My toy train buddy is leaving the hobby: here's the skinny

[FJ and G]

I was sad to learn last week that my close friend is leaving the toy train hobby.

Naturally, I asked him why, and he told me that he's back into bass guitars (he's 35 and used to be in a rock band (his favorite band is Iron Maiden)).

He is using the toy train money that he hopes to make to buy an amp to add to his mixer.

I was rather surprised at the similarities hobby of toy trains and bass guitars when we started talking. There's a guitar forum that he goes to that is similar to CTT and OGR in that all levels of experience are involved with lots of questions and lots of good advice and even some of the pet peeves we see on this and OGR forum such as an occasional rude remark or posting that is controversial. It's almost like a parallel universe of forums.

He used to chide me for being on the toy train forums all the time and now he's hooked on his guitar forum and says he fully understands the lure of forums now that he's on.

The other similarity between guitars and toy trains is the conventional vs. command control crowd. There are guitarists who like to keep things simple, the way they always were and then there are the techies, who like to have the latest dealies, hooking up their guitars to very expensive mixers, amps, and even to computers. They even share music files and are able to mix their tunes with other people's tunes via email and wave or mpg or other types of file sharing systems.

It's so incredible how the Internet has connected people across the planet, as our own forum attests: Daan from Holland and folks from the far reaches of the planet like Alabama and Rolesville N.C.

Anyway, I've seen his equipment run and he's selling it all for $400 plus shipping; in original boxes and only run a few times to see if it works. Lionel Standard O track, a couple turnouts, 1 or 2 scale freight cars and an MTH Premier GP38-2 blue and yellow Santa Fe, and a nice transformer with controls. You can email me and I'll email him if anyone is interested. I'd buy it except I'm trying to refrain from any new purchases.

But don't worry about me exiting for guitars. I'm refraining from purchases simply b/c I feel I have enough to last a lifetime.

[Jumijo]

My main hobby for well over a decade was static scale models - cars mostly. Then, I bought my kids a couple Lionel sets last Christmas. The rest is hist-oh-ree! I never intended to become interested let alone hooked on these toy trains. Now I no longer have any interest in building scale models. None whatsoever. I think a very big part of why I became hooked on the trains is this forum. I often wonder what I like more, visiting here or running trains! I've learned an aweful lot here, and have come to enjoy greatly the people who frequent this forum. Everyone is helpful, many are downright funny. I love the banter and jibes that get shot back and forth across the Mason Dixon line. All in good fun.

My kids have also turned into little train freaks. They can't get enough of them. I'm glad I literally stumbled on to this hobby. It's given me something to share with my children and introduced me to a lot of genuinely nice people.

Jim

[Benjamin Maggi]

My two hobbies are trains and guitars, specifically Rickenbacker ones. Both are fun, both are relaxing, both eat up my money! :)

[selector]

Telescopes and trains (HO...okay, okay...). Like cars and pianos, it'll cost ya.

[wrmcclellan]

Trains, a '58 (I think) Gibson white SG-TV, Ventura 12-string acoustic, and an Alvarez 6 string acoustic, but I play very little any more. Gave the larger amps and speakers to the SMU music dept 10 years ago.

[92hatchattack]

***, all my hobies are expensive as hell ...

Cars,music, and toy trains, among a few other minor hobbies... and ive spent thousands of dollars on music, and cars.... and when i wanted to get into the toy trains i just saved my pennies.....

i dont think youd ever see me sell one item to work on buying another item though ... ***, dont let him sell his trains ... get a second job for 2 weeks ... lol ...

***, i wanted to build a honda for drag and road race, but i didnt go selling my guitars and drums ... i just put my mind into it and dedicated myself to do overtime .... and low an behold, 5 months later ive maneged to save nearly 7K towards my project .... and this is on mild wages, and with a family ... im a guy that belives u really can have all the toys youi want if your willing to work hard enough for them

[trigtrax]

Wow! They must be putting something in the water. I recently dragged my Drums out of the closet and began playing again.. My last gig was way back in 1967.. It's Rolling Stone Syndrome.. You collect Social Security and keep on rockin'.

The only difference is there's no way I'd ever sell my trains [{(-_-)}]

[Anonymous]

Hobbies are a very personal thing, and peoples' interests do change from time to time. If your friend has decided to leave trains (maybe just for a while) and move on to other things. . . well, there's little you can or should do to change his mind. It is, after all, his hobby!

[Jumijo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by scoobster28

My two hobbies are trains and guitars, specifically Rickenbacker ones. Both are fun, both are relaxing, both eat up my money! :)

Orville Rickenbacker??! He made guitars too??[:D]

Just kidding. I used to play the acoustic gee-tar a long time ago. My grammar school offered lessons for free. Every child at my daughters grammar school is required to learn a foriegn language and to play an instrument.

I also restored an old car once. ONCE. That was enough for me. Talk about expensive!

Jim

[Jim Duda]

Good Grief! Rock on...guys! Still have the '63 Gibson ES 335 TDC (Bigsby whammy bar) and a '59 Fender Bassman amp in the closet. Fingers don't work as good as they used to though...(sigh) How many of you started out on a black Sears Silvertone guitar? Wish I still had her...

My brother Doug still has his '62 Fender J bass and the original hardshell case...still gigs with it!

(click to enlarge)

[Jumijo]

My first guitar was a Winston. Couldn't get it to smoke though.

Which one is you in 1964, Jim?

[Dr. John]

Whoa! This is strange - trains, then classic cars, now guitars!

I used to own a Takamine 12 string accoustic (c. 1978) and a Martin 6 string of uncertain vintage (purchased used in college). Unfortunately, both were stolen out of my church office about 18 years ago. I still own a Yamaha classical guitar though I seldom play anymore.

And, yes Jim, I once was the proud owner of a Sears Silvertone - I built up my finger callouses on that one!

No more guitars for me (or Corvettes, for that matter) just trains!

[1688torpedo]

Looks like Jim Duda used to be a Fifth member of the Beatles[;)][:P][:)] BTW to Jim (Jaabat) Maybe Orville Redenbacker Played Guitar and popped Popcorn at the same time![;)][:)] That would be a interesting Hobby. Dave- Someday your friend will most likely regret giving up his Train Hobby. Hope he changes his mind.

[jonadel]

Dr. John

I have a Takamine 12 string, Christmas present from my wife, circa '75. What makes it so special was that we had very little money and she had saved up for months, I still play every now and then but I do need to restring it. I taught adult ed. guitar for two years and had a ball but it just took me away from home another night a week and that just wore me out.

Guitar playing is so relaxing, well, not if you're into head banging music!

Jon

[92hatchattack]

*** .. you guys are old ... most of your axes are older than me!!! hahahaha ..... some of you guys have some nice classic guitars though!!!

[marxalot]

Jim Duda,

Let me know if you'd ever want to part with that Bassman! My Fender Blues Jr.
will go sit in the closet when I'm blowing harp with THAT amp!. 8-)

Jim

[Benjamin Maggi]

One thing is for sure. If you owned a Rickenbacker, you WOULDN'T let popcorn get near it! Too greasy for such a lovely guitar!

[Anonymous]

i came over from my regular forum to see what was going on. Finally my two loves combined into one topic. There's three similaritiees between guitars and trains. 1. they both cost lots of money 2. Once you start you want more and 3. the most important they are a way of self expression. What you choose to model and what guitar you play and style you play really shows a lot about yourself.

I'm just lucky that my dad loved the same things that I have come to love. He gave me my first trainset and I still play his 1964 gibson sg jr almost everyday. Maybe one day I'll be able to live out his dream of being a rock star but folk music and todays teens don't go well together. I'll still always have the memories and the chance to hopefully one day hand down his guitar and my models to one of my children
Andrew
p.s. I have to many guitars to mention but a pic of all but one can be found at http://www.angelfire.com/emo/mission19/guitar.JPG

[philo426]

I too play the guitar and frequent the Jam session Guitar Forum.(WWW.Guitar.Zentao.com/forum).Excellent website and forum structure similar to this one.I have a Martin Guitar Copy that I bought in July'83 and it sounds better now then when I bought it.I lowered the action and replaced the cheap original tuners with Grovers(which many Martins come with from the factory)which improved the heft and sustain.I keep the guitar in the living room on its stand and grab it whenever I am watching TV.Really improved my technique due to the consant practice.

[Anonymous]

I cant carry a tune in a coal bucket.

I am like Gen Grant who said he knew two tunes, one was Yankee doodle and one wasn't.

I mighjt sell out for a walk thru open bow tri hall fishing boat, but I am waiting on a winning lotto ticket for that.

Untill then my home made bass boat will have to do. Problem is though, aint no place for the beer.


My boat ( pic wont work here for some reason, ruins the whole post [:(!]http://www.2coolfishing.com/gallery/Aunt_Joyce's_Gallery/RedneckBassBoat.jpg

[riverrailfan]

I've been playing guitar for over 25 years now. It's like anything. When I was 8 my intrest was trains. When I became a teenager back in the mid 70's, everyone wanted to play guitar. I always liked the technical asspect of the guitar, adjusting the guitar to play better and modifing the electrics to chang the sound. Now I do refinishing and piecing guitars together from parts. My son is what got me back into trains but I still play the guitar. To me there one in the same, in the end there is a enjoyment when played.

I also raced 1/24 scale slotcars during the 90's

[Anonymous]

Dave how are you,hope things are good. Ps I play a mean Air guitar[:D],Hows the layout looking .Working like a mad man down here in Florida .I like it down here weather is good and no snow .hope to be back soon ,im getting the itch to build any ideas .Will chat again soon SCRATCH