WOW Paul !! Your like Yoda or the Dali Lama or something.. ) Could not have said it better myself   Nice Pics..

When you cradle the thing on your lap, gently touch the fretboard, gingerly drape your arm over it, shut out all humanity,And create a world that that only you can enter,Good, bad, or indifferent, In your world, you are the creator, it bends to your wishes,and it satisfies the soul .

There are "guitar players" and those that "play guitar".  Those that play guitar are poeple like me; trying to learn the basics to get good enough so others can at least recognize what is coming out of the instrument.  Guitar players are those that have reached a level of expertise to be considered a "musician".

I love "playing guitar" and can't wait until I can consider myself a "guitar player".  I'll reach that point when I can sit down with some other players for an evening of playing MUSIC.

Just as there is a difference between "golfers" and those thta "play golf".

well i look at it like this. when i first started with the guitar, i didn't know a flippin' thing. so i wasn't gonna go around and say to my friends, "i'm a guitar player" because if they ask me what i know how to play, i'd have to say mary had a little lamb....that's it. so i'd say you don't say you're a guitar player till you can actually play the thing...not just that you have one.

...YMMV, but here's my answer: You're either playing with the guitar, or playing the guitar.

...skill and practice will determine and illustrate WHICH one applies to you.

My view of it is if you can play two or more FULL songs without looking down. My brother's view is way different he thinks you play an instrument if you own one