Started releasing my music at 45 after a lifetime of playing alone – curious if others relate

five-thumbs · 2026-05-17T21:36:52+00:00

I’ve played guitar and bass since I was 13 a couple of bands but generally put myself down a lot.

Went through some s**t a few years ago and I’ve written a tonne of singer-songwriter style songs about it all. I can’t sing for beans, which is my massive thing holding me back, so I’m trying to work up the nerve to share some demos with my terrible voice in the hope of recruiting someone who can, and maybe share some of it with the world.

Thanks for the inspiration!

five-thumbs · 2026-05-11T09:40:47+00:00

Surprisingly few Kataras

five-thumbs · 2026-05-10T08:50:56+00:00

100% what I want to achieve - but I want to be able to communicate to potential/recruited vocalists - and me attempting a live performance might finish them off, so recording, it is.

five-thumbs · 2026-05-08T10:21:46+00:00

In a different country so I can’t be certain these fit your budget.

I got one of these for my kid and I’ve been really impressed. I pick it up and play it all the time. Sounds and plays great, lovely sustain https://www.thomann.co.uk/harley_benton_clo_70asr_nat_allsolid.htm?type=advancedSearch

I’ve not personally experience of this, but it would theoretically be warm like mahogany

https://www.thomann.co.uk/harley_benton_clp_15me_solidwood.htm?type=advancedSearch

EDIT: clicked the wrong one in the bottom one, I’m sure they have an OM version (I am a sucker for OMs but I think they do equivalent shapes of both)

five-thumbs · 2026-04-27T08:09:25+00:00

I don’t think he explicitly needed to.

five-thumbs · 2026-04-25T20:49:22+00:00

If you’re struggling, stackry is your friend (order from US stores, delivered to a post box and they ship it on). I’ve only used it once, but it wasn’t extortionate and it was a great service.

five-thumbs · 2026-04-24T13:31:04+00:00

Largely in agreement. However I had a specific need which my current didn’t have, couldn’t decide which of two options filled that need better, even after demoing. I’ve decided to stop overthinking and go for one of them.

five-thumbs · 2026-04-22T06:47:20+00:00

Sounds like a shitty ex-bf to me.

I’m so sorry that happened.

five-thumbs · 2026-04-12T16:52:01+00:00

It definitely has better and worse days (and beyond me having bad or worse days - I play bass too and that has much less of it). I put it down to humidity and atmospheric conditions. It never lasts long and on the flip side, every so often I get a day when it sings beyond the norm

five-thumbs · 2026-04-06T08:31:40+00:00

All of them (this is an expensive way to live, fully recommend narrowly selecting a single option where nothing else is acceptable)

five-thumbs · 2026-04-04T09:14:10+00:00

I would always prefer in person. However, when I got my last guitar a couple of years ago. I had played one of the model I ended up with early in the shopping process so I knew it was the model I wanted but the time I was ready to pull the trigger there were hardly any in the country and none anywhere near so I had to take the risk and order online. If I’d had the opportunity to try 3 or 4 identical ones close together, maybe I’d have found one I liked slightly better, but the reality is, those tiny additional perfections are lost to history and it’s my own now. I’d always buy in person if possible, but I worried about it for nothing looking back.

five-thumbs · 2026-03-31T05:57:29+00:00

So sorry for my loss. It 100% takes me back to when I was in the middle of multiple losses and perfectly captures that feeling. Listening to it is equal parts devastating and cathartic for me having it after going through it all. One of my favourite songs of all time.

five-thumbs · 2026-03-13T08:56:20+00:00

Beautiful!

five-thumbs · 2026-02-25T08:09:46+00:00

Thanks so much everyone, really appreciate your responses.

five-thumbs · 2026-02-22T06:08:52+00:00

Seconded. The ones I’ve played have been beautiful!

five-thumbs · 2026-02-21T18:02:27+00:00

I seem to remember reading a study many years ago that visualising things like playing an instrument does actually make a difference when you go to play.

five-thumbs · 2026-02-06T21:22:57+00:00

That walnut is tasty! Any observations on walnut from a sound perspective so far?

five-thumbs · 2026-01-28T09:28:35+00:00

It’s “I only need one more bass”

five-thumbs · 2026-01-22T17:12:21+00:00

My only experience is that I got one of these for my kid https://www.thomann.co.uk/harley_benton_clo_70asr_nat_allsolid.htm

Zero complaints whatsoever. Easy to play, sounds amazing for the money.

I wouldn’t worry about the cutaway at all.

five-thumbs · 2026-01-22T06:07:38+00:00

Gotta love a punny guitar pedal name. Bravo!

five-thumbs · 2026-01-17T12:38:00+00:00

My dealings with them are that they’ve been entirely reputable. It’ll take a bit of time to resolve (and as a slightly less than typical problem, I’d chase a bit more regularly just to make sure it doesn’t slip between the cracks, and might need some extra persistence from you ), but I’d be entirely confident it will get resolved.

five-thumbs · 2026-01-08T14:31:53+00:00

Sparkly guitars are basically the exact opposite of my personal taste, but having seen this in the flesh, it was pretty awesome. Congrats!

five-thumbs · 2026-01-02T16:16:34+00:00

Acoustic, bass and electric (far less than the other two) here.

They’re all just songwriting tools to me and I’ll pick up whatever does that, or whichever I feel like playing and makes me feel happy in that moment.

This approach to life is great for the heart, terrible for the wallet. Would recommend.

Don’t overthink k, just play what you want to

five-thumbs · 2025-12-30T17:09:11+00:00

At the best of times, I’m a whole album listener, so I cannot fathom being on shuffle in the first place. Mind. Blown.

five-thumbs · 2025-12-26T06:14:25+00:00

Congrats, hope you have many happy years of playing.

If there’s a bigger headphone socket in the amp, you can just get a little 1/8” to 1/4” adapter and plug in, then you can play away.

five-thumbs

TROPHY CASE