Are acoustic players an older bunch or are they young and full of ambition. Well we shall see...

are you asking us to vote for our age. or vote as the question reads("What is the average age of an acoustic guitar player?")? :blink:  

I guess I have made it a two way street. What I was  meaning  to say is... as I age I am using my electric guitars less and my acoustics more.  Am I the norm.  

if you want the poll to mean anything we need to know what we are voting for. you could have a bunch of 16 year olds voting for 65+, and whats that gonna tell you.? nothing.

Any way I think most serious acoustic players are older.Serious in the sense of  wasting our time on forums discussing tonewoods and bridge pins, or in other words Obsessed! although I am in the 17-29 range.
I bet if you were to poll U.S. and Canada you'd find that most people who play an acoustic guitar are under 25, which is why I made the destinction of serious players(players with sticktoittivness).

I'm 50

41 and starting to feel it.   :blink:  

It seems to me that there are a lot of acoustic guitar players in high school and college.  Then they graduate and life catches up with them.  If they were never really that good or never had a great time doing it, they'll fill up space with other things and the guitar playing fades away.  I know that's what happened to my dad.

I'm old but I'm bald.

42. Not bald. :lol:

Deb

47 and still have the hair, but I can't play guitar!  :o My best friend is bald and plays a nasty lead and 12 string guitar. Is there a trade off I don't know about?
Where do I get in line if there is? I don't want to go on torturing my wife and dogs!

I'll be 25 in two weeks

I'll be 53 in 2 months.

:huh:  recently turned thhhhh irrrtttt.....awe um 29 again! wooo hoo!

i still can't say that darn word....

i would agree with what has been said, i began playing in highschool, than didn't play while at college, then picked it up again, found other interests, and picked it up again 6 years ago.

kit

Im not sure what the percentage of guitarists younger than 25 that play acoustic is, but I think it's a no-brainer that the older an active guitar player is, the more likely they are to have an acoustic in their hands.

Pretty simple -

acoustics are quieter (in terms of the spectrum of music that is typically played on them), and are viable solo instruments (which electrics, at least solid body, are not - Tuck Andross and Stanley Jordan notwithstanding  :) ).

These characteristics match well with the realities of typical post-single existence.

I'm 35 and have pretty much been playing acoustic since I started - except the wild days of my teens and early 20s when I got one of those pointy super Strat thingies!  

Ok, so far looks like I may be the oldest here at present, 58 in two months.  Can't play worth a damn, still learning...but hey got all my hair. Maybe that counts for somthing :lol:

Did someone just ask what my average age was?  <_<  

Just turned 42 on 4/16. I've almost always had an electric around, but I play almost exclusively acoustic. I first learned to play sometime around 1985, with probably 10 years of actual playing time. I've probably advanced more as a player since setting the D-03R in September, than in all the years prior.

Regular gigs and open mics are a powerful motivator to learn new songs and improve my technique. Generally my fellow musicians are only one who notice... :P

Mark

38, playing since I got my first guitar for Christmas in 1980, owned one electric for about 2-3 months and have had about 12 or so acoustics.  Too much hassle with electrics for me.  Plus you can't go sit under a tree or by a lake and watch the girls walk by with an electric.

I guess I should answer my own poll. I'm 44 now and have been playin' since I was 10.  

Is this true for anyone else, I know for myself I used to play electric almost exclusively when I was younger and jamming more with friends or the stereo. As I got older (I'm also 44, but I didn't start until I was 16), I just got tired of a) having to deal with trying to get a decent sound out of the electrics, B) the whole amp and patch cords, etc, c) electrics just don't sound great unless cranked (well I did have Pete Townsend as a hero when I was younger), d) acoustics are so much easier to just grab and play as the mood strikes, and finally e) no one seems to really care if I play my acoustic, where as with the electrics I always felt I was intruding on other people as I practiced.

So for my perspective, I think most kids are electrified, most married with children types probably are a little more acoustic oriented.

Just my two cents,

Andy

62, bald, and can't play very well. Now that's a lose - lose situation.
But I have fun trying.

53 and learnin.  practice with the energy I used to use to grow hair.

Just turned a half-century in March.
Can't wait to live out the next half-century!
Ron

Hot Dog! I might be the youngest forum member at 16 years old :D I started when I was 13 i think, by buying an electric. I got my Om03r in october of last year and I play alot more acoustic than electric now. (90%-10% roughly) And I'm not looking back :).


PS I feel really awkward now  :blink:  

QuotePS I feel really awkward now  :blink:

You'll grow out of it. ;)

Seriously, I wish I had started guitar at your age. I'd be so much better now. Better late than never I guess. Nice to have you in the forum!

Deb  

Great to be in the forum :) Nice to know I'm around "mature" folk ;)

I'm 22, been told I don't always act it though :P

I'm 49 and have been playing since about 13. Started with a cheap laminate (real cheap), then moved to an electric 12 string but couldn't afford an amp, so back to acoustic and have been there ever since. I do own a Epi dot, but my son plays it most of the time (although his main guitar is a D02)

Kinda cool question, and like anybody - I guess I like to talk about myself.

I just turned 36.  Started playing guitar at age 10.  Played mostly electric until I was 19 and somebody loaned me a Bruce Cockburn cassette(waiting for a miracle - the compilation) and Van Morrson's "St. Dominic's Preview", and suddenly instead of wanting to be a hotshot lead guitar player - I suddenly wanted to be the guy with the acoustic writing and singing the songs.  That summer I put my electric in the closet, bought an acoustic, and threw away the flatpick for about a year.  Except for occasional overdubs on recordings, I really haven't played much electric since.  

I love electric guitar, I still get a charge out of old Rush and Deep Purple, I still love the angularity and freshness of Andy Summers and the Edge, the virtuosity of Steve Vai, the cool elegance of Grant Green or Wes Montgomery, and the complete beauty of Eric Johnson's electric playing.  To truly know myself, however, I know that has never really been my path.  Dylan's "it's allright ma, I'm only dying" or Paul Simon's "hearts and bones", or Graham Parker's "Live Alone in America", or David Wilcox's "How Did You Find Me Here?" - those records CHANGED MY LIFE!  I wanted to COMMUNICATE with an audience in an intimate way, to invite them "in" rather than blast away "at" them.  i DON'T THINK that that made me more mature than my peers, just different.  The acoustic guitar has always seemed like the natural vehicle for that.  It leaves a little more space for you as a singer, and as a player-it leaves a little more space between the notes, where the listener can fill in the rest.

I don't think it's all about age, just about what your particular reasons are for playing.  Yngwie and Pierre Bensusan serve the same master, it's just that one wears leather pants, you know?  

I'm 36 and I've been playing since I was 27. Always loved screaming electric guitars but fell in love with acoustic when I saw a buddy play some fingerstyle. Promptly took some lessons and haven't looked back since.

A year after taking lessons I purchased an LV09 and immediately fell in love with the acoustic guitar itself.

Rob

Soon to be 50.Started on acoustic when I was 11,played electric for 35 years but always had my trusty acoustic near by.Now I've come full circle and back to acoustic.

34  ;)  

Hey Don I see us old guys are catching up a bit?
<_<  :blink:
Must be the vitamins

I'm 59 in 3 months, don't play very well, still have hair and it's still mostly dark.

QuoteHey Don I see us old guys are catching up a bit?
<_<  :blink:
Must be the vitamins

Yay! Let's hear it for the old farts!  :D  

34 years old, with semi-gray hair that is only slightly receding.  I've been playing around with acoustics since about 1987.  I've never owned an electric, although I am contemplating buying one if I can ever sell my Guild and my Tak.  It does seem alot of rigamarole to deal with, though - guitar, amp, cords, maybe even effects - I may just find a nice OM or jumbo with different wood(s) than my D-03R.

My average age is 24-1/2, which makes my maximum 49.
I play acoustic guitar for myself, and a few other folks. I play an electric bass for the masses.

Scott
Muskegon, MI

39 (40 in a few weeks, ouch) - been playing since I was 13. Started on some cheap classical guitar my parents had and moved into the electric scene real fast. Moved to the acoustic about 15 years ago since the sound was so much better, sharper and simply not overdone. I began to see the real beauty in both the physical guitar and the sound that it produced. Not to mention that I was becoming increasingly disappointed with popular music too.  

21 and started on an electric at about 14, but couldn't stick with it.  Started playing an acoustic a little over a year ago and am very happy with my progress and whats to come...

I play almost entirely fingerstyle and have an incredible amount of respect for people who can play this style well.  

Acoustics are just a great thing to warm up to and relax with every day.  I consider myself pretty laid back and am not interested in the loud spotlight.  Nothing beats a small group of friends with their wooden boxes, just hanging out enoying each others company.

Quote... and have an incredible amount of respect for people who can play this style well.

That makes two of us  B)  

Shoot, I just got all bummed when I realized in 9 months I move out of the majority. We're planning on adjusting this for age progression aren't we?

Andy

53.
But my son who owns and plays a Larrivee D05 on a daily basis and never touches his Les Paul is 24.
I guess that kinda cancels out.

Pushing 53. Picked up the electric at 10 played in a couple of rock bands and as i've gotten older I find myself picking up my acoustic more and more...I can't remember when I last played my strat.

Quote from: Dan1954 on May 10, 2005, 09:01:45 AM
I'm 50

I'm not! ... yet ...

I'm 52, my earliest memory of playing is on a uke I got for my 5th birthday. My mom says she threw cheap plastic stringed things in my crib from birth. First paid electric gig at 12, first acoustic gig at 13. Twiddled my thumbs in a dozen odd bands but being a victim of the Great Folk Scare of the 60's I found my greatest affinity was for acoustic.  Played bass because it was good money and easy gigs but really preferred the solo acoustic gigs. Dropped out of Berklee as a bassist (good enough to get in, not good enough to thrive).  Still enjoy playing bass on the rare occasions I can hook up with a good blues or jazz band.  Didn't play electric 6 string again until a few years back when I realized that Mark Knopfler and Jeff Beck fingerpick their Strats, giving me permission to persue my electric chops. I can't flatpick worth a crap.  Learned much of what I know about luthiery from Bob Benedetto and Augie LoPrinzi. Might have persued it as a career had I thought I had a snowball's chance of being anywhere near as good at it them. Worked in music retail in high school and have the dubious distiction of throwing Paul Reed Smith out of the store for asking too many(what seemed at the time) stupid questions.

I'm 45... started out electric, worked up to Les Pauls and a HiWatt Stack, long hair, that was the stuff...  working a lot, kids, too much noise in life made me appreciate the gentle call of the acoustic... also, no lugging equipment, just plop down and play...  joy.     hummmm...  short hair, lots of gray, connection?   maybe...

49, have hair... grey, also have a few extra lbs.

Quote from: btbill on June 23, 2005, 08:05:13 AM
49, have hair... grey, also have a few extra lbs.

Count your blessings in that it's only a *few*.  I went past that long ago.

I want to put together a Led Zepplin retro band to help me work off a few pounds..  :mellow:

I'm 28, although when I was in HS in the 1990s, my parents said I should have been around in the 1960s, as I listened to alot of classic rock. I started out playing electric (Fender Strat  :wacko:) in Junior High and HS, but got my first real acoustic (Martin D16H) when I was a sophmore in HS. I grew more drawn towards acoustic music as I progressed through HS and college, eventually selling off my electric/amps/etc when I was a Junior in College (~1997/98), and I've been 100% unplugged since then!  :GRN>

Quote from: dreamsinger on June 23, 2005, 09:41:55 AM

Quote from: btbill on June 23, 2005, 08:05:13 AM
49, have hair... grey, also have a few extra lbs.

Count your blessings in that it's only a *few*.  I went past that long ago.

That's the main reason I had to get the Jumbo, I thought that it would make this old guy look skinny, :WNK>
It didn't work!! I posted the pic at "J-10 concerns", if you need a laugh, besides being over weight I look hung-over, and I don't even drink!! Life is rough!
btbill

Quote from: btbill on June 25, 2005, 02:25:10 PM

Quote from: dreamsinger on June 23, 2005, 09:41:55 AM

Quote from: btbill on June 23, 2005, 08:05:13 AM
49, have hair... grey, also have a few extra lbs.

Count your blessings in that it's only a *few*.  I went past that long ago.

That's the main reason I had to get the Jumbo, I thought that it would make this old guy look skinny, :WNK>
It didn't work!! I posted the pic at "J-10 concerns", if you need a laugh, besides being over weight I look hung-over, and I don't even drink!! Life is rough!
btbill

295#, size 14 gloves and my next guitar is a 00. This could begin to resemble that circus stunt where an apparent never ending  parade of clowns exits the VW.

Quote from: dreamsinger on June 25, 2005, 02:28:55 PM
295#, size 14 gloves and my next guitar is a 00. This could begin to resemble that circus stunt where an apparent never ending  parade of clowns exits the VW.

Sort of like this?  :WNK>

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/dbirchett/DoyleDykesMe.jpg)

Quote from: dbirchett on June 25, 2005, 07:17:34 PM

Quote from: dreamsinger on June 25, 2005, 02:28:55 PM
295#, size 14 gloves and my next guitar is a 00. This could begin to resemble that circus stunt where an apparent never ending  parade of clowns exits the VW.

Sort of like this?  :WNK>

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/dbirchett/DoyleDykesMe.jpg)

That is the smallest 614CE I've ever seen!

You may have me beat, in this photo I am around 270. I was really hoping that the Jumbo would slim me down!! :WNK>

[attachment no longer available]

Quote from: dreamsinger on June 25, 2005, 07:55:47 PM

That is the smallest 614CE I've ever seen!

Actually, its a DDSM but in my hands it looks like a parlor.

Smack dab in the majority at 48. Got my first, a 3rd hand Kay archtop with fake "flame" painted into the sunburst, at age 13. Been semi-serious about playing a lot since about 18. Even during my rock band days, I used to want to go acoustic, but the boys thought that was lame.  Now one of them is my acoustic duo partner!

Quote from: wyodeb on May 10, 2005, 11:50:49 AM
42. Not bald. :lol:

Deb

This gave me a good laugh!

Tx Deb

There is a large population of older acoustic players, and I think there are several reasons for it. The baby boomers, who started playing back in the 1960's, are aging now. But they love their guitars. Many people have more time on their hands. Maybe they're retired or the kids have grown up. I know a lot of people who started playing the guitar in their 50's and 60's. They have the money to take lessons and the time to practice.

Another reason is the availability of high-quality guitars today. You can get better guitars for less money. Anybody who wants a nice guitar can have one. You can get a used Larrivee parlor for $500. Back in the 60's we didn't have those options. CNC machines and laser cutters didn't exist. Jean Larrivee in those days was hand-building classical guitars at home.

I started playing 40 years ago. Today I'm playing better and enjoying it more than ever. I think experience and maturity improve guitar playing in ways that are difficult to describe. Segovia knew that. He often said that guitarists should not attempt to play the famous Chaconne until they were at least 50 years old. I know what he meant, and I believe he's right.

Guitar players seem to last a long time. Leo Kottke still tours. He played in my city recently. This Friday I'm going to see John Renbourn. Larry Snitzler, an incredible classical guitarist and Segovia protege, came through town a while back. He sounds as good as ever. All of these guys are in their 60's (at least). And they all perform solo. Those of you who play solo know how hard it is, just you alone against the world, and nobody else to fall back on. If you screw up, there are no excuses.

My bias is obvious, of course. Some will say I like old guitar players because I am one. Whatever the case, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Ashby

started at 14 on electric, mainly because i wanted to be a beatle. i was in a group and borrowed one of my friends electrics. my 1st purchase was an acoustic and i never went back to electric. ended up playing in acoustic duos most of the time, or as a single many times. the odd thing about the age factor is that i am 28, went to bed one night recently and when i woke up i was 56!

51, receding hairline, exceeding midline. Started at 15 playing Beatles to Gordon Lightfoot to Joe Pass, with lengthy trips into country, rock and blues. My bliss is now solo guitar instrumentals. 

I started on an acoustic at age 12 and quickly moved to electric, so I've almost always had at least one of each around.  However, I started buying lots of electrics in the last 10 years (I'm 48 now), and have only recently been adding to the acoustic collection.

I find that they tend to be more expensive.  -_-