should i buy a gretsch?

Im 31, and cant play the guitar. When i was 16 bought my first acoustic and had it for around a year, the trouble was that i had my friends and work and i played a lot of football so i didnt have the time (or dedication at that time) to devote to playing it.
Now some 15 yrs later and i have a family and i still love my rockabilly, i have an urge to start learning again.
Am i too old to start learning again? Ive dreamed about owning a gretsch since i was 16 and now i think im going to do it...im gonna buy one.
But is this the right thing to do? should i start on an old acoustic? or should i give in to temptation and buy that big orange bad boy?
I know there are alot of players here so id love some input.

I don't think anyone could ever be too old to start playing an instrument or learning something new. There is a man at my University that is at least 75 and he's learning to become a teacher so I don't think age has any limits. As far as buying a Gretsch.. well YEAH!


Kid.

Why not? Learning on a good instrument will provide more motivation than on a crappy ship´s plank. And if you should find out (hopefully not!!!) that playing guitar is not your favourite you will get your money back in case you sell the Gretsch again... stable value comes along with it!

Hi Setzerino

I was 34 when I started learning to play guitar, I started on an $85 acoustic, as soon as I could fret a few chords I couldnt wait to get an electric. Should you buy a Gretsch? My theory is if you can afford it (the kids will still get fed and clothed right?) then buy the guitar you fall in love with and cant put down. The more you like your particular instrument the more likely you will pick it up and practice. Most importantaly is to have fun with it.

Jon

the better the guitar/more excited it makes you etc the more likely it will be that you'll keep at it - plus if comes to worst shouldn't be too hard to sell!!!!!

Hi setzerino,

don´t worry, if you want to learn to play Rockabilly, just go for it! I always wanted to play that style since I was 15, played a lot of Blues in between and have started my real Rockabilly guitar attempt only 2 1/2 years back (after turning 38 ). Nowadays there is a wealth of good instruction material (DVDs and also some useful internet resources) to facilitate learning.

I also completely agree to the other posts here: Learning is much more fun on a good sounding / playable instrument than on an old log. And if you really want a Gretsch... I am afraid there is also no way to resist . Because I didn´t want to spend too much money, I first got an Epiphone ES295 some two years ago (with the P90s that I liked over the Gretsch humbuckers on the Electromatic series) but ended up with the "real thing" with "That great Gretsch sound" - 6120. Needless to say that this is the guitar for me now.

So if you can afford the time for learning and the money for the guitar, don´t waste your time hesitating.

Good luck!

Not to encourage you further, but if you've always wanted a Gretsch, nothing is gonna satisfy you until you see that actual T-Roof emblem on the guitar you're playing.

I have been playing for about 20 years now, and always wanted a Gretsch. I had hollowbodies that looked like a Gretsch to try and satisfy, but it didn't work.

2 years ago, I got a Tennessee Rose, and I've never looked back. I have to use a Strat for live shows, but apart from that I always play the Tenny. OK, I've snuck the Tenny into some of my Holly shows (I have a pic of Buddy playing a hollowbody at a show where his guitar hadn't gotten to the show in time, so he borrowed someone's guitar).

Also, if you decide the guitar is not for you, a real Gretsch will resell very well. Lower priced or beginner guitars hardly sell well in the secondary market for close to what you want.

Ive been impatient and bought an old acoustic (for some reason it buzzes like hell when you press the E&B strings on the first fret) but im still gonna get the Gretsch, the missus has said i can get one as long as i get rid of my xbox 360 to help pay for it. So i took it to a shop and sold it for 100 pounds so only 400 to go

I assume English pounds? So it´s going to be a 51 Electromatic? Good choice! Good choice!
You might have a look at Mr. TV Jones Website soon... promised!

setzerino wrote:

Ive been impatient and bought an old acoustic (for some reason it buzzes like hell when you press the E&B strings on the first fret) but im still gonna get the Gretsch, the missus has said i can get one as long as i get rid of my xbox 360 to help pay for it. So i took it to a shop and sold it for 100 pounds so only 400 to go

Good for you. Yer never too old to learn something new. Keep at it and you'll get there. As for the fret buzz, that could be one of several things. The "action" or height of the bridge might be off (perhaps a little low) for those strings. The neck might be bowed (adjust the truss rod). You might have an out-of-crown fret that may need to be fixed. Or, perhaps the simpest thing, maybe the strings need to be changed. Anyway, since you're a beginner, you might want to take the guitar to a pro. tech. at your local music store, as they might be able to help, if you can't figure out a fix yourself.

Good luck to ye.

Yes Buy a gretch!

setzerino wrote:

Im 31, and cant play the guitar. When i was 16 bought my first acoustic and had it for around a year, the trouble was that i had my friends and work and i played a lot of football so i didnt have the time (or dedication at that time) to devote to playing it.
Now some 15 yrs later and i have a family and i still love my rockabilly, i have an urge to start learning again.
Am i too old to start learning again? Ive dreamed about owning a gretsch since i was 16 and now i think im going to do it...im gonna buy one.
But is this the right thing to do? should i start on an old acoustic? or should i give in to temptation and buy that big orange bad boy?
I know there are alot of players here so id love some input.

definetly buy the gretsch you wont look back go for it man

Depens on Budget!

I have Gretsch, it cost me a coupe of grand (£££ not $$) and, as a musician, i have plated it on stage a handful of times. Then again, i AM a crap guitarist. That said, as a Setzer fan, it's the only guitar i'd consider, so my advice would be go get the Gretsch, learn what you can and flaunt it.

Mikey

Advisory: any advie given within this post should be treated with suspicion and trepidation.

Ive found one on ebay, and currently im top bidder at £255. considering it comes with the case too, i think its a bargain if i can get it at this price.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250269891227&ssPageName=STRK:MEBI:IT&ih=015

Setzerino,

Good luck on that auction - looks like a very nice guitar. I bought a 5129 on Ebay a couple of months ago, and I couldn't be happier with it. I play it through a Fender G-Dec practice amp, which has preset tones and rhythm tracks to play over. On this forum, it seems like everyone switches out their pickups and tuners, but for my needs, my Electro sounds awesome just as it is, and stays in tune better than any guitar I've had before, so why change anything?

Again, good luck. If you don't get this one, keep your chin up - there's always another one coming up on Ebay!

Bear85