Today after praiseband I was talking to my youth minister about my amp situation and he made me realize something...

I been spending all this time and effort investing money into this vintage amp of mine, and quite frankly I don't have the time or money to be able to keep up with it. Instead of wasting all my money into trying to achieve a certain tone, I should be more focused on continuing to progress in my playing as well as I have the past two and a half years, and not worrying about having that certain sound.

I've got all the time when I'm older to put money in vintage instruments, amps, etc. , I should just work on playing my best at the present moment.

This made me think about how this can easily be applied to many applications in life- my devotion to God, my school, my personal responsibilities, etc.

shouldn't beat myself over trying to achieve something I may never get, but instead I should focus on making myself a better person NOW, and eventually, I'll be something great in the future.

Sage advice from a great friend.

_________________
Kid: "Hey Smokey! Where did you get your name?"
Smokey the Bear: "Well..."
(former user jimbo612)

Hey Smokey, your story reminds me of an ancient tale from India. A vindicative king wanted to conquer all the land around and even more if possible. So he went to a holy man for advice and the holy man told him that in order to be the absolute king, he would first have to meditate on his sword and list all the qualities that his sword would need to bring him victory. He would also need to apply these qualities to his life as well. So in the end this king became a great ruler for his people but he also became a holy man himself in the process. Not very effective in guitar playing isn't it? But from reading your post I think that you already get the idea.
Tone isn't everything, keep practicing and good luck.
Claude.

Very enlightening. I'm happy I've read this!

Sounds like your Youth Minister is a very wise person and worth listening to.

Solid advice
Live only for today......tomorrow may never come.

_________________
1986 Fender Sidekick Reverb 35
1990 Fender Red Knob - "The Twin"
1992 Fender Newporter - Acoustic
2000 Fender American Series Strat - Natural ash
2010 Fender Mustang 1
2011 Fender Blacktop Jazzmaster -Sunburst
2012 Fender Champion

That's a very deep Claude. Perhaps I should meditate on my Strat.

I suppose the main thrust is that it's not what you use, but the result. Dunno about anyone else but I'm sick of looking at guitars, amps and pedals. I'm far more interested at what comes out of em.

Jimbo.
Put the Ampeg away. Who knows as time goes by you may meet someone who knows what their doing and will do it for free. Or somebody join your church. Dunno how you roll but when I was a active church memeber, whatever skills people had, they offered. Perhaps if it's a mega-church with a congregation of 17 million or whatever like Benny Hinn's, you could have a anouncement put out. You may even learn to fix em yourself.
Situations have a habit of changing. Just relax about it and if anything concentrate on how you sound, rather than what you use to acheive the sound.

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No no and no

Sure it is a great advice!

It remains me to my obsession into the Hot Rod '62 Strat. Not only one time have I saved money for that guitar, but twice (and starting over again). First time I broke my knee, and I needed the money to have an operation. Second time my mother needed the money because of her health (heart pain). So, I've started to save money again from zero...

Fortunately, I'm convinced that you have to deserve an instrument like that to own it, so I started to practice hard the same day I saved the first Euro, and now, almost 3 years later, I'm proud I can say my playing skills have increased a lot, and I love again my Telecaster Plus (a great guitar, too).

Now I feel I deserve a Hot Rod, just need the money. Meanwhile, I'm playing every night.

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I'm sorry if you can't understand me, but I'm just an English student. Help acepted.

After a too long absence...

I'm back in town! (and in Fender Lounge)

words of wisdom Smokey, words of wisdom. I too am happy i read this

_________________


I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk...

Thanks guys for the great posts, its awesome hearing what each of you have to say. I've learned to cherish that over the year as well.

My youth minister is one of the greatest friends I've ever had, he's like family to me.

Damco: I Can't wait to log on one day and see "NGD: Hot rod '62 Strat!" on the forum. You do deserve it after all you been through.

Niki: You're exactly right! When this amp gets fixed, I'll probably put it aside or up for sale. It could use a guitarist who knows how to deal with vintage amps.
Right now I haven't really been too worried about it. Things will work out. Putting an ad in the church too is a great idea. Its a smaller church, but everyone tends to help each other out.

Claude: that story is great! One day I'll be a great player, but I just need some time to "mediate."

thanks guys

_________________
Kid: "Hey Smokey! Where did you get your name?"
Smokey the Bear: "Well..."
(former user jimbo612)

Certainly is good advice, will definitely try to remember that

Drew

+1000

_________________
"Speak the truth, and speak it ever,
cost it what it will
for he who hides the wrong he did
did the wrong thing still."
-Miss Uel

wow i think several things are being over looked by your youth minister.
there is nothing wrong with investing time/money into your amp. its your passion
and desire. the amp in no way should take from your playing ability.
you mentioned that you will always have time when your older to..........
yeah and when your older that amp might be worth a fortune and you'll kick yourself for not keeping it and getting it fixed.
live for today as tomorrow is not a guarantee. practice hard and keep going on your tone and amp. there is nothing wrong with setting out on a project and completing it.
maybe your youth paster was only meaning to tell you that to refocus yourself, that its not as important at this time in your life as you think it is. maybe youve turned a passion into an obsession.

you said:shouldn't beat myself over trying to achieve something I may never get, but instead I should focus on making myself a better person NOW, and eventually, I'll be something great in the future.

well beating yourself is one thing, but giving up and not giving it your best shot your setting yourself up for failure and no you wont achieve it.
your something great NOW, you just need to go do great things.
you never know who you will meet in dealing with your amp, what door you will walk into,
what right place at the right time you will find yourself. in doing so, you might meet somebody of importance, or, you might be somebody of importance to someone else in your trek from tone. the bible encourages passions and dreams, dont discount that for anything. know the difference between passion and obsession, and go do great things
now.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Thanks SmokeythaBear. Very kind from you. But I'm afraid it's hard times nowadays...

I'm afraid I have to practice a lot my english, because I'm not sure if I understand all you say. But, as I mentioned, the Hot Rod Strat was an obsession to me. Fortunately, after two failed attempts to buy it, I don't worry if new instrument is coming tomorrow or next year. I love my current rig, and I've learned how to make it sound very good (just a little tired of Lace Sensors sound...).

So, I'll take part from the first post of SmokeythaBear and part of the way cool jr one, and I'm happy with my guitars, and playing it hard, but I don't forget the Strat I've dreamed for a long time... Carpe Diem.

_________________
I'm sorry if you can't understand me, but I'm just an English student. Help acepted.

After a too long absence...

I'm back in town! (and in Fender Lounge)

Hi Smokey. Your youth Pastor is right, maybe you're supposed to sound like Smokey and not someone else. Good or bad I sound like me, I don't try to specificaly sound like my heroes, I'm happy being me.

Congrats, Smokey.

Thinking about the concepts of spritual growth and expanded consciousness are the first giant steps.

Best of fortune on your journey. And don't limit yourself to focusing even onmusic; there are 300 sextillion stars out there..."everything" is a BIG picture.

Best of fortune on your life-journey.