At what age did you start playing mando?

[Rick Schmidlin]

No other info asked,keep this simple and clean.


I started at 49 and am now 53.



http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Nick Alberty]

I was 21 yrs.

I'm now almost 34 yrs.

My dad bought me a mandolin and it was the first I'd ever touched. I haven't put one down since.

[David Zaruba]

47, one year ago.

Somehow I missed out on mando until now. But now I love it and expect to be playing or the rest of my days.

[JGWoods]

Started in my 50s
still at it in my 60s
After many years we just count by decades. I will be in my 60s for a while yet.

I think I've been playing for 6 years.

[Jim Kasperson]

age 58 after 46 yrs guitar and 26 fiddle
Kasper

[Marc Berman]

I started at 53 and I'm currently 53. Been playing for 4 months.

[jimbob]

49-53

[Pete Martin]

Started at 20, now 51. Times fun when you having flies http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[woodwizard]

21-56

[Rich Evans]

56 - 66

[JEStanek]

33, 39 I should be a lot better...

Jamie

[Mr. Loar]

Seriously about 6 years ago and I'm 55.

[TNFrank]

I started about a month ago, I'll be 47 in June. Got my first accoustic guitar at age 5, first electric(it was junk) at 14 and my first good electric guitar at 16. Played guitar until I was about 35 then switched to electric bass, played that until about 6 months ago. Now I'm playing mando and having a ball.

[RLPOOL]

I started yesterday after dinner 55

[mandoboy07]

32 now 33

[UnityGain]

23-24

[250sc]

Yet another geezer. Started at 40 and am now 56 but I've played lots of other instruments since I was 16 or so.

[man dough nollij]

40-45

[Jim Broyles]

Just short of 53 - just over 56.

[Dale Rychlik]

I started at 45 and am 47 now. Just can't seem to get enough...

[Sean Greer]

I started when I was 38 years old (now 39) and I've been playing for about 4 months. I bought an acoustic guitar years ago, but never really put the time in. Then in October of last year I played a friend's mandolin and fell in love with it. Bought one 3 months later, and the second one 2 months after that. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[minkus]

I started when I was 5 and now I'm 47. I should be alot better.

[Keith Wallen]

Started at 15 now 37

Wow looking at how many years I should be a lot better too...:p

[mandoplyr70]

started age 65 now 71 http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Ace]

Started when I was 54 and I'm now 55. Just playing for the fun of it... no money involved! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Ace

[Denny Gies]

Began at 32; still going (I think) at 66.

[45ACP-GDLF5]

Started at 18, still pickin' at 42!

[Snakebeard Jackson]

21 now 33 I should be better too

[gnelson651]

Started at 50, now 55

[F5G WIZ]

26ish - 39ish http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[ManjoMan]

I started when I was 5 and now I'm 47. #I should be alot better.
Same for me. I was 5 and will be 47 this year. Had the pleasure to learn from many different players including Bill Napier, Lee Faulkner, Wendy Miller, Doyle Lawson, and Bill Monroe. There are others that I paid attention to through the years, but these are the one's that stand out.

[Steelee]

57-58. Having a blast, going to hear live bluegrass at the Community Center in 2 hours.

[Dragonflyeye]

Got my first mando 5 months ago, January 5th, at the age of 54, and started taking lessons. #Learning to read music, too - s l o w l y. Never played nuttin' before, tho "the family" is musical. #Already looking for an upgrade mando, but that won't be hard! Anita # #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Treblemaker]

Started in '90 (at 26)
Now I'm 43.....

[Brad Weiss]

Comin' up on six years this August. #I was 40 then, almost 46 now.

[Patrick Sylvest]

42 now 44

[Steve-o]

Seems to be a common middle age phenomenon.
I started at 47, now 50. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[pjlama]

I'm 37, I'm thinking about giving it a try next week ; )

[Jason Holmes]

Started on the mandolin at 29, I'm 32 now. I did play guitar for a number of years before that though with some limited success.

[Gerard Dick]

Started at 52 now 56 = 4 yrs. 30 yrs guitar and 10 yrs piano way back in the dawn of time. Figured if I could't learn to play something else then Dad wasted a wad of money on my piano lessons.

[Paul Kotapish]

Guitar at 11
Mandolin at 23

I'm two years older than Jerry Garcia was when he shuffled off this mortal coil.

[Jeff Hildreth]

Off an on since I was 15

[thecelticmandolin]

Ok here's a shocker for all you old guys out there.12-17 and I love it as much as the day I started. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Andrew DeMarco]

19. Now I'm 22. I love it.

[Trailman]

Started two months ago at age 74. Turned 75 last week. Don't play well but having fun...htty.....JP

Breedlove Quartz OF

[Siminole]

played piano 50+ years, guitar about 40. Started playing mandolin at age 61, 7 years ago.

Al

[Chris Travers]

I started when i was 14, now I'm 16.

[Lou Scuderi]

I started somewhere between 11 and 12, am now 20.

[BlueMountain]

This is fascinating. Mandolin seems to be a middle-age phenomenon. I first picked a few tunes and three chords at 18, but I was 51 before I started playing, and I now only play a guitar maybe a couple times a year.

Meanwhile, nearly every time my wife says "What are you thinking about," I say, "Mandolins." It's the truth. Of course, I fix them, too, so I'm always thinking about how to do this or that. Mandolins have sort of consumed me. I love it. It's so much more pleasurable than any other instrument I play.

[chip]

Started at 40 now I'm 26...

[devilstone_the_bard]

Bass 13 - 30
Mando 29
Now 31

dank

[pager]

12 - 54

[MLT]

43-been playing at it for 3 years...expect to be playing 43 more~no matter how I sound. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Clyde Clevenger]

I started at 47 and I'll be 59 tomorrow. I would be much better if I didn't have to work. But, if a frog had wings he wouldn't bump his ### every time he jumped.

[Ivan Kelsall]

I started playing at 61 years of age,i'm now 63. In one respect i've been playing it 'mentally' ever since i heard it back in '63/'64. I've had the 'sound' in my head all those years,maybe that's why i've made such relatively good progress. I'm just working on getting what i hear in my head out onto the Mandolin,
Saska

[blacktop]

start-36, now-55. #what a treat. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Mike Snyder]

Started at age 20, I'm 53 now. But you've got to subtract the four years I didn't pick due to disgust after I cut the tip off my fret hand index finger.

[Bertram Henze]

27 - 52

[Tim Bowen]

I'm 47, started playing guitar in 1967. Began playing mandolin in 2006. It's a beautiful instrument, I absolutely love it. And I love the fact that a portion of my monthly income is due to mandolin playing... this inspires me to perhaps actually get good at it at some point!

[ManjoMan]

Started at 40 now I'm 26...
You must be a Wake Frankfield fan...

[8ch(pl)]

Age 40, 18 years ago next month.

[Bruce Evans]

48-58

[frankmsu]

Started last month at age 54.

[Greg H.]

Casually (bought one as a second instrument to guitar) 19
Got serious about it (as primary instrument) # # # # # # # # ##39
Currently # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # # #49

[terrierguy]

I just started - age 61

[kudzugypsy]

started at 22 when our *band* had 4 guitar players, including me and no mandolin - i didnt even want to play the dang thing but i was the youngest and thus considered the one with the most free time on my hands and aptitude to learn - now its 16 years later and i'm still at it, although the band is long gone. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Dave Reiner]

Fiddle # #9 - 56
Mando 16 - 56

Dave http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Tim Conroy]

Started playing mandolin in 2000 at age 41 as my millennial new year's resolution to take up an instrument. Since then I've added a tenor guitar and mandola and dabble with a URB every now and again.

It's been the most fun I've ever gotten from a resolution.

Tim

[good_ol_al_61]

First Played (sorta more like plinked around) mandolin and I never before played any stringed instrument of any kind.

2004 at 43, now 46

Happy that I did!

[Brandon Flynn]

I think I started around 15 and I am 18 now. It seems that I've started younger than most, but I still wish I could have started when I was 10 on mandolin instead of guitar.

[Don Christy]

started at 38, now 42
Don

[Joe F]

Started at 29, played on and off for 23 years, got serious about it 3 years ago and have been playing a lot ever since. I'll be 55 at the end of May.

[JTMartin]

44 - 45...after playing guitar for as long as I can remember.

[Jim Garber]

Piano...8
Guitar...12
Mandolin & Fiddle...23
Age... priceless..........er.....57

[Mark Walker]

I'm another one afflicted with a 'middle-aged moment!' http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Didn't take it up seriously until 2004 (at age 46) and I'll be 50 this fall...

Dang, where did the time go? Seems like I just graduated from high school! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[sam60]

started at 46....nearly 48.

[Lefty5]

40... that was 2 days ago.:O

[ALog]

Started at 11...now 53!

[Steve Williams]

My father bought me my first mandolin when I was 9...43 years ago. There were a lot of musicians in the family on my father's side but no mandolin pickers...that's what he bought me, so that's what I learned to play. A neighbor boy taught me chords and some simple tunes...that's how I got started.

Steve Williams
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Joel Spaulding]

39; 40

[Eric Hanson]

38 now I'm 41

[Ken Feil]

32 now 71.

[MaiaMorris]

Started at age 20, I'm 53 now. But you've got to subtract the four years I didn't pick due to disgust after I cut the tip off my fret hand index finger.
Wow! At least you picked it back up eventually! Obviously it's a disadvantage, but people have a fantastic way of working around those to do what they desire to do. Do you think it's affected your playing permanently?

And I hate to add my own numbers, 'cause they're small peanuts compared to everyone else's.

Started at barely 21, now nearly 22. So approaching a year now. I'm proud of where I am for the time I've been playing.

[Mark Walker]

40... that was 2 days ago.:O
Happy belated birthday! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Sleepy Moon Music]

Started at 8 years old in 1960

[mounmon]

Started at age 30. Turn 52 on Saturday. Jeez, can that be right?

[mandodan1960]

Bought my mando on my 45 birthday 3 years ago. May 3rd to be exact.

[Rick Cadger]

I started when I was 45 and I turn 48 today!

About 2 1/2 years and, like Jamie, I should be a lot better.

I started learning fiddle a couple of weeks ago, and I played guitar and bass for decades (badly). Out of all of 'em, mandolin is the one I enjoy most...

But fiddle is fun too, in a frustrating, infuriating, compelling kind of way.

[DENNY7P]

STARTED 62 NOW 63 NEVER TO OLD TO LEARN ,THEY SAY USE IT OR LOSE IT. I ALWAYS WONDER HOW A PERSON COULD REMEMBER ALL THE NOTES AND CORDS,BUT ITS PRETTY EASY,PRACTICE-PRACTICE-PRACTICE http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[freshlyplucked]

Started at 32, now 35 - first stringed instrument, and I picked the right one!

[BauerHaus]

41-49

[camsheeps]

Started at 16, now 20.

[Dave Harbst]

41--65
Hope I'm lucky enough to go for another 24 years!