This may sound pretty crazy, but I just got my first Guitar today. A Candy Apple Red Mexican Fat Strat. I've always wanted to learn to play the guitar, so I think it's finally time to do it! Oh, by the way, I'm 54 years old! Guess I better get started!!!

Does not sound crazy at all... Enjoy your new guitar and, have fun learning stuff.. by the way, did you also buy an amp?....some pics would be nice too if you know how to upload them.

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2009 american deluxe ash stratocaster

2009 epiphone es-335 dot.
2009 65 drri amp
2009 fender vibro champ-xD amp.
2009 takamine g-4400 acoustic/electric guitar

1980 fender harvard reverb 1 amp

+1

You've got a fine "first quitar" there -- much higher quality than many of us geezers started with.

Enjoy the new gear and welcome to the forum.



Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

I bought a Fender Frontman 25R amp. I figured this would be an OK practice amp. I'll do pictures later this weekend. My fingers hurt, but it's all good!!!

Welcome to the Forum...and to the world of guitars. Looking forward to the pics.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

You are not crazy at all,in fact quite the opposite is the case.Buying a Candy Apple Red Strat is the most sensible and sane thing that a guy can do.You couldn't have picked a better guitar as a first guitar and one to learn on.Most of us from the 50s and 60s had guitars that were barely short of being impliments of torture,they were that hard and painful to play.

The Frontman 25 is a decent amp for a first amp and quite suitable for around the house.Further on down the road you may desire a more refined sound and may want to progress to a better amp such as a Super or Deluxe Reverb or one of the new Mustang amps but there's lots of time for that.

In the meantime welcome to the forum and don't be a stranger.Feel free to drop a line if you have any questions at all about guitars or amps or anything music related as there are folks here who have encyclopedic knowledge of anything pertaining to these subjects.
BTW : If you want to know the meaning of life you may have to try another forum,but then again.......

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Interesting that I started on 11/11/11. I figured that if I can't learn to play, the Strat will look great hanging on the wall.
Trying out "Getting Started On electric Guitar" and "House Of Blues Guitar Course" to get my feet wet. I think the Blues Course DVD is a little easier for me to follow. Anyone got any suggested beginners courses on DVD?

Hello dbshelton,

You never to old to start playing guitar. Congratulation on your new purchase. Take a look at the link below. It is what I'm currently using.

http://www.learnandmaster.com/guitar/

Good luck,

Peace.....

fasteddy333

PS. You know what one guitar leads to...
...
...
...
Guitar number 2

Same as me at the age of 54 i took the plunge. Got my self a tutor sorted.

Go for it, enjoy and listen to the guys on this site, great bunch and very helpful.

Try these on youtube.
Sweet child o mine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvvZOtYTQ3s

How to string your Fender
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9DD4XcW3Vw

How to tune your guitar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqwxiVsVu_4

Dont forget to get some extra strings.

Thanks for the encouragement. I just bought Gibson's Learn and Master guitar series from Overstock for $87 today.

congrats! i just made the same plunge! I had to order mine (lefty) so ill be lagging behind ya a bit, congrats again, im so stoked to start on mine

dbshelton:

You made excellent choices. The MIM fat strat is a great guitar and the Learn and Master Guitar Course will give you a strong foundation in guitar! Sessions 4 and 5 are normally the most difficult. Take your time. Many of us L&M Guitar students camped out on these 2 lessons for a LONG time before moving on. It is worth it though. Good Luck!!!

Don't forget the pictures! WE LOVE GUITAR PICTURES, especially Candy Apple Red Strats......

54 I just turned 60 and started at 59. Actually I started in high school but only took a few lessons and never picked up a guitar again untill I was 59. It is not easy but I will not give up like I did when I was young. My problem is I cant stop buying guitars. Good luck and don't give up it will be worth it in the end.

That's awesome love the color choice, and glad you chose a fender to get started with

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2001 MIA Trans White, 2006 MIA Hss Sienna Sunburst, 92 SRV, 94 Black MIM w/CS 57/62 pups, 94 Red MIM, 08 MIM Sienna Sunburst w/texas special pups.
Hot Rod Deville, Hot Rod Deluxe, Champ 600, Marshall 59slp ri, Marshall Class 5 Head, and Peavey Windsor.

Congratulations on the new lifestyle buddy, you're a guitar player now and nothing will ever be the same. You won't be able to pass a guitar shop without stopping in and you'll find no end of ways to spend that hard earned cash believe me - so I hope you have a very understanding wife.

Three things I always told my students, 1. Dedicate at least an hour of quality time a day to your craft. 2. Never ever compare yourself to someone else. 3. Never practice what you know, practice what you don't know, that way you'll always move forward and learn more as your skills develop.

I remember the day my dad brought me home a used sunburst acoustic guitar that some lady had given him at work. I was 9 years old and I thought it was the most beautiful thing i had ever seen in my life. I slept with the dang thing and I remember I couldn’t wait to get home from school each day and pick it up. I've eaten many a meal since then and I’ve added a few more guitars but I still remember the joy I felt when I learned my very first song, and all on my own. I felt I could accomplish something at an age when everything seemed so difficult for me in my life. I’ve met many a great friend because of that little old guitar and I’m blessed and very grateful for all the joy it has given me through those long years. My fiftieth birthday is coming up and I’m going to rock the house down at that gig believe me..

Remember, music is a gift from the Gods, make the most of it and good luck !!