New, old guy checkin' in. Modesto CA

[Donovan1]

Hey guys, and fellow gear addicts. Joining my first gear page in about 10 years. I've been part of the JFC and Ibanez forums for many many years, but have lost the passion I had to some degree in recent years. I've always loved the music, just redirected some of my energy and life has redirected my expendable income... However I'm redirecting some of my focus back into playing and learning some new stuff. Finally being somewhat settled in life and happy with my partner, and more recently, a medical condition has (for which a member here is actually my medical professional) has lead me back to my original passion and addiction.

I've been playing guitar since I was a little boy actually. My dad taught lessons in the house and had instruments laying around, so I'd pick up the guitar and plunk at the strings. I didn't actually formally start playing until I was in my teens in Jr. High school when a friend who was a drummer wanted to start a band. He borrowed my drum set (I started as a drummer) and I picked up my first electric guitar. It was an Ibanez Super 70s LP copy. Still one of the best instruments I have ever played. This was the impetus of a codependent and torrid love affair and addiction that would consume the next 25 years!! My dad showed me how to play Iron man on single strings and I was hooked!

I'd play 8-12 hours a day, disregarding school work and often friends and everything else. Eventually learning to pick out passages from my guitar inspiration Randy Rhoads. This was pre internet and finding printed music or TABs was fairly difficult. I played is several bands and did my time in dimly lit smokey holes in the wall but also had a lot of fun. Being in a rock/metal band in my teens and early twenties during the 90s was quite an experience...... I also played in the school Jazz band in High school, where I had a trial by fire course in learning theory and chord construction, and even did some teaching which I quickly found that I didn't have the patience for.

My gear mostly consists of guitars that I have collected over the years. Some were backups and some just looked cool. My main fiddle was my Charvel 375 then the Ibanez RG bodied guitars. I held off the the Gibson for years mainly because of cost, but when I finally picked up my black LPC, it instantly became my best friend. Amps mainly consisted of Marshall tube amps and the DSL in particular. Never one for the complexity of the fancy rack setups of the time, I always loved the analog knobs and clear engagement of stomp boxes and a few cables as possible. I have boxes 20+ years old that still work just fine. The Roland GT3 is what I usually use however because I can pack in a bunch of sounds and not mess with 50 cables! These days my usual playing setup is a 50 foot cord plugged directly into the front of a 100W Marshal. Pure sound! If it's too complicated, it isn't fun for me. The tone and sound is in YOUR hands and I feel many people hide behind too many boxes and the skill of actually playing is diminished.

Below is a group of pictures and some descriptions of my friends and family. These have been taken over many years but I think they are all still the coolest.

This is the family all in one room.


The quiet guys.


The noisemaker


These are just cool pictures.




Pick from about 1989.


Halloween in 1992 I think.


Looking a little different these days.

[Ken I]

Welcome aboard!

[Gearopenia]

Glad to have you on the forum!!

Nice pics of gear!
Mine is unimpressive so I won't bore you.
Glad your playing more, sorry for the circumstances.

Anyway welcome!!

[russ]

Welcome!

[DGTCrazy]

Welcome!

[archtopjazz]

Hi,

Welcome to TGP.

Jim

[Gearopenia]

Bring your pics to this forum.!!
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/sho...948722&page=42

[Pa'ani]

Hi Donovan1,

Welcome to The Gear Page!

[Scott Peterson]

Welcome to TGP!