I had a 50's reissue model Fender Strat that was made in Mexico and it was second to none! I currently have (should have kept the other) a made in Mexico standard Strat and it's my hot rod...I'm always experimenting with different pickups and such...it's been a great guitar...good body and and neck... What I'm saying is that Mexican workers (or any others for that matter) can be exceptionally skilled workers and given good designs and materials can produce some really good products. It goes back to what DrewDuncan is saying...go out and play the instruments and find one that you really like! BTW, I do have a collection of working guitars that includes American Strats, Tellys, and some Gibsons...
176 2008-10-14 19:07:32
Re: Fender highway one series (6 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
177 2008-10-02 15:55:48
Re: Frills (6 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Since I'm musically illiterate...I can sorta read some tab but that's extremely limited...I have to listen the to recording several times to get everything "locked" in.
178 2008-10-02 15:46:07
Re: 73 gibson electronics (4 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
You can email Gibson Customer service and get some information about the guitar...be sure to include the serial number...a photo would help also...especially if someone has modified it over the years. Also check it's value before refinishing...
179 2008-10-02 15:43:07
Re: question for vintage Gurus/Snobs (16 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I think a lot of this Vintage craze is simply nonsense. For someone who wants to actually play a guitar then I think we have many more choices of better products than ever before. I've seen many Fenders and Gibsons at the Guitar shows for over ten thousand dollars! For a collector and especially if the guitar has a unique history such as owned by a famous person then maybe...but as a player I would rather buy a new one and enjoy.
180 2008-09-23 14:58:20
Re: hollow bodies versus hollow bodies & semi hollow bodies (7 replies, posted in Electric)
I agree dguyton! Ted Nugent can get some pretty knarly sounds out of those old Byrdland hollowbodies, but he also uses a modern Les Paul as well. Rev Horton Heat and Brian Setzer just absolutely cook on those hotrodded 6120 Gretschs and Chet Atkins and others just mellowed out on them...a Gretsch is it's own class (very high class) of hollowbody guitars!
181 2008-09-23 14:53:15
Re: phone with tuner and metronome? (5 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Wow! I guess I better crank up and head for the 21st Century...some really cool stuff going on these days!
182 2008-09-05 16:09:14
Re: Can anyone give me some tips on alternate picking? (3 replies, posted in Electric)
I agree with dguyton! I know it's often hard and can be extremely boring, but the results are worth it! A few years ago I was given this same advice and started forcing myself to practice...it's amazing how fast the improvement came.
183 2008-09-05 16:03:29
Re: Ibanez GAX 70 (2 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Why do you want to change pickups? Are you unhappy with the way they sound? What are you looking for in new pickups? More power? Distortion? What type of music?
Seymour Duncan and Dimarzio both have excellent websites that provide detailed descriptions and even sound samples of their pickups...hopefully that can give you some ideas...
184 2008-09-04 20:00:57
Topic: Electric Mandolins (0 replies, posted in Other string instruments)
Does anyone have experience with Electric Mandolins?
185 2008-09-04 19:57:54
Re: Rock riffs (7 replies, posted in Electric)
Hey! From one Old Dude to Another! I love to do that...occasionally some of my kids friends would come over and see my guitars and would play and stuff... then I might pick one up and crank up an amp, get lots of distortion, and play something really really fast! Didn't seem to matter what it was as long as it is super fast... then I'd leave it alone before they figured that I really can't play well....
Southpaw, as usual, came thru with some great stuff!
186 2008-09-04 19:49:17
Re: HELP (5 replies, posted in Electric)
Good information from all... I would suggest removing all of the strings and then as mentioned, check to see that the neck is bolted securely (don't overdo it) ... remove the plastic cover from the back and see how many springs are in the bridge...usually three and check their condition. Check the bridge screws to make sure they are not loose or holes wallowed out...put strings on and tune to pitch... and as mentioned, the bridge should sit flat against the body when tuned. If not then you can tighten the screws or maybe add another spring or replace those that have stretched or become weak. Also mentioned is the option of blocking the bridge...this is especially good if you do a lot of alternate tunings and don't intend to use the tremelo... hopefully this will help... nothing more aggravating that to try to play a guitar that keeps shifting tuning....
187 2008-09-04 19:36:52
Re: Semi-Hollow Gibson Custom ES-137 Custom (1 replies, posted in Electric)
I've been lusting for one of those ES-137s for a couple of years now.... Hopefully someday I'll be able to get one...congrats on the new guitar!
188 2008-08-29 20:05:38
Re: Effects Box Questions (5 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Here's a source for backing tracks... http://www.fivefeathers.com/ Band in a Pocket...
189 2008-08-28 14:33:01
Re: Effects Box Questions (5 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Wow...that can open up a lot of possibilities and ideas! What has worked for me is to simply buy some backing track CD's...then either play them on a CD Player or load them on an MP-3 to piggy back into an amplifier or sound system. Course the problem might be finding the backing tracks for your particular music. Another interesting item is a Loop pedal or machine...you can play a segment and then loop it back and keep adding more and more and soon you've got a one man group...Check out Youtube for Phil Keaggy...he is a master at this!
I was able to buy most of my backing tracks at a local Guitar Center...I'll check and see if I can find some other sources to share... I hope this helps give you some ideas...
190 2008-08-27 14:47:19
Re: Dressing up a Martin D18! (4 replies, posted in Acoustic)
I think the tortoise pickguard would be a nice touch along with some fancier end pins for the strings...mine are black with an abalone dot. I also like your idea of Gold tuners... I don't know how you would gloss the headstock...I wonder if some sort of clear coat would work? Something that would add the gloss without covering up the Martin logo and such...
191 2008-08-27 14:41:40
Re: Capo & Tuning?!?! (4 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Good answers from all...
No, you shouldn't have to retune...make sure the guitar is properly tuned before putting on the capo...then make sure the capo is properly in place and then if the guitar is out of tune then the set-up and/or intonation of might need to be checked. See if you can have someone more experienced help you or take it by a music store and check it out... A capo is a great tool and sometimes a little bit confusing at first...
192 2008-08-21 15:02:12
Re: Acoustic v. AcousticElectric (9 replies, posted in Acoustic)
JimBusch wrote:
I have a Martin HD-28, and it sounds fantastic unplugged. I use a soundhole pickup on occasion when I play away from home and need amplification, but it generally sounds better without amplification. I believe that acoustic electrics sound better plugged in than they do unplugged, and I think that because of their thinner body they do not have the volume nor tonal properties that a dreadnought guitar has. So, you do compromise a bit with an acoustic electric. You can play it unplugged, but an acoustic electric sounds better plugged in, generally, than unplugged. But these are just generalizations and some acoustic electrics are obviously better than others.
I agree with JimBusch...I have a Martin 16GTE which sounds great but has very little volume in comparison to the full bodied Acoustic guitars. Many of the acoustic/electrics are thinner bodied and cutaway which makes them (for me) easier to play standing and usually sound really great when plugged in.
193 2008-08-21 14:54:27
Re: tuners & pitch pipes (11 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
beatlefan54 wrote:
Are those tuners that clip onto the headstock really accurate ? They must register according the Vibrations they pick up, or are they sound activated ? i'm a little leery about them. I use a KORG w/ built in mic or you can plug the guitar into it. It seems to be accurate with my keyboard, and I've had it for about 10 yrs. Only changed battery once !
I use a Seiko tuner for my mandolins...it clips onto the headstock and senses the vibrations... it works really well in a noisy environment...it also has a microphone mode. I've checked it with my other tuners and it works very accurately... often when tuning in the vibrate mode I'll be sure to pick the note and keep my hand off of the headstock and neck to let it vibrate freely...
194 2008-08-18 15:29:19
Re: pedals: digitech death metal or boss MT-2 metal zone?plz hlp (4 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
cytania wrote:
It's tricky with comparisons Gecko, it needs a real gearhead to have both pedals since they do the same job. Your best bet is to find a shop that stocks both and try them in store.
I agree... I've always liked the Boss Pedals due to excellent quality and durable construction. I'm not personally familar with the Digitech Death Metal, but it does look cooler and has two outputs...one for your amp and one for a mixing board if that's needed. I noticed that the Digitech also costs less. Sorta goes back to what Cytania suggested...try both out if you get a chance and then decide. I would also venture to bet that both have very similar circuitry and sound...hope this helps...
195 2008-08-15 18:32:54
Re: Pickup covers (9 replies, posted in Electric)
I don't know if it actually affects the sound or not...I've heard that removing the pick up covers helps prevent micro-phonic squeal, but don't have any idea how or why. I remember some artists (Jimmy Page) removing the covers of humbuckers on Gibson guitars...I think most do it for cosmetic reasons. My understanding is that the covers are primarily to provide protection for the delicate copper wire windings that are exposed.
I hope this helps...
196 2008-08-14 15:56:30
Re: Do You Read Music? (19 replies, posted in Acoustic)
I've been playing for little over 45 years and am musically illiterate...but I learned to play by ear at a very early age.
197 2008-08-08 14:13:04
Re: Burstbuckers (5 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I was wondering how well that worked out for you...I've got a cheap Epiphone Les Paul Special...but it's pretty solid and seems pretty well built. Thinking about putting some Seymour Duncan or Gibson Pickups in it...wondering if it's worth the expense...
198 2008-08-08 14:09:37
Re: Machine Heads (4 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
You didn't mention what these tuners are on right now...but sometimes an Ebay search can turn up something compatable...or you might take one off and go to a shop or two if available and see what they have. Taking one with you can help match up the hole patterns.
Three years olds are so much fun...we ended up hanging our instruments on the wall instead of leaving on a stand...either that or in a case. Nothing like finding a toddler sitting on a nice guitar laying flat on the floor...
199 2008-08-08 14:02:07
Re: Which one? (2 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Probably couldn't go wrong with either one. The Gibson has the hot humbuckers and should hold it's value and might even be collectable some day... The Epiphone should also be a great guitar but so many people will play one for a while and decide to "upgrade" to a Gibson or start changing out pickups, tuners, and stuff. I guess it becomes a matter of personal choice and what you can afford now...
200 2008-08-07 15:27:26
Re: saddle setup for slide electric (3 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
You can do that but but I don't really think it's necessary or much advantage. For exclusive slide work in those open tunings I would think about a slightly higher nut, but not too high, and slotted for a heavier gauge string...most Telecasters are set up with 9-42 but might get a better sound (for slide) with a 10-49 gauge set. I have a Fender Strat set up like that and not only sounds great for slide, but also allows for chording and fingerstyle picking as well. I use a lot of the Open G for that...Hope that helps some... By the way...sometimes a really cheap and funky guitar can really sound awesome for slide work...