Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

Honest and vulnerable question (gear)

#1

Well, I guess im back with another silly question. :crazy_face:

I’ve been piddling around with this fg830. I am finding it quite uncomfortable due to some physical limitations.

Yesterday evening, a buddy of mine brought his eastman grand auditorium body guitar to church for me to try.

Well, long story short… it was SO MUCH more comfortable and my shoulder wasn’t hurting after almost an hour of playing it.

So my question. If: 1. im never (and im not) going to go to bluegrass jams or play in any acoustic bluegrass context; 2. if my playing context is strictly an amplified church environment or at home

Then: can this flatpicking, fiddle tunes, and my own gospel/worship style be done on a GA body style guitar?

I realize that the answer is yes, of course… it doesn’t matter really as long as I enjoy it and all that. Im just wondering if anyone else has considered a similar path?

I have noticed a lot of @BanjoBen earlier videos featured a GA. I also found some videos of Robert Bowlin solo flatpicking songs on non dreadnaught guitars and I LOVE THAT STYLE.

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#2

If it helps at all, I learned my first flatpicking songs on an Eastman PCH1 which is not a dreadnought.

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#3

Yes of course! When I used to practice a bunch I had some shoulder issues shut me down for a while and the dreadnought was much more problematic than slightly smaller guitars. I think for me the issue was the depth as much as the shape. I have a Martin OM-18 that has a smaller and less deep body than a dread. I have taken it to jams some and it sounds right to me in that setting. I think it may actually cut through the sound a bit easier if someone wanted to stand out. I bring up the Martin OM, because to my ear, it has a great bluegrass or old time tone. It just doesn’t have as much low end as some dreadnoughts. I think you can have a guitar that sounds great for flatpicking, is comfortable and is easily playable. By all means find and play something that works for you. I am back to playing dreads often without issue, but I don’t play for near as long as I used to. I also had shoulder surgery a few years ago, so that helps as well, but I’d prefer for others to not need surgery if possible.

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#4

Thank you for this post.

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