Any guitar players who've all but abandoned their 6-strings?

**terzinator** · Jan-23-2012, 2:56pm

I played guitar for 30+ years (not professionally, but that was my main instrument), and I picked up mandolin about 2-1/2 years ago just because there were too many guitars at the jams.

Well I can't even remember the last time I picked up one of my guitars. I open the cases about once a week to refill the humidifiers, but that's it. Probably been three or four months since I played one of them.

It's all mandolin now. Never thought the day would come, but here we are.

**JeffD** · Jan-23-2012, 3:00pm

I have a theory that mandolinners dig deeper into music theory than most guitarists. I think its because the mandolin is so symmetrical it all just makes sense.

So what will be even more of a shock, some time in the future, when you have really gone far down the road on mandolin, you will look back at those guitar folks and say "is that all you got?"

**Kip Carter** · Jan-23-2012, 3:01pm

Sold mine... gone daddy gone!
Kip...

**terzinator** · Jan-23-2012, 3:08pm

Originally Posted by JeffD

I have a theory that mandolinners dig deeper into music theory than most guitarists. I think its because the mandolin is so symmetrical it all just makes sense.

This is wicked true. I have way more interest in digging into theory on this instrument. I used to do some cool fingerpicking things on guitar, but I really never knew what I was doing. Just learned some tunes and they sounded good. But on this, I wanna know why.

Weird, wild stuff.

**EarlG** · Jan-23-2012, 3:19pm

I have just about given up guitar even though I can play it better now than I used to because I play mandolin so much.

I still have four or five guitars sitting around thinking maybe I'll play one someday.

**Skunkwood** · Jan-23-2012, 3:20pm

I've only pulled my guitar out of it's case once in the last 9 months. Like Terzinator, I see no reason to play it in a world of jams with too many guitars. I still play bass, and banjo, although no one ever asks for the banjo. I guess it's time to start thinking about selling the Telecaster. I'll propbably keep the Martin (Shenandoah), as I have songs I wrote on it that still want to be played. I never spent as much time with the guitar and bass as I have with the mandolin since I got my Flatiron back in '94. When I moved up to that level of mandolin, I couldn't keep my hands off of it. Can't say that any deep interest in music theory drives me, though.

**kkmm** · Jan-23-2012, 3:32pm

Since I picked up mandolins a year ago, I play it every day. Playing guitars (both strumming , finger picking or soloing) much less frequently now but still play it, also noticed that my guitar playing become easier due to all the hard work my fingers have to do with the mandolin. I believe the small size of the mandolin gets me hooked to it, it goes with me on my business and personal trips.
Even at home, it's much easier to hold a mandolin sitting in front of my laptop (that play backing tracks) then holding the "huge" guitar.

**Caleb** · Jan-23-2012, 3:35pm

I almost gave up guitar, and probably would have if not for a commitment I have that requires me to play it each week. But recently I've been going back to the guitar and enjoying it more than ever. I like to sing songs and that's harder to do with just the mandolin. The chords just aren't as full on the mandolin. Would love to have a solid guitar player to do the chords and me sing and play mandolin though. That would be fun.

I will say the mandolin has done wonders for my lead guitar work though. Really helps me pick out the melodies much better than in my pre-mandolin days.

PS to Mike Romkey - my electrics and amps are all gone too. Don't miss them at all.

**Mike Romkey** · Jan-23-2012, 3:35pm

My D-35 sits on the stand and only gets used if I need it for recording backup for something. The Telecaster and Strat are long gone. Don't miss them.

**catmandu2** · Jan-23-2012, 3:38pm

Yep--traded most of mine for horns...trying to keep up classica/flamenco chops takes practice that I no longer aspire to

**Perry** · Jan-23-2012, 3:45pm

I used to go months w/o playing a guitar but they are too much fun to ignore completely. So I've come to really appreciate picking up a guitar. It is a great respite from the mandolin. My mandolin playing has helped my guitar playing and vice versa.

I've also have had m.a.s. for octaves and mandolas curbed because I can just pick up a guitar when I crave some more low end.

Now I have g.a.s. for a small bodied high end guitar.

**catmandu2** · Jan-23-2012, 3:47pm

Originally Posted by Perry

I used to go months w/o playing a guitar but they are too much fun to ignore completely. So I've come to really appreciate picking up a guitar. It is a great respite from the mandolin. My mandolin playing has helped my guitar playing and vice versa.

I've also have had m.a.s. for octaves and mandolas curbed because I can just pick up a guitar when I crave some more low end.

Yep, guitars can satisfy in a mulitude of ways: resos, and 12-strings particularly (and of course, a nice tele). I gave up my nylon-string playing--because it takes more practice to execute correctly--for "funner" stuff...plectrums, and mostly playing accordians now...

**Treblemaker** · Jan-23-2012, 3:52pm

I play tons of mandolin in bluegrass, swing and some rock contexts.
I also play electric and upright bass and guitar in all sorts of settings.
To me these are just tools and I use whatever the situation calls for or whatever the person who requested my musical presence in their scene wants me to play.

Regardless, the most fun I have playing music is an even split between mandolin and electric bass.

I get a huge kick out of working with a solid bass player in bluegrass and creating a solid rhythm section with a tight chop, while also being able to play melody when I have my lead opportunities.

As for bass - similarly - doing so alongside a strong drummer can be really fun in that you can support the song with groove and sometimes can go outside the structure of rhythm to accentuate the song with bass harmony lines.

I will never stop playing guitar though - it's the foundation of my music skills. I write songs on guitar and I always enjoy flatpicking or playing leads on a tele or strat with a good band.

Treblemaker

**Keith Witty** · Jan-23-2012, 3:53pm

I play both about equally. Depends on my mood. I don't compose too well on the mandolin, but do very well on the guitar. So every time I want to come up with my own rendition of something, I grab my MD-95, but when I just want to learn something, or follow along, I pick up my LM-700.

**Bob Bronow** · Jan-23-2012, 4:03pm

Wow Chris, that sounds like my story!

30+ years on guitar until I picked up the mandolin about 2 years ago. Now I rarely touch the guitars. I needed one for a gig about a month ago but that was the first time in quite a while.

I play live at least once a month and before I picked up the mandolin we had three guitarists. I figured that unless we were planning on doing an Outlaws tribute we really didn't need that many!

You're also spot-on about wanting to dig deeper on the mandolin. It makes far more sense to me than guitar ever did.

I still have quite a few guitars hanging on my wall and would never consider getting rid of them but when I feel like playing, I always reach for the mando.

**blauserk** · Jan-23-2012, 4:14pm

I picked up guitar in the late 70s. I only started playing mandolin in about Feb. 2011, but it's almost all I play now. I probably take out a guitar and play it once every couple weeks, but mandolin is daily. I haven't taken a guitar lesson since probably 1983, but I'm taking mando lessons beginning Feb 8. I'm trying to sell off some of my gits, but a lot of them are now "vintage" pieces and I'd like to see that market rebound a tad first.

**swampy** · Jan-23-2012, 4:17pm

I play way less guitar than I used to, but all the time spent with the mando has vastly improved my guitar playing.

**Fretbear** · Jan-23-2012, 4:26pm

Originally Posted by Perry

My mandolin playing has helped my guitar playing and vice versa.

Nothing ever helped my guitar playing as much as getting serious and advancing on mandolin did. I had long ago decided I didn't want to be "another guitar player", but there is a reason they are the most popular stringed instrument. If you sing and write songs, they are almost indispensable.

**Jill McAuley** · Jan-23-2012, 5:39pm

I sold both my electric and acoustic guitars back in Ireland to fund my move to the States, reckoning that I'd pick up replacements no problem once settled - then I got into the mandolin back in Jan '09 and for several years had zero interest in playing the guitar, I'd go to the big Texas guitar show over in Marin twice a year and only have my eyes peeled for mandolins, tenor banjos or tenor guitars, wouldn't pick up a single guitar out there. Fast forward to 2012 and for some reason I've found meself starting to pine for a guitar again, having to resort to getting my fix by weekly visits to the local music shop to play on whatever they had hanging on the wall - won't have to do that anymore though as I've just picked up a very sweet '92 Martin M-64 (maple sides and back) and have to say I am loving having a guitar in the house again!

Cheers,
Jill

**jim simpson** · Jan-23-2012, 7:29pm

I seem to be getting more into guitar playing at home but only play mandolin for gigs. I enjoy playing mandolin as much as ever and play it at jams as well. I started out on guitar and I guess I've never lost my love for them. I have fun playing acoustic and electric.

**Pipeous** · Jan-23-2012, 7:41pm

even after just 6 months on mandolin I am finding I play guitar less. I use my bass for recordings but don't really look forward to jamming with it anymore... I love guitar still and often figuring out tunes I grab the guitar first to figure out what the chords are then go back to mandolin.

**jaycat** · Jan-23-2012, 7:50pm

It's all about the chair. If you're in an armchair, you go for the mando. On the couch, the guitar has an even shot.

**catmandu2** · Jan-23-2012, 7:56pm

My mentor fondly refers to the guitar as "a miniature piano" (and he is a flamenco). So, I immediately think Albeniz, you know...and I was amazed when I learned that those wonderful compositions that lie so well on guitar were composed for piano...

But, the gutar can do it all, for sure

**multidon** · Jan-23-2012, 8:21pm

I have always played multiple instruments but guitar was right up there until discovering mandolin about 2 years ago. I entered mandolin world through the fiddle door though. Which lead me to tenor guitar (tuned GDAE) and mandola (tuned DAEB). Somewhere along the way I also discovered Celtic harp and hammered dulcimer. What's next? I must have musical ADD. I have to admit to neglecting the 6 string but While I like mandolin for picking melodies I HATE mandolin chords. I find guitar more comfortable for chording. I used a multitrack recorder to do my first amateur Christmas album this year. I recorded chords with the guitar first, then added acoustic bass, then recorded melody and harmony lines with all of the above. Sweet! I was glad to still find a purpose for the 6 string in this process. It's kind of the glue that holds everything else together.