Thanks Luc. Appreciate the listen and kind words. Thanks for the comment on the guitar. It’s really an amazing instrument. The tones it produces are near as full sounding as my 12 string. + it plays ‘real smooth’ too for a acoustic. Me and that guitar are likely never parting ways. It’s a keeper!
Could that be a Casino in natural in your avatar? Very cool guitar imho. Mines VS and my #1. A hollowbody w/P90’s. Straight up yum yum tones!
That’s for sure. This new digital age has opened up some serious horizons.
Not to mention clip on tuners. Didn’t have them back then and tuning was tedious at best. imho, clip on tuners are the best thing since sliced bread.
Interesting that we do seem to be on parallel courses for our guitar playing.
I don’t think I took playing guitar to serious prior to my 20 years off. When I picked up my guitar after them 20 years, I was down to remembering a E and A and a D chord. I had a lot of catching up to do. Let alone I have much that I need to learn that is new to me.
Doing a song like this one to me is just one more step in the right direction. I did something that was new to me when I did this song. This really is the first time I’ve ever posted a video of me playing and singing. Anywhere.
This time I’m approaching playing with a more serious notion in me, I think… Least that’s what I think I’m doing…
It seems I’ve always had the music in me. Music’s been a part of my whole life. I’ve just never put any real focus on it. And I want to change that.
So I love Neil Young’s music and you really did him justice. I think NY’s guitar playing is special and kind of unique with his hammer ons and pulloffs that give the strumming a wonderful richness. I think you captured that beautifully. I know what you mean about missing notes in the intro and have to tell you that you’re the only one that will ever notice:) When you capture the the essence of the song, a few missed notes are nothing. I struggle with that too - focusing too much on my mistakes - and I’m trying to focus instead on just enjoying.
I’m on the same guitar trajectory as you - childhood lessons, a very long stagnation, and now a great awakening of my love for playing. IT’S JUST GREAT!
Sounding great there Jim. Nice playing and singing. Don’t do yourself down, yes a couple of blips (don’t we all have them?) but overall it was really enjoyable and congrats on your first video posting on the big, old www.
Thanks for the kind words Roger. Cool, someone who ‘likes’ my dark mode. I really didn’t consider my lighting. That really is my normal light I have on in my house when it’s dark out. I was just doing what I normally do.
Thanks for the observation Michael. You caught my main mistake. It makes me crazy. I played the intro proper the 5 times prior to recording. Then, when the recorder is on I blow the into. Go figure.
You’ve said something about folks not noticing. I’ve been told that from other too. Especially if it’s in the mix of a song. Since there’s no mix here, the error just kinda jumped out at me. Along with a couple others.
You may be onto something there too about “capturing the essence of the song”. I appreciate the insight, I’d not considered this notion. Thanks.
I also agree.
Agreed, it is JUST GREAT!
Thanks for the listen @MiJoy. I appreciate your kind words.
Thanks for checking me out @SgtColon. I for sure have them blips. If I play a song correct all the way through, that song is a stick out as I can’t hardly ever do a song w/o some mistakes in it. I think perhaps I’m my worst critic (along with my wife). I hear what I want in my mind, but I fail when I really do it. I chalk it up to I’m still in learning mode.
And for sure. Posting this on the “big, old www” is a pretty scary thought to me. I’d put up a few songs before, but they are all audio only. Audio only is less scary to me, cause ya can’t see me. Video, it’s a whole new game to me. I’d sure like to figure out how to get better audio on the vids though. The telephone microphone leaves a lot to be desired imho. Using a interface and a daw seems much, much better sounding to me.
Thanks for the listen and comments.
Thanks for the sharing this. I like the little window into recording environment - especially the idea of you playing in the early morning before the sun rises.
Thanks for the listen Sound_Bound
Thanks for the comment on my recording environment. I really want to post a pic up of where I play, the gear I have, lateeda. I’m just a shade concerned about folks on the www figuring out where I’m at. I just don’t want my gear to grow legs and all…
A verbal description is I sit at my desk, in a bay w/3 windows so I can see outside. 2 amps at my feet (5 or so pedals in a line in ft of the amps), literally, and one amp to my left (all amps are small combos). Computer in the middle on a desk, stereo speakers L and R, two high bookself type, 2 on the floor, interface and stereo to my right. Everything I need is within reach. I get whatever guitar I want to play out of it’s case ea. day. If I want to record, I have to bring out a mic and stand from another room and plug in. This area is a part of my dining room. It’s where all my work gets done from.
As for playing early in the morning. For me, that’s when I seem to be most creative and play my best. + I got a small house and if the wife is home, any small noise she makes gets picked up by the mic. So them early morning playing sessions, when I got the house to myself are a perfect time to record w/o background noise.
Hey Jim, just catching up on posts. This is awesome, like some others have mentioned, I am not a competent enough player to give any useful constructive tips, except great performance mate !
Really enjoyed that. It is one of my favorites from the Four Way Street live set by Neil. Sugar mountain and don’t let it bring you down are also really fun to play. Neil’s music is very forgiving of mistakes. I don’t think i have ever played one through without a few dud notes. I have been meaning for ages to post in AVOYP but am too much of a Scaredy-Cat.
Hey Jim ! Thanks for your answer. Frankly, I’m a beginner so I don’t know so much about guitars and « the incredible world of guitars… » but until now, I thought acoustic guitars were not the Epiphone company forte. So, I’m impressed. Have to say you play her real good. You guys make a very good team and sound great ! Bravo !
Yeah, the first guitar I bought was this Casino. Love the sound. When I taught about learning electric guitar, I taught about this mythic roof top concert guitar I always loved. Of course it’s not an American Revolution or JL 1965 Casino, it’s a basic Chinese Casino but still, I love the sound. I changed the bridge and the nut and it improved the sound and stoped a rattle (bridge). Few months ago I tried lighter strings and put a set of gage 9 strings. I liked the left hand feel but hate the sound. So I recently put gage 10 strings back on and recovered the sound I loved, the sound I bought this guitar for.
Last year, I had the opportunity to buy a 1983 Epiphone Sheraton from a friend. So I jumped on it. She’s Korean. A great guitar. Quite heavy compared to the Casino. Seems to me very good construction. Humbuckers instead of P90 pickups. Different sound. Love it. But I prefer the Casino P90 sound. I did put gage 9 strings. Use her for changing tuning experimentations. My luthier tells me smaller gage would put less tension on the strings and on the guitar when changing the tuning up and down. But I don’t like this gage 9 sound anyway. I’ll come back to gage 10 eventually. Think I’m an Epi fan…
This being said, have a good day my friend and hasta la vista baby
P.S. I just listened again to your vidéo … and it sounds really great. Thanks for sharing. Very inspiring.
That’s funny. That’s what I get for selling my boat. Extra time and money to do something else with. Getting back into my guitar is where I landed. I’m glad I sold the boat.
Cool, I’d think that’s likely where I got the idea from. I love that album and have listened to it many times. That album never gets old to listen to.
Do that. Heck, I’m horrible new here and have taken my chance. Myself, I’ve got nothing to lose. + I’m having fun doing this. + if I do bad, hopefully folks here will set me straight as to how I can do better.
I agree about the AVOYP. It is quite intimidating. Heck, I don’t even have my picture on the www. AVOYP is way more than that.
Also, fwiw, what I find less intimidating is audio only. I don’t gotta show my mug if I do that. Perhaps give that a try?
We got near the same gear!
I play thru a '65 prri. LOOOVE IT. It’s my newest to me amp. It’s the tones I was looking for.
My Casino (China) is a used '18 in vintage sunburst. It’s my newest to me guitar. It too has the tones I was looking for. LOOOVE them p-90’s in a hollowbody, especially through the prri. To me, tone to die for. The tone I hear in my mind when I think electric guitar.
I’ve never played around w/string gauge. I think from what your experiencing, I’ll just stick with the 10’s. Besides, I like the way the 10’s sound and play.
Your prri (my assumption it’s a '68 ri) with your natural Casino looks great.
So does the Sheraton too for that matter. Love the color of that Sheraton, another looker for sure. That guitar has also been on my to buy list. But after the Casino… not sure I need another.
One last comment on similarity. I find interesting. I see you plug into input 2. So do I.
Don’t know what ya play for acoustic, but if yer on the hunt, seek out one of these Epiphone Masterbuilt DR-500’s. They’re the cats meow too! Tone to die for and easy to play imho.
Thanks Eddie for listening and the kind comment @Eddie_09.
Thanks for the listen and way cool ya found it A ma zing John @Guitarman63. If ya wanna hear the real song. It’s on the album 4 way street by Crosy Stills Nash and Young. There ain’t a bad song on that record, and it’s a double album at that. Record one is wooden music where this song is at. Record two is all electric music. It’s a good listen imho.
Thanks BigLuc. Yep, I’m that guy.
I think I’ve decided on what new song I want to learn.
Yep, more NY. I’m for sure his fan too.
I’ve never played the song I want to learn, so I imagine it’ll be a bit before I get it together. But right now I’m getting a idea together.
Didn’t know the song, but sounded great to me.
The transitions/embellishments work very well - guitar has a very nice flow to it.
Vocal sounds good - would have been nice if it was a bit louder.
A hollowbody w/P90’s. Straight up yum yum tones!
because with sunglasses on I can’t see you at all 
I really didn’t consider my lighting. That really is my normal light I have on in my house when it’s dark out. I was just doing what I normally do.
