I hadn’t ever heard of Orangewood’s Oliver before - just looked it up & it looks SWEET! Did you choose the version with the electronics?
As you’re new to guitar, I advise you to buy a stand or wall hanger if you haven’t already! It’s so good to have the guitar accessible at a moment’s notice so you can just pick it up & play when you only have a few minutes… I like to practice when my coffee’s brewing in the morning - those 5-10 minutes really add up & it makes a difference!
Also, it’s not a bad idea to have your instrument gone over by a guitar tech or luthier & have a “setup” performed if necessary - I’m not familiar with the Orangewood brand, but many of the entry-level guitars aren’t as “playable” as they should be. When you’re just beginning you certainly don’t need for your guitar to make it harder for you to learn than absolutely necessary!
Good luck & don’t hesitate to ask for help if you run into any hurdles!
Hi Tod!,
I may need that first cup of coffee before picking up the guitar but love the idea of having it in view all the time! Also, thanks for the tip of having a setup completed too. Supposedly, Orangewood completes the setup before shipping but I’ll be honest, I’m not exactly sure what I should be looking/listening for. It does stay in tune during my practice sessions and only needs minor adjustments before I pick it up for the next session (I chose the one w/o electronics - a potential milestone award sometime in the future!).
Happy Holidays to all!
If the humidity where you keep it is in a safe range. I don’t know where you’re located. My house in frigid Minnesota gets too dry in the winter, and my guitars go into their cases with humidification devices when they’re not being played.
Do you have a music store that sells & services guitars close by? If you do, take your guitar in & talk to someone (preferably a guitar tech) who can advise you on what your Oliver might need to make it easier to play… they might tell you it’s perfectly fine, suggest a lighter gauge string set or lower you action a bit… tell them you’re new to guitar & have them explain things like fret rod adjustments, benefits to heavier/lighter strings, guitar maintenance etc… you’ll gain knowledge & some experience!
Another benefit is that you’d start to build a relationship with someone local who knows a lot more about guitars than you do… this is very valuable if you do encounter any problems later on!
This, to me, provides inspiration! I often don’t have time to play but just seeing it sitting there (I imagine that it is calling to me or playing Neil Diamond’s “Play Me”) makes me feel happy!
Welcome Paul, from another Old Dawg. I also bought my first guitar and found Justin Guitar at age 64, after dropping the trumpet I played in the school band at the end of high school. Strangely, no one ever said, “Hey, why don’t you break out your trumpet and play something so we can sing along.” Once you get some decent finger calluses, I’m sure that 10 minutes a day will jump to an hour or two or three. Have fun!
Hi, I’m Karen. My father taught me some chords when I was about 18 yrs old and I picked them up easily and enjoyed strumming while he was picking. Must have been all that neuroplasticity! By age 19, I was off on my own and never picked up a guitar again. I just turned 61 and Christmas shopping with my husband, we saw a guitar at Costco, I picked it up and intuitively strummed out a D. My husband thought me learning to play guitar would be bad-ass and a great bucket list item. So he bought me a Yamaha for Christmas from the local guitar shop. I researched the absolute best way to learn, and JustinGuitar kept coming up. So I am following the online lessons and also bought the book course. I thought it was silly, learning so late in life. It is so encouraging to know many others are doing the same!
Welcome Karen! You’re in good company here. Don’t be shy about asking questions, making comments, sighing – it’s almost certain there will be at least on person who can relate! See you around…
Welcome, Karen! It’s possible that it is silly to learn to play guitar later in life, but shouldn’t we all have some silly fun sometimes?
I’ve only been doing this for a little over a year, but I can tell you that it’s the most fascinating and fun thing I’ve done since I was in my 20’s. It’s challenging and frustrating and so very rewarding.
You’re among like-minded folks here, so feel free to join in and let us know how it’s going.
Hi Karen, I also thought I was being a bit silly taking up the guitar 8 months ago at 58 years old, having never played before, but it is a great learning experience, and it’s a nice feeling when I manage to play a minute or two of a song that i’ve been singing for years in the shower
I’m at the end of the JG grade 1 course, but going back over different lessons for the past few weeks before starting grade 2.
Keep enjoying playing as that’s all that matters (at least for me ).
30+ years ago, my wife & I were Christmas shopping at Costco & saw a Yamaha steel string for about ~$70 or so… it was “under” the Christmas tree that year… I still play it since it’s hanging on my office wall at work! I’m 62 & only within the last couple of years have started to truly learn, I found Justin & have gained SO MUCH knowledge since… you’re in the right place & the silliest thing at 60+ is not trying to learn new things! My wife took up riding motorcycles within the last few years & is loving the feeling of freedom - if she hadn’t started (at 60) she’d be missing out on so much!!!
Embrace your inner Bad-Ass!!!
Good Luck with your Journey!
This quote made me laugh…
I was singing one of my “shower” songs on Christmas Eve - my wife mentioned that I was off-key…
I’ve often told her to critique my music since sometimes I’m not the best critic of my performance… I mean, “If it sounds good, it IS good”, right?
Well, apparently this song DIDN’T sound so good, at least to her. I told her that it always sounded good to me when I sing it in the shower… next thing I knew, a bath towel lands in my lap… “Go practice!!!” was all she said!!! Since it was Christmas Eve… I granted her wish!!!
Another 60 year old here. I started just over a year ago, having retrieved the guitar I bought aged 50 from the loft…My 50s involved getting my motorcycle licence and learning to ride (brilliant in every way - to be recommended), whilst my 6os will be the guitar decade. Loving every minute of that too, but finding finger style a challenge. Mind you, I’ve only done the taster bit in level 2. Apparently there’s a whole module to come, so I’m looking forward to that. I’m currently enjoying the level 2 Blues module. I’ve bought an Eastcoast dreadnought to go with my Strat, but should have gone for a parlour, I now realise. I love the sound of the dreadnought, but find it a little on the large side. A perfect excuse to expand the collection I think. All the best, David - Buckinghamshire, England.
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Since it was Christmas Eve… I granted her wish!!!