Smokin Mandolin

[bmac]

Having smoked two packs of cigarettes a day for my adult life (about 40 years) I was forced, for health reasons, to quit. A few months after quitting I decided to buy a mandolin and teach myself how to play. I had some experience with guitar so mandolin was coming easier than it would be for some. But I had been playing for a month or so when I began hearing a peculiar sound during practice. I can best describe it as a ringing metallic sound. I could not figure out why I was only hearing it when practicing the mandolin. I turned off the ceiling fan thinking it was somehow distorting the sound of my mandolin, but the sound continued. It took a few days to figure out that I was actually hearing the full sound of the mandolin strings vibrating. Previously I had been receiving the notes but not the full color of the vibrating double steel strings. As my hearing has continued to improve almost by stages my appreciation of the mandolin has grown considerably.

I am not moralizing but simply stating my own experience as an ex-smoker and an unexpected bonus of quitting.

[mandolooter]

that's great...the benefits of stopping smoking are well documented but that is one I hadn't heard of. I quit a long while ago and my list of positives is too long to post here. Congrats on getting a terrible monkey off your back and keep it that way!!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[steve in tampa]

I'm about the same age and quit smoking a little over 3 years ago. your sense of smell comes back, and that ain't always a good thing http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
We upgraded from a Travel Trailer to a Motor home with the extra$$ to go to the festivals in.

[mandolinbill]

Awsome! I started smoking when I was 12 (what was I thinking) and quit at 33. I've been smoke free for a year now and I aint goin' back! I wrestled with quiting for a long time and it took Zyban to do it. Also made me a little bit high in the begining http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif But cheers to you! Also about the ceiling fan, I tend to walk around the house while I practice. When I walk into the kitchen, where I have a ceiling fan, it takes on that shimering kind of sound like when you talk through a fan. Its pretty strange. The acoustics in my kitchen are pretty incredible. just thought I'd add that. Congrats again!

[John Rosett]

it's been 8 months since i quit. when i quit, i bought myself a '13 gibson mando, and told myself that if i started smoking again, i'd have to sell it. so far so good, and it really is too nice a mando to give up for the demon weed.
i haven't noticed my hearing getting any better, but my sense of smell has improved dramatically. that's not really a good thing on the band road trips.

[chipotle]

Congratulations!

I quit smoking 10 years ago after 18 years at two packs a day. It took me a year before the temptation was finally gone. I will never pick up another one.

My sense of taste improved dramatically!

[mandolinbill]

Yes thats true! my sense of taste inproved as well as smell. Especially smell! There were many times when I thought my house was on fire only to find out it was the neighbors wood stove ten houses down. Never smelled that before

[john_rr]

when i quit, i bought myself a '13 gibson mando, and told myself that if i started smoking again, i'd have to sell it.
John, I'd like to thank you for providing me the rationalization for making a guilt-free mandolin upgrade. I'll look at it as 5 1/2 months worth of cigarettes.

It took me 4 years of trying to break a 30 year habit. Since I've been cigarette-free for six months, I figure I've still got a profit. I'm making the call tomorrow.


JR

[fatt-dad]

I smoked from high school to about 41 years old. Having been clean (other than cigars) for eight years, I still harken to the days of lighting up a fag. So, when I turn 80, I decided I will resume smoking cigarettes. Heck, I already know I can smoke for 20 years and survive - ha.

f-d

p.s., I too like the notion that I can spend former cigarrette money for mandolins. Great concept!

[AZmando]

I smoked a cig or two in high school, but thankfully, NEVER took up the habit, which means I have saved tens of thousands of dollars over all the intervening years. I must now get busy - hit the classifieds - loads of mandos to buy with all that money. . .

[b.pat]

When I quit ten years ago, my sense of smell got better , my teeth became brighter, I started seeing better than I had in years, I could taste my food again, my hair started growing back, the size of my........ Oh never mind.
Congrats. on dumping that monkey. You will never regret it. Oh yea mando content. It's really hard to tremolo holding one of those things in your right hand.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
B.Pat

[mandodebbie]

My Dad used to smoke 2 1/2 packs of Rothmans a day. Then he up and died ten years ago. I have never smoked. I tried a puff of a high-school friend's cig once and promptly lost my lunch. I look ten years younger than I should, compared to my smoking cousins who are my age. Nyyahh!!Nnyahh!! Anyway, my Ex used to roll his own cigs and smoked like a stove pipe. When he kicked me and the hamster out 2 years ago, my severe excema on my wrists and inner elbows mysteriously disappeared. My insommnia lessened, and my "hayfever" is now a memmory. And, yes, even little hamster felt great. He could run fast and longer on his wheel. A far cry from hearing his pitiful coughing. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[mad dawg]

Maybe your hearing didn't get better; maybe you can hear the mandolin better since you are no longer wheezing?

Seriously though, congrats on stopping smoking and starting playing -- these are two major accomplishments of note!

[London Al]

I stopped smoking about 3 weeks ago after about 30 years of it.
I started building mandolins about 2 years ago.
I've realised I just wasn't going to live long enough to be good at it if I didn't stop smoking.
Maybe with the money I'll save, one day I might be able to afford to visit the USA and meet some of you folks!
Until then....one day at a time....
Al

[Steve G]

It will be 30 days tomarrow after 30+ years of smoking. This thread just renforces my commitment. Congrats to everyone here in the same boat.

[bmac]

The improvement in hearing seems to be unusual for those who quit smoking...

I think in my case that I may have had an alergy to something in the cigarette smoke. Nicotine perhaps? In any case I had been smoking since I was about sixteen so I didn't remember any gradual loss of hearing. All I can guess is that the alergy may have caused my hearing chanels (whatever they are called) to constrict and restrict the "color" of the high notes common to the mandolin. Since being off cigarettes for almost a year my hearing has gradually improved to the point where I believe it is now normal or very close to normal.

[Windflite]

I quit five years ago after 20 odd years of 1-2 packs a day. #My decision came the day I picked up a new car and it had that 'new car' smell....and it still does! #Congratulations London Al on your decision! #You've made the most difficult step AND SUCCEEDED! # Keep it up FOREVER. #Everyday that passes you will smile bigger and feel better! Hmmmm...sounds a lot like learning to play the mandolin! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Sellars]

Tex ritter comes to mind:

"smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette! Smoke, smoke, smoke and if you puff yourself to death... tell saint Peter at the golden Gate that you hate to see him wait, but you gotta have another cigarette!"

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

[Jim Rowland]

45 years,two to three packs a day. I quit 9 years ago and haven't regretted it for a second,although it was very tough going at first. I quit drinking l7 years ago due to my health, (traffic court gave me indigestion),and that was a pud by comparison. The saved moolah?..better quality building supplies! I congratulate anyone who has capped the monster. By the way,the improved hearing goes with playing. That's why a master player can hear the difference between a great instrument and an excellent one when the untrained ear cannot make the distinction.
Jim

[Ken Berner]

I am proud of all of those who have quit smoking! I would like to give you a word of encouragement. My father was born in 1898 and for many years was a smoker. In 1952, when he retired, he quit smoking, "cold turkey". The best part of this story is that he lived well into 1997, not many months from his 100th birthday!

[Salty Dog]

After 37 years of heavy smoking (enjoyed every one I ever lit!), I quit cold turkey 11+ years ago. #Of course, I received all the benefits mentioned and something did get bigger (my belly). #Every now and then, I still get a killer urge to smoke. #My view is that I am a smoking addict who has chosen not to smoke. #Good luck to all the recent quitters and remember that the best reason not to start again is that you will not have to quit again.

[London Al]

Hi again Bart, the wife's just pointed out something.
Theres a good reason why some doctors are "ear nose and throat" specialists. There are a load of tubes in your head which are all connected.
Makes sense to me that when we stop sucking tar etc in one end, the rest clean up too!

Thanks for all the support from you long time quitters.
In my workshop I'm catching up on how various tonewoods smell different. Never noticed before!
I wonder if Mr Loar ever said "I'm not signing that. It stinks!"

Al

[DerTiefster]

During a search on an unrelated topic, I caught the title of the thread and was reminded of this story:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?2591-Bowlbacks-of-Note&p=856243&viewfull=1#post856243
The thread was entirely unrelated to my search, but interesting in its own right. I thought I'd add the "smokin' double bass" anecdote, which I stumbled across near the end (at this writing) of the venerable "bowlbacks of note" thread and which was -why- "smoking mandolins" caught my eye. I hope that both might be of interest to the contemporary reader.

Best wishes to all.