It`s time to admit defeat.

[Caretaker]

Declining health(nerve issues, carpal tunnel and arthritis) as well as lack of enthusiasm and passion for it all has brought me to the decision to give up guitar for good. I will be shipping my #1 to my best friend as soon as the holiday shipping fiasco subsides. I have one on ebay and the few others may go to ebay or be offered here at TGP in the next few days.Not sure about amps yet. I hate shipping them. I`ll still pop in here and there. I have some friends here. Happy holidays everyone.

[PinoyBoy]

Will you still be building?

[Mr. Kite]

I hope you get better:).

[Caretaker]

Will you still be building?
No. I will have nothing to do with any more instruments.

[Caretaker]

I hope you get better:).
Thanks but that won`t happen. Too many years of abusing my hands working and arthritis runs in the family. I`ve had it since my early teens.

[PinoyBoy]

No. I will have nothing to do with any more instruments.


OK. Sounds like you're in a rough spot based on your original post. Hang in there man. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel... although the tunnel itself can be a real bitch.

[DonW]

I appreciate the good transactions we've had occassionally over the years and sincerely hope you get to feeling better. Best wishes.

[A-Bone]

I'm sorry to hear this. I hope you find new passions to take the place of guitar and music making in your life.

[dkaplowitz]

Sounds awful. So sorry to hear of your poor health taking such a toll on your life. I wish you the best of luck!

Dave

[jzgtrguy]

Sorry to hear of your problem. I have suffered from soft tissue injuries for a long, long time. Back in 1984 I had hand surgery to correct what was supposed to have been Tendonitis/Trigger finger. When that didn't work I got so frustrated that I could not pursue my passion the way I wanted I quit. I did not play guitar for 15 years. I discovered a couple of things.

1) There was life after guitar
2) I didn't need the guitar to be happy.

I got married and had 5 kids which definitely wouldn't have happened had I been still chasing it.

15 years later I bought an acoustic guitar to bang on which led to an Arch top again and just like throwing gasoline on a fire it is still my passion.

I am not hijacking your thread. I just wanted to say I can appreciate your frustration and that life goes on with or with out the pretty planks of wood.

Best of luck to you.

[John Ward]

Caretaker - good luck to you and thanks for sharing your experience. I have an R7 you used to own and it is a great LP. Thanks man.

[frank62]

Very tragic news for me my friend. You have been one of my favorites for some time now.

[Caretaker]

Very tragic news for me my friend. You have been one of my favorites for some time now.
Thanks for the kind words. I`ll still be around. Like I said, I have some friends here. I just won`t be playing anymore. I`m gaining some closet space!!!!!!!! I`ll be listing a Yamaha acoustic(high end but played) and a Rusch hollow body LP tomorrow sometime.

[newking70]

i have the last caretaker.....:rockin enjoy your retirement.

[drewl]

Whatever you do, you can always just play here and there for yourself.

[Caretaker]

Whatever you do, you can always just play here and there for yourself.
I just get depressed when my hands won`t do what my brain tells them to. It hurts a lot.

[Scott Auld]

Sorry to hear that, man. You be sure to take care of yourself, Caretaker.

[Thor]

Sorry to hear that, man. You be sure to take care of yourself, Caretaker.


Well put. Sorry to hear about this. Not playing is not the same as not enjoying music. Wishing you the best.

-Edward

[The Golden Boy]

Best of luck and best wishes.

[GerryJ]

don't forget slide guitar-

[Brock]

Sorry to hear. One of the things I dread in life.

[jiml]

Wow, always liked your builds...

Feel better, dude. I put it down for a while, sold off my gear when my son was born 6 years ago. Just getting back into it now.

[Glide]

Happy holidays to you too - What are you going to take up now?

[EADGBE]

I just get depressed when my hands won`t do what my brain tells them to. It hurts a lot.
I know what you mean I've been putting up with the same thing for years after a tennis injury. But it's better than it used to be. How did you get carpal tunnel syndrome?

[sanhozay]

Best of luck and don't forget that the second act can often be better that the the first.

[Caretaker]

I know what you mean I've been putting up with the same thing for years after a tennis injury. But it's better than it used to be. How did you get carpal tunnel syndrome?
My day job requires a lot of repetitive motion. Been doing the same thing for 30+ years.

[Caretaker]

Best of luck and don't forget that the second act can often be better that the the first.
I once broke my arm in 7 places(5 in wrist) and stopped for 12 years. This would be the 3rd act. I just don`t have it in me anymore.

[Jahn]

sorry to hear about that caretaker. i went from listening to music to playing it - if i ever had to do it in reverse i feel i could do it, there's more than a lifetime's worth of gorgeous music to be heard into these ears - live, recorded, etc. there's not enough time! no matter which way you go, music will be there for you in some fashion!

[theflyingturtle]

Caretaker, I don't know you and I don't mean to intrude but you know winters can be hard on a body. It can take a lot out of a person. Spring will come, the sun will come back, who knows? Just throwing it out there. Merry Christmas.

[FFTT]

This is sad for me to read.
Don't think there haven't been long periods where I lost all desire to
play and perform.
My chops aren't even close to my prime capabilities, I'm barely able to
hear an acoustic guitar, but dropping music completely would be the
spiritual death of me.
Sure I have days when I wonder, what's the point in even trying, but
playing my instruments is the only thing that keeps me grounded.

Sorry to hear you are going through such a tough time.

[EADGBE]

My day job requires a lot of repetitive motion. Been doing the same thing for 30+ years.
Keyboard or assembly line?

[natevi]

Now could be your time to start collecting them insted of playing them. Don't worry hang in there I don't think any of us could imagine how you feel.

[Caretaker]

Now could be your time to start collecting them insted of playing them. Don't worry hang in there I don't think any of us could imagine how you feel.
I did the collecting thing years ago. Sold a lot when the market was good. I just lost my passion for it all. I just listed a few in the Emporium.

[wilerty]

I suffer from the same three problems and I'm 63. My skills (and symptoms) get worse each year, but I still enjoy what I can play. How old are you?

I wish you the best and hope you have or find other interests that give you great enjoyment.

[Caretaker]

I suffer from the same three problems and I'm 63. My skills (and symptoms) get worse each year, but I still enjoy what I can play. How old are you?

I wish you the best and hope you have or find other interests that give you great enjoyment.
45 but it started at 12.

[The_Maestro]

Matt Damon.

[Caretaker]

Matt Damon.
HUH?

[5E3]

Sorry man. You will always have friends to talk to and share your knowledge with here.

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

I'm sorry to hear this. I hope you find new passions to take the place of guitar and music making in your life.


+1 Best of luck in however things turn out.

[claudel]

^^^^^

What they said...

[ganzosrevenge]

I have repetitive stress injuries to both wrists and some CTS. I still keep my guitar around, and even though I can't solo as fast / make flourishes, I still enjoy keeping my guitar around for two reasons.

1) it got me through a very tough time in my life
2) I use it to teach my little sisters how pickups work and how switches and circuits work.

and sometimes when my hands are up to it, i play a little something :-)

(20 years on computers because of an inability to hold pens = wrists are shot)

keep one and teach an aspiring luthier. For this, it can be a tonal dud... but the kid you'd be helping with the craft would appreciate your skills :)

Jason

[aroman]

Best wishes.