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New Member - Just saying Hello!

knopfler74

By knopfler74
in Heritage Guitars

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knopfler74 Community Regular

knopfler74

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Note: I posted this reply in the new member invitation thread, so it appears twice - just trying to reach out to the forum as much as possible, thanks!

Hi everyone,

I just registered for this site today, largely because today I purchased my first heritage guitar!

I picked up a 157 today from a gentleman who owns a music store near where I live, and I'm absolutely in love with it so far.

A little about me:

I spent the first 17 years of my adult life as a professional jazz trumpet player. I got a degree in music from the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Studies program at the University of Louisville, and in 2004 I won the jazz division of the national trumpet competition. I also released a record on the Jazz Factory label title 'Midnight in Merizo.' Four years ago I walked away from that world. I picked up a guitar, went back to school to become a history teacher, lost 85 lbs, and started really digging life.

My main hobbies are practicing, reading great books on history, writing music and recording it in my modest pro tools home studio.

I've lived all over the world due to the fact that I started my professional music career in the United States Navy Band. I've lived in Guam, Japan, Virginia, Kentucky, California, Arizona, and I was born in Maine. (son of a lobster-man - not kidding!)

I'm stoked to get to know you all and learn as much as I can about guitar, music, and well, whatever else comes up.

My main musical interests lay in singer/songwriter music, indie-rock (what we used to call alternative when that word actually meant something), the Seattle thing, alt-country or roots rock, U2, and of course the great hard rock of the 1970's.

Yeah, so that's pretty much it.

Thanks, in advance, for all the ridiculously cool stuff I'll get to learn and chat about in this forum....

Peace

post-5571-0-60223200-1323545910_thumb.jpg

GASguy Enthusiast

GASguy

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Welcome to the HOC!

 

That is a very beautiful H 157!

 

Congratulations on an excellent grab, you have great taste in guitars.

 

I also like your taste in music as outlined in your post and also infering from your handle;

Mr. Knopfler has long been one of (and remains among) my favorite players, vocalists and writers.

skydog52 Mentor

skydog52

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Welcome aboard. Nice Blonde Bombshell!

knopfler74 Community Regular

knopfler74

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Thanks Everyone!

"Blonde Bombshell" - You've done it Skydog 52, you've officially named my guitar! That is freaking AWESOME! thanks!

oh and yeah, Mark Knopfler is DA MAN! The man just exudes musical taste.

Doug Collaborator

Doug

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The gold hardware, black pickguard and knobs, along with the block inlays make that guitar look so sweet.

 

I also share a fondness for "naturals".

 

You didn't mention any of your favorite Jazz musicians?

yoslate Proficient

yoslate

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I'll pile on.... Welcome to the asylum! Quite a bio, by way of introduction. Looking forward to your posts. And, yep, fine looking 157. You'll dig that one, I'm sure. Let the acquisition begin....

Guest HRB853370

Guest HRB853370

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US Navy Band, how impressive. I surmise you retired from the Navy? Curious how long you have been playing guitar and if you ever were formally trained in it, or did the trumpet playing just carry over? Nice first Heritage guitar, and welcome to the HOC! Bunch of nice folks on here.

knopfler74 Community Regular

knopfler74

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Slammer,

Thanks. I didn't retire from the Navy. Actually, I just did my one tour in the 1990's and then went of the road with a variety of Blues and Jazz bands until I went to the University of Louisville in 2001. I haven't been formally trained in guitar I guess, but I did take private lessons with Louisville, Kentucky guitarist Craig Wagner (Mel Bay Videos or do a youtube search and prepare to be amazed by him).

Lots of music theory stuff carried over to the guitar, but little in the way of technical mechanics due to the difference in the instruments of course. Having a degree in music and spending years learning how to practice has made the transition much easier though. I mostly spend time getting my fingers to do what my ear is telling them :headbang:

Oh and to Doug - I don't really listen to jazz much anymore...guess I just got tired of 15 minute solos, and the ubiquitous use of side stepping to get 'inside/outside' of the changes.

Just wanna hear Pearl Jam knock the crap out of tunes like Animal or Force of Nature etc...

My favorite jazz players were as follows

Booker Little, Woody Shaw, Monk, Train, Bill Evans, Kenny Wheeler (great arranger!), Clay Jenkins, Jimmy Garrison, Elvin Jones, Duke Ellington, Bobby Watson, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard (had a girlfriend once who asked me 'what a Freddie Hubbard' Was....got rid of her in favor of a yamaha silent brass system)

there's a lot more, but that's a short list.

Peace

Guest HRB853370

Guest HRB853370

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Slammer,

Thanks. I didn't retire from the Navy. Actually, I just did my one tour in the 1990's and then went of the road with a variety of Blues and Jazz bands until I went to the University of Louisville in 2001. I haven't been formally trained in guitar I guess, but I did take private lessons with Louisville, Kentucky guitarist Craig Wagner (Mel Bay Videos or do a youtube search and prepare to be amazed by him).

Lots of music theory stuff carried over to the guitar, but little in the way of technical mechanics due to the difference in the instruments of course. Having a degree in music and spending years learning how to practice has made the transition much easier though. I mostly spend time getting my fingers to do what my ear is telling them :headbang:

Oh and to Doug - I don't really listen to jazz much anymore...guess I just got tired of 15 minute solos, and the ubiquitous use of side stepping to get 'inside/outside' of the changes.

Just wanna hear Pearl Jam knock the crap out of tunes like Animal or Force of Nature etc...

My favorite jazz players were as follows

Booker Little, Woody Shaw, Monk, Train, Bill Evans, Kenny Wheeler (great arranger!), Clay Jenkins, Jimmy Garrison, Elvin Jones, Duke Ellington, Bobby Watson, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard (had a girlfriend once who asked me 'what a Freddie Hubbard' Was....got rid of her in favor of a yamaha silent brass system)

there's a lot more, but that's a short list.

Peace

 

What? No Miles Davis? What the heck! You should have told your EX GF that a Freddie Hubbard was a mixed drink! Was she blonde?

knopfler74 Community Regular

knopfler74

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:laughing6: Nice! Yeah, I neglected to mention Miles...Clearly a ridiculous oversight on my part...oops!

And no, she was a redhead, and she was always grouchy about something or another.... After getting done with her I needed several mixed drinks!

Too funny

Guest HRB853370

Guest HRB853370

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:laughing6: Nice! Yeah, I neglected to mention Miles...Clearly a ridiculous oversight on my part...oops!

And no, she was a redhead, and she was always grouchy about something or another.... After getting done with her I needed several mixed drinks!

Too funny

 

Your fitting in here perfectly! Thanks for making me smile about that! Regarding Miles, that stuff with Tony Williams was off the charts!

Blunote Community Regular

Blunote

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Welcome aboard!

 

Great intro by the way. And, I love that guitar; there's always a place in my heart for blondes.

 

Folks around here are pretty cool and get along pretty well together. You'll fit right in.

chico Veteran

chico

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keep the first weekend in august open, we get together in kalamazoo. you are welcome and we all look forward to getting to know you, both here and there.

knopfler74 Community Regular

knopfler74

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Hey that's cool! I'm a teacher, so I'd actually be on vacation that weekend! right on :icon_thumleft:

TalismanRich Mentor

TalismanRich

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Welcome from a fellow Louisvillian.

 

If you studied under Craig, you studied under one of the best around! He's quite a guitarist. :thumbsup:

 

Glad you like your 157. It's a great guitar. I've had one for about 8 years.

knopfler74 Community Regular

knopfler74

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Right on! For a natural born yankee, I can say Louisville and sound like I have marbles in my mouth with the best of em! Lived there for ten years (on and off), and may be back next year. Did my student teaching at Trinity and then found a one year position in my home town in Maine, but I'm hoping to get back to Trinity next year. The ville is an AWESOME town. I'm assuming you know Mick and the guys at Steilberg, so if you see them around please tell them Matt in Maine said hi!

peace

TalismanRich Mentor

TalismanRich

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I'm quite familiar with Steilbergs. I went to high school with Jimmy MANY years ago. Both my 157 and my Taylor came from there.

 

I'm also quite familiar with Trinity, since I spent so much money there. My son graduated from Trinity 3 years ago.

bolero Veteran

bolero

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hey welcome & congrats on the beautiful 157!!

 

 

kind of funny: you're dropping top level jazz trumpet to play much more basic gtr/rock songs..I'm envious as I'll probably never grasp the more advanced music theory and therefore am stuck playing basic gtr/rock songs...heh

Hfan Proficient

Hfan

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Welcome knopfler. Enjoyed your enthusiastic introduction. Nice 157, I love mine. BTY, what is sidestepping?

knopfler74 Community Regular

knopfler74

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Ha that's awesome! Yeah, I did my student teaching with Keith Rapp, and it was a blast. What a great school!

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