Why not keep the Fender and just save until you can afford the guitar that you really want? Most of the import guitars, Alvarez, Ibanez, Takamine, and many others are a copy of successfull Martin or Gibson designs. Many of the imports are very good and are good values! Some are simply really crappy! Taylor, Breedlove, Collins, and several other U.S. companies make some very good guitars but they are also fairly expensive. I've alway liked Martin guitars and have a long standing relationship with them due to their quality and availability in my area since I was a child. I think the best advice given is to go to the stores and shops and play instruments until you find what you really like and want...then figure out how to afford it.
151 2009-01-08 16:49:50
Re: Looking for a New Guitar (35 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
152 2009-01-05 17:43:21
Re: Fingerpick alternatives (11 replies, posted in Acoustic)
I've been going to a nail salon for years...I play with a thumbpick and three fingers...I have them apply acrylic to the first three fingers and have them just long enough to be able to alternately pick with the nail, or the pad of the fingers. My natural nails are too thin and weak to stand up to steel stringed guitar playing...
153 2008-12-31 15:47:41
Re: gibson solid bodies versus hollowbodies. (8 replies, posted in Electric)
I still have the hots for a Gibson ES 137...maybe someday I'll be able to get one...
154 2008-12-24 16:18:25
Re: Amps (16 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I've always like the little Roland Micro Cube Amp...first one got damaged and I immediately bought another! Has several built effects and distortions... I've even used it at church and places...just set it up and then miked it into the sound system!
155 2008-12-15 19:54:41
Re: South of the Border Strat (14 replies, posted in Electric)
I wholeheartly agree with Bootleger...a few basic skills that are easily learned and some basic tools...lots of information available from the Pickup manufactors like Dimarzio and Seymour Duncan websites...lots of schematics available showing different combinations and variations of switching and phase wiring...there are a jillion ways to modify the existing wiring and switching of just about any guitar...the Strats are especially fun since they have three pickups to work with. One thing you can do is to obtain an extra pickguard for you guitar and equip it with switches and pickups as they become available (I'm always watching Ebay and guitar shows)...then next time you change strings then install the new pre-wired, switched, and P/U equipped pickguard and enjoy!
156 2008-12-11 17:12:18
Re: Re: Finger techniques (8 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Hi Vanheusen ... if you guitar is properly set up then it shouldn't take a whole lot of strength to hold down the strings...some people actually try too hard and seems to get worse instead of better. Strength is great and can be obtained thru exercises with spring type "grippers" or my favorite...a tennis ball. Sometimes it's difficult to stretch fingers in order to reach the chord placements and that simply takes practice. Try very slowly until you can get a clean sound consistantly and the smoothness and speed will soon follow...Practicing scales will also help "condition" your hands and fingers too!
BTW when I think of Ferret...I think of those silly little weasel creatures that my daughter had as pets! Fun little critters but they do stink!
157 2008-12-11 17:04:47
Re: The Connection from my guitar to amp is off....HELP (9 replies, posted in Electric)
Thanks Bootlegger for mentioning the transformer inside the amp! I heard that some of those things can store enough energy to cause death if messed with! That's why this forum is so great...lots of really good info from all!
158 2008-12-11 16:42:04
Re: Stratocaster and Telecaster (10 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
The Telecaster has two pickups and a distinctive "twang" sound that is popular in Country. The Strat has three pickups and also has a fairly distinct sound... that's pretty general since Fender makes probably over 100 different models and variations of the Stratocaster alone! Also the Stratocaster typically has a tremelo bridge...
Both can be awesome guitars for some players!
159 2008-12-08 20:34:55
Re: Brand Spanking New (10 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Welcome FireFitzy...we have lots of new folks and also lots of really good experienced too...we all learn from each other and are willing to help. What kind of music do you like and I bet lots will respond with some ideas for you!
160 2008-12-08 20:33:01
Re: South of the Border Strat (14 replies, posted in Electric)
I've got both and there is some difference but a lot of that is how much are you willing to spend. My Mexican Strat was at a Guitar show in almost new condition but was very cheap...I bought it and found that it just didn't sound right...I don't know why because my daughter has one that sounds absolutely great and I've seen others that also sounded great...anyway, it has become my project guitar. Currently it has a Seymour Duncan Lipstick neck pickup, a Carvin Middle, and a Seymour Duncan JBjr bridge and sounds great...I haven't had any complaints about the looks, fit, or finish and once it was properly set up it's a great playing guitar. It'll never retain the value (or collectability) of an American made Strat...but it's now a player!
161 2008-12-03 16:07:56
Re: what guitar is considered to be the best? (49 replies, posted in Electric)
I agree that "best" is a relative term... have a pretty good collection of "user" guitars...ie: good ones but not the "collectables"... One of my favorites is a Mexican Strat that I've rewired and changed the pickups in several times...a Seymour Duncan Lipstick tube pickup in the neck, Carvin AP11 single coil middle, and Seymour JBjr in bridge...a great sounding and capable guitar. Another that I really like is a Peavey Wolfgang Special with D-Tuna Floyd Rose Bridge...amazing guitar and a bargain on Ebay at times... Any of the guitars that I have are much more capable than I am...
162 2008-12-03 16:01:13
Re: New Loop Pedal - Got Tips? (1 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Check out Phil Keaggy on youtube...he does some amazing stuff with a loop pedal...
163 2008-11-19 21:09:45
Re: Mandolin (87 replies, posted in Other string instruments)
I've always played guitar until I got involved with a church group that already had two guitar players so I started a mandolin to add a different sound. Then I really got hooked! A website called
www.folkofthewood.com has lots of really good info about mandolins, mandolas, banjos, and other acoustic instruments. What to get would also depend a lot on your type of music...most bluegrass players prefer an "F" mandolin for it's style and also typically "bright" less sustaining sound for the fast playing styles. Celtic and folk players typically like the "A" styles for a mellower and more sustaining sound. For a limited budge then might look at the Fender and Alvarez models...also Kentucky Mandolins, and Michael Kelly...just to name a few... hope this helps
164 2008-11-19 21:00:21
Re: Alternate Tuning (4 replies, posted in Acoustic)
mo_jo wrote:
He said something about wrecking my guitar or perhaps it might be difficult to put it back to standard tuning....something like that.
Go for it! Might be a bit of a challenge at times to get retuned to standard tuning but not much of a problem if you have a tuner... Wrecking the guitar? Nah, not with that tuning. Experimenting with different sounds and tuning is what it's about...go forth and make some music (or noise)...
165 2008-11-19 20:53:10
Re: This is gonna sound like a stupid question.. But please help!! (9 replies, posted in Electric)
Hmmm...maybe a bit more info would help. What kind of guitar do you have? If it's a Fender type whammy bar then pushing it down will give you an effect. If nothing is happening then it's possible that the bridge could be blocked or improperly set... Lots of folks here will try to help but please give us some info...
166 2008-11-19 20:50:03
Re: zoom 505 guitar effects pedal (1 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I've used the Zoom 505 and 505II and had pretty good results. They are a bit intimidating for those of use who are challenged by lack of understanding such things. I remember finding a users forum that listed a lot of information including patch combinations for the Zoom units! You mentioned playing "unplugged" so I'm assuming you've been primarily concerned with an acoustic guitar and wanting some electric effects? For my acoustic/electric I typically like a little reverb (usually from the amp), some chorus and delay to expand (fatten up) my sound...especially for fingerstyle playing... That's pretty easy to obtain on the Zoom units...
167 2008-11-19 20:45:18
Re: Martin 000c-16RGTE (4 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I have a Martin GTE acoustic/electric and absolutely love it...it has a great sound and is very easy to play...great action and set up. The one disadvantage...due to it's design...is that it doesn't have a lot of acoustic volume when compared to the Dreadnaught size/design guitars. Takamine makes some really nice guitar and I think most are made in Korea...I'm not real sure. Bottom line is to play several instruments and choose the one that works best for you! Congrats on returning to playing!
168 2008-11-17 20:32:25
Re: soloing technique? (4 replies, posted in Electric)
When I get in a rut I try listening to other music...you mentioned Blues/Rock...try listening to something different. New Country has lots of really phenomenal guitar players doing all sorts of fills, riffs, leads and such... try someone like Brent Mason, Redd Volkeart, Sam Bush and others! Also listen to different instruments...Bush primarily plays Mandolin but covers Bluegrass, Rock, Country, metal and anything else he wants to play... Listen to how some of these crazy guys approach Zepplin with banjos! Or Hendrix with a Mandolin! Or you can go back to the beginning...Robert Johnson for Blues...Chuck Berry...and others! Hope this helps out...
169 2008-11-13 19:46:59
Re: parlor guitar.. (16 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
DrewDruncan wrote:
How about a baby Taylor:
http://www.taylorguitars.com/Guitars/Baby-Taylor/BT1/
I would agree that a Baby Taylor might be a great choice...I have one that I gave my grandson and it is an excellent guitar and sounds great... Martin makes a similar model and I bet others have them too!
I also can't help but wonder if maybe you are trying too hard? Sometimes people will stress and the harder they try, the more frustrated they become...maybe gripping the fretboard too tightly causing your hands and fingers to stiffen and cramp...also wearing your fingertip callouses too much?
Nylon string guitars are often easy to fret for some, but then again the strings are typically set a bit wider ... having small hands that might not help much...
Sometimes tuning the guitar down a 1/2 step can make it easier to fret and play...especially using bar chords...
Please don't get frustrated and give up...I'm sure that it'll work out eventually....hmmmm, I have big hands and it drives me nuts playing mandolin....
170 2008-11-10 19:54:35
Re: String Gauge (3 replies, posted in Electric)
Sort of a general rule is to use lighter strings like 9-42 on Strat and Telecaster type guitars and 10-46 on the Gibson Les Paul and similar guitars. I've been trying to standardize to 10-46 for all my electrics and haven't had any problems...lots of the blues player (many with a Strat) like to use the heavier gauge strings...especially if they use a slide... Don't forget that if you change to something that your guitar isn't set up for then might have to make some adjustments...
171 2008-11-03 20:19:11
Re: Best electric guitar & amp - beginner on a budget (15 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Lots of good info on this topic...especially from Topdown, NELA, and Cytania...I really agree with DrewDruncan on trying out different instruments. For my 2 cent opinion...you didn't mention your preference in music but I think most would agree that the Gibson Les Paul and the Fender Strat has set the standards for all and everything else is a copy...many of the other companies have come out with their versions and many are considered to be improvements...that said... for a lower price range the mid range Epiphone Les Pauls and the mid range Fender Mexican made Stratocasters are usually good buys...they are well made and versatile guitars. The Yamaha Pacifica (previously mentioned) is an import Strat type guitar and is an excellent value...ditto for many of the Ibanez, ESP, and others... I would stay away from the Indonesia made Fenders and bottom line Epiphones...that means stay away from most of the pre packaged kits that are being sold as ready to go.
For an amp? A pocket pod is great! Or a small portable amp like the Roland Micro Cube works well...with it you can use headphones, play mp3 or CD tracks thru it, and it sounds great...about $125.00 here...
All this is simply opinion and I hope this works well for you...
172 2008-11-03 19:55:21
Re: what's the best strings to use? (10 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I've been using D'Addario EXP11 (12-53) on my Martin acoustic/electric...these are a coated string and have been long lasting and best of all sound great! I use a lot of alternate tunings and constantly changing tuning...I've had no string breakage with these! You can visit their website for more info... Hope this helps...
173 2008-10-28 15:30:22
Re: Which Amp? (6 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I'm a fan of the Roland Micro-Cube...cost about $130.00 US...is small, lightweight, can operate on batteries and has plenty of volume for recording or house/apartment use. Has several effects...delay, reverb, tremolo, phaser, and chorus...plus several distortion channels and a clean channel. You can also play MP3/CDs at the same time for practice. Best of all...it's sounds great! I have several amps ... some are 100 watt, but this if my favorite for most things...in church I'll set it up for the sound that I want and the the Sound Guy will mic it into the sound system for more volume...
174 2008-10-20 18:51:08
Re: Beautiful Acoustic Guitar Chords (18 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Lots of great suggestions here... Playing with a capo opens up a lot of sound possibilities...example: a C F and G played without a capo can be played as an A D E with capo on 5th fret... that also works great if you are playing with other guitar players...gives more sound to the overall mix... Open and Dropped tunings can work well also but can really be a challenge to play at times... I was playing with a praise group and since we already had a 6 sting and 12 string guitar players, I decided to bring a mandolin...that opened up and really great sound...
I guess to better answer your question...learn to play each of your basic chords several different ways...also in the minor, 7th, 9th, etc... some times changing the way you play a chord during a song can help elaborate on the sounds and texture of the song... Hope this helps...
175 2008-10-17 13:59:40
Re: question for vintage Gurus/Snobs (16 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
flester wrote:
Guitarpix wrote:Hand wound pick-ups versus mass produced pick-ups accounts for the majority of tonal diffrence.
How could it possibly make a difference whether a coil of wire is wound by hand or not? I accept that the materials (e.g. the wire or the magnets) might make a difference. But the wire is just an electrical conductor, it does not 'know' how it has been wound into a coil.
I asked pretty much the same question to a Gibson rep. He told me that a person would manually wind the coils with a crank type wire winder and would sometimes get distracted or somehow lose count...that would create a unique wound coil with a different sound. Modern automated machines wind with exact accuracy... I'm convinced that once someone knows the "formula" for a particular sounding pickup then it's simply a matter of programming in everything...I was also told that magnets will dimemish over time also affecting the sound...plus many other factors such as wood types, set up, strings, etc, etc....