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Posted by: raf0708 Sep 22 2008, 10:11 AM

Hi there !
I'm from Belgium (south of Brussels, I speak french normally). My name's Raphaël and I'm... well let's forget about my age, the thing is that one of my seven brothers (plus 4 sisters!) handed me over an old guitar when I was about 17 and I learned by myself (back in 1976 I think it was... damn! they'll know my age now! ).
Anyway, I think it was one of the best thing that could have ever happen to me (beside my daugther, of course!). Well, the guitar itself was kind of a fake one, one that you would just have hang on a wall and never palyed cause it would literally cut your fingers down. But it was a good tool to start with anyway. In the eigthies on I've been giging around (with a brand new Strat, of course!) for few years with a band of 7 where I also sang songs. I liked best rock&roll or blues songs but we played many hits and Disco songs as it really was a must at that time. Well to make a long story short, I also learned piano, wrote and recorded few songs but never chance to find a major company (by the way I will appreciate anyone's opinion if he wants to listen a bit!). Lter on I spent one year in California (in 1982) where I learned my english. I wished I could set up there but it did'nt work out. So I came back to Belgium and deciced to go back to school! I went to university and got a degree there. Now I'm teacher in economics... Yes, it's damn far away from music I know... and my strat and amp were both sold away a long time ago.
But a dream never dies down completely, it's only got asleep deep inside. And one night, it wakes up and keeps you awake until next daybreak, keeping yourself asking again and again :"Jees! I could I get rid of my beloved guitar !" One should never part from his first guitar cause there's no way to repair such a mistake.
Today I decided to buy a brand new one. And as I could not choose between a Gibson Les Paul Traditional and an American Strat, I broke open my piggy bank and ordered them both ! When the guy walking out of the UPS truck parked in front of my house, I started to shake like a kid in front of Santa Claus. I hadn't let myself involved in such a feeling much too long ! Of cause, I had some problems in telling my wife how much I spent there, but damn it, in my casket it'll be too late ! Both guitars plus a fender amp were there and I could not decide which guitar box open first ! I went for the Gibson as it was the one I never had in my hands. Opening the box was like opening the Holly Sepulchre ! It smelt new, sparkling its light to my eyes which could not believe it. And damned heavy with that ! You can imagine my pleasure and it kept me stuck there playing unplugged in my garage for a while. But glancing at times at the other box containing the Strat which was gently waiting for her turn... My thrill was even bigger with the Strat as it remembered me of the one I first had. That one is definitely the one that can talk straight to my heart, but both are great guitars, the best ever and probably that will never be equalled somehow. They now only miss a good player to honor them That is why I decided to retrain myself, (happely enought it's coming back fast), but GMC will be of great help to tune up my technique, learn licks and so on. I just signed in and I don't know all the instructors, but I already want to congratulate Muris Varajic for his tremendous playing, especially in that fast country solo that really bowled me over!
That's the kind of things that definitely makes a life worth while ! Isn't it ?
Raphaël

Posted by: Emir Hot Sep 22 2008, 10:40 AM

Welcome to GMC Raphaël

Posted by: Velvet Roger Sep 22 2008, 10:45 AM

Nice story Rafael, welcome to GMC!

Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Sep 22 2008, 10:46 AM

Welcome to GMC

Posted by: MickeM Sep 22 2008, 11:31 AM

Welcome Raphael! Great story. And I think you did the right thing to order the guitars first and explain yourself later instead of the opposite, or you might not have a guitar

Mmm, I want an Orange amp and I feel a bit inspired by you. Problem is my wife has her birthday in a few days and she's expecting something nicer than I'd presumably get for myself

Posted by: chmilew Sep 22 2008, 11:37 AM

Salut Raphaël,
Ton histoire me rappelle moi, il y a quelques semaines quand je découvrais ma nouvelle Strat', un moment extraordinaire !
Je pense qu'ici tu trouveras tout ce qu'il faut pour devenir rapidement un guitariste digne de tes deux grattes !
J'termine en anglais...
Welcome to GMC !

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Sep 22 2008, 01:35 PM

Wow that's an amazing introduction Raphaël!! I think you did the best thing you could - buy guitars and start playing again!!! You should never give up that dream. I'm wishing you big welcome to GMC !!

Posted by: Muris Varajic Sep 22 2008, 02:31 PM

Such a great intro post Raphael,welcome to GMC!!

Must say that I laughed a lot when you mention you first acoustic guitar,
I had similar one at the beginning,
you look at it and your fingertips start to bleed,just like that.

Posted by: Marcus Lavendell Sep 22 2008, 02:35 PM

Welcome to GMC!

Posted by: Jerry Arcidiacono Sep 22 2008, 03:31 PM

Welcome to GMC Raphaël

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Sep 22 2008, 03:36 PM

Great story man, and welcome to the GMC club!

Posted by: Smells Sep 22 2008, 03:46 PM

Hi there & welcome to GMC

Posted by: tonymiro Sep 22 2008, 03:53 PM

QUOTE (raf0708 @ Sep 22 2008, 09:11 AM)

... when I was about 17 and I learned by myself (back in 1976 I think it was... damn! they'll know my age now! ).

...

Posted by: Matt23 Sep 22 2008, 04:30 PM

Welcome to GMC Raphael.

Posted by: skennington Sep 22 2008, 04:57 PM

Great story Rafael, glad you found the passion again! Like you said, I don't think it ever goes away...Glad you chose GMC, this truly is a great community.

Posted by: Nemanja Filipovic Sep 22 2008, 05:27 PM

Amazing intro man,welcome to GMC.

Posted by: Hisham Al-Sanea Sep 22 2008, 11:03 PM

welcome to the site

Posted by: Barenaked Ninja Sep 23 2008, 04:12 AM

Welcome. I'm new to GMC too but am having a great time picking over all the content available! I'm sure you'll like it as much as I have so far!

Posted by: Canis Sep 23 2008, 12:03 PM

Welcome to GMC ^^

You're never too old to join this site, no matter if you're 12, 18, or 49

Posted by: Dejan Farkas Sep 23 2008, 03:18 PM

Welcome to GMC

Posted by: Capt.Z Sep 23 2008, 03:21 PM

Welcome friend!

Posted by: Danilo Capezzuto Sep 24 2008, 09:31 AM

Welcome to GMC Raphael! Enjoy the site!

Posted by: Lian Gerbino Sep 24 2008, 08:46 PM

welcome man! enjoy the site!

Posted by: Ian Bushell Sep 25 2008, 06:49 AM

Welcome to GMC:)

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 25 2008, 07:47 AM

Nice story!

Welcome!!