Midnight Mass, Christmas 1986

Wife (who passed the next year) on violin, both our wee daughters near. This picker on Gibson flat top, small choir in a darkened, full church.

Sounds absolutely beautiful man.

CC

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Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

Playing bass for ther late great Bo Diddley.

Hope it will be my day when i get scholarship from Musician Institute/Los Angeles

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Caglar Hepterlikci
www.caglarhepterlikci.com

I've been trying to play guitar for about 25 years on and off. I had a great teacher when I was a kid, only I didn't have the proper appreciation for him. I never practiced, and really put very little effort into my playing. My results were very predictable, I sucked. I was about 13 or 14 when I started the lessons. Things went on like this for a few years, then I lost interest in the lessons. I remember him trying to teach me the chords to Sweet Melissa and he was blown away by my ability to play the rhythm "with feeling". That was a gigantic compliment, and I wish now that I listened to him. He said so many times that I could really be good if I would just practice and put some time in. I did not possess the attention span as a kid. I wanted to automatically play like Hendrix without putting in the work. I started going out to his gigs in my 20s and he would always ask me if I was still playing. I would tell him that I was still messing around with the guitar and he would tell me that was great and then get this look in his eye, like "what a shame" that I didn't work harder at it.

About a year and half ago I started to get back into guitar after another 5 or 6 year hiatus and I played a little every day. Then at the beginning of this year I got an amp with backing tracks built in and kept playing every day. I didn't notice at first, but I was definitely improving. I'm nothing great or special, but I am at the point where I really enjoy my own playing.

A few months ago I jammed with some buddies for the 1st time. The drummer had been in a few bands and my other friend is a decent keyboardist. When I plugged in they we're really complimentary about my playing. The drummer said I was better than a lot of guys he's gigged with. It felt awesome to play with real live guys and we actually made music in stead of noise. I am actually working towards a goal of playing a real gig within the next year. It took a lot for me to get to the point that I would actually consider playing a gig and that is my best accomplishment to this point. I am hoping to post to this thread again after I achieve my goal of playing in front of people. It's too bad that my teacher passed away in 07. I sure wish he could hear me play now, and I try to channel him whenever I pick up a guitar.

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Too Cool...............

Mine was a huge gig for me in CT at The Sting which was a huge warehouse converted to a very large bar. When I started gigging in CT right after my divorce I promised myself I would play there. To hear my Tele going through the 5150 to their PA; yeah it felt great

Bought my first real strat. Mmmm.

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-Kc
"Payin' dues."