NGD…..Yes that’s right!

[3bolt79]

Well, I basically haven’t been able to play guitar for the last couple of years due to worsening arthritis in my hands, especially the left. I had sold most of my guitars as my grip strength in my fretting hand is only 11% of normal. My doc at the VA is working with me on this. I can’t take the really good arthritis meds as I am on a blood thinner.

Sadly I had largely given up on repairs too.

Yesterday I went to my friend’s house to do a set up and two additional restringings. My hands made it through ok, but after 3 hours of sitting on the floor by the time I was done, my hips were really hurting.

I have been able to play my classical somewhat and my Brian May, as it is short scale and strung with 9-42 gauge strings. I still have my ‘79 Strat and I am going set it up with 9’s or 8’s. Hopefully I can stop with 9’s. While at my friend’s place, I picked up a Frefly LP knock of that I had sold her a few years ago. I am buying it for what she paid me for it. I had previously set it up with 11’s. I am going to try it with 10’s, and if that doesn’t work I will drop down to 9-42.

This guitar has no right to be as good as it is for the price. Locking tuners. Stainless steel frets. Three humbuckers. Honestly, if this works I will buy an SG and/or a LP….real Gibson’s.



A guy could do a lot worse for $225. Thanks @Gemini.

 

[Robb]

HNGD, enjoy !

 

[PeteR]

Congrats!

 

[3bolt79]

Congrats!

I am hoping to be able to play guitar again. Haven’t been able to for over a year due to arthritis.

 

[Eddd]

I am hoping to be able to play guitar again. Haven’t been able to for over a year due to arthritis.

I have an idea what you are feeling , for the past four months I have had tendinitis in my pick hand thumb,it really hurts and cuts down my playing time.

 

[GrooVey]

Don’t be afraid of the 8s. Light and slinky for sure. But with the grip issue they may be just right. The lightest touch is the best.

 

[Wound_Up]

Way to go, Scott!

I have a guitar on the way. It should be here tomorrow. Well, most of a guitar, anyway. It's a 2025 Epiphone SG Standard IBG body/neck from Stratosphere.

I've been looking for an SG for a long time. Every time I'd find one that was relatively inexpensive, it would turn out to have a bolt-on neck. Then I ran across this one on Reverb and it was only $30-40 more than the bolt-ons I was finding so I snatched it up knowing I had most of the parts to build it out.

I ended up having to buy a Switchcraft right angle 3 way switch, a pickguard, and CTS 525K, 5% tolerance pots for it. So another $50-60. I have a set of alnico 5 humbuckers from my first guitar from Monoprice, a Goldtop LP-style. And I've got some Gotoh tuners for it.

Finally, I've got 4 or 5 take-off bridges & tailpieces from swapping Faber hardware onto other guitars also. So I think I've got everything I need.

Anyway. Didn't mean to take over your thread. Sorry! I got excited when I saw your post lol

 

[3bolt79]

Way to go, Scott!

I have a guitar on the way. It should be here tomorrow. Well, most of a guitar, anyway. It's a 2025 Epiphone SG Standard IBG body/neck from Stratosphere.

I've been looking for an SG for a long time. Every time I'd find one that was relatively inexpensive, it would turn out to have a bolt-on neck. Then I ran across this one on Reverb and it was only $30-40 more than the bolt-ons I was finding so I snatched it up knowing I had most of the parts to build it out.

I ended up having to buy a Switchcraft right angle 3 way switch, a pickguard, and CTS 525K, 5% tolerance pots for it. So another $50-60. I have a set of alnico 5 humbuckers from my first guitar from Monoprice, a Goldtop LP-style. And I've got some Gotoh tuners for it.

Finally, I've got 4 or 5 take-off bridges & tailpieces from swapping Faber hardware onto other guitars also. So I think I've got everything I need.

Anyway. Didn't mean to take over your thread. Sorry! I got excited when I saw your post lol

I am going to be getting ultrasound guided steroid injections into my left thumb and wrist soon. So hopefully I will be able to rehab myself. The only guitar I can play right now is my Brian May as it is a 24.0 inch scale with 9’s on it and the neck is 1 1/4 inch thick at the zero fret, so it is hand filling and I don’t have to goose my grip as far. 1 and 3/4 inch wide fret board at the zero fret.

 

[Wound_Up]

I am going to be getting ultrasound guided steroid injections into my left thumb and wrist soon. So hopefully I will be able to rehab myself. The only guitar I can play right now is my Brian May as it is a 24.0 inch scale with 9’s on it and the neck is 1 1/4 inch thick at the zero fret, so it is hand filling and I don’t have to goose my grip as far. 1 and 3/4 inch wide fret board at the zero fret.

WARNING! NOVEL AHEAD! TURN BACK NOW!


That's great to hear, bro! I've only not been playing for the past few weeks due to having no time due to a new puppy. Even that sucks. I couldn't imagine not being able to play for any longer than that. Really glad to hear you're actually playing again!

My SG came in. The aftermarket pickguard I bought had different screw locations so I returned it and bought an OEM Epiphone pickguard from Stratosphere. So I won't be able to play this thing until that comes in. It's a NICE guitar. I'm actually shocked. It supposedly has a rosewood fretboard but I can't tell what it is.




It even has a little flame in a couple of places around the edge. I started assembling it earlier to see what it'll look like since I've never even seen an SG up close, in person before this. I can't wait to get this thing sorted. I fear it could be an LP-killer lol.

Here's my chocolate lab puppy, Layla, that, I picked up in Jackson, MS 3 weeks ago. She's going to be an incredible dog. She's soooo much like my last dog, Dixie, that I lost on Christmas Eve 2025. That dog was the best, smartest, most loyal, most loving, most driven dog I've ever seen.



She was something special. And Layla is just like her. So I've got really high hopes for Layla. She'll never be on the same level as Dixie because Dixie saved my life after the death of my daughter in 2014. I got Dixie in 2017 after suddenly losing my chocolate lab I had at the time.

I got Dixie 2 weeks after that dog passed away because I knew I couldnt make it without a dog. I've had a dog nonstop for my almost entire life, since I was like 5. I'm 44 now. So I don't know life without a dog by my side. And I knew I couldn't do it without one at that time.

For comparison, it took me 5 months to find Layla. Looking every day pretty much. So yea. Pretty crazy that I was able to find a puppy in 2 weeks at the only time I've ever needed another dog so quickly. Somebody was watching over me. No doubt about it.

Sorry again! I should probably make a thread of my own lol. Man I'm glad to see you, bro.

Layla playing with my 140 lb French Mastiff, Roxie. Just had a scare with Roxie too. I thought I was about to lose her but luckily it wasn't as bad as I expected. She has a bladder infection but I was expecting to hear that her kidneys were shutting down. Soon as she started feeling better, she actually started playing with Layla. Until then, Roxie only barked at her. And she barks LOOOUUDDDD.