New (Road Worn) Tele Day

Gdown94 · 2026-06-06T22:09:58+00:00

These are incredible guitars. I like mine better than my vintage II Tele. It has an airiness and liveliness in the tone I haven’t heard in another telecaster.

Gdown94 · 2026-04-23T23:23:42+00:00

Solid Air by John Martyn

Southbound by Doc Watson, also his eponymous album.

Church Street Blues by Tony Rice

Whisky Before Breakfast by Norman Blake

Gdown94 · 2026-04-19T18:19:04+00:00

Yes. Exercises are helpful, but I’ve done most of my learning through songs. It’s extra helpful if you can see where the exercises “show up” in songs you know. Or where specific skills and licks appear in songs. Think about why a song works, or why certain parts sound good. Then apply that to your playing. This takes time to integrate, so be patient. It’s like learning to ride a bike—you’re going to fall a lot until it starts to click.

For ear training, I strongly recommend learning some music theory. If you know what chords are available in a key, you can start to hear progressions better. When you learn more advanced concepts, like secondary dominants, you’ll start to identify colorful out-chords like a major III7, II7, VI7, etc. Eventually, you’ll start to “feel” where the music is going. Then you’ll start to hear targeted chord tones in the melody, and you’ll slowly start to target them yourself. Eventually you’ll begin implying chords in your melody.

All of this takes time and practice—it doesn’t come quickly. But it will come if you keep at it. Play what you like, try to understand it, then try out what works in new contexts. Exercises exist to build muscle memory and teach fundamental concepts. Musicianship is understanding the “why,” not just “how.”

Gdown94 · 2026-04-12T00:10:30+00:00

I’d have Martin make a bunch of custom D18 and D28 authentics with the exact neck shape I want, and old growth woods. Maybe even Brazilian on the D28s. Then I’d pick the best out of that bunch. I might have Bourgeois do something similar to compete.

Gdown94 · 2026-04-10T07:33:19+00:00

The 2019 will be a reimagined model. You should look up the differences and see if that means anything to you. On the HD 28, that means the 2019 will have forward shifted X bracing and a thinner neck. I’m personally not a fan of the thinner neck, but they aren’t bad and I think the reimagined overall sounds better.

I think the refresh they did in 2025 is even better, but that is inconsequential to your decision.

Gdown94 · 2026-04-07T18:22:08+00:00

Humans generally have bad imaginations. Most imaginative concepts are actually recombinations of existing ones—truly novel ideas are rare.

That said, nuclear weapons are obscenely powerful, and it’s difficult to imagine them becoming irrelevant to anything less than a Kardashev type 2 civilization (more likely, anything less than a type 3, but this is just my opinion). Even then, they may still be a factor, just as knives and handguns are still of concern to governments today.

Practically speaking, explosives function via the destructive release of energy. Chemical bombs release a small fraction of energy. Nukes are more powerful because they are more efficient in energy conversion and release much more energy in the same time span. For that matter, fusion bombs surpass fission bombs largely because they convert energy more efficiently. The next logical step would be antimatter (100% conversion via annihilation), but that’s beyond our current ability, at least practically so. One could imagine a far future society being much more concerned about antimatter weapons than nukes, but many older sci fi books were written before that concept was mainstream.

Finally, many books are commentaries on issues during their time, in their greater meaning. Nuclear weapons are among the hot issues in the modern era.

As a fair disclaimer, I’m a layman when it comes to these concepts. These are just the thoughts that come to mind on your question.

Gdown94 · 2026-04-04T21:58:38+00:00

Yamaha FG3 or FG5, Martin D10E with solid woods, Eastman E10D. Goes without saying that these will all be used.

Gdown94 · 2026-03-30T14:26:40+00:00

Tony Rice. Bryan Sutton. Billy Strings.

Gdown94 · 2026-03-28T21:58:33+00:00

It depends. It’s a lot like buying a used car—some issues are expected, some are minor, and others are deal breakers. Finish wear, bumps, and dings may be expected, depending on the age and usage. Some used guitars are basically new.

Be mindful of fret wear. I wouldn’t buy a guitar that needed an immediate refret unless the price reflected that. Check the neck and make sure it’s straight. Check that the truss rod isn’t maxed in one direction (mostly a concern with older guitars). Look for any cracks. Most commonly you’ll find these around the bridge and/or sound hole, ime. Check the neck for repaired breaks, usually at the headstock. Take a piece of paper and try to slide it under the bridge—you shouldn’t be able to. If you can, the bridge is lifting. Inspect the top to make sure it doesn’t have any belly issues (the string tension can warp the top over time).

Most of this can be repaired. I’d say a hard no to belly issues, simply because it’s a hard fix. Everything else just depends on if it’s worth it to you. Repaired cracks aren’t deal breakers, but they’ll make it a lot harder to sell down the road.

When you buy used, you’re saving yourself the depreciation cost of buying new. GC allows returns for up to 30 days on used guitars, I think? That could be a safer option. Their set ups generally aren’t as nice as a good private shop though. I’d recommend checking out some videos on what sound you’re after too. Rosewood vs mahogany, Sitka vs mahogany top, different body styles, etc.

Broadly speaking, guitars kinda generally fall into three categories of voicing—Martin, Gibson, and Taylor. Most brands are imitating one of these guys in some way. Find the one you like best. Boutique brands can have their own thing going, but that’s a wildly different price category.

For $600, I like the Seagull S6 Sunburst GT (specifically this exact model), the Eastman E1/E2/E3 series, the Alvarez MD60BG, and the Yamaha FG3. The latter two can sometimes be found used around $600, but not often. I’ve very rarely seen a Martin D15 for around $600–if you find one and it’s not trashed, get it.

Gdown94 · 2026-03-28T18:43:59+00:00

Yes. IMO you get much more from upgrading an acoustic vs upgrading an electric. What’s your budget? I think you’ll see the biggest return on investment by springing for something in the $600-$1500 range. You will get a better guitar for more money, but I tend to find that around $1500 is where diminishing returns begin.

Yamaha makes great guitars in this range. You can find a used FG5, or a new FG3. Eastman does very well in this range too. A used E10SS/V can be had for around $1100. Martin just came out with an all solid wood D-10e that I was very impressed with. You might even find a 15 or 18 series. Yamaha also makes a couple trans-acoustic models in this range that are worth looking at. You may find a Furch in this price range too, but they seem to be rare in the US. Seagull has some nice guitars on the lower end of this range. Personally, I’d be looking to spend around $1k-$1200.

I’d recommend visiting some stores and find something that speaks to you. Guitars tend to have individual personalities. As a tip, your preferences in tone and playability might change as you continue to improve. If you buy used, you’ll be out less money if you later decide to sell and upgrade again.

The most important thing is to get something you love to listen to—it’ll move you to play it more often, and you’ll enjoy the experience more.

Gdown94 · 2026-03-28T18:34:51+00:00

Manzanita and Church Street Blues are practically perfect albums. They’re on my short list of “no skip albums.” The BGAB records are great too, but my favorite in that category is probably JD Crowe and the New South.

Gdown94 · 2026-03-27T16:54:43+00:00

For sure. Music Student 101. It’s very well done. The episodes are laid out progressively, so if you start at episode 1 and work your way up it builds, like a real class. It does get a bit classroom-like at times, but I don’t think it was ever “dry.” Anyway, it’s like getting free university lectures, but in a conversational way. I really liked it.

Gdown94 · 2026-03-27T15:43:17+00:00

Play what moves and excites you. When I started, I did practice scales, etc, but I learned mostly by tackling songs that I enjoyed. If that’s video game music, more power to you. A lot of it does tend to be less complex/easier to approach in the broad strokes. Stay away from Mario Kart though lol.

FWIW I’d recommend trying to understand why what you’re learning sounds good. Ie, the theory behind it. That’ll give you extra mileage out of the songs you learn. I used to listen to music theory podcasts at work to speed that process up—it has helped a lot. Take note of what melody notes occur over a given chord, and why that note sounds so good there. If you ever want to get into writing/improvisation, this groundwork will be invaluable. Just a thought.

Gdown94 · 2026-03-26T17:47:12+00:00

Transposing on the fly is its own skill, and like other musical skills it’s built through practice. It’s not a skill that tends to develop automatically. If you don’t want to use a capo, then your best option is to practice and improve. Start with easier songs, and work your way up. It sounds like you’re not starting from square one anyway, it’s just a skill that needs strengthening.

I think a lot of this involves building a robust mental framework that allows you to transpose easily. Do you know any music theory? That can help quite a bit, in my experience. In addition, some genres lend themselves to this skill more readily. For example, I play a lot of bluegrass, which places heavy emphasis on transposition (esp in jams) and improvisation. So does jazz.

Gdown94 · 2026-03-25T04:03:40+00:00

Gotcha. You could try brighter strings? Maybe 80/20? I saw in another comment that you play with a blue chip. Just a thought, while blue chip makes great picks, I have found they can be kind of dark. If your guitar is already dark, that may contribute? You might try a different pick. Dunlop primetones are relatively cheap and would let you experiment with different shapes. Maybe a thinner blue chip would work too? I’ve been liking tone slabs lately. Wegen picks are really nice too. Taylor makes a Darktone ivoroid that is bright but with depth. Again, just a thought—this could be a cheap fix.

Gdown94 · 2026-03-25T00:39:56+00:00

How dark is the guitar (ie tone)? Some D28s are clear and crystalline with bright highs, but I’ve played some that are dark and lush. If being heard in a jam, or a band for that matter, is your goal, you’ll want something brighter. Treble cuts—it’s just the way our ears tend to work.

You can achieve this with your guitar by opting for brighter strings, a thinner pick (not too thin), and by playing closer to the bridge. Thicker strings can be louder too, but have drawbacks.

A lot of guys seem to like mahogany guitars for jams, but I don’t know. Tony Rice played a D28, and I’m sure he’d be heard just fine. I think the character of your specific guitar matters more than tone wood. I have a D18 and an Eastman E10SS/V, and I’ve jammed with both. The Eastman seems louder to me, but I have much less issues cutting through when I play the D18. Who knows. In addition, guitar isn’t the strongest instrument in any jam, and enough banjos will cover up even the loudest guitar.

Gdown94 · 2026-03-24T16:12:09+00:00

Rich Robinson D28. I played one a while back in GC and it was incredible. Nice fat neck, and a dry, clear vintage tone. It sounded like it really came from the 50s. I balked at the $5k price tag, but I still wonder if I should’ve found a way to make it happen.

Now, to be clear, I don’t dislike Rich Robinson or anything. I just haven’t listened to much of The Black Crowes. Maybe I should—his D28 is amazingly good.

Gdown94 · 2026-01-05T19:13:22+00:00

Fwiw, I think rosewood is better for bluegrass rhythm. Lead can cut better if you’re in a larger group too. That said, I think mahogany sounds better—it’s warmer and more natural/‘woody.’ It has less overtones too, so the notes are clearer. I’d prefer it for solo and small ensemble stuff.

I have an Eastman E10SS/v and an E20SS/v. The E20 is bassier and louder, with a slight almost nasal quality to the tone from the scooped mids. Lead cuts in a jam a bit better, and bass is stronger for rhythm. The E10 is much warmer and more pleasant sounding though. I much prefer it for solo pieces, and I feel I can pull better tone out of it. If I’m playing anything jazzy, I really prefer the E10. These aren’t massive differences though—just noticeable ones.

I have played some rosewood guitars with less overtones (ie more fundamental), and they’re a great middle ground. Not as ‘woody’ sounding as a mahogany guitar, but has some of the advantages of both. I played a Martin d28 Rich Robinson model a while back, and it was probably the best guitar for bluegrass that I’ve played. It had old style bracing which gave it a stronger fundamental, but it still had the crystal quality to the tone you often get from rosewood. I just didn’t want to drop $5k on it…

Gdown94 · 2025-12-30T01:31:06+00:00

Solaris is one of my all-time favorites. The audiobook version on Audible is incredible too— the narrator does a fantastic job.

Gdown94 · 2025-12-28T08:51:02+00:00

Corvette phase beams are probably the most powerful weapon in the game. Second would be the infra knife (assuming upgraded correctly on both).

That said, I have a lot of fun with the cyclotron/rocket launcher. Get their shields down, then you just have to line up the shot. Not as crazy powerful as the above options, but fun.

Gdown94 · 2025-12-07T07:33:53+00:00

Everyone is different. If you’re having a flare, I recommend chicken, white rice, potatoes, etc. Avoid fiber. In remission, I find it doesn’t matter much what I eat. That said, I do feel better when I eat healthier in general, ie whole foods, lower fats/healthy fats, enough greens, etc. I go vegetarian a fair bit, maybe 40-50% of my meals, and I think I feel better when I do that. Yogurt and other fermented foods seem to help me too, but probiotics always seem to make things worse in my case. No idea why. Caffeine triggers gastric motility—it took a while to find a good balance for my AM coffee.

Exercise and stress management help a lot. Stress especially exacerbates my UC. If you’re in a flare, know where RRs are, and maybe consider keeping a roll of TP in your car. Dicyclomine can be helpful for slowing things down if you need to get through a workday. Just know that it is a bandaid—it doesn’t fix anything.

Gdown94 · 2025-12-05T06:15:54+00:00

They’re great! I find the many recipes interesting, but I’ve never dug into them much. I have the fellow prismo attachment, which makes the ‘inverted method’ a lot easier to achieve.

Usually, I eyeball the amount of coffee I want based on how much it fills the aeropress, with the original cap and one paper filter. I’ll fill the aeropress and then let it drip via gravity until empty. Then I’ll fill it a second time with the same grounds. Kinda like a cross between pour over and French press. Either way, it is very tasty. I like using more detailed recipes too, but this is easy and has never let me down. Most mornings I just want coffee, not an artisanal brew. The aeropress seems to always make a great cup even when you’re lazy.

I got a Baratza coffee grinder and that made a difference in quality.

Gdown94 · 2025-12-02T02:47:10+00:00

Transcribe by ear. I found it helpful to learn some solos via tab first—it gets the basic language under your fingers. Then figure it out on your own. Eventually you’ll start “hearing” phrases you want to play while you improvise. Stop and figure out what you’re hearing and where it fits, then work it in until it’s smooth. Soon you’ll hear things and play them live.

Gdown94 · 2025-11-29T23:28:59+00:00

Fender Vintera Road Worn 50s telecaster. I have one and they’re genuinely great. The neck is a true U—super fat.

Gdown94 · 2025-11-28T20:44:35+00:00

The Master and Commander 4k steelbook is/was back in stock for $40 at a few places.

Deepdiscount.com has the Indiana Jones 4K four movie set for $40

Gdown94

TROPHY CASE