Matt-White
A long story, but pse bear with me.
Two years ago we went to the Strab Festival at Ponta Malongane in Moz. There was this old local with a nylon string acoustic. Its top was held down by masking tape, it only had four strings and he played in a tuning of his own. But he was great.
He asked us for some strings - any type. He stuffed them in his pockets, new and used strings, for later use.
Since then Ive been feeling guilty when I change strings, thinking of him - how much he needed any old string to do his craft. There must be a lot of people out there in the same situation. Or who cannot regularly afford strings.
Hell, I can recall when I started out, I had to scrounge around for money for a new set.
Here's my Q: Can't we work out a system where we drop sets of secondhands at, say, the local guitar shop? They can keep it in a box for collection (by us) and redistribution.
But to whom?
Do you have any ideas who could benefit?
Or, and pse be frank, is this just a dumb idea?
It just seems such a waste ripping of and discarding a set of strings with a lot of life still left in them because they are "too dull" or because (in my case) you're afraid one might break at the next gig...
Tx for your time.
guitarboy2828
Well, strings get changed and thrown away because they are dull and lifeless, seems a little swak to hand dull lifeless strings to people, especially guys who can't afford real strings and so they must make do with lifeless strings.
I think if one could identify who those in need are, we could work out how to buy them strings. I mean, I'll pay R100 for a set of strings for someone who needs them. Even a 15 year old kid on the forum who is struggling for cash but needs new strings to keep learning. That's what makes us human, isn't it?
But, maybe if we put old strings in a box at the music store and people wanted to go dig in there for free strings, they could. I'm not sure distributing them is a good idea.
That's just me though..
UncleGoatLips
I think it's an awesome idea.
Next time any of us go to strab or forr we take a pack of nylon strings with us in the hope that we see that guy or even an old guitar we can donate to a local kid? In a few years the place could be swarming with musicians? that would be cool.
Paul E: Dull strings are better than no strings? besides if you save all the strings you change and give it to someone going to strab you can give someone like a year's worth of strings? what if a lot of the guitar forum people donate old strings? So we donate old strings, new strings, guitars, harmonica's whatever. Dude, i know the organizers of strab and forr, gonna ask them what they think, brilliant!!!
I'm all amped now ?
Bob-Dubery
UncleGoatLips wrote:
I think it's an awesome idea.
Next time any of us go to strab or forr we take a pack of nylon strings with us in the hope that we see that guy or even an old guitar we can donate to a local kid? In a few years the place could be swarming with musicians? that would be cool.
If anybody in Gauteng has old guitars that they would like to do some good with then take them to McGibbon's. Andy is still running his
"Give a Guitar, Ignite a Life" project by which refurbished, or even new, acoustic guitars are distributed to good causes.
IceCreamMan
X-rated Bob wrote:
UncleGoatLips wrote:
I think it's an awesome idea.
Next time any of us go to strab or forr we take a pack of nylon strings with us in the hope that we see that guy or even an old guitar we can donate to a local kid? In a few years the place could be swarming with musicians? that would be cool.
If anybody in Gauteng has old guitars that they would like to do some good with then take them to McGibbon's. Andy is still running his
"Give a Guitar, Ignite a Life" project by which refurbished, or even new, acoustic guitars are distributed to good causes.
'lectric guitars too
aubs1
IceCreamMan wrote:
'lectric guitars too
Don't think so. Then the guy would need an amp, etc etc etc. My understanding these are for kids in the townships, where in many cases, there is'nt even electricity.
Jack-Flash-Jr
How practical is it to put trimmed strings back, especially if they've come off a Gibson and are moving onto a Strat :-\
StephenG
Jack Flash Jr wrote:
How practical is it to put trimmed strings back, especially if they've come off a Gibson and are moving onto a Strat :-\
i cant even get the same strings back onto the same guitar they came off of...
when the twisted machine end bits are twisting into each other and getting tangled.. thats when i get the pliers and just snip them all off half way - to remove any temptation to try and reuse old strings ..
Svengali
There must be other uses for old strings. I worked in a music shop for a spell and we've had people come in and ask for strings on a couple of occasions for various reasons like using it to cut polistyrene. I can't even remember what else...
Bob-Dubery
OK... I've just been on the phone to McGibbon's
1) They will take electrics, acoustics... pretty much anything that's not a total wreck. Or... you can "donate" a starter pack from their stock (I know that at least two GFSAers did this last year)
2) They will take your old strings and do have uses for them (nylon and steel strings)
3) Guitars are not just given to homes and schools but also to individuals.
4) Though there was a grand launch last year at which about 30 guitars were distributed, the project is ongoing (they gave a guitar to a young player last week).
IceCreamMan
Aubs1 wrote:
IceCreamMan wrote:
'lectric guitars too
Don't think so. Then the guy would need an amp, etc etc etc. My understanding these are for kids in the townships, where in many cases, there is'nt even electricity.
i donated lectric so know they will.
Jack-Flash-Jr
Svengali wrote:
There must be other uses for old strings. I worked in a music shop for a spell and we've had people come in and ask for strings on a couple of occasions for various reasons like using it to cut polistyrene. I can't even remember what else...
...Garrote.
3?
Matt-White
Ja, well, I just think we're spoilt.
Have you ever seen someone joining two strings to make one, to be able to play on a street corner for some cash? Go ask him how fussy he is...
Any case, it seems as if AM is the way to go, if they already have a system going. Tx for the info guys, I was not aware of that.
@Uncle: On that same trip we met a young dude at the missionary school about 10ks from Malongane. He tought himself to play and accompanied the kids in their praise & w singing at the school. He didnt have a guitar though and had to borrow from the visiting European youth workers. And they were about to leave the country.
He would be the perfect choice for a good second hand acoustic.
Don't know if he's still there, though: It was two years ago. One would be able to find out from the fest organisers - they drop off clothes and stationary at the school every year.
aubs1
IceCreamMan wrote:
Aubs1 wrote:
IceCreamMan wrote:
'lectric guitars too
Don't think so. Then the guy would need an amp, etc etc etc. My understanding these are for kids in the townships, where in many cases, there is'nt even electricity.
i donated lectric so know they will.
OK ......
UncleGoatLips
Ya, i've seen them join strings together before, breaks my heart.
It's a pity Strab is this weekend. We'd have to wait until forr or find a location where people could really benefit from this, I mean, what if you spend money buying a guitar and a crap load of strings to donate it to someone and they en up taking it to cash converters? It would probably be best to find that guy in malongane or people in similar situations and give him the stuff.
VellaJ
I'd totally support this. Donating strings, old and new. As Jack Flash Jr. says, putting on trimmed strings may be an issue, but I'm sure the guys would make a plan. If anything becomes of this, advertise it far and wide! ?
Bob-Dubery
UncleGoatLips wrote:
It's a pity Strab is this weekend. We'd have to wait until forr or find a location where people could really benefit from this, I mean, what if you spend money buying a guitar and a crap load of strings to donate it to someone and they en up taking it to cash converters? It would probably be best to find that guy in malongane or people in similar situations and give him the stuff.
Well even if you identify some person yourself you can't know and can't control what they do with the boon they receive unless you're able to monitor the situation and do monitor the situation.
There are no guarantees. Andy does take reasonable steps to vet the recipients, he doesn't just hand out guitars to anybody who walks into the shop with a sob story.
Here's some posts about the guitar that I put into his project last year, along with some posts from other generous GFSAers. I can't see into the future, but based on what I was told about the recipient I was more than satisified with "my" guitar's destination.
NB! You don't have to buy anything to participate in this project. Some folks chose to, but what Andy is asking for is stuff that you already have and don't want. The guys in the workshop will ensure that the guitars are playable before they are handed over.
domhatch
Yeah, I know Andy does have this programme going on. I also saw a bucket of new DR strings in there for, I think, R40 a set. Not sure if the bucket is still there, but perhaps another route, for those of us who want to - and are able to - is to purchase more affordable sets of strings and other accoutrements - picks, pitch pipes, etc, for donation. With a new set of Elixirs costing me what it does, for each of the three guitars I string with them, I think I could probably stretch to an additional cheaper set to donate when I restring...
A collective effort soon amounts to a lot. Just ask the starfish.
dh
Bob-Dubery
OK... I was in Andy's yesterday and got talking to his son Matthew about the strings. They use some of the strings given to them for the "Give a Guitar, Ignite a Life" project, but most get channelled into something called "Strings for Africa". This project was initiated by bass player Concorde Nkbinde, and they collect strings from whichever shops support the project and redistributes them to those in need.
