I had always played Lead & a little Rhythm & Never really paid a lot of attention to the Bass. There were several things that changed my appreciation of the instrument. I had stopped playing out for a few years, but never really stopped playing. Several friends wanted to start having Sat. night Jams so we all got together one night. Suddenly we realized that there were several Lead players, and Several more Rhythm players. I had wanted to try Bass ever since my youngest Son decided he wanted to join a rock band that his Brother played drums in & locked himself in his room every night for about 6 weeks and emerged as quite a good Bass player. After that I paid a lot more attention to the Bass line in every song. Anyway, I headed for my favorite music shop & left with an Ibanez Bass & a Peavy TKO Amp with a Black Widow 15 in it. The following Sat. night I was a bass player. I still consider the Guitar as my main instrument, but I have learned to really like and appreciate the Bass. I have since upgraded to An older Fender Jazz Bass as my primary Bass & have a Peavey as a backup in case I pop a string when I Jam & several other Basses that I trade off & play on for a different sound. I now find the Bass as interesting to play as Lead Guitar.
2 2007-06-16 02:43:09
Re: Need a hardshell case (4 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
$89 is a good price for a good hard case. A really good case for Air Travel would cost a lot more than that. If you get one thats a hard plastic or aluminum, do a safety wrap with Duct tape. Case Locks are really not made very well.
3 2007-06-14 05:43:07
Re: strings (14 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Strings have become available in lighter guages over the years. In the 50's a "LIGHT" set might have been .012-.050 or thereabouts. Guitar necks were manufactured accordingly. Most guitars made today could not handel a set of "HEAVY" strings from years past. I find that the ultra Light string sets with .008/.009 High E Strings really don't sound that good. With amplification and effects such as distortion they may give you a usable sound, but a High E of .010 Diameter will certainly give you better tone and volume, and will stay in tune better. Personally I use ,010 -.046 on all of my electrics and .011-.048 on my acoustics. I would use heavier strings on the acoustics for a better sound, but I don't like to over stress the necks.
As far as Brands go I sometimes wonder. A person that was in the industry once told me that most strings were made by only 4 manufacturers, and that was 10 years ago. I wonder how many different manufacturers there are today. In Electrics I Use Blue Steel Cyrogenic and D'aderio if I can't get the former. On the Acoustics I Use Martin Bronze because of the sound and lasting quality, but I have used others.
I set my guitars up to use the strings that I just mentioned. Your Guitar should be set up for optium playability with the strings that you use. Once you finf the string that you like stay with it.
4 2007-06-14 05:04:03
Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-) (78 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Get a guitar that is not too hard on the Fingers so that you don't get discusted. Spend a few Dollars extra if necessary. Electric is usually easier on the fingers Acoustic is more convenient, but more expensive to get one that is easy on the fingers. Get an electric tuner so that you can always be in tune and hear the right sounds. Try a teaching program for the computer. I have taught several persons over 30 to play, and they all did great. Play Often, Play loud, try and learn something new every day, but most of all enjoy yourself. Don't give up, each day gets easier. Once you get the callouses on your finger tips the rest becomes easier.
5 2007-06-14 04:44:38
Re: What kind of guitar do you have? (240 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I have a collection, but the ones I play the most are My Fender Coronado Antigua & Coronado Wildwood, and My Fender Jazzmaster, Fender Strat, Fender Tele, Fender Jaguar & G & L Skyhawk (Stratocaster Copy by Leo Fender). In Acoustic its my Ovation Baladeer Acoustic Electric & Guild 12 String. I played a Gibson 6/12 Double Neck for a few years. Beautiful Sound, but heavy & unbalanced. My primary Bass is a Fender Jazz Ash Body/Maple Fretboard. I feel more comfortable with the Fender necks than with most other guitars, but some of the Fender copies have great feeling necks & good sound for the money as long as they use solid wood bodies & good pickups. I use Fender, Kustom & Peavy Amps.
6 2007-06-14 04:18:43
Re: Guitar Strings (3 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I used Flat Wound's for years, no slide noise. I have tried to find the same quality but I cant. Gretch Flat Wounds were the best available and they were available in different diameters. The Half rounds are good, but I really liked the sound of the older flat wounds. They did tend to go dead and need replacing frequently, but the sound was like no other. I don't agree with the post about them requiring more tension. The Tension required is more related to the string Diameter. Today I still use Half Rounds on my Bass, but I use Blue Steel Cryogenic .010-.046 on most of my Electric Guitars because of the excellent sustain & durability and Usually Martins of slightly heavier weight on my Acoustics because they just Sound Better. Flat Wounds are still available, but they don't feel like or sound like the old Gretch "Velvet Touch" strings. As far as Jazz Players using them, it's possibly true, but I have seen Rock & Country players using flat wounds too, esp. among rhythm players.
7 2007-06-14 04:00:38
Re: age (77 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I am 69, Graduated High School in 1955 Before Rock & Roll was really were out there, (The first wave of that was 1956), All was similar untill the Beatles hit in 64. Then The Acid Rock of the 60's, and so on untill today. Country evolved slower, today's Country being almost Rock now. Never Ending, Never Boring. I had a Country Rock Band for 7 years and played with other local bands over the years and still play for enjoyment today. My four children all play music, My 2 sons were both in several Rock bands as well as HS Marching & Concert bands and have recorded . My Daughters were both in HS Marching bands, and my oldest Daughter sings & Plays Guitar in Church. I have 12 Grand children and the 2 oldest Grand Sons have been in both Rock & Christian Rock bands and recorded. I play Guitar, Bass, Some Mandolin & Banjo & can get by on Autoharp & Mountain Dulcimer. I have to get older, but I don't have to grow up.
8 2007-06-14 03:43:09
Re: Banjo Pricing? (4 replies, posted in Other string instruments)
Banjos vary so much in price that its really hard to say. I have bought KAY & Similar 4 string ones for as little as $20 at yard sales, but A good Gibson, Ode, Weyman, Baldwin or any well respected brand can cost Thousands. Also depends on style/Type. 4 string Tenor's & 5 String are the most common. Look for a good wood shell, Nicely finished hardware, and a straight neck with good playability & sound. After that look at fancy inlays, skunk stripe neck and Gold plating. Go for sound & Playability.
As Far as Sitar's, the cheapest playable one that I have seen was an Electric one made by Dan-Electro back in the 60's. You might find one on E-Bay, but use caution and be sure it's really playable and in decent condition. Probably a collectable today, but you might still find one on E-Bay,
9 2007-06-14 03:16:19
Re: TENOR GUITAR (21 replies, posted in Other string instruments)
Tenor Guitar & Tenor Banjo were very popular in the 30's to the 50's. Usual tuning is DGBE, They are 4 stringed instruments. They are both mostly used as rhythm instruments, but can play lead as well. The Banjo's are mostly used in string bands today, and you seldom see a tenor guitar played. They are favorites with Mandolin and Violin players because the fingering is the same. Even if tuned differently the positions are the same. I have several Tenor Banjos, an acoustic Tenor Guitar, and a RICKENBACHER Electric Tenor Guitar from the Early 1930's (A Solid Bakalite Body Electric Guitar, about 20 years before Fender or Gibson)
10 2007-06-14 02:55:26
Re: Epiphone - Good or Bad? (24 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
A few years back they used to say that Gibsons came out the front door & Epiphons came out the back door of the same building in Kalamazoo, of course that was when they were all American Made. I have a Epiphone Sorrento, a Single Pickup Hollow Body from the 50's or 60's I think. It has a really great chord/rhythm sound, and I have let a couple of people use it on recordings. I have looked at newer Epiphones and most look to be well built & those that I played had good electronics. Untill I start earning $500 a night I'll have to stay with the affordable guitars.
11 2007-06-14 02:28:13
Re: Gibson vs Fender (25 replies, posted in Electric)
I played a SG for about 2 years, also I have owned other Gibsons & Older Epiphones. I have Owned Fenders for over 50 years. I currently have 6 Fenders, a G & L Strat Copy & several various brand Gibson & Fender Copies. All the Gibsons and Fenders are great. With various electronics you can get any sound you want. If your playing out its smart to have at least 2 guitars st the ready anyway, and it gives things a professional look when you change instruments for different songs. I always have at least 2 electrics an an acoustic in the stand when I work out.
My Suggestion is to go to a good music shop, and try both out and buy the one you like. Later on, when you get a few dollars, buy the other one. Just remember that within the SG and Strat lines that you can spend big bucks.
Stay away from the so called Autograph models & similar types. Get one with the Electronics & Finish that you like.
I really suggest buying a guitar that you play first. There is a difference in guitars, even in exactly the same model.