Hi Ken, Yep, that's where I've been for the last few months and then it's hard to come back down. There you go, material for your next song! I hope you are doing well. Good to hear from you. Jim
Ken, thanks for your very kind comments. Yes, I do get a lot of joy from my music. Even the songs that aren't religious, but just fun I think are inspired even if my execution is less than professional. Thanks for your encouragement. It's been years since I was in Australia (was in Syney & Melbourne several times on business before I retired), but if I ever get back I'd love to hear you perform.
Thanks for the book review on amazon.com, Ken! I appreciated how you said that The Songwriter's Chord Book for all Guitarists is truly for all guitarists. Best wishes.
I just wanna play guitar too. Maybe if I took down my mailbox? No bills... naa! Great song Ken and thanks for the thought! Cyu round the net. Keep picking and writing, maybe someday...
Just listened to "The Moment"-another classy song from you. Love the way your guitar sounds-who is doing the bass?? I will listen to this song when I need to remind myself to live in the moment-something I tend to forget.
Hi Ken, thanks for the kind comment :) Cheers, Chris
At 5:46pm on December 21, 2011, Jeff Lustick said…
Ken,
Good luck with your shoulder-my surgery was a few years ago-I can play guitar but it is still not ready for tennis. Oh well there are worse things to have to deal with.
I have performed "Drive" at a couple open mics and will continue to do so. It is a fun song to do and people seem to like it. I'm working at making you "famous" here!!!
Sounds like a nice way to spend Christmas. Relax and enjoy. Hope the cyclone passes you by!!!
I'll pick up my guitar at midnight on New Year's Eve and join you in the toast. Hope the coming year is filled with lots or health, happiness and, of course, music.
Jeff
Jeff
At 5:14pm on December 20, 2011, Jeff Lustick said…
Did you haveshoulder surgery??? On another topic I have 3 Taylor's-2 A/E six strings and 1 A/E 12 strings. I gather you are in the market for one-any idea which one(s) you are looking at?? I have a 410RCE (Limited Edition Rosewood), a 614 CE and a 654 CE (both maple) and I love them all.
At 5:08pm on December 20, 2011, Jeff Lustick said…
Ken,
Just wanted to stop by and wish you and your family happy holidays. Do you have any particular family traditions around this time of year???
Sweet guitar Ken and the Grand Concert body size, although too small for my style, will fit your style beautifully. The Rosewood/Sitka combination may even allow you to get away with a bit heavier strumming even in the small package. Other than that she WILL sound great and you'll be very happy to have a top end small guitar to play if you need to go through that surgery. Two thumbs up my friend and good luck to you!
My pleasure Ken, One correction from yesterday. I saif the 300 series was Mahagany when in fact it is "Sapelle", still all wood and with the tone of Mahagany just not quite as pretty. 500 series IS Mahagany with a little more dressed up presentation such as higher end woods, abolone sound hole rosette, and prettier "snowflake" fret markers... The 1st listing I've link to is a 512 (Grand Symphony), which is a bit narrower than the GA and is a finger pickers' delight for well balanced tone, You'd have to add a pickup to this one... so figure another $100 if you do it yourself our $165 installed for a great K&K.
Here's a nice 310 ce (cutaway electric) that has 4 bids on it. You may wish to enrole in esnipe.com using your eBay identifier so you can place last second bids and steal some of these guitars while you're sleeping.
Hi Ken, There are a huge number of Taylor’s tat will come close to your criteria and will all have "great action" (unless they are damaged) so that is the least of your concerns.
How much did you want to spend? (I can tell you exactly what to expect for that amount.) As for "bright" that's a matter of personal taste and you may be happier with a maple b&s instrument to help cut through the mix while playing with your band. For me, that configuration is too bright since I am primarily playing alone… it might be perfect for you. I know many quality musicians’ prefer the Sitka spruce top and Maple b&s for that very reason.
Did you want a solid wood instrument of one of their new laminates, which are surprisingly good… including the new Big Baby? If you are looking for a heartier instrument for cold weather then that might be a consideration so you don’t put a higher end instrument at risk.. You can always throw in your own pick-up and I've enjoyed the K&Ks quite a bit, and keep the total price around $550 USD.
For less than $1,000 you can get a VERY NICE Taylor 310 (DN) with electronics built in. (Or not, for less.) This is a great guitar and the action will blow you away. I love the tone and balance of this entry level 100% wood instrument.... but, being Mahogany b&s with Sitka spruce top it will not be as bright as Maple. It took a considerably greater investment for me to find a better guitar, which for me was my Martin J40, which is a percussion strummers' delight for around $3K.
Stay away from their Ovankol 400 series… it was the only Taylor guitar I've ever played that sounded like crap to me. Of course the 500 series is GREAT but will cost you more for the bling but these can be had used for a song. The 700 series are among my favorites (now) with cedar tops and Rosewood b&s and are more expensive but phenomenal guitars and you'll get a mellow / aged sound even when new. I actually prefer the much older 700’s that had the Sitka spruce tops but these are much harder to come by. The 800 series steps the 700 up and uses the spruce top but I've had three and they all were built like battleships and felt somewhat stiff to me. A great LONG-TERM investment, and by this I mean multi-generational, but I wouldn't buy one that was less that 10 to 15 years old since they do need more aging to mellow out. Once you hit the 900 series and Presentation series you are paying mainly for bling and not worth the added expense unless you have money to burn. Still, I had an INCREDIBLE 955 (12 string) that was unbelievable in every regard but I found it a week after I bought my Koa 12-string Taylor K65ce (cutaway electric). Each cost me $2,500 used on eBay and both were in mint condition. I bought the 955 with the intention of finding my “perfect guitar” and then selling the other but they were so different that it took me a year and I still couldn’t decide. The Koa is a much mellower and balanced instrument with sweet warm overtones and was just stellar to look at... a real jaw dropper everywhere she went. The 955 was an acoustic cannon and more to my style but I let my daughter decide which one she'd rather inherit and the Koa won out. I begrudgingly sold the 955 for $3,800 a year after I purchased it. Too much money for me to tie up for a hobby... especially now that I live in Southern Vermont and have trouble finding people to jam with.
It's definitely a buyer's market now so don't feel bad going on to eBay and getting a great deal... that will offset the cost to ship to you in Aussie land. Just make sure the seller has a very good rating. If you're not sure just shoot me the eBay link to my regular e-mail, which is ios@sover.net and I will take a look and help you decide. I'll take a look anyway because this stuff is fun for me and is the next best thing to actually jamming with a friend.
PS: Body size has a huge impact on me since I am primarily a "percussive rhythm guitarist" that also flat picks and fingerpicks but not as my main thing. I MUST go for dreadnoughts or jumbos or I will bottom out most guitars when I start playing it like a drum. If your style is lighter, which I believe it is, then you can easily get away with the smaller Grand Auditorium (perfect guitars!) and even smaller Grand Symphony bodies that are denoted by X14 and X12 respectively, where the "X" is the series and wood combination on the older Taylors. (To keep us on or toes they have renamed the entire line... marketing, nothing more... go used.) Ciao my friend.
Hi Ken, Sorry to hear about the shoulder. Mine, now 7 months post op is about 80% and I'm working on the stregnth and range of motion. My surgery was through four tiny cuts and perhaps that's what you mean by "keyhole" although I never heard the expression before. I opted out of their prescribed medications; morphine and a strong pain killer abnd went right or the Alieve , which did the job for me. They had some sort of time release ball, that shrunk over the next week as it let the medicine flow, so the recovery wasn't as bad as they had prepared me for. Good luck but expect at least a few months down time and keep the smallest guitar you own handy since it was four months before I could comfortably wrap my right shoulder around my jumbos.
Hi Ken, Yes, sold a nice low end 12 string Taylor a few months ago and have a high end 12 for sale now. What specifically are you looking for... I can at least give you a good recommendation.
Thanks for the comment on The Empire of Fame! It is always great to get feedback. I guess I really have that Neil Young type style and my voice is of course unusual to say the least.
I am grateful you listened and took the time to comment!
Not yet Ken. I just wrote it yesterday and need to find a different usage of those chords for the chorus. For now the verse and chorus are using the same chord structure, which I needed to do to fleh out the lyrics. It's a simple melody and you should pick it up in 30 seconds... be interested in your recomendation for a chorus chord change-up. I'll let you know when this progresses to the point that I can record it.
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Ken,
Juat wanted to say hi and wish you and your family a happy holiday season. Enjoy and relax!!!
Jeff
Hi Ken, Yep, that's where I've been for the last few months and then it's hard to come back down. There you go, material for your next song! I hope you are doing well. Good to hear from you. Jim
Thanks Ken for your comments.
Not been in this site for awhile so playing catchup. I record my tunes at home and fine tune at a studio for my CD's. Thanks for liking.
Keep picking
Vince
Ken, thanks for your very kind comments. Yes, I do get a lot of joy from my music. Even the songs that aren't religious, but just fun I think are inspired even if my execution is less than professional. Thanks for your encouragement. It's been years since I was in Australia (was in Syney & Melbourne several times on business before I retired), but if I ever get back I'd love to hear you perform.
I listened to all your tunes the other day as background to doing some Digital Art. I truly enjoy your music! Thanks for sharing your songs and style!
Kirk
Thanks for the book review on amazon.com, Ken! I appreciated how you said that The Songwriter's Chord Book for all Guitarists is truly for all guitarists. Best wishes.
I just wanna play guitar too. Maybe if I took down my mailbox? No bills... naa! Great song Ken and thanks for the thought! Cyu round the net. Keep picking and writing, maybe someday...
"Forever" is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Well done my friend.
Ken,
Just listened to "The Moment"-another classy song from you. Love the way your guitar sounds-who is doing the bass?? I will listen to this song when I need to remind myself to live in the moment-something I tend to forget.
Jeff
Hi Ken, thanks for the kind comment :) Cheers, Chris
Ken,
Good luck with your shoulder-my surgery was a few years ago-I can play guitar but it is still not ready for tennis. Oh well there are worse things to have to deal with.
I have performed "Drive" at a couple open mics and will continue to do so. It is a fun song to do and people seem to like it. I'm working at making you "famous" here!!!
Sounds like a nice way to spend Christmas. Relax and enjoy. Hope the cyclone passes you by!!!
I'll pick up my guitar at midnight on New Year's Eve and join you in the toast. Hope the coming year is filled with lots or health, happiness and, of course, music.
Jeff
Jeff
Did you haveshoulder surgery??? On another topic I have 3 Taylor's-2 A/E six strings and 1 A/E 12 strings. I gather you are in the market for one-any idea which one(s) you are looking at?? I have a 410RCE (Limited Edition Rosewood), a 614 CE and a 654 CE (both maple) and I love them all.
Ken,
Just wanted to stop by and wish you and your family happy holidays. Do you have any particular family traditions around this time of year???
Jeff
Sweet guitar Ken and the Grand Concert body size, although too small for my style, will fit your style beautifully. The Rosewood/Sitka combination may even allow you to get away with a bit heavier strumming even in the small package. Other than that she WILL sound great and you'll be very happy to have a top end small guitar to play if you need to go through that surgery. Two thumbs up my friend and good luck to you!
My pleasure Ken, One correction from yesterday. I saif the 300 series was Mahagany when in fact it is "Sapelle", still all wood and with the tone of Mahagany just not quite as pretty. 500 series IS Mahagany with a little more dressed up presentation such as higher end woods, abolone sound hole rosette, and prettier "snowflake" fret markers... The 1st listing I've link to is a 512 (Grand Symphony), which is a bit narrower than the GA and is a finger pickers' delight for well balanced tone, You'd have to add a pickup to this one... so figure another $100 if you do it yourself our $165 installed for a great K&K.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-Taylor-512-Acoustic-Guitar-/150699696758?pt=Guitar&hash=item231666e276
Here's a nice 310 ce (cutaway electric) that has 4 bids on it. You may wish to enrole in esnipe.com using your eBay identifier so you can place last second bids and steal some of these guitars while you're sleeping.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-310CE-Dreadnough-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-w-Taylor-hard-Case-/120816244137?pt=Guitar&hash=item1c213595a9
Here's a brand new and over-priced 614ce, two strikes... I don't like new.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TAYLOR-614CE-Acoustic-Electric-2011-GUITAR-MINT-PRISTINE-614-CE-w-CASE-/120816925122?pt=Guitar&hash=item1c213ff9c2
Here's a 310 you could steal... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-310-Acoustic-guitar-/150705100365?pt=Guitar&hash=item2316b9564d (New lister on eBay with "0" trnsactions but you can communicate with him to feel safe 1st "if" interested.)
This may be your baby. A used 612ce from 1988...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TAYLOR-1988-612ce-Maple-Grand-Concert-acoustic-guitar-saddle-pickup-case-/180761433573?pt=Guitar&hash=item2a163895e5
Here's one that is more in line with what I like...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-510-ce-LTD-1999-acoustic-electric-guitar-/190605366995?pt=Guitar&hash=item2c60f716d3
FYI only: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-614CE-AA-Quilt-Maple-Acoustic-electric-Guitar-/200679900617?pt=Guitar&hash=item2eb97445c9
Possibles: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1999-TAYLOR-Model-310-DREADNOUGHT-/220900711073?pt=Guitar&hash=item336eb55aa1
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-510-very-very-good-condition-/200680647861?pt=Guitar&hash=item2eb97facb5
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2005-Taylor-314ce-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-w-OHSC-/230700057949?pt=Guitar&hash=item35b6cb855d (good value with the ES: Expression System, which is a $400 upgrade)
Gotta go to work... enjoy the day Ken.
Hi Ken, There are a huge number of Taylor’s tat will come close to your criteria and will all have "great action" (unless they are damaged) so that is the least of your concerns.
How much did you want to spend? (I can tell you exactly what to expect for that amount.) As for "bright" that's a matter of personal taste and you may be happier with a maple b&s instrument to help cut through the mix while playing with your band. For me, that configuration is too bright since I am primarily playing alone… it might be perfect for you. I know many quality musicians’ prefer the Sitka spruce top and Maple b&s for that very reason.
Did you want a solid wood instrument of one of their new laminates, which are surprisingly good… including the new Big Baby? If you are looking for a heartier instrument for cold weather then that might be a consideration so you don’t put a higher end instrument at risk.. You can always throw in your own pick-up and I've enjoyed the K&Ks quite a bit, and keep the total price around $550 USD.
For less than $1,000 you can get a VERY NICE Taylor 310 (DN) with electronics built in. (Or not, for less.) This is a great guitar and the action will blow you away. I love the tone and balance of this entry level 100% wood instrument.... but, being Mahogany b&s with Sitka spruce top it will not be as bright as Maple. It took a considerably greater investment for me to find a better guitar, which for me was my Martin J40, which is a percussion strummers' delight for around $3K.
Stay away from their Ovankol 400 series… it was the only Taylor guitar I've ever played that sounded like crap to me. Of course the 500 series is GREAT but will cost you more for the bling but these can be had used for a song. The 700 series are among my favorites (now) with cedar tops and Rosewood b&s and are more expensive but phenomenal guitars and you'll get a mellow / aged sound even when new. I actually prefer the much older 700’s that had the Sitka spruce tops but these are much harder to come by. The 800 series steps the 700 up and uses the spruce top but I've had three and they all were built like battleships and felt somewhat stiff to me. A great LONG-TERM investment, and by this I mean multi-generational, but I wouldn't buy one that was less that 10 to 15 years old since they do need more aging to mellow out. Once you hit the 900 series and Presentation series you are paying mainly for bling and not worth the added expense unless you have money to burn. Still, I had an INCREDIBLE 955 (12 string) that was unbelievable in every regard but I found it a week after I bought my Koa 12-string Taylor K65ce (cutaway electric). Each cost me $2,500 used on eBay and both were in mint condition. I bought the 955 with the intention of finding my “perfect guitar” and then selling the other but they were so different that it took me a year and I still couldn’t decide. The Koa is a much mellower and balanced instrument with sweet warm overtones and was just stellar to look at... a real jaw dropper everywhere she went. The 955 was an acoustic cannon and more to my style but I let my daughter decide which one she'd rather inherit and the Koa won out. I begrudgingly sold the 955 for $3,800 a year after I purchased it. Too much money for me to tie up for a hobby... especially now that I live in Southern Vermont and have trouble finding people to jam with.
It's definitely a buyer's market now so don't feel bad going on to eBay and getting a great deal... that will offset the cost to ship to you in Aussie land. Just make sure the seller has a very good rating. If you're not sure just shoot me the eBay link to my regular e-mail, which is ios@sover.net and I will take a look and help you decide. I'll take a look anyway because this stuff is fun for me and is the next best thing to actually jamming with a friend.
PS: Body size has a huge impact on me since I am primarily a "percussive rhythm guitarist" that also flat picks and fingerpicks but not as my main thing. I MUST go for dreadnoughts or jumbos or I will bottom out most guitars when I start playing it like a drum. If your style is lighter, which I believe it is, then you can easily get away with the smaller Grand Auditorium (perfect guitars!) and even smaller Grand Symphony bodies that are denoted by X14 and X12 respectively, where the "X" is the series and wood combination on the older Taylors. (To keep us on or toes they have renamed the entire line... marketing, nothing more... go used.) Ciao my friend.
Hi Ken, Sorry to hear about the shoulder. Mine, now 7 months post op is about 80% and I'm working on the stregnth and range of motion. My surgery was through four tiny cuts and perhaps that's what you mean by "keyhole" although I never heard the expression before. I opted out of their prescribed medications; morphine and a strong pain killer abnd went right or the Alieve , which did the job for me. They had some sort of time release ball, that shrunk over the next week as it let the medicine flow, so the recovery wasn't as bad as they had prepared me for. Good luck but expect at least a few months down time and keep the smallest guitar you own handy since it was four months before I could comfortably wrap my right shoulder around my jumbos.
Hi Ken, Yes, sold a nice low end 12 string Taylor a few months ago and have a high end 12 for sale now. What specifically are you looking for... I can at least give you a good recommendation.
Ken,
Thanks for the comment on The Empire of Fame! It is always great to get feedback. I guess I really have that Neil Young type style and my voice is of course unusual to say the least.
I am grateful you listened and took the time to comment!
Kirk
Not yet Ken. I just wrote it yesterday and need to find a different usage of those chords for the chorus. For now the verse and chorus are using the same chord structure, which I needed to do to fleh out the lyrics. It's a simple melody and you should pick it up in 30 seconds... be interested in your recomendation for a chorus chord change-up. I'll let you know when this progresses to the point that I can record it.
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