Age Survey and more...

[Greg Spence]

I started playing acoustic guitar at 13. I'm now 61 -- I've been playin' pedal steel for two months.

[Les Anderson]

I can't vote because I am too old.

I did though start using a sawed off, six inch bolt on an old Gretsch acoustic in about 1953. Started playing some Dobro in about 1960, then actually bought a steel guitar in 2001 or so.

Jeez, that sounds so long ago.

[Ray Thomas]

Nextime go "above 70" I will be 80 in two weeks

[Jerry Berger]

This was me on the left in 1958 playing a Magnatone (MOTS)

[Ray Montee]

Were you living in the Portland Metro area at the time of the photo?

Who were you taking lessons from? Just curious.

[Jerome Hawkes]

i'm 44 - started playing at 25, gave up after a year and picked it up again at 35. i've been serious about it for 5 years - i play too many instruments and realized in the last few years the steel is not a side hobby, its all or nothing.

[Alan Brookes]

I'm 68, so I'm still able to vote. Maybe you should start all over with different parameters. By the way, this topic has been done before several times.

I started playing lap steel at 18 and pedal steel at 59. I could never afford a pedal steel before then.
Pedal steel is a rich man's pastime, but anyone can knock up a playable lap steel in a weekend or less. All you need is a pickup and tuners from an old guitar. The rest you can make from scratch.

My first lap steel, made from an old door, a few parts from the spares box of the local music shop, and Meccano parts. The pickup could be moved into any position between the bridge and fingerboard, as it was sliding on model railway rail. Frets were matchsticks. Virtually the only cost was the strings. It sounded as good as most lap steels.

[Jack Stoner]

I couldn't vote. I'm "overage" 76.

[Larry Rafferty]

Too old to vote.

[Billy Carr]

Started at age 14 in 1971. Still can't play much! 56 now and hoping to see 57 in June.

[pdl20]

too old to vote,72.but started at 10 yrs old.

[Willie Sims]

I probably don't qualify for this topic since I will be 88. If I live to July 2 of this year. I started playing are trying to at 12. I succeeded fairly well and have played with quite a few different bands over the years
Willie SIMS

[Willie Sims]

I probably don't qualify for this topic since I will be 88. If I live to July 2 of this year. I started playing are trying to at 12. I succeeded fairly well and have played with quite a few different bands over the years. I might even qualify for the old man of the steel guitar mountain.

Willie SIMS

[Wally Pfeifer]

Too old to vote. Too old to do much of anything,--83 last December 31(New Year's Eve), 2013. Started taking lessons at 9 years old. Quit playing in 1990 due to a nerve problem in the shoulder, arm and hand.
Sure miss playing.
Wally

[billchav]

Erv, I agree. I'm 79, started around 11.
Too bad"MR. ART" came by for an extended visit

[Roger Hand]

started playing at age 37. will be 81 in two weeks ?
played last gig 8-31-13. its been a blast.

[Alan Brookes]

This is what the survey currently records:-


But 21 people so far have stated that they have not been able to vote because of the missing "over 70" category. Taking account of that, the statistics should currently be:-

UNDER 30 5 (4%)
30-40 9 (6%)
40-50 4 (3%)
50-60 38 (27%)
60-70 63 (45%)
OVER 70 21 (15%)

Which means that 87% of people taking the survey are 50+.

But there's another problem. No statistical survey should overlap categories. For instance, if you are 50 do you come in the 40-50 range or the 50-60 range? In mathematical terms you come in both, but the programme will only let you check one category, so whichever you check will be the result of personal whim.

But, in any case, the sample is extremely small when compared with the total number of registered members. It may be, for instance, that the older members are retired and have time to vote, whereas the younger members are too busy with other things.

[W. Van Horn]

I'm 26

[Bernie Gonyea]

Started as a student at age 15; Went into Military Service at age 17th in 1953. Began taking up the steel seriously and worked at being a player. Played with different groups, upon discharge in 1956; at age 21; Worked actively until 2003. Turned 79 yrs. old in Jan., 2014. Still play my Sho-Bro Resonator once in a while. But am an ardent steel guitar lover.

[Bernie Gonyea]

Started as a student at age 15; Went into Military Service at age 17th in 1953. Began taking up the steel seriously and worked at being a player. Played with different groups, upon discharge in 1956; at age 21; Worked actively until 2003. Turned 79 yrs. old in Jan., 2014. Still play my Sho-Bro Resonator once in a while. But am an ardent steel guitar lover.

[Bernie Gonyea]

Started as a student at age 15; Went into Military Service at age 17th in 1953. Began taking up the steel seriously and worked at being a player. Played with different groups, upon discharge in 1956; at age 21; Worked actively until 2003. Turned 79 yrs. old in Jan., 2014. Still play my Sho-Bro Resonator once in a while. But am an ardent steel guitar lover.

[Alan Brookes]

You still only get one vote, Bernie.

[Terry Winter]

Started playing drums in school band at age 13, started bass guitar at age 16, started playing pedal steel at age 24 and am so proud of myself cause I just now got done my beginners book 1 in steel instruction.....so, not bad for 35 years of work eh

[Dan Behringer]

Well...I'm 53, got my first 6 string at the age of 9 and my first steel at 26. Still can't play either one of them but I have fun.
I'm amazed at the age of our membership here. I hope someone doesn't start calling this "The Old Farts Forum".

[Wally Pfeifer]

Bernie,- you mean to tell me you went into the military three times. Once was plenty for me.
And did you start and quit and start and quit three times when you were 15? Pretty good trick.