is electricity, that makes it way more complicated. I grew up on a Strat, with a Sunn stack. Of course, that goes waaaaayyy back. It might be a 3 way tie. The black Hagstrom Tremar Viking, the Midnight Black D'Angelico Deluxe 175 or the Fairlane Blue Gretsch G5420T Electromatic. Amplifiers, would probably be a vintage Fender Showman with Fender spring reverb. For now, it's a Fender Champion 20 which, believe me will build enough volume to hurt you. But, then there's the Fender guitars - Strat, Jaguar and Jazzmaster...

As for the where... The boonies of Idaho - Kuna. About 20 miles southwest of Boise. 5 acres, 28 cars, 1 tractor and probably too many guitars.

Robert: First, let me say, I'm sorry for your loss. Nobody should have to lose someone they care about.

Second, thank you for doing what you do and thank you for the greeting.

Smooth Jazz Guitarists. Yes, George Benson, also Nick Colionne, Euge Groove, the previous mentioned Joyce Cooling, Norman Brown, Richard Elliot, Paul Jackson Jr. and Nils. Then people like Wayman Tisdale and Julian Vaughn who play bass like a lead guitar, but I digress...

I need to knuckle down and get with the program.

Thank you all,

Mike

Happy New Year Mike .

I think many of us here are up there in age and we are re-living our youth with the love of the guitar in our hands. I know for me, it keeps me young at heart.

Welcome to a very friendly forum. Hope to hear some of your music clips soon.

hillbilly joe

Mike... Re: my trumpet 'career'... my interests and musical tastes were growing... pretty much all of the above as you stated... 😉

@phoenixop

Mike, you have a really pleasant way to answer! Thank you, and along with doing you did a good deed for the day: you recommended to me smooth Jazz guitarist Joyce Cooling. And I admit that I didn’t know her before. Just had a brief look at „Savannah“. What a guitar woman! I’m delighted. I will listen to her and, of course, I will report back to you.

Birgit

Joe;

Right on with "reliving our youth". Ain't that the truth. Whenever I sit down to play, I can just disappear and that time seems to fly. I look up and it's been an hour or two. Like going back in time or ahead whichever seems right at the time.

JestMe;

👍

Birgit;

Happy that you are enjoying Joyce and her music. Keep at it. I find that listening to good players motivates me to want to do better.

Welcome from another old guy here!

Thank you, rpavich!

Mike

I have to admit I haven't heard most of the players you mention... I'm a little embarrassed now. 🙃

Have you heard Chuck Loeb? I like his playing. Mike Stern is a player I really like too, but he's more fusion/jazz/blues mixed into one, perhaps.