My mom just turned 49. For her birthday I got her her very first violin and she's just now starting to learn it. If you want to master it you just have to be aware of how much time you'll need to put into it. There's a lot of reading, a lot of dedication, and a lot of practice required for a goal like that and what you put in will show. That being said, grab a guitar and get started. It always bugs me when people talk like it's too late. Like they've died and are now incapable of learning to play an instrument. So long as you're still a living being you're ok to play. Just last night a friend of mine was telling me how he wished he could play drums. The thing is I've listened to him say that since our junior year in high school, and now he's 22 and still saying it. When I presented him the idea of getting a starter kit he just formulated excuses like "too expensive" or "I don't want a starter kit, I want a real kit." It all comes down to how bad do you want it.