Hi, need to give a little background here .
Started playing guitar aged about 15 with an old spanish acoustic got myself one of those Bert Weedon play in a day books (as you do), pretty much self taught after that and graduated to electrics via an old vox and then some crappy cheap japanese guitars (mid 70s) like audition and columbus. Columbus strat copy was the worst, like trying to press down anchor chains the action was so high but at the time I thouht it was ok.
Got myself in a couple of bands (pub) playing oldies stuff and after a few years just jacked it in.
Now at age 53 I decided to pick up the old guitar again and see if I could learn to play it properly, never knew scales and stuff; Just played along to records on the player (remember those funny flat round black things made from vinyl!) and did my best to copy them, came up with these box shapes as I called em, didn't know a major from myxolidion (still don't lol).
Anyhow I came back to the fold, local music shop had a nice strat copy in natural wood, a Cort G260, looked up the reviews found it was well thought of sounded ok on the youtube vids (for what thats worth) so bought it.
Well had it six weeks now and decided to drop by the shop thinking maybe pick up a Les Paul copy so I got choices, tried a few and just didn't like em Gretch, Tokai, Ibanez just not doing it for me.
Thats when it happened....
Over in the corner I spotted a used Fender strat, an american special HSS, what the heck I thought while I'm here give it a go. Soon as I heard it I had to have it, beautiful tones and remember I can't even play that well yet.
Yep, I am one proud satisfied owner of a (2010 I beleive) American special HSS strat, jet black, rosewood fingerboard and lovin every second I get on it. Neck feels longer than other guitars I have tried but easy to play so I dont care. Traded in the Cort and got it back home within 1/2 hour.
At the moment I'm working through some country guitar dvd from Steve Trovato and maybe if I get it good enough I'l post something of it in action.
The moral is that you can't beat the real Mccoy.
Buy quality and buy it once.

Congrats, those frets feel pretty good, eh?

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Right on man, the quality of the Highway Ones and American Specials is incredible. Best bang for your buck ever.

They turned me into a jumbo fret fan. So easy and fun to play with those huge things on the neck

Congrats on a sweet versatile strat.

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

can't beat the real deal!

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC

exactly!
Welcome back to the guitar world stickmaster!

Thanks for the welcome from you guys, I been playing this thing to death and started to remember some of the old stuff I used to play. Also working through the Steve Trovato Country guitar in 6 weeks dvd's.
I reckon that whatever type of lick you want to play (country, gospel, metal etc) you gotta be able to hear it in your head first or at least hum it else you got no chance, do you guys agree?
I mean I like to hear country picking and would love to learn it BUT my brain seems to be stuck in blues mode, you know those slurring, sliding moaning licks just seem to be easier to imagine than the sharp, clean countrylicks. Guess the solution is to try to think country more. Anyhow I decided to share a couple of links to show off my new strat and let you guys hear how it's inspired me to get back down to it. Not perfect by a long shot but heading in the right direction I think.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/malcolmk/me_ballad.mp3
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/malcolmk/apache.mp3

The ballad is using the backing track and licks learnt from the Trovato course.
Oh yeah, great place for free backing tracks http://www.guitarbackingtrack.com/search.php
Constructive criticism welcome.

Thanks for the free backing track site. Been wanting to look for something like that for a while now. This should keep me busy for a while.

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2000 American Deluxe Stratocaster
2011 Gibson Les Paul Trad Pro 50's
2007 Epi Les Paul Custom
90's ESP Eclipse
JH-1B Jimi Hendrix Crybaby
Analogman KOT
Korg Pitchblack
Boss NS-2 PH-2
Blues Deluxe Reissue
1999 & 2007 Marshall TSL 100 w/1960BV cab

congrats and the clips sound pretty good from where i'm sitting.
J

Feels good to pick up a guitar after so many years, doesn't it. I'm in the same boat, and lovin' it! Only problem; bad case of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome). It's like I'm trying to make up for all of the lost years...Nevertheless, it's great to play along to a music track. Hope you continue to enjoy your guitar for many years to come.

Glad your playing again. Welcome to the forum.........

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Nice tale of a Strat hanging back in a corner, ready to meet its new owner, and suddenly, BANG! it kills every other axe on the site. Happens every time! If you are anything like myself, now you will be looking for the amp it deserves! Whatever style you are studying, listen to that stuff all day!! Soon those lines will be running through your head! Hey man thanks for sharing your story.

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FIGHT!

Thanks to all you guys for kind comments.
Was thinking maybe there could be a thread sort of recommending (or otherwise) various guitar tuition systems on offer. Looking around myself I found way too much stuff for sale on the net, all ofcourse reckoning on being the best. Well I guess a lot of folk (like me) don't have money to throw around in this economic climate so what are the courses that will teach you something that you can actually apply, and are they best for beginner or slightly more advanced?
Think maybe I will write up something on the Steve Trovato course I have and post that, see if it gets the ball rolling.

As the oulde Motown lyric goes, "...ain't nothing like the real thing, Baby...."