#music

The Hohner Professional Les Paul L75 ownership.

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Hohner L75 Professional Les Paul guitar.

Growing up I loved The Beatles. Everything they recorded. Guitars used by The Fab Four were plentiful. However, I never really focused upon any one specific favourite Beatle guitar consideration. Never really aware of guitar make importance other than Paul’s iconic Hofner Bass guitar.

Then, during and after The Beatles period of time, (they were and have always been present in my lifelong listening longevity) a fair few inbetweener’s were listened to…….too. The artists and bands were too many to mention. Much eclectic and diverse music was enjoyed nonetheless. Again, no singular guitar focus or envy. I owned a cheap acoustic and attempted playing along to any songs in naive and blissful ignorance. Until another singular artist miracle.

Marc Bolan suddenly hit the senses. From his early Tyrannosaurus Rex days, and then onwards to his ‘Electric Boogie Boogie On’ land something twigged. The need for a specific guitar sound. I suddenly understood the importance of singular sounding guitar vibes. From his acoustic guitar driven Tyrannosaurus Rex days of not noticing his use of specific make of guitar, to his bit by bit introduction of electric guitar playing inclusions in T.Rex. I fully realised with this T.Rex period, that guitar make, sound and vibe mattered. A love of his music had made me realise that my own cheap acoustic guitar strumming alongside the early songs, couldn’t compare to playing his electric songs. I went out and bought a Fender Telecaster electric guitar and naively tried to accompany his songs and riffs of gifted genius. His ‘Ride a White Swan’ was Telecaster okay. But then he changed the ball game. He strutted his stuff alongside a beautiful Gibson Les Paul. Dirty riffs, full on grit and a chilling beauty of particular uniqueness in his sound delivery. Chord driven riffing culminated in the realisation that the ‘Electric Warrior’ album was ‘That Les Paul sound’. It had a lasting influence.

His Gibson Les Paul guitar in the T.Rex ‘sound’ was perfection. I have never, ever owned one. Never played one in earnest. So in awe of the Les Paul, I nearly bought a ‘year 2000’ Les Paul re-introduced edition a few years back. But I baulked at the hefty £2,500 price tag in the secondhand shop.

Now? This ‘made in 1990 Hohner L75 Les Paul Professional’ guitar above, that I bought secondhand a few days ago, has allowed me the luxury of what it feels like to handle the ‘shape make up’ of a Les Paul guitar. And to experience the near identical sound. It sounds amazing, even through my simple 15 watt Epiphone amp. Alongside the sound? Over the last few days, the compact nature and beautifully comfortable handling experience of the Les Paul shape has given me chills.

The guy selling the guitar……..blurb info.

Within a few short days it has become a best friend. I suppose I have fallen in love with my ‘fourth friend’ ownership of a guitar. Ever since my love of the Eko acoustic dreadnought guitar I bought in the early 1970’s, the Fender Jazz bass guitar I first bought in the late 1970’s and the 1979 Guild acoustic dreadnought bought a few years ago, I realise guitars that rock the senses for Summersville’s mind are far and few between. Believe me….I have played on a lot of guitars over the decades. Not many are home hitters.

Four of the Keepers. The Guild is in the case. Very shy! The SG Vintage guitar goes out of tune half way through a song. Once set up and rectified, as a fifth member, it will complete my Circle of Five faves. Plays beautifully but behaves badly.

So. No songs here in this blog. Sorry. But…. I am currently so busy doing other things, family dynamics and working out future musical plans, that a brief stop on actually recording music has been necessary. I want to spend quality time on this music project and being focused on holistic particulars is important. Every day, a guitar is still picked up and new songs are growing nicely. I have also been consistently in contact with my three fellow ‘Frail Autumn’ musicians (guitar, keyboards and drums) and chatting ideas and dynamics through. Even today, I have been looking at presentation ideas on YouTube visual dynamics too. Building visual scenarios to present specific vibes. An overall developing idea of filmed visual inclusions alongside music recordings.

Photo source unknown.

The VeeDub bus presence is essential for vintage ambience and a joyful, interactive conversational and playful experience of playing our songs to camera. I have realised that the thought out process in determining fun filled filmed ideas with the songs is actually really important. Giving the personality of my friends to enhance the musical inclusions. Focused and thoughtful time planning, in order to truly realise a project by this autumn to early winter’s season, has been analysed over the last few weeks. This can, fingers crossed, provide an interesting holistic experience for onlookers.

Cheers all.

39 thoughts on “The Hohner Professional Les Paul L75 ownership.”

    1. Thank you for the comment. They weren’t too bad at all were they. 😉 All the recent renovated films and albums are great. But the original vinyl listens, with the accompanying unique vinyl noise, are what hold the listening memories. All the best Anthony.

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  2. Welcome back, Gray! I’ve missed you. I totally understand why no recording this time, as we have had our schedule change too (the granddaughters are out of school for summer) and I get rudely awakened or otherwise interrupted often. And yes, we’ve had speaks with their parents (our landlords—my daughter and son-in-law), and they totally understand that we need our privacy and personal time. Yay! Richard and I still have a life even though ours isn’t near as hectic as theirs. I have run next door to watch the girls on a moment’s notice, or they want to play upstairs so down flat goes my laptop! Ha!
    Back to you. Congratulations! The Hohner is beautiful and I can imagine your thrill finding one (presumably for a good price). Exquisite! The pleasing sound of it is so worth it, and of course the comfort too. Bargain! Finding something that suits you so. Ah, for the joy of it!
    Cheers!

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    1. Hi Sheila. Busy family inclusions are fantastic. But I can appreciate the need for time spent alone. When we first moved to our house (by the sea and all that surrounding countryside), we had visitors all the time for the first two to three years. No breaks at all. Not just weekend visits, but sometimes for many weeks on end. The younger nieces and nephews would also be here and it was very loud. Mind you, the adults were happily loud too. I remember going out into the car, closing the door and spending an hour of quiet time to escape once. 😆 We both worked in busy environments and arriving home after the day’s work, we stepped back into people presence at home. It was fantastic times though. Wouldn’t change those days at all. Vibrant and very social. I bought the VeeDub Bus in 2009, so no opportunity to use that back in the middle years of the 1990s. That would have been the icing on the cake.

      I still have a few weeks ahead of arrangements. Soon to go to my daughter’s to look after the grandchildren for a few days. And visiting family and friends over the two weeks as well. So will be away from the blogs again for a while.

      The Hohner was found by my wife on the local Facebook Marketplace pages. I never look at them at all. I bought the Vintage SG a couple of years back from the same FB Marketplace source. Both guitars were a good price. Pensioner status dictates caution nowadays. The Apple Music system is still to be paid for over this year too. The Hohner? Getting some lighter gauge strings, Fender fretboard oil and a new ‘How to set up your guitar’ book today. The Hohner settings are great, but could do with a slightly lower action. But the SG keeps going out of tune halfway through a song and won’t play the higher octave and beyond in perfect tune with the lower fret notes! The Hohner, off amplifier, sounds really vibrant. Hit notes and chords ring out forever.

      I still need to catch up a bit on all my fave bloggers really. I have been answering a few notifications sent my way. But not got ‘stuck in’ for those enjoyable elongated sessions of reading all the daily uploads from the WP community. It’s been this way for a fair few weeks now. Still doing a fair bit musically. But fathoming out information of how to progress on the technicalities more. Reading books and watching YouTube uploads on ‘How to’s…..’ rather than sitting and experimenting in front of the computer screen all day. Also planning how to get a holistic vibe together re: future music presentations. You yourselves have your YouTube videos accompanying your music for example. Just had my yearly eye test and my vision has changed after being settled and unchanged for four years. So I got a new glasses varifocals prescription. Expense again! All this looking at monitors and screens time has impacted probably.

      All the best Sheila. And hopefully soon, a few elongated calm periods will once again become your best friends.

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      1. Oh, so good to hear about and know how you feel about the hub bub of life, with friends and family visiting alongside need for peace and quiet. I also love the VeeDub bus notes in your post (I forgot to mention before).
        Thank you for reminding me that Richard and I had our quiet time for years (aside from noisy upstairs neighbors the 8 months we were in the Ocala apartment).
        And I am thrilled that Angie found the new guitar on Marketplace. True love! She’s so supportive!
        I definitely understand about needing to stay on a budget as a pensioner. Yep!
        Cheers to balancing screen time with playing the fantastic music, Gray!

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      2. I suppose since retirement, hub bub of life has quelled. I can spend weeks in the house not seeing anyone during the day. That is true quiet. Now the weather is slightly better, it’s good to imagine more outdoor’s activity. Cheers Sheila. 😊

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      3. Yes, Gray. It’s much cooler here today so last minute my daughter postponed our lake day til Monday (after Richard and I had gotten up early and ready to go).
        As for your comment about your eyesight, we are drinking 8oz every morning of pure carrot juice in case it might extend our eyesight (Richard was recently diagnosed with macular degeneration and cataracts), and I get two white ‘floaters’ down the side of my vision in one eye. I also just told my daughter I am glad they limit the screen time for the girls since they are the first generation that have had the up close hand held gaming systems—my kids had games based on the TV like Atari, but nothing like these Nintendo Switch and smart phones. I believe getting outside and looking at the sun, green things, and far away sites can help, but I don’t know if it will keep us from having eyesight issues, much less reverse whatever’s going on with our eyes.

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      4. Weather has been very strange worldwide really. So intense. Carrot juice can cause skin pigmentation Sheila. The beta carotene can circulate in the blood causing yellow skin tinge. Worthwhile checking out maximum daily amount advice. Macular degeneration is either wet or dry. My mum had dry and took lutein which slowed it down. Worth researching Sheila. I was present in theatre watching cataract operations. I prepared the patients prior to surgery with eye drops. My grandchildren are always on screens. It is worrying. Visiting here, they still get withdrawal symptoms until out and about in the surroundings. I have a friend whose eyesight improved later in life. But feel it was the eye’s changing shape allowing the internal focus distance/structure to improve. Bright sunlight gives me bad headaches. Peaked caps are my best friends. 😊 All the best Sheila.

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      5. Great advice about Lutein, Gray. And the skin effects of carrots. I knew it could happen but no idea after how much. We would prefer good vision vs skin tone though (smiling). I don’t recall which kind of macular degeneration he has (wet or dry). Worth asking next time he gets his eyes tested. I was glad I had anxiety relieving tools else I would have bawled my eyes out when his eye doctor gave us that news. I remained calmed but was thinking how horrible it would be for Richard to lose his vision since he has been an artist his whole life.
        Enjoy the grandchildren—I hope you can impress upon them the joys of nature (even a bit). It will serve them well in their lifetime for many reasons.
        I hear you about the effects of the bright sun because Richard sneezes when he first goes out in the sunshine.

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      6. I have lost a shed load of health knowledge since retiring. But it is always good to look into the decent internet information sites. My golden rule is to avoid advice/information sites that have multiple adverts! The health boards, Cochrane Library, Medscape and Google Scholar literature source comparison searches are my go to standards nowadays. But hardly ever read anything anymore in reality. Shock regarding being given health news by professionals and subsequently looking for answers to improve the situation is becoming more often. As we get older, aches, pains and the body wearing out are pretty much accepted and tolerated. Ah well. Music heals the soul. Cheers Sheila.

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    1. Hi Shep. Never played a Hohner guitar before. Glorious stuff. Built really well. Always fancied a semi acoustic, but never really looked seriously. Maybe get one further down the line. Did look on dating the Hohner guitar from the back plate serial number and then saw all the accordion internet discussion posts. Didn’t fall into the rabbit hole of reading enthusiasts’ discussions threads though. But will revisit later down the line. Will try to catch up today on some of the WP blog post readings. There will be a fair few of the community uploads missed. So it will be attempted over a coffee or three. 😊

      Cheers Shep. All the best.

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  4. home hitters, I like that because it’s true. that special bond has nothing to do with what an instrument costs and everything to do with what it means to us and the role it plays in our lives. it’s easy to see the keepers are a part of you. I look forward to the new songs and until then hope you enjoy the ride.

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    1. Cheers cookie. Have been chatting back and forth with my brother (guitar) and chatting over long term musical plans. He has a full time job and is always busy and tired. Also, I’ve been getting in touch on Messenger Facebook with a lifetime friend who played bass in our first band after leaving school. He has always continued playing on guitars and when he visited us here in Wales, jammed a bit with my brother and myself. He has been learning keyboards. So will get him to play on songs. Hence the slower process of getting songs finished. I suppose it can be an insightful upload of blogs on how the music develops by showing musical progress. But it’s become a bit of a stand still situation recording wise. Time for music has been a bit sparse recently too.

      Guitars? Brian May’s home built one played with a sixpence as a pic. Willy Nelson’s acoustic with the worn out body producing that hole. There must be other guitarists too with their ‘go to’ fave. Mine is the Eko that has been played on since 1972.

      The new songs are going nicely in realising verses and choruses. Lyrics need to be finished in a fair few though. I think I will have to write down singular lines as they come into my mind. I don’t and then annoyingly forget them. Talking of interesting lyrics. Been good to see your lyrics in printed format. A visual story that is slightly different to the listening experience. I found that I ‘mind sing’ your melodic tune as I read them. Of course, not in your unique vocal style. So you do create catchy melody’s. 😊 Poetry has its own mind tune too. Do we look for music and melodic accompaniment in all life’s presentations? Maybe, as songwriters, we do cookie.

      Cheers and all the best.

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    1. Hi Brenda. Good to hear from you. This past year, and actually since last September, the weeks on weeks have had the same dynamics. Music more than any other pastime. Not sure how busy you yourself have been with your teaching workload. And blog wise, with the weather up until the last month having been pretty claustrophobic in its rainy/damp presentation. So I did wonder if you may have found your travel themes a bit restrictive.

      Angie is as super busy as usual. With far more tiredness. Hope you are keeping well yourself. Cheers and all the best Brenda.

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      1. Its been pretty hectic. I’d like to say I just didn’t have the time to write/blog but the truth is the CFS has been really kicking for a few months and I just didn’t have the energy to do anything. I tried to post a couple of times, but wasn’t able to maintain any routine so decided the best was to wait for the summer. I am now on holiday – actually have been for a week but my mother-in-law died at the beginning of the month so that knocked all the end of term marking etc back and I only finished the marking on Thursday night/the wee small hours of Friday morning. So now I’m on holiday (until 6th August) so taking the time to catch up – it’ll take me a wee bit of time to get stuff written and ready for posting, but catching up with my blogging friends meantime.

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      2. That is a very hectic and emotional period for you Brenda. Sorry to hear about your loss. And your health. Fatigue can be a catastrophic circle of adjunct symptoms difficult to cope with for getting through daily routines…even when gentle activities exist. So this holiday for you is perfect. And the coming warmer times too. Deep relaxation and gentle activity is on the holistic prescription Brenda. Look after yourself.

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      4. Yes….too true. Still there is overhanging full cloud which comes back to chill the air. Then a day or two of full on heat and sunshine. Weird! Today is the former down here. So yes….fingers crossed for more of the latter heat.

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  6. H Gray. What a beauty. I am sure it will treat you well. You could not be more correct about the “sound” some guitarists have. As you know, much like a singer, a guitar can have a unique and trade mark sound. When performing a live show, The Edge has a specific guitar for each song. He takes the sound to a new level. Enjoy your new friend and enjoy finding YOUR sound.

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    1. I haven’t played electric properly for absolutely decades. Well, since 1983. I have strummed on a few electrics from time to time. Of course the amplifier and speakers do create the sound too. It’s a combination of trials to get what you want. My first amp was an old valve amp back in the early 1970s. Beautiful warm sound on a six string SG copy. The first Fender bass I had I used an Altec bass bin with a Marshall amp. It was awful. Changed to a Fender twin cab and Fender 100 watt amp combo and it was perfect. You are so right about individual guitarists. Bands suddenly get uniqueness from their individual band members creating specific sound. I am looking forward to seeing how the Hohner develops. Cheers Danny.

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  7. Hi, Gray….missed this post somehow 😬
    good to hear you enjoying your new guitar….my dad was such a fan of the Beatles… I think I was too small to appreciate them then…great as I got older lol.
    An impressive collection you have there …I’ve always wanted to learn how to play a guitar…never got down to it.😬
    glad everything is going well for you with your music…best wishes 🤍

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    1. Hi Destiny. Thanks for the comment. The guitars and music aren’t being focused on at the moment. Over the last few weeks lots going on. Just one of those longer periods that has taken me away from the normality of artistic interests. Another week and then things will be back to focusing on music again. The Beatles are a constant in life for many over decades on decades. They make great listening for building memories.

      You want to get a guitar and give it a go. It is a fantastic therapy exercise. I write some poetry way back, when making pottery. I wrote some music to go alongside the poetry and pottery figures and their stories/tales. Poetry, pottery and music was a nice project. I know you have spoken about your own interest in making pottery. A holistic scenario of these three is great to expand the themes. Hope you are well. Cheers and all the best Destiny. 🙏🏽

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      1. ah ..feels late to start now with that guitar..then again who knows …might be worth a try too…music can make difficult moments bearable at times lol….I can only imagine the difference when played by oneself…most soothing I imagine.
        Perhaps lol…

        wishing you the best again on your music and everything…

        thank you , Gray…always lovely visiting here 🤍🙏

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      2. Thank you Destiny. It’s never too late to start playing guitar or any musical instrument. So, yes, it’s definitely worth a try. You may find you really are adept at playing. Cheers. And will catch up with the blogs again soon. 😊 🙏🏽

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      4. Good to read your poetry always Destiny. It’s a process I have of read out a poem with voice and then once or twice again to capture the flow. Then looking at and reconnecting the image. Reading the comments, they always have your admirers say and express the thoughts that I too was thinking. The ‘Mandala Mind’ was one I thought of in one of your poems. Then? I read the word Mandala amongst the comments, so was happy that it had been wisely noticed. But I enjoy each and every one of your poems.

        Your capturing of different styles is fantastic. So much discipline.

        Yes. Give the guitar a go. Even gently strumming a chord can give therapy. Then speak out your poem to that background. Or even hum a tune and progress into then changing hum for poetic words. I did that with a poem from my little book ‘The Circle of Five’. The book that went with my pottery figures. It became a medieval type lilt.

        All the best as ever Destiny. 🙏🏽

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      5. lol I’ve been trying to get some of these poems to flow a set rhythm…it’s hard sometimes 🤭 like a misplaced beat that I don’t always pick up until I read it much later and after posting that is lol…

        going to try this at the first chance I get …lol I might find I did inherit a little of my dad’s musical vibes (or not lol)

        and to you too… bestest wishes 🤍🙏

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      6. Being a songwriter you get to find rhythm in every written out or spoken out aspect. Spacing and creating a melodic pattern without a tune. If that sounds right! I speak the medicine Buddha mantra in full every so often. I can also sing it too with a self made tune. It becomes a therapy of haunting repetition. You may find a little additional treasure to expand your interests in playing a musical instrument. Cheers Destiny. 🙏🏽

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    1. Thanks cookie. I’ve been busy doing loads of chores and plans that have been being ignored. Should get started on music again next week. Haven’t really looked at the blog site or others’ blogs at all really. I have not caught up with my fave bloggers either. There are only about ten people I really am keen to read and follow their blogs. I like to comment properly when I read what people have put lots of work into. I have free time next Monday, so will look through and catch up. I wanted to do this a few weeks back, but the weather changed to dry and gave opportunity to get on top of home and garden upkeep. It’s back to raining again now!

      Looking forward to focusing again on recording new songs. My true love of interest and activity. Hope you are enjoying your songwriting continuations and performing too cookie. Cheers and thank you for getting in touch. Much appreciated. 🙏🏽

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      2. I know cookie. It is very strange to not be involved in the blog uploads presently. Or reading others contributions. It has been a constant, a few times a week, for a few years now. It’s really nice that you are keeping in touch like this. It is very much appreciated. All the best cookie.

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    1. Hi to you too Destiny. Thanks for dropping by. Have the grandchildren visiting currently and getting to grips with the VeeDub Bus again. Actually took it out on the road yesterday for the first time since last September. Behaved itself okay wise. It was very satisfying driving along to the seafront. So, out doing some songwriting and video in Bus soon.

      I haven’t spent much time at all on WP. I believe early Autumn will be WordPress Focus Land again. Nice to have other stuff to do really. But do miss the WP bloggers and all the comforting reads. Spending time away from writing and reading blogs is strange. I suppose I have followed your lead from a few months ago when you took a break. Nice to read a few of your poems this morning. The grandkids were in the garden, so I could focus for a very short while. 😊 Cheers Destiny. 🙏🏽

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      1. aah…so good to hear, Grey…hope ul be sharing some pics of the VeeDub Bus when you get a chance…sounds exciting and rewarding too.

        These breaks are good, I don’t deny…and I think I’ve learnt (a little 🥴) that balance is so important. I haven’t been able to do that … dedicating so much time to WP…tend to forget there’s a life out there too.
        But I don’t deny too…that I enjoy being here…just cutting down time spent here instead of cutting time from living to be here lol….
        …and enjoy your time with the grandchildren …they can be a handful of delight lol…
        will pop in to say hi from time to time lol…
        and thank you for stopping by too.
        all the best there…🤍🙏

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      2. When I was full time working it was really a case of not contributing at all to WP on a regular basis. Retirement allowed a different perspective. But, as you say, living a life outside of blogging is important. I too enjoy the WP social exchanges. And reading the creativity of others. The grandchildren do love being in the countryside and spent the day on the beach yesterday. Cheers Destiny. 🙏🏽

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