• Zurf
  • Zurf
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  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
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Topic: Future NGD

I have learned from my boss that I will receive a bit extra money in December.  There will be enough to buy each person in the family a little something extra, which is nice at the holiday season.  So I went by my local guitar shop and killed an hour in the acoustic room.  I went in to check out Taylor guitars specifically.  But they had a Gretsch flat-top designed specifically for bluegrass music.  The bass on this thing was insane.  In about five minutes of playing it, it had me trying new runs and different things.  There were two problems with it, both solvable.  The first problem is that it's not an A/E.  So a combo piezo/mic pickup will solve that.  I'm not sure what to do about a pre-amp with that, but I'm sure there's something that'll work.  The other thing is that the tuners are super-d-duper sensitive.  Different less sensitive tuners will resolve that problem.  Neither of these things should affect the tone. 

I was thinking of an Epiphone EJ-200, or a couple of other Epiphones, but after playing them I'd have to modify them too much to suit my hands and playing style.  Beautiful tone, but not physically comfortable for me.  That's why you should play a guitar before buying one.  I've never heard a bad thing about EJ-200s, and there wasn't anything bad about it except that it isn't suited for me. 

So, hmmmmm, Taylor, Guild, Larrivee guitars were pretty nice too.  And I didn't even get to try the Blueridge guitars yet.  Blueridge makes a guitar specifically for country gospel.  I think I may have to give it a try.

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • Registered: 2007-03-24
  • Posts: 1,108

Re: Future NGD

Good deal...shopping is 1/2 the excitement! After a while you'll have to give and choose something.

Try and drag the shopping out as long as you can stand smile

And model and pics when you pull the trigger is customary

I used to be disgusted; now I try to be amused.
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  • dino48
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  • From: los banos,california
  • Registered: 2007-04-06
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Re: Future NGD

Good to hear you are getting some extra cash for the holidays,the gretsch sounds nice,are the still making them?. I have played a couple of epiphones they are good guitars.

my papy said son your going too drive me too drinking if you dont stop driving that   Hot  Rod  Lincoln!! Cmdr cody and his lost planet airman
  • From: Louisiana
  • Registered: 2008-11-06
  • Posts: 863

Re: Future NGD

Quote>I have learned from my boss that I will receive a bit extra money in December.  There will be enough to buy each person in the family a little something extra,
How about adopting me?

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5 Reply by debrap (edited by debrap 2010-11-22 13:16:48)

  • debrap
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  • Registered: 2008-08-22
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Re: Future NGD

Zurf..  extra cash sounds great..  Before getting my Martin guitar my primary guitar was an Epiphone..  150 Flat top.  I played the heck out of that thing.. and it is still awesome today..  good luck with your search..  I love shopping guitars.
Deb

  • Zurf
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Re: Future NGD

Well, tomorrow my youngest daughter has a test for which she'll have to be anesthesized (sp?).  So, I think she's going to spend the day at home with Momma after the test, hanging out and chillin', while I take the eldest out guitar shopping.  She is REALLY into wanting to drum.  I don't know that she's going to be so much into drumming when she learns how much work it is, but she really wants to now.  So we'll stop by a few drum rooms too.  She might get a small bongo set for Christmas, but shhhhhhh, I haven't told Momma yet. 

- Zurf

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2007-02-08
  • Posts: 1,914

Re: Future NGD

Enjoy the search Zurf smile   Are you more of fingerpicker or flatpicker?
I'm sure you're aware of this, but be sure to pay attention to the strings on the guitars you're trying out... Comparing guitars strung with different gauge strings can be deceiving, especially when looking for bass and volume... Not to mention new vs old strings, etc.... If you get it narrowed down to two or three I'd ask for them to be strung fresh with the same before deciding.  Almost all music stores will do this when asked.

[b][color=#FF0000]If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something.
[/color][/b]         [b]Peace of mind. That's my piece of mind...[/b]

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  • Zurf
  • Zurf
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Re: Future NGD

More a fingerpicker, but I've been working on my flatpicking some lately.  Wreck of the Old 97 is just a big ol' batch of fun to flat pick.  It sounds like a train wreck when I do it, but that doesn't really cut down on my fun much.  Maybe if anyone was listening...

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • From: Madeira Beach, Florida
  • Registered: 2007-12-05
  • Posts: 3,312

Re: Future NGD

Blackbird, Emerald, Rainsong, Composite Acoustics - All make carbon fiber / graphite guitars that sound as good or better than a wood guitar. Perfect for the campfire and can be used as a back up paddle without fear of damage. Don't be a wood snob, give carbon a try.

No trees were harmed by this message. smile

Rule No. 1 - If it sounds good - it is good!
  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Future NGD

The pickup thing is easily solved with one of about half a dozen piezo, in-hole, or under hole pup options.  I've got a Fishman in my 12 string, and other than it eating batteries like candy, it's a good pup.

When I decide it's time to spend a lot of money on a guitar, it will probably be a Taylor.  Like you said, they just sound right.  I've played the Blueridges, too, and they are sweet like sugar.

You have the kind of problem everyone wishes they had...  smile

Someday we'll win this thing...

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11 Reply by naolslager (edited by naolslager 2010-11-23 13:19:21)

  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2009-06-12
  • Posts: 873

Re: Future NGD

Zurf,
What makes a guitar a "bluegrass" guitar? I've seen this claim severaltimes. I am not at the bluegrass playing level but I do enjoy the sound of this style of music.
David

  • From: Sligo, Ireland
  • Registered: 2010-07-29
  • Posts: 2

Re: Future NGD

She might get a small bongo set for Christmas, but shhhhhhh,

shhhhhh!! what do you mean shhhhhh. if she gets drums it will be the last time there is any shhhhh in your house!!!

There are many joys to playing guitar and one of the nicest is going shopping for a new one. Not as good as getting that technique you have been working on for days, months, years, but certainly up there.

enjoy
Finbarr

  • Zurf
  • Zurf
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Re: Future NGD

naoslager - Close as I can tell, what makes a guitar a bluegrass guitar is an odd bit of neck bracing to allow thick gauge strings on the bass strings and light gauge strings on the treble strings without twisting the neck.  I've heard some go so far as to string the bass strings at baritone pitches and the treble strings at regular guitar pitches. 

I'm not sure if that's what this Gretsch has done, but it has some severely low low end, but still clean.  Not all muddy like I would have expected.  There's some kind of doohicky in the sound hole so I couldn't use a simple pickup like a Seymour Duncan, but there are tons of pickups for that situation.  I like the piezo/microphone combination ones and they're still in the $150 range of affordable to retrofit an otherwise right on target guitar. 

- Zurf

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • Zurf
  • Zurf
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Re: Future NGD

Narrowed down to three guitars.  A Guild D40 (by far the best tone, but no electronics), a Taylor 314e (by far the best action and easiest playing), a Martin D1CE (a nice combination of the two and also the least expensive, I also like the feel of the composite neck the best).  None of them cheap. 

- Zurf

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2007-02-08
  • Posts: 1,914

Re: Future NGD

The only guitar I've ever regretted selling was my old Taylor 314e 
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2738352261_a87d8a39d3.jpg

Of course the choice is yours but I think the taylor is an awesome guitar and the size and shape works very well for fingerpicking but still handles a good strumming smile    Sold it to buy my first D18.....  What a mistake that was sad

[b][color=#FF0000]If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something.
[/color][/b]         [b]Peace of mind. That's my piece of mind...[/b]

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  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 851

Re: Future NGD

Congrats man! I hope you enjoy the heck outta that new guitar when you pick it up!

Wish I could report the same but The Grinch already stole my christmas bonus and hopes of any christmas gifts...
*grumble*


>=[
Dm

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but mediocrity knows nothing more than itself."

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  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Future NGD

naolslager wrote:

Zurf,
What makes a guitar a "bluegrass" guitar? I've seen this claim severaltimes. I am not at the bluegrass playing level but I do enjoy the sound of this style of music.
David

Big bodies and generally braced for heavier strings.  Bluegrass guitar players do a lot of alternating base walks, so the bottom end needs to come out.

Someday we'll win this thing...

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