Can't play a sad song on a Banjo...
201 2008-07-30 20:22:17
Re: So I'm picking up the banjo... (10 replies, posted in Other string instruments)
202 2008-07-30 20:21:08
Re: Chord - D/F# (8 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Yes...use your first finger for the F# and other three fingers to form the rest of the chord...a little awkward at first but it'll come pretty fast...
203 2008-07-30 20:19:09
Re: Guitar picking! (7 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Practice...practice...practice...! Start on top string and pick it once...then the next string, and next all the way to the bottom...then back up. When you can do that smoothly then pick each one twice...when fluid with that then pick each string once down and once up...create various patterns and it'll soon come to you. No picks? Make your own! Find some thing like an old credit card and cut some shapes out of it...plastic milk cartoon...or a piece of thin metal...just try different things and shapes...You might be surprised at what you come up with. Brian May of Queen used a coin!
204 2008-07-30 20:11:20
Re: Les Paul: Gibson VS. Epiphone (8 replies, posted in Electric)
Some of the lower end Epiphones are simply cheap useable and affordable guitars. The Higher end Epiphone Les Pauls are excellent guitars and easy to upgrade with different pickups if you wanted a different sound. I have USA Gibson Les Paul Classic and absolutely love it! I also have an Epiphone Special 2 and it's okay but it's a cheap guitar...
On the various Gibson models you are often paying for a diffence in cosmetic stuff like binding, plating, and trim. A Les Paul studio is nothing fancy, but a very useable and great sounding instrument that's still affordable for most...The Les Paul Standard is the industry standard...
I agree with SouthPaw...you can't really go wrong with the Gibson Les Paul...and Tim0473 really hit it when he says to go to the store and play them...then find the one that works best for you!
205 2008-07-30 20:00:07
Re: WEIRD GUITAR SHAPES (3 replies, posted in Electric)
Anyone remember some of the Ovation Electrics from the 80's? The Preacher, The Deacon, and a few others...one or two were designed to be comfortable playing while sitting in a chair...used to see them on ebay, haven't seen any of them in a while....
206 2008-07-30 19:55:52
Re: AMPS + AMPS + AMPS = 3 (6 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Are solid state amps the same as tube amps ?
No, they are different designs. Many guitarists swear by the tube amps and in most cases I would have to agree with them...but I also believe that tube amps don't really begin to sound best until driven at high volumes. That can be a problem if you have a 100 watt tube amp in your small house or apartment. There are some outstanding low watt tube amps that sound great at household volumes! I have a couple of Peavey Tran Tube amps that have been very reliable and durable and sound great at all volume levels. I also have a Peavey Classic 30 tube amp that sounds muddy at low volume but just absolutely blows you away at higher volumes...really sounds great. Tubatooter mentioned the Fender Twin Reverb...many would argue one of the best sounding amps ever! But not well suited for a living room jam...
207 2008-07-30 19:49:57
Re: what do you think about this? (10 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Lots of really good info on this forum... The Chinese are building some very good products and also some that are not so good...it's sort of a buyer beware market. Especially on ebay where someone will alter or counterfeit items. I've seen headstock logos sold at some guitar shows...it would be easy for an unscrupulous person to relabel a Squire or Epiphone as a USA high end model and sell it over ebay. It's also easy for someone to design their own counterfiet headstock labels and relabel guitars. That's why I always suggest to know your product and try to play if you can...example if you are familar with a USA Gibson Les Paul made from mahogany and you pick up one that just feels way too light, then it might be a problem...knowing some of the pickguard and truss rod cover screw patterns can help too. Example: Epiphone uses three screws on truss rod cover and Gibson uses two...but the two guitars can look pretty much identical...
208 2008-07-30 16:57:46
Re: Building... (4 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I agree with the advice to make sure you get quality parts. It's not hard to acumulate just as much expense building your own as a good guitar would cost new. Or once you figure out what you want to build...then watch EBAY and scrounge parts as they become available. Or you can buy and used guitar and upgrade and hot rod it.
As mentioned by Doug, Warmouth is an excellent resource for parts and designs...also Allparts in Texas has everything needed to built a complete guitar from scratch...
209 2008-07-30 16:52:51
Re: PICKUP UPGRADE (6 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I think a lot of that depends on what kind of music you want to play...The Burstbucker Pro's should be a great replacement. They can give you a wide range of tones from clean to pretty aggressive! Seymour Duncan website has lots of info on different pickups and sounds...
210 2008-07-24 16:32:45
Re: Where to start plugging in? (4 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I would think that a small portable PA system like Carvin or Peavey would work well for you...with a four or six channel head you could plug in your vocal mic and have separate channels for guitar and other instruments. I have a 200 watt 6 Channel Carvin that I've used for over 10 years now without any problems. Once you learn the settings and get someone to help you with sound, you'll be able to preset most of your settings to accomodate your location...ie: outdoors, indoors, etc... I plug my acoustic/electric directly into the head and if playing electric then I mike a small amp and run thru the system...
211 2008-07-23 15:28:45
Re: String thickness question... (16 replies, posted in Electric)
The string guage can effect lots of things that are already mentioned. I've numerous guitars and my rule of thumb is to use the string gauges that the instrument was originally set up for...ie: Strat type guitars typically use a 9-42 set and Gibsons typically use 10-46 sets. For doing lots of string bending and bar chords I find that tuning the instrument down a 1/2 step makes it much easier at times. Also it's really important to have the guitar properly set-up to get the best out of it...SRV and Hendrix often tuned lower and often used heavier string gauges but surely had the set up adjusted for the different....ie: nut slots, bridge, etc... Just my two cents worth...I hope this helps...
212 2008-07-21 20:03:46
Re: What makes a guitar great the player or the guitar? (10 replies, posted in Electric)
And then we see the Great Jimmy Page with a Dan Electro...course he had about a truck load of Les Pauls too! I think it was Yngwie who would play a Squire Strat and bash them since they are cheap...but has a Signature Fender Strat that he plays most of the time...
Yes, most earned the right thru hard work, dedication and lots of luck and opportunities...
213 2008-07-21 19:59:46
Re: what do you think about this? (10 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
The Chinese, Mexicans, and others are often just as skilled as any other workers...if given quality products to build with then they can build some amazing guitars...or cars, etc.. I prefer to buy American products, but if the item is legitimately imported and priced right then no reason that I can see not to buy and enjoy it...
I know a few who will buy the look alike guitars and then do custom painting and stuff to create unusual customs...but they don't try to pass them off as a Gibson, Fender, etc..
To directly answer your question then ... sure they are worth considering...a $200.00 Quality Chinese made instrument or a $2000.00 Quality American made? Yes, I've got some guitar snob in me but I think that I can admit in a blind test in a dark room with qualify amp I probably couldn't tell the difference in many cases...
214 2008-07-21 17:01:29
Re: New guitar question. (12 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Might check your tuner to make sure it's set for 440. Some tuners have different tuning ranges and some can adjust. See your instruction manual for the tuner and might need to reset it...
215 2008-07-21 16:55:57
Re: CHINESE GIBSONS (5 replies, posted in Electric)
I think that the major companies, especially Gibson, have gone after the counterfeit marketers and dealers. I have no problem with a 200 dollar Chinese built guitar, but don't try to pass it off as an American made Gibson, PRS, Fender or other models at a much higher price...
216 2008-07-21 16:52:30
Re: What makes a guitar great the player or the guitar? (10 replies, posted in Electric)
Yep...I agree! It's the player... notice that sometimes a player will have a guitar onstage sitting on a stand? Often that's an endorsement model and part of the agreement is to be seen with the instrument. I met a mandolin player once who didn't play his endorsement model much (although an outstanding model) but was required to be seen with it...His main instrument was the same brand, but a much older model that he'd played for years...
217 2008-07-21 16:48:17
Re: STRAT TELE LES PAUL (20 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Not to mention that (arguably) the most sought after session guitarist in America is Brent Mason...who plays Telecasters...both vintage and custom...
218 2008-07-21 16:44:50
Re: what do you think about this? (10 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Some of the Chinese products I've seen and played at guitars shows are really nice instruments...sound good, well built, and nice fit and finish. Many of the imports from Epiphone, Fender, and others are made in China. I do have a real problem with guitars labeled as a Gibson USA or PRS USA being built in China and marketed over EBAY or sold as the genuine article. Lots of these counterfiet instruments being sold these days...
219 2008-07-17 14:40:03
Re: STRAT TELE LES PAUL (20 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Hey Cytania, I didn't feel like typing them all.
Thanks Mixter! The Telecaster has long been know as the "players" guitar...seem that almost all of the "known" players have a telly or two...even if they don't currently play or endorse, it'll be among the collection. Chet Atkins is famous for using those big hollow body Gretsch Guitars and later Gibson...but I've got photos of him playing a Telecaster.
220 2008-07-16 15:45:15
Re: how to progress (5 replies, posted in Electric)
Recently I bought a looping pedal and really started making some progress...I can lay down a quick track of some sort...loop it back and play along with it...then keep adding and looping... It's fun to lay out a chord progression, loop it and then work with various lead patterns, bass runs, alternate chords, etc. I've found that now when I play with others I have much more to work with and offer...
221 2008-07-16 15:38:27
Re: Fender Amp Can - reviews please (2 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I'm not familar with the Fender Amp Can... I do have a Roland Micro Cube and absolute love it if you are interested in an alternative...
222 2008-07-13 20:24:33
Re: amp trouble! (3 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Please give us all some more information to work with and I betcha someone will have some answers or suggestions. What kind of amp is it and what are you plugging into it?
223 2008-07-10 18:13:03
Re: Need Some Guitar Advice (13 replies, posted in Electric)
The Telecaster is an excellent guitar (I've got 2) but might be a bit too country and twangy for classic rock... I think the Epiphone LP Custom or Standard would be good choices...the higher end models are pretty much the same except for decorations and top veneers...They can give a sweet clean sound and can also do a great distortion...plus a world of aftermarket stuff if you should decide to change out the Pickups or other upgrades later...
Typically the Les Paul and Stratocaster designs are extremely versatile and be wrapped around just about any type of music...
224 2008-07-10 17:57:39
Re: Blargh...how do they do it? (8 replies, posted in Electric)
I'm not sure how to explain it...I'm easily confused and great at confusing others, but say if the song is a hymn that starts in Eb...and it's a 1,4, 5 progression Eb Ab Bb... those are awkward chords for a guitar. If you put a capo on the 1st fret and make a D chord then that will be an Eb...G will be the Ab...and A will be Bb... How do you find that? Make a D chord...then move just the chord to next fret and it's a D# or Eb (same thing) move one more fret and it's an E... Your capo will bar the other strings for you... D,Eb,E,F,Gb,G,Ab,A Bb B,C,Db,D,Eb,E and on and on...
225 2008-07-10 17:42:42
Re: Classical and Acoustic Guitars (19 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Good advice from all...Please don't buy online unless you've determined exactly what you want. I think it's best to take, or meet with, an experienced player that can go to a store with you and play several different guitars. What works best for me might not be the best for you... I would avoid the so called "starter" packages...many of those guitars are cheap and almost unusable. There is a tremendous variety of guitars available and price isn't always the best factor...I've seen guitars costing over a $1000.00 that played and sounded badly and have also seen some for $200.00 that were great! Alverez, Takamine, Jasime, Ibanez, Yamaha, are examples of fine Asian made guitars...Fender and Ephiphone also has some reasonably priced and decent quality import models...I've seen and played some Canadian made Seagulls that are outstanding values...
When my daughter turned sixteen, she wanted an electric for her birthday...she had already been playing for a few years so we turned her loose in a large music store and let her look at and play several without interference from us or the sales staff...that way she could find the one guitar that "spoke" to her...