AudioCircle

Audio/Video Gear and Systems => The Musician's Circle => Topic started by: SteveFord on 31 Dec 2012, 09:10 pm

Title: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 31 Dec 2012, 09:10 pm: If, God forbid, my house caught fire in the middle of the night I'd grab three things:
my clothes
my wife (no clothes for her!)
my guitar

I have a few guitars kicking around but this is my favorite, a 2005 Satin ES-335,
This guitar has a funny story to it: I found it online at Guitar Center so I ran down and my better half put down a deposit on it as this is a birthday gift. A week or two later we went back to pay it off and they had it back up on the wall as still being for sale! I nearly fell over but they went out of their way to make amends and even knocked $100 off of the price. That was the Townsend, MD Guitar Center and they're nice people there. I try to give them a fair amount of business.

I had to spend a day with a file, emery paper and steel wool to get the frets right but boy did it turn out nice.
Not the fanciest guitar by any means but it just feels like home to me.
The regular ES-335 has the binding on the neck and gloss clear coat on the body.
If you're into guitars, you'll know all about this but if not, the ES stands for Electric Spanish and it's a semi hollow body as there's a block of wood which runs from the base of the neck to the end of the body to keep it from feeding back as easily as a hollow body will do.
The fretboard is Rosewood, the pickups are humbuckers (basically two single coils in one so they don't hum when you remove your fingers from the strings) and it's a shame that the photos don't really show the sculpted front and back.
There's a whole ES family and they're my favorite Gibsons.
Here's some pictures of the old girl.

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73070)

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73071)

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73072)

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73073)

Who's next?
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 31 Dec 2012, 09:52 pm: Let me repost what I have going on so far:

A simple Ibanez RG120 amplified through my hifi rig. Sounds awesome. Plan on adding more upscale guitar, a bass, and probably a few amps, starting I think with the BlackStar ID 30.

Another cool thing about that Blackstar amp (from the other thread) is that you can connect it via USB to your laptop, record, tune, etc, but also connect to the Blackstar community and download tones created by other users. Badass.

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73064)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 31 Dec 2012, 09:57 pm: Be real careful with running a guitar through a stereo - it's easy to blow up speakers.
How do I know, you ask? :oops:

It did give me that hep fuzz tone which was good at both covering up my mistakes and driving my parents insane.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 31 Dec 2012, 10:18 pm: Lol, that's pretty funny :green:. Not directly into it, the guitar is plugged into the ps3 and from there into my system. It does sound like a real amp though. Maggie's and sub works great. Plus the software emulates infinite tones.

You can find Rocksmith videos and the software perfectly creates the tone for any given song. And you can make your own with various cabs, pedals, and effects. Pretty high tech.

I've just been doing the scale runner mini game all day so far. Still on A Major scale but it teaches them all and makes you faster.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 31 Dec 2012, 11:38 pm: Here's part of my herd:

2003 Gibson Historic Reissue 1959 Les Paul Standard that I have rewired vintage style and with a couple of NOS 1950's tone caps:

(http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/bi/bigjimmead/r9.jpg) (http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/bi/bigjimmead/r9caps.jpg)

And a few of my prized Fender Guitar and amps....from left to right, a 1955 Fender Stratocaster Non-Tremolo and a 1963 Fender Stratocaster. The amps from left to right, a 1959 Fender Tweed Bassman, a 1957 Fender Tweed Deluxe and a 1960 Fender Tweed Princeton:

(http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/bi/bigjimmead/fenders.jpg)

Happy picking!

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 1 Jan 2013, 12:16 am: That's a pretty Les Paul.
I'll bet the pattern shifts when you hold it up and tilt it in the light.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 1 Jan 2013, 12:28 am: Steve:

It does, without hesitation, it is one if the best historic ri 1959 Les Paul's that I've had in my hands...you are only as good as your tools, or so they say...I wish I could play as good as my tools!

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 1 Jan 2013, 12:31 am: Ditto.
My first wife talked me into selling my 25th Anniversary Les Paul which was a huge mistake. It was tiger sunburst (very similar to yours).
I went into Manny's in NYC, I guess the salesguy took a shine to me as he was gone for around 20 minutes rooting through them and said this is the best of the bunch - it was a beauty! I never should have listened to her on that one.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 1 Jan 2013, 12:35 am: Did you make her sell something to make it equal?
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 1 Jan 2013, 12:47 am: Quote from: SteveFord on 1 Jan 2013, 12:31 am
Ditto.
My first wife talked me into selling my 25th Anniversary Les Paul which was a huge mistake. It was tiger sunburst (very similar to yours).
I went into Manny's in NYC, I guess the salesguy took a shine to me as he was gone for around 20 minutes rooting through them and said this is the best of the bunch - it was a beauty! I never should have listened to her on that one.

Steve:

As you know, I'm a guitar dealer, and there isn't one of us, or for that matter a guitarist who hasn't sold one or more that we end up regretting. Much of the fun is finding nice guitars, the sad side is having to sell them. Can't keep them all.

42nd street in New York City is very interesting to say the least...hope they gave you a fair price for it. One of my mentors in the vintage guitar world is Gil Southworth from the suburbs of Baltimore and when he was in High School, would hit the pawn shops and read the for sale ads and buy as many guitars as he could and then drive them to 42nd street to sell them to the guitar dealers. This is how he started his business back in the 70's.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 1 Jan 2013, 01:36 am: Yeah, Sharon went through a lot so I couldn't say no to selling the guitar.
She was a good wife who passed away sometime back.
(The photos below are not my actual ones but are representative of them)
Other guitars that I wish I had back are my early 70s SG Standard which was a really hot guitar although mine had the later tailpiece and a black interior, not that fruity pink

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73092)

a late 70s/early 80s wine red ES-335 with the trapeze tailpiece and a rather useless humbucker/single coil switch

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73093)

and an 80s single cutaway, tobacco sunburst Les Paul Special w/ P100 soap bars. That was just such a nice guitar, real easy to play, light and had a nice sound to it. Warm sounding but missing the P90 snarl which was disappointing.

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73094)

Oh, well, you can't keep them all.
What I want to get before I croak is a nice gold top Les Paul, a Firebird that is actually comfortable to play (I had two but sold them as they just seemed so damned stiff if you know what I mean) and an ES-150DC
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73095)
which I think would be killer. Probably feedback uncontrollably, too!
I never could get comfortable with the Fender necks so I always stuck with Gibsons.

Maybe next year we can hook up with a guitar deal - not this year, no funds in the kitty.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 1 Jan 2013, 01:57 am: Steve:

Those P100 pickups had a dummy coil to cancel the hum and kill the tone, which could be disengaged to get the P90 tone back. The P90 is one of my favorite pickups as it can go from sweet to warm to snarly overdrive and is very touch or pick sensitive which relates to more control and attack.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 1 Jan 2013, 02:30 am: That's why I have an SG Classic - those pick ups are great.
Did you ever see that Firebird with the 3 P90s? That would have to make my dream guitar list.
I wish I would have known that about the P100s, I would have been in there with a soldering iron in a second.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 1 Jan 2013, 04:18 am: Steve:

With respect to your red ES-335, you should be able to gloss it up using Virtuoso guitar cleaner and then Virtuoso guitar polish. The satin finish on it is a clear coat that hasn't been buffed out.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Ericus Rex on 1 Jan 2013, 01:07 pm: Quote from: medium jim on 1 Jan 2013, 04:18 am
Steve:

With respect to your red ES-335, you should be able to gloss it up using Virtuoso guitar cleaner and then Virtuoso guitar polish. The satin finish on it is a clear coat that hasn't been buffed out.

Jim

Really? Satin finishes usually have a matting agent added. I guess that would be a cost-cutting measure for Gibson to use. I just haven't heard of that technique before.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 1 Jan 2013, 02:22 pm: Quote from: SteveFord on 1 Jan 2013, 02:30 am
That's why I have an SG Classic - those pick ups are great.
Did you ever see that Firebird with the 3 P90s? That would have to make my dream guitar list.
I wish I would have known that about the P100s, I would have been in there with a soldering iron in a second.
Interesting variant, as the three pickup Firebirds usually have the minihumbuckers. The no pole piece covers usually have dual rail style pickups.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 1 Jan 2013, 02:29 pm: You can practically hear Johnny Winter screaming, "Rock and Rollllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!" with this one.
I no longer have my Firebird VII but I'll bet the cutouts for the Epiphone mini humbuckers and the P90s are the same.
It's funny how Gibson originally tried to market this as a jazz guitar. I can't imagine why it bombed.

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73110)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 1 Jan 2013, 02:33 pm: The minihumbucker fits a P-90 route, so easy to switch them. That baby should scream!
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 1 Jan 2013, 02:37 pm: I know what I'm going to do next year! :D
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 1 Jan 2013, 07:39 pm: Quote from: SteveFord on 1 Jan 2013, 01:36 am

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73092)

I think your wife wants me to take this off your hands.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 1 Jan 2013, 08:05 pm: This would be one of mine:

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73126)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 1 Jan 2013, 08:30 pm: So there are some SG fans here :thumb:

Here's a nice 1968 Gibson SG Custom:

(http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/bi/bigjimmead/sgcustom.jpg)

(http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/bi/bigjimmead/sgcustom1.jpg)

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 1 Jan 2013, 08:40 pm: Very nice!

I have the Epiphone G400 Custom version:

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73127)

There are 7 SG's here! :)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 1 Jan 2013, 10:23 pm: Show me a man who doesn't like an SG and I'll show you Les Paul.
Here's my 2007 Classic. SGs can be all over the map but this is a good one with a very nice neck.

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73143)

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73144)

Sorry, RClark, idiot that I am sold that Standard decades ago.
That guitar just roared through a Marshall stack.
They'd come home and all of the pictures would be tilted or on the floor.
My parents were so lucky to have me as a child!

You know what's a really nice guitar and they're cheap? The faded yellow or TV yellow SG Specials. It's got that stupid finish that will wear off when you play it for that "hardcore" player look but they've got really nice necks on them.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 1 Jan 2013, 11:10 pm: I just got back from Guitar Center with a bunch of supplies. About to try my guitar with 9's.

Anyway, this was awful pretty for the price:

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73146)

I've already chosen my next step up from here, I'm getting a Chapman ML-2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqNzU0-__cs
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 1 Jan 2013, 11:12 pm: 9's are for wimps and old men, real guys play 10's :wink:

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 1 Jan 2013, 11:23 pm: I'm a wimp!
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 1 Jan 2013, 11:25 pm: Quote from: SteveFord on 1 Jan 2013, 11:23 pm
I'm a wimp!

I'm getting there too, no fun bending anymore :x

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 1 Jan 2013, 11:38 pm: Unison bends with 8 gauge SS strings is fun! That is what I use for C# Standard tuning.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 1 Jan 2013, 11:52 pm: I know I know. But Billy Gibbons plays 7's and I believe Hendrix did too.

Plus I'm a beginner. For now it's about playability.

I have a set of 10's too, but I'm curious about lighter strings.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 2 Jan 2013, 12:00 am: Are those Ephiphones there, RClark?
The Epiphone John Lennon Casino is supposed to be a good one.
I've never had an Epiphone but the Gibson Les Paul Studio is a really good guitar. It's a Standard minus some of the binding; I've got one with the 50's style baseball bat neck and it's great except it weighs a ton. That has a really nice sound to it.
That one came from Guitar Center and it was surprising how much variation there is between the Les Pauls. You'd think that they'd all feel the same but not even close.
When you buy a used guitar it seems to me that you can tell if the previous owner was any good or not. Some guitars are just magic and others are just duds. It's like a part of the previous person went into the instrument. That sounds weird but I think it's true.
I'll snap a picture if anybody is interested.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Ericus Rex on 2 Jan 2013, 12:05 am: That Chapman looks nice! Is it available in the US?
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 2 Jan 2013, 12:05 am: Quote from: Rclark on 1 Jan 2013, 11:52 pm
I know I know. But Billy Gibbons plays 7's and I believe Hendrix did too.

Plus I'm a beginner. For now it's about playability.

I have a set of 10's too, but I'm curious about lighter strings.

Hendrix played mostly 9's...The Reverend is getting old and does play 7's on his long scale guitars only...8's on his Gibson's and other short scale guitars.

If you want it to play easy, you need to adjust the neck as straight as possible (will also help the intonation) and lower the action as low as it will go without fret buzz or choking on bends. It is best to have a decent guitar tech to do the setup, it will be the best 35 to 60 bucks you will spend on your guitar. It is a lot easier to learn on a guitar that is easy to play.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 2 Jan 2013, 12:19 am: Not a bad restringing if I say so..Wow, they feel super nice, they're very delicate. The strings that were on here were much thicker. It's really easy to press these down. Hopefully it still sounds nice. Rob Chapman says string size is overridden by amplifiers and tone pedals and that it doesn't really matter so much. Says it's not that they sound worse on their own, just different.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 2 Jan 2013, 12:29 am: Real light strings will sound different and go out of tune easier but they're easier to play.
I don't want to lead you into a briar patch but have you ever adjusted a truss rod?
Fair warning: if you snap a truss rod you'll want to shoot yourself.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 2 Jan 2013, 12:34 am: I'm not even sure what that is?

I asked the guy at the shop whether my guitar would take 9's or need to be re-setup. Said they should work fine.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 2 Jan 2013, 12:35 am: Quote from: SteveFord on 2 Jan 2013, 12:00 am
Are those Ephiphones there, RClark?
The Epiphone John Lennon Casino is supposed to be a good one.
I've never had an Epiphone but the Gibson Les Paul Studio is a really good guitar. It's a Standard minus some of the binding; I've got one with the 50's style baseball bat neck and it's great except it weighs a ton. That has a really nice sound to it.
That one came from Guitar Center and it was surprising how much variation there is between the Les Pauls. You'd think that they'd all feel the same but not even close.
When you buy a used guitar it seems to me that you can tell if the previous owner was any good or not. Some guitars are just magic and others are just duds. It's like a part of the previous person went into the instrument. That sounds weird but I think it's true.
I'll snap a picture if anybody is interested.

Yeah, those are Epiphone Les Pauls. They look pretty nice. I know they don't deliver the same full on tone as the Gibson, but they get you much of the way there, seems like. They also don't have the same level of finishing, they use a lesser method on the finish.

I wish I could have taken a better picture, they seem pretty nice. they are the only company licensed to replicate the Gibson Les Paul.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 2 Jan 2013, 12:53 am: So you know, a truss rod is a metal rod in the neck that in most cases is adjustable and is used to keep the neck straight or as straight as possible. Typically when you change to a different gauge of strings, a slight adjustment in the truss rod is called for. Reason: Lighter gauge string result in less tension and the neck might become under bowed, or convexed and some tension on the truss rod will need to be relieved or lessened. Just the opposite if you go to a larger gauge string set.

Changing string gauges will also effect the intonation, or how well the guitar plays in tune up and down the neck.

Then there is the action or string height in relation to the frets, this will also be effected when changing to different gauges of strings.

It is all cause and effect.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 2 Jan 2013, 12:55 am: Here's a little more info.
Inside of the neck is a bowed metal rod which is threaded on one end and it is used to apply tension to the neck.
The strings are trying to pull the neck forward towards the strings.
The truss rod applies opposing tension.
The purpose of the truss rod is to keep the neck straight.
On the Gibsons, at least, there's a plastic cover up by the tuning pegs which is held on with two phillips screws. This one says Classic.

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73153)

Behind that cover is the truss rod adjuster (which is simply a nut which screws onto the threaded portion).
Pick up your guitar with the body at your head and sight down the side of the neck like you're looking down an arrow.
Any bowing will be evident.
You gently tighten the truss rod to pull the neck back (away from the strings), you loosen the nut to pull the neck towards the strings.
This rod is really, really delicate - if you don't have a light touch do not adjust it.
If you break that rod you're screwed. Two words: gentle, gentle. The rod breaks you're screwed (did I mention you're screwed)?
Going to lighter strings you'll want to loosen the rod, heavier gauge you'd be tightening the rod.
Temperature and humidity will change the straightness as well.
Your instrument might take an allen wrench at the base of the neck up by the pick ups instead of having a nut under a cover on the headstock. If so, same thing - tighten to pull the neck back, loosen to bring the neck forward.
It's best to do a small adjustment and then check it the following day.
Some guitars are easy, some necks can be difficult.
When you get it right they play really nice.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 2 Jan 2013, 01:21 am: Most people don't know how to sight down a neck to see if it straight...it is something that cannot really be thought...once you figure it out, it all comes into focus.

What is fun is adjusting a Fender neck where the truss rod is on the heal if the neck...you have to unbolt the neck and then do the adjustment...need to know how much back bow to set it at, knowing that the string tension will take out the back bow. I've gotten pretty good at them over the years.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 2 Jan 2013, 01:21 am: Hmmm. I always wondered what that door was foor. I though it was maybe for removing the nut. I'll just see how she plays first before I start playing guitar tech :green:
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 2 Jan 2013, 02:44 am: Seems to be staying in tune now after several retunings.. Seems to hold tune better than the old strings.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 2 Jan 2013, 03:22 am: New Strings will initially stay in tune better....a little trick, after initially restringing, grab each string indiviually from the 12th fret and stretch them by lifting them up several times and retune....do this to each string. This will get any slack out of them.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 2 Jan 2013, 03:25 am: I did that as I.was putting them on. Yeah it seems to he holding a solid tune. I think this guitar was set up for 9's initially as it was previously owned by a petite girl who bought it at 16. Lol.

I'm liking it though! Bends are sweet and playing dawn of the chordead I'm much faster and my chords sound much sweeter than they did before when I was muscling those fat strings. Think this will help a lot. Sounds real pretty, no complaints.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 2 Jan 2013, 03:55 am: Symphony of Destruction by Megadeth is so fun to learn! I am having a freaking blast. :thumb: :green: :lol:
Did my workout stuff before getting into songs. I am hooked. Just 15 more days of this and I have a solid guitar playing habit.

Done playing for the day, I'm going to begin studying this guy's apparently pretty good, FREE, music theory course to boost what Rocksmith version 1 doesn't have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gHEIF0rT2w&list=SPB585CE43B02669C3&index=1

He also has a free piano course, that might be fun. Get a little keyboard.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 2 Jan 2013, 05:38 am: Can anyone explain why the notes below and above the ledger lines on the Grand Staff are A C E? Why not just a continuation of A B C D E F G?

A B C D E F G... and A B C follows in the ledger line above the treble clef, for example? Why A C E? The Bass and Treble clef's mesh together in a double A B C D E F G, but then you get A C E before and after and I don't get it.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Ericus Rex on 2 Jan 2013, 01:01 pm: Quote from: Rclark on 2 Jan 2013, 05:38 am
Can anyone explain why the notes below and above the ledger lines on the Grand Staff are A C E? Why not just a continuation of A B C D E F G?

A B C D E F G... and A B C follows in the ledger line above the treble clef, for example? Why A C E? The Bass and Treble clef's mesh together in a double A B C D E F G, but then you get A C E before and after and I don't get it.

The notes do continue on as before; ABCDEFG etc. Are you sure you're counting the spaces between the ledger lines (BDF etc)?
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 2 Jan 2013, 04:27 pm: Quote from: Ericus Rex on 2 Jan 2013, 01:01 pm
The notes do continue on as before; ABCDEFG etc. Are you sure you're counting the spaces between the ledger lines (BDF etc)?

+1

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 2 Jan 2013, 04:32 pm: A way to remember the scale is:

Every Good Boy Does Fine

and

FACE
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 2 Jan 2013, 05:27 pm: Quote from: HAL on 2 Jan 2013, 04:32 pm
A way to remember the scale is:

Every Good Boy Does Fine

and

FACE

Wait until he gets into different scales and you need to ID them by how many #'s or b's there are!

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Ericus Rex on 2 Jan 2013, 05:51 pm: Quote from: HAL on 2 Jan 2013, 04:32 pm
A way to remember the scale is:

Every Good Boy Does Fine

and

FACE

Or the Moody Blues album ' Every good boy deserves favor.'

Bass staff is "All Cows Eat Grass" for spaces and "Great Big Dogs Fight Animals" for lines. Do guitarists read bass staff?
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 2 Jan 2013, 05:57 pm: Quote from: Ericus Rex on 2 Jan 2013, 05:51 pm
Or the Moody Blues album ' Every good boy deserves favor.'

Bass staff is "All Cows Eat Grass" for spaces and "Great Big Dogs Fight Animals" for lines. Do guitarists read bass staff?

I don't, I just figure out the chord changes and go from there. If there is an intro like on Money or what have you, then you need to.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 2 Jan 2013, 06:18 pm: I got the A C E thing from lesson two here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?nomobile=1&v=TxBUnvrexhA
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 2 Jan 2013, 07:02 pm: Quote from: Rclark on 2 Jan 2013, 06:18 pm
I got the A C E thing from lesson two here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?nomobile=1&v=TxBUnvrexhA

?!

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 2 Jan 2013, 08:54 pm: Go with the flow by Queens of the Stone Age is a hell of a pick workout. Any of you play that punk rock type stuff? It hurts!
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Ericus Rex on 2 Jan 2013, 09:59 pm: Quote from: Rclark on 2 Jan 2013, 06:18 pm
I got the A C E thing from lesson two here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?nomobile=1&v=TxBUnvrexhA

I'll take a look tonight and see if I can figure this out for you.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: eclein on 2 Jan 2013, 10:04 pm: If it keeps up I'm deleting the thread.....too bad actually its the first time I have ever had to bother you folks. Sorry all.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 2 Jan 2013, 10:17 pm: Quote from: Ericus Rex on 2 Jan 2013, 09:59 pm
I'll take a look tonight and see if I can figure this out for you.

I appreciate it. Thanks!
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 2 Jan 2013, 10:27 pm: Quote from: eclein on 2 Jan 2013, 10:04 pm
If it keeps up I'm deleting the thread.....too bad actually its the first time I have ever had to bother you folks. Sorry all.

Thank you, nobody likes being called a Nazi or that he's high...or that his behavior is passive aggressive.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: jackman on 2 Jan 2013, 11:11 pm: Hi Guys,

Cool thread, I'll happily delete my post if I'm too far off topic. I've been playing "unplugged" on my '97 Martin D18V all week (it's a D18VR because they didn't make a V in '97), after putting on a new set of strings. The Martin sounds best with medium strings and I never go higher than Mediums or Lights on my acoustic (Gore Elixir's in my case) because heavy strings are not good for an acoustic with light bracing. The Martin sings with such sweet tone, it makes me want to be a better player. Anyone looking for a great sounding acoustic should check out the new 2012 D18. It has been re-designed for 2012 with ebony bridge, bone saddle and nut, open back tuners, and light, scalloped "vintage" bracing. Very similar to the more expensive V model but with a 1.75" nut (versus the 1 11/16's nut on the older model). It doesn't have the V neck of the 18V but the new neck is comfortable and very nice.

Even though I've had my disagreements with Med Jim in the past (we are friends now), I've got a lot of respect for Jim's knowledge of all things guitar. Jim, your collection is very impressive. I used to play at a local shop (ten or twelve years ago) and when everyone left, my friend and former teacher would crank up one of the many 50's era tweed amps in the shop. The sound of a 50's era Stratocaster or Tele played through a dimed beat up '51 or '52 Bassman, is one of the sweetest sounds I have ever heard. The shop always had a couple 50's era tweed amps laying around and although they looked like they went through the war, the sound was pure magic.

A local company (Victoria Amp Company) makes exact replicas using carbon resistors and custom trannies, baltic birch cabinets, etc., and I sincerely regret selling my little 20110 tweed amp. I've played several SS modeling amps through the years and have yet to find anything that can touch the sound of overdriven Fender Tweed tube amps (the real hard-wired ones from the 50's, not the newer Fender versions). Mark Baer of Victoria fell in love with the tweed sound and has devoted his life to keeping it alive with his Victoria amps, hand made right here in Naperville, IL. If you can't live with the high SPL's of an overdriven tube amp, they make versions with built in attenuators.

Here is a video of one of my favorite combos, a P90 guitar (with Jason Lollar PU's) and a creamy Victoria Silver Sonic amp. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URl7RlddH3s

Regarding electric guitar strings, I like 9's on Fender guitars (long scale guitars at least) and 10's on Gibson style, short scale guitars. Light guage are easier to play but it's hard to get low action without buzz on a Gibby scale with super light guage strings. It also seems like my guitars stay in tune better with heavier guage strings. If you are a new player, I'd recommend using at least 9's or 10's to toughen up your fingers. Guys like Jeff Beck and Billie Gibbons can play with anything and make it sound great. They are rare birds with skills the rest of us can only dream of. Also, most modern guitars (at least the ones I own) have medium jumbo frets which are much more comfortable than the barbed wire most older guitars used to use. Heavier guage strings will give you fatter tone and better sound, IMO.

Lastly, if your fingers bleed or hurt badly from too much playing, just put some crazy glue on your fingertips and you will be good to go!

Cheers,

Jack
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Ericus Rex on 3 Jan 2013, 01:44 am: Quote from: Rclark on 2 Jan 2013, 10:17 pm
I appreciate it. Thanks!

OK. So I've had a chance to look at the video. He never does mention the names of the spaces above or below the grand staff. This is just because they don't form a nice, memorable word like ACE. But those notes do exist, just not in his diagram. He certainly should have mentioned that the note names do continue above and below the staves alphabetically. Just like the staff has lines and spaces, the ledger lines outside of the staff have spaces as well.

Does this help?
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 3 Jan 2013, 01:47 am: So it's not just "ACE" above or ECA below but it continues in the ABCDEFG format?
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Ericus Rex on 3 Jan 2013, 02:33 am: Quote from: Rclark on 3 Jan 2013, 01:47 am
So it's not just "ACE" above or ECA below but it continues in the ABCDEFG format?

Yes. He could have been clearer in the video about that.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 3 Jan 2013, 02:46 am: Thing is, it doesn't make any sense.. Why isn't it G that starts above instead of A? The ECA below makes no sense either.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 3 Jan 2013, 03:11 am: Because, "G" is the next note and "A" would then be the next line above the original five lines in the Treble Clef musical notation. Then you would have "B" between the lines with the next Line being "C" and so on.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 3 Jan 2013, 03:43 am: Thank you Jim.

Would you mind drawing it on a scrap of paper?
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 3 Jan 2013, 03:56 am: Quote from: Rclark on 3 Jan 2013, 03:43 am
Thank you Jim.

Would you mind drawing it on a scrap of paper?

I could but this is more illustrative:

(http://www.llstudents.org/2010/guitars/photos/treblebass300x166.jpg)

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 3 Jan 2013, 04:29 am: .
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 3 Jan 2013, 04:38 am: Ok, found what I needed, I'm good

http://www.theoreticallycorrect.com/MusicFiction/new-grand-staff/index.html
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 3 Jan 2013, 06:52 am: Whew I just spent the last two hours in the riff repeater mode playing Are You Gonna Go My Way by Kravitz. This is an absolute riot. Pretty proud of how much I've gotten done in my first week at it. Because of the software I have played an immense amount of guitar.

It's exciting as hell. Holy crap I'm looking down at my hands that are making chords and switching to notes and back and not screwing up, making different chords and they sound good... It's love.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: lonewolfny42 on 3 Jan 2013, 07:01 am: Quote from: Rclark on 3 Jan 2013, 06:52 am
Whew I just spent the last two hours in the riff repeater mode playing Are You Gonna Go My Way by Kravitz. This is an absolute riot. Pretty proud of how much I've gotten done in my first week at it. Because of the software I have played an immense amount of guitar.

It's exciting as hell. Holy crap I'm looking down at my hands that are making chords and switching to notes and back and not screwing up, making different chords and they sound good... It's love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqUq2Da7d5c :thumb:
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 3 Jan 2013, 07:11 am: :green:
Not yet, but some pretty chunky callous action started now that I'm doing more chords. :thumb:

I think this guitar with 9's is gonna be very kind to me. It doesn't have super high action either.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: lonewolfny42 on 3 Jan 2013, 07:20 am: You'll be fine over time....takes awhile to build up... :wink: :guitar:

And don't forget to follow .....the dots.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KR7txrLvuY) :lol:
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Ericus Rex on 3 Jan 2013, 01:11 pm: Don't beat yourself up too much about theory and notation. Outside of the classical and jazz world very few guitarists have a command over sight-reading. Most play by ear. And, as you've discovered, there are tons of tabs out there. Learning some scales and arpeggio fingerings would help you shred.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: dflee on 3 Jan 2013, 01:24 pm: Hey Jim. Iv'e got a 74 D35 and have noticed it to sound a little drab
compared to upper end models. What strings would you recommend (light Ga) and
I'm thinking about installing a pickup. Can you give me a couple of names
you like? I've also been a fan of the Nighthawk. Any comments on them?
An accuantance of mine plays a 61 LesPaul and man does that one look different.

Don
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: jackman on 3 Jan 2013, 02:16 pm: Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 3 Jan 2013, 07:20 am
You'll be fine over time....takes awhile to build up... :wink: :guitar:

And don't forget to follow .....the dots.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KR7txrLvuY) :lol:

Holy smokes! David Gilmour and Mark Knopfler with hair! Gary Moore playing a Heritage and Lemme on bass! Amazing. No Clapton and Beck?
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 3 Jan 2013, 04:14 pm: Quote from: dflee on 3 Jan 2013, 01:24 pm
Hey Jim. Iv'e got a 74 D35 and have noticed it to sound a little drab
compared to upper end models. What strings would you recommend (light Ga) and
I'm thinking about installing a pickup. Can you give me a couple of names
you like? I've also been a fan of the Nighthawk. Any comments on them?
An accuantance of mine plays a 61 LesPaul and man does that one look different.

Don

Hi Don:

The Martin D35 is known for being a bit dark sounding due to the 3 piece back...try Martin SP Phospor/Bronze's they tend to be on the bright side and go with 12-54's. Martin factory installs Fishman pickups that are a under the saddle tranducer that seems to work just fine....BTW, the D35 is an upper end model, although the D-18 and D-28 are more desirable due to their tone. The D45 is the flagship for all practical purposes...there are higher models, but are intended for show and not to actually play.

The Gibson Nighthawk is a different take on the Les Paul and has a smaller body, there is also the blueshawk if I recall correctly. The 61 Les Paul is actually the start of the SG and it was designed for Mary Ford who needed a lighter guitar, Les Paul hated it and after 1962 no longer carried his moniker and formally became the SG....nor until 1968 did a Gibson guitar (or for that matter any company) have a Les Paul Model, when Gibson reintroduced the Les Paul, but with P-90's. In 1972 you could order them with real humbuckers again...

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Larkston Zinaspic on 3 Jan 2013, 04:31 pm: This is my Taylor 914c (pre-NT neck):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCVBq4Ilcec (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCVBq4Ilcec)

This is my classical, light as air and possibly built by Vicente Carrillo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngmrvNjLFAI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngmrvNjLFAI)

Sorry about all the fumbling...I can't find those little dots anywhere. :)

~Greg
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 3 Jan 2013, 05:36 pm: Quote from: Larkston Zinaspic on 3 Jan 2013, 04:31 pm
This is my Taylor 914c (pre-NT neck):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCVBq4Ilcec (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCVBq4Ilcec)

This is my classical, light as air and possibly built by Vicente Carrillo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngmrvNjLFAI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngmrvNjLFAI)

Sorry about all the fumbling...I can't find those little dots anywhere. :)

~Greg

What are you talking about, your playing is most excellent and you have the balls to put it on the internet, more than I can say for myself. The Carillo Classical sounds very sweet indeed.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 3 Jan 2013, 05:44 pm: Quote from: Ericus Rex on 3 Jan 2013, 01:11 pm
Don't beat yourself up too much about theory and notation. Outside of the classical and jazz world very few guitarists have a command over sight-reading. Most play by ear. And, as you've discovered, there are tons of tabs out there. Learning some scales and arpeggio fingerings would help you shred.

I want to be able to write, I have riffs in my head that I'd love to be able to play. Plus I write stories, and I like what that guy in the video said, that theory is the language of music and if you wanna write you have to know the grammar, you'll do better than someone who only knows how to speak a little.

Not gonna beat myself with it, but take it hand in hand with getting my chops.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: steve in jersey on 3 Jan 2013, 05:59 pm: Quote from: Larkston Zinaspic on 3 Jan 2013, 04:31 pm
This is my Taylor 914c (pre-NT neck):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCVBq4Ilcec (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCVBq4Ilcec)

This is my classical, light as air and possibly built by Vicente Carrillo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngmrvNjLFAI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngmrvNjLFAI)

Sorry about all the fumbling...I can't find those little dots anywhere. :)

~Greg

Greg, never mind the "fumbling"(or as pianists like to call them "clams") I like to call them the "human factor" of playing music at the "musicians" level. That you are able continue the correct flow of notes in the following bars tell me "you've played this instrument" long enough to respect what playing music requires.

It always cracks me up when I hear someone complain about the sound of fingers sliding over strings when acoustic guitarists have to reach for notes a few frets from where they're playing. My niece made this comment to a few years (10 yrs ago now) when she decided to learn to play Electric Bass. After she started playing it became more clear to her why there was sound.

I'm guessing the Classical guitar has a Cedar soundboard (can't tell fron lighting) & has a "Spanish Cedar"(I'm not sure this is the same Cedar used for "Tops/SBs" neck & may use a "Ramirez" fan bracing scheme on the top. If the instrument is as old as you think it is I'm not surprised that it feels that light because it is. The fan bracing & the use of hide glue add almost no weight to the instrument. The tonal qualities of these old instruments are just amazing . (Oh, one more thing ... No such thing as a truss rod in CG necks, no need)

Keep making music my friend, there is no substitute.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: jackman on 3 Jan 2013, 06:06 pm: Quote from: Larkston Zinaspic on 3 Jan 2013, 04:31 pm
This is my Taylor 914c (pre-NT neck):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCVBq4Ilcec (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCVBq4Ilcec)

This is my classical, light as air and possibly built by Vicente Carrillo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngmrvNjLFAI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngmrvNjLFAI)

Sorry about all the fumbling...I can't find those little dots anywhere. :)

~Greg

Greg,

Beautiful playing. Thank you for sharing it with the group. I also checked out your other clips and they are equally impressive and enjoyable. I could listen to classical playing all day (if I wasn't at work eating lunch). Cheers!

J
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Larkston Zinaspic on 3 Jan 2013, 09:23 pm: Jim, Steve, and Jackman:

Thank You so much for the supportive comments; that was totally unexpected and very much appreciated. :beer:

Whenever I see someone like Steve Howe make a mistake on stage and keep right on going, I think it's awesome. However, when I hear myself make a mistake, it sounds like a car crash to my ears. :green:

Thanks Again for the kind responses.

~Greg
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 3 Jan 2013, 10:38 pm: That's really nice playing Greg :thumb:... Acoustic guitar is real pretty.. I might as well get one of those too. Then I can be the campfire hero.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: jtwrace on 3 Jan 2013, 11:12 pm: Quote from: medium jim on 3 Jan 2013, 05:36 pm
What are you talking about, your playing is most excellent and you have the balls to put it on the internet, more than I can say for myself. The Carillo Classical sounds very sweet indeed.

Jim

Quote from: jackman on 3 Jan 2013, 06:06 pm
Greg,

Beautiful playing. Thank you for sharing it with the group. I also checked out your other clips and they are equally impressive and enjoyable. I could listen to classical playing all day (if I wasn't at work eating lunch). Cheers!

J

+1
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: steve in jersey on 4 Jan 2013, 12:11 am: Quote from: Larkston Zinaspic on 3 Jan 2013, 09:23 pm
Jim, Steve, and Jackman:

Thank You so much for the supportive comments; that was totally unexpected and very much appreciated. :beer:

Whenever I see someone like Steve Howe make a mistake on stage and keep right on going, I think it's awesome. However, when I hear myself make a mistake, it sounds like a car crash to my ears. :green:

Thanks Again for the kind responses.

~Greg

You're welcome !

As long as you are "conscious" of your flubs, they're not really crashes just minor dings that don't affect the value of the vehicle (the music you're playing) in the long haul. It's called "Artistic Perspective", playing music should always be more than just getting all the notes right. (Sometimes,when you throw in a wrong note, you get lucky & nobody notices) (don't try this with Bach though)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 4 Jan 2013, 01:41 am: Clapton used to be fearless and would make mistakes, but along the way he played some great stuff....now he is too cautious and mechanical....my point is that I enjoy guitarist who go for it and enjoy the love of playing, excellence and the occasional mistakes.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: cab on 4 Jan 2013, 01:42 am: Age will do that...
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: dflee on 4 Jan 2013, 02:40 am: We (me, myself and I) are not worthy.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 4 Jan 2013, 02:52 am: Would that be a "Lute" in your avatar Dflee?
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 4 Jan 2013, 03:26 am: Quote from: Rclark on 4 Jan 2013, 02:52 am
Would that be a "Lute" in your avatar Dflee?

It's a Mandolin....

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 4 Jan 2013, 03:43 am: Very cool looking old world type instrument. Never heard one live, I don't think.

Greg I'm not kidding your video's have me thinking of adding an acoustic guitar sooner than later... Meanwhile I'm over here hoping my hands strengthen up soon. I played the Kravitz song for an hour tonight and my left hand just started giving out :|
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 4 Jan 2013, 12:51 pm: Still have my dad's The Gibson type A Mandolin. Looks like it was built in 1923.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 4 Jan 2013, 01:16 pm: We could make a mandolin an honorary guitar in exchange for a picture or two...
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: dflee on 4 Jan 2013, 01:19 pm: It's a Gigson mandolin model A 1918 and has a wonderful tone.
I play it as often as I can.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 4 Jan 2013, 01:38 pm: Quote from: SteveFord on 4 Jan 2013, 01:16 pm
We could make a mandolin an honorary guitar in exchange for a picture or two...

Will see what I can do.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Larkston Zinaspic on 4 Jan 2013, 03:34 pm: Quote from: Rclark on 4 Jan 2013, 03:43 am
Greg I'm not kidding your video's have me thinking of adding an acoustic guitar sooner than later...

There's nothing quite like the harmonic complexity and intimacy of a great acoustic guitar...wish I owned more. If your music store will tolerate it :roll:, pick up as many as you can to investigate the sound and feel of each. Take your time with it. :thumb:
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 4 Jan 2013, 04:01 pm: Quote from: Larkston Zinaspic on 4 Jan 2013, 03:34 pm
There's nothing quite like the harmonic complexity and intimacy of a great acoustic guitar...wish I owned more. If your music store will tolerate it :roll:, pick up as many as you can to investigate the sound and feel of each. Take your time with it. :thumb:

The late and might I say great, Tommy Tedesco (what a character), would walk into a guitar store, any guitar store and immediately go to the acoustic guitar section and stroke his right hand across the strings. This is how he picked out his acoustics for whatever studio assignment he had. Sure, if he liked it from that test, he would play it to make sure it was a playable instrument as for as setup and intonation. Basically, he didn't care who or what made it, if it sounded good to his ears and was easy on his hands...

Lark is so correct, each acoustic exhibits its own sets of merits, I personally look for good action, good intonation, but most important to me in a fine acoustic is how well it is balanced as far as loudeness or volume both between the bass, mids, and highs, as well as, up and down the neck.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: lonewolfny42 on 5 Jan 2013, 06:12 am: Quote from: Rclark on 3 Jan 2013, 10:38 pm
Acoustic guitar is real pretty.. I might as well get one of those too. Then I can be the campfire hero.

You might want to also pick up a Ukulele.... :wink:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5qakFIecBU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOhsJL60W1I
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Toon on 5 Jan 2013, 06:17 am: Have been following this thread, so when the usual meandering through YouTube turned up some utterly awesome acoustic playing it seemed like the right place to post it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mebBBuHggqs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mebBBuHggqs)

It's an instore demo for a brand of Australian-made guitars; he starts by saying that he doesn't consider himself a guitar player, then at three minutes in breaks into the most insane acoustic blues I've ever heard. Looks like Tommy Emmanuel has some competition!
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 5 Jan 2013, 06:52 am: Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 5 Jan 2013, 06:12 am
You might want to also pick up a Ukulele.... :wink:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5qakFIecBU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOhsJL60W1I

Jake is a monster player...

Dan "Soybean" Sawyer is also a killer uke player:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/soybean

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 5 Jan 2013, 06:59 am: Here's one of the best unknown guitarist out there, Ben Lacy...I actually saw him at the same NAMM Show in Anaheim...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3poiVuGEX0

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: lonewolfny42 on 5 Jan 2013, 07:17 am: Now this....this looks like a fun instrument to play... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqeyvKQKEq0) 8)

Further info...Link... (http://www.seraphharpguitars.com/)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 6 Jan 2013, 12:36 am: Wow, that thing is killer wolfy. I'd hate to have to carry it around too much.

So I've mastered all the riffs, with the bends, harmonics and all, for Are You Gonna Go My Way, which was just constant repetition on those (I used the riff repeater, accellerator mode to do it). I can play the entire rythym section of the song (wow, feels cool to say that). Now, (GULP :o) I'm going to attempt to learn the solo. My first ever. I'm hoping I can play the full song in three weeks, with the solo, that might be ambitious but we'll see, it's very fast in parts, I doubt I will be able to do it that soon. Still, I feel pretty good for just over a week in now.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 9 Jan 2013, 05:18 am: Fingertips getting awfully thick :green: Been playing every day for hours.

I am definitely getting this amp

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ID30Combo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFdXnGCyJT8 - all solid state, brand new technology.

as soon as they have it in stock. Just does way too much and such a good price. Girl I know plays bass and is buying Rocksmith to jam with me, another girl I know has a drumkit. Hopefully in a month the three of us can get together to jam after I've put in more time.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: jackman on 9 Jan 2013, 01:52 pm: Very good to hear you are keeping up with your playing. Girls in the band is good incentive to practice. I looked for Rocksmith but I was sold out. You should get one of these and learn to play like the great Junior Brown. Twang is cool!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=VRMNeoaosQw
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: jtwrace on 9 Jan 2013, 02:27 pm: Rclark

Post a vid of your playing! I want to see how far you've come in such a short time. :thumb:
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 9 Jan 2013, 03:52 pm: Quote from: jackman on 9 Jan 2013, 01:52 pm
Very good to hear you are keeping up with your playing. Girls in the band is good incentive to practice. I looked for Rocksmith but I was sold out. You should get one of these and learn to play like the great Junior Brown. Twang is cool!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=VRMNeoaosQw

Jr is the shiitte...I saw him about 10 years ago....he is like Country on Acid....

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 9 Jan 2013, 07:50 pm: Quote from: jackman on 9 Jan 2013, 01:52 pm
Very good to hear you are keeping up with your playing. Girls in the band is good incentive to practice. I looked for Rocksmith but I was sold out. You should get one of these and learn to play like the great Junior Brown. Twang is cool!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=VRMNeoaosQw

Wait for Bandfuse, it will be even better, I think. Google it.

@JT, I will, in like a month or two :D. That's still a pretty short time. currently struggling hard with the solo, I can only play all the way through at 35% complexity full speed.

Gonna watch your vid here Jackman.. Bandfuse will use actual tab format, and will include ability to add microphone. Plus I think it teaches you some theory. The next level of this stuff, out in a few months.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 13 Jan 2013, 05:02 am: Be careful what you wish for, they say. So the girl with the bass is coming over on thursday to start practicing, the girl with the drums is ready whenever I am (I told her to give me another month to practice), she's going to move them into my place, and turns out there's (yes) another girl who plays piano, keyboard, who wants to come mess around.

We're jokingly calling the thing "Cee Lo White".

this is the first song I want us to completely master http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7lULaE6kv4. I can sing it because there's no singing while the guitar is going and also the guitar part is technical, but not overly fast, and I could maybe have it by a month or so if I try really hard and put in the time. the BlackStar digital amp I'm getting should be able to mimick that tone exactly. Anyway, I'm coming up with a list of five or six other songs for us to practice as well, should be a hoot.

Meanwhile, making daily improvements. Not a real guitarist yet, but on my way.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Ericus Rex on 13 Jan 2013, 02:42 pm: Djoo order your Chapman guitar? I see they're prepping for a March delivery.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 14 Jan 2013, 09:23 am: No, I've decided I'm gonna order the BlackStar ID 260 (which is the full on, 2*60 watt, 2*12 combo rig) and that's gonna run me about $700. My Ibanez is just fine for the time being, it's proving to be a very decent cheap guitar.

I was going to get the ID 30, but then I realized I should get the 60 watt, and then I realized hell only a little more for a full giggable version.

I need an amp first before another guitar.

I'm on a mailing list for the BS, they aren't even out yet, and I'm going to want the footpedals for it too.

I'm actually about to make a thread about them right now, apparently they are a longtime, heritage tube amplifier company, but after years developing have come out with this ID series, all digital, and it's quite a wonder. It deserves a post. doin' it raht naw.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 14 Jan 2013, 12:29 pm: If you want to play The Ramones and look the part, here is a website.

http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/ (http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/)

Look at the Mach Two guitar. It is a reproduction of the Mosrite MarkII that Johnny Ramone played.

Have fun with the new amp! :)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: steve in jersey on 14 Jan 2013, 07:00 pm: Let' see how good everyone's guitar trivia is. (It's an easy one, let's see how long it takes someone to get it)

What "guitar group" of the early 60s played Mosrite Guitars ? (Every kid learned how to play 1 or 2 of their songs as the first things they learned to play)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 14 Jan 2013, 07:06 pm: The Ventures.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 14 Jan 2013, 07:48 pm: Quote from: HAL on 14 Jan 2013, 12:29 pm
If you want to play The Ramones and look the part, here is a website.

http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/ (http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/)

Look at the Mach Two guitar. It is a reproduction of the Mosrite MarkII that Johnny Ramone played.

Have fun with the new amp! :)

Thanks Hal! No, I only wanna use the Ramones for maybe five or six songs. Just to get us to gel together. That is a sick guitar though. I always thought Johnny Ramone looked super cool. Hung the guitar really low.

(It will be a riot though when the three of us get to say "Hey Ho! Let's go!" for Blitzkrieg Bop. Or their patented "1234!")
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: jackman on 14 Jan 2013, 08:11 pm: Quote from: HAL on 14 Jan 2013, 12:29 pm
If you want to play The Ramones and look the part, here is a website.

http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/ (http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/)

Look at the Mach Two guitar. It is a reproduction of the Mosrite MarkII that Johnny Ramone played.

Have fun with the new amp! :)

Jack White is known to play something similar. Pretty sure it's not an Eastwood but I'm sure I can't afford the real thing anyway.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=03YUgHAshSo
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 14 Jan 2013, 08:14 pm: I have seen the Eastwood Mark2 for as low as $699.00 with a HSC. Pretty good for a recreation guitar.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: jackman on 14 Jan 2013, 08:22 pm: I've tried some Eastwood guitars. Very cool looking and good playing. Lots of good inexpensive guitars these days. I've got too many guitars it would like a funky Eastwood someday. I think the guy from Black Keys plays one sometimes or at least one that looks similar to the one jack white plays.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 14 Jan 2013, 08:41 pm: You can get a good entry level acoustic or electric for around $300.00 that play easy and in tune. I wish that was the case 40+ years ago. That said, to get a true professional quality instrument you will need to pay the piper.

Sure, there are this band or that group who play entry or intermediate quality instruments, but that is the exception and not the rule.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 14 Jan 2013, 09:09 pm: Here is an interesting guitar project using a $100 used instrument.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2012/12/04/166430924/a-100-guitar-makes-a-30-000-mile-odyssey (http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2012/12/04/166430924/a-100-guitar-makes-a-30-000-mile-odyssey)

Have a copy of the CD coming from Amazon.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 14 Jan 2013, 09:24 pm: I think it's cooler to have music made on a cheap guitar, than on some spendy thing. Even then, a full on Gibson Les Paul can be had for $700, and not too many people would call that a bad guitar.

I'm getting a Chapman ML-2. All high end parts, internet direct, Emotiva style.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 14 Jan 2013, 09:30 pm: A few of the early CURE albums were made with Robert Smith's $20 Woolworth's special. And those albums kick ass.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 14 Jan 2013, 09:30 pm: Maybe you should check out Carvin, they are a small company based in California that sells factory Direct and at more than reasonable prices.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 14 Jan 2013, 09:35 pm: Ah pretty slick, I'll have to consider them too.

I will want something with a tremelo bar too. Although My Ibanez appears ready to take one. It seems to have a trem system and there is a hole there. But I want a good one that won't go out of tune.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 15 Jan 2013, 01:59 am: I take back anything bad I've ever said about Nirvana. I can play "Breed" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teetvAUcG_E at 86% total accuracy now and it is an absolute BLAST.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: jtwrace on 15 Jan 2013, 02:06 am: Quote from: Rclark on 14 Jan 2013, 09:24 pm
I think it's cooler to have music made on a cheap guitar, than on some spendy thing. Even then, a full on Gibson Les Paul can be had for $700, and not too many people would call that a bad guitar.

I'm getting a Chapman ML-2. All high end parts, internet direct, Emotiva style.
The PRS that's $700 is pretty damn good too.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 15 Jan 2013, 02:13 am: I had a PRS SE Soapbar for awhile. A lot heavier than my SG's. More like a Strat in weight.

Go for the one with dual HB's if you do not want a lot of noise and hum pickup from the soapbars.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 15 Jan 2013, 02:29 am: The PRS I liked is the new Dave Navarro signature
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 15 Jan 2013, 03:46 am: Starting to get the hang of it, check the stats, very nearly maxed out this song. :thumb:

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73767)

20 days into this awesome journey.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 17 Jan 2013, 02:25 am: :thumb: I am this close to 100% on "Breed" by Nirvana, with the tremelo'd solo and everything, I am inches away, and I looked down at my guitar

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=73856)

and was very proud to see the remains of my heavy Fender pick strewn about my pickups. :green:

Anyway, I made it past 21 days @ 3 hours a day minimum (a lot of all-days too). So it's officially an ingrained habit. Doin' good. Music theory is coming along as well. I'm up to calculating rests, dotted notes, triplets, etc.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: lonewolfny42 on 17 Jan 2013, 02:51 am: Try some Green Day... that's easy... :wink:

On another note....careful when you go on tour.... complimentary guitar crushing... (http://now.msn.com/delta-air-lines-crushes-vintage-gibson-guitar-of-musician-dave-schneider) :o
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 17 Jan 2013, 02:56 am: I'd rather play Sex Pistols :thumb:

(I'll just have JTWrace whip me up a case ala Ncore tour :icon_lol:)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: lonewolfny42 on 17 Jan 2013, 03:00 am: Quote
I'd rather play Sex Pistols

God Save The Queen....
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 17 Jan 2013, 03:04 am: Anarchy in the UK! Perfect. And God Save the Queen, I'm doin' those two. Gotta get tab, Rocksmith doesn't have em. But if they're anything like Ramones I'll learn both songs in about five minutes.

Nirvana is something of a step up from punk rock (as far as difficulty).
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 17 Jan 2013, 03:07 am: Gabba, Gabba, Hey!

Gimme, Gimme, shock treatment!
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 17 Jan 2013, 03:09 am: Lobotomy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ssoBUb2cJk

Alright.. back at it. Gonna 100% this song before the night is through..
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: lonewolfny42 on 17 Jan 2013, 03:12 am: Sounds like a ....Personality Crisis ... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctg5FCS1wCM) :lol:
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 17 Jan 2013, 03:51 am: Oh no, I need some Motorhead next, that's more like it.

I'm so close now, I can taste my first 100% completion at 100% difficulty, I have all the techniques for the song nailed but now my hands are falling off... the night is young though..
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 17 Jan 2013, 10:41 pm: ...So last night my middle fret finger nearly started bleeding from not being used to barring so much. I had to stop, but I'm certain I'll nail it tonight. I have every part of the song down, I even make the tremelo'd notes sound like the album.

That said, as a brand new guitar student, and now knowing I can comfortably play any punk rock song that comes along, it's a little dissappointing how simple they are to play now that I'm at that level. It's like finding out Santa isn't real. But on the same token, it shows that songwriting, and delivery are paramount. All the technical noodling in the world does not a great song make...
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: lonewolfny42 on 18 Jan 2013, 06:39 am: http://www.brodiecumming.com/events.html

I'll add...number 101... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rTTs3cD3Ug)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 18 Jan 2013, 07:56 am: Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 18 Jan 2013, 06:39 am
http://www.brodiecumming.com/events.html

WOOOOOW.. That guy is awesome.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 18 Jan 2013, 03:08 pm: Alvin Lee, the man with the fast hands!
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: jtwrace on 18 Jan 2013, 03:41 pm: Quote from: Rclark on 17 Jan 2013, 10:41 pm
...So last night my middle fret finger nearly started bleeding from not being used to barring so much. I had to stop, but I'm certain I'll nail it tonight. I have every part of the song down, I even make the tremelo'd notes sound like the album.

That said, as a brand new guitar student, and now knowing I can comfortably play any punk rock song that comes along, it's a little dissappointing how simple they are to play now that I'm at that level. It's like finding out Santa isn't real. But on the same token, it shows that songwriting, and delivery are paramount. All the technical noodling in the world does not a great song make...

I'll also add that playing a song is just the beginning. No matter how many hours you spend playing you always learn something new and exciting.

OTOH, I got to play with a new Gibson Les Paul Standard yesterday. It's pretty awesome. Heavy at 9.2 lbs but really really nice. It's amazing what some science has done with them.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 18 Jan 2013, 03:50 pm: Did the Les Paul have the new MinETune system with the robot tuners? That looks interesting from the tech side.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: medium jim on 18 Jan 2013, 04:42 pm: Quote from: jtwrace on 18 Jan 2013, 03:41 pm
I'll also add that playing a song is just the beginning. No matter how many hours you spend playing you always learn something new and exciting.

OTOH, I got to play with a new Gibson Les Paul Standard yesterday. It's pretty awesome. Heavy at 9.2 lbs but really really nice. It's amazing what some science has done with them.

Yeah, like learning how to tune by ear, sure helps when setting up a stereo...it is a skill that you can learn, or maybe you have perfect pitch (I'm damn close) :thumb: Where it really helps is when trying to learn a new song as you can pick out the notes rather easy, as well as the chord changes.

Jim
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: jtwrace on 19 Jan 2013, 11:56 am: Quote from: HAL on 18 Jan 2013, 03:50 pm
Did the Les Paul have the new MinETune system with the robot tuners? That looks interesting from the tech side.
No
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 20 Jan 2013, 06:40 am: .. Is it possible to overpractice?

I'm putting in a lot of time with the guitar, and I'm happy that's the case, I'd hoped to like it this much, but.. Can one play too much? I'm never getting any pain or anything, but I play until my hands get exhausted and then I just plow through that and try harder (it's almost fun when they get tired though). Of course, I stop when it gives out, and break, but I find myself getting antsy doing anything else and eventually end up back in here with the guitar on. I'd play all day if I could, I'm convinced of that, at least it feels that way now.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Ericus Rex on 20 Jan 2013, 02:35 pm: Be sure you warm up really well before you play all day. Otherwise, you're flirting with tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrone. I would also say you shouldn't just play through the pain. Your body is telling you to take a break when the pain starts. Proper warm-up will prolong your practice time before pain. I went to a master class with Steve Morse and he mentioned that he usually spends about an hour a day in warm-up exercises :o
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Rclark on 20 Jan 2013, 07:08 pm: Damn. Nobody ever told me about this stuff. There's always a catch.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 21 Jan 2013, 12:13 pm: I just learned something: Neal Young's "Old Blackie" is actually a poorly painted Gold Top which has a P90 on the neck and a Firebird pickup on the bridge plus he's got a switch to bypass all of the caps and pots and send the signal straight to the amp.
That explains the distinctive sound he gets when he's flailing away at it.

On the subject of guitar mods, I always like Zappa's idea of putting a Barcus Berry into the fretboard. He was a clever guy.

Alvin Lee is one of the most under rated guitarists in rock and roll. I saw him play in the early 80s and he was just so impressive to watch. He just made it look effortless on that big 335.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 10 May 2013, 02:04 am: Frank Zappa Roxy SG.
It's about time!

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/SG/Gibson-USA/Frank-Zappa-Roxy-SG.aspx
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: FullRangeMan on 10 May 2013, 02:44 am: Quote from: Ericus Rex on 20 Jan 2013, 02:35 pm
Be sure you warm up really well before you play all day. Otherwise, you're flirting with tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrone. I would also say you shouldn't just play through the pain. Your body is telling you to take a break when the pain starts. Proper warm-up will prolong your practice time before pain. I went to a master class with Steve Morse and he mentioned that he usually spends about an hour a day in warm-up exercises :o
There is some Vitamins suited to beefup tendons but I unaware which.
When I took the Sunvite multi vitamin I felt a lot strength on hands.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: FullRangeMan on 10 May 2013, 02:51 am: Quote from: SteveFord on 10 May 2013, 02:04 am
Frank Zappa Roxy SG.
It's about time!

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/SG/Gibson-USA/Frank-Zappa-Roxy-SG.aspx
This is the guitar from Watermelon in Easter Hay recorded in the Joe Garage CD??

Frank giving a smoke in Steve Vai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEnzdp71U78
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 10 May 2013, 10:22 pm: Here's the Roxy one in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnDqHppWS_Q
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 8 Dec 2013, 03:28 pm: If you have a satin finish Gibson I can recommend Mother's California Gold carnauba paste wax.
It has a mild cleanser and really brings out a nice glow to the finish.
I'll have to try that on my Guild acoustic and see what that does to the old girl.

Tried the Guild - cleaned it up some but nothing like what it did with the Satin ES-335.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: gnuyork on 8 Dec 2013, 04:14 pm: Hello, new member here.

I already found the guitar thread, lol.

my beauties:

(http://wiseheadproductions.com/ftp/photo/watch/L1013793.jpg)

(http://wiseheadproductions.com/ftp/photo/watch/L1013792.jpg)

(http://wiseheadproductions.com/ftp/photo/watch/L1013790.jpg)

(http://wiseheadproductions.com/ftp/photo/watch/goldtops.jpg)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 8 Dec 2013, 09:30 pm: gnuyork,
That gold top must rip through the half stack.
Your particular model is on my bucket list as that is THE one to get.
I've only been procrastinating for 32 years...
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: CactusBob on 10 Dec 2013, 11:47 pm: Nice looking gear there gnuyork. That Strat looks tasty with that Clark Tweed and that P-Bass!! Would like some detailed info on the guitars as well as that beautiful Gretsch kit.

I love your 335 Steve! I always wanted an red 335 like Alvin's. Back in 71' I traded my Polaris White SG Jr. that I bought new in '66 for a new Japanese Epiphone EA 250 in red. I couldn't afford a real 335. A poor trade on my part. I want my SG Jr. back!!! :duh:

I'll have to post some of my left handed goodness here.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: spence on 11 Dec 2013, 12:00 am: I like Gold too!
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=91172)
And a good ole' bird
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=91174)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 11 Dec 2013, 12:13 am: More nice guitars!
I broke out some DuPont No. 7 rubbing compound and some Mother's California Gold paste wax and buffed the satin finish out to a low gloss. I guess snowstorms are good for something after all.
After I took the picture I noticed that the low E string wasn't in the saddle. Oh well.
It's not the fanciest guitar but it's my favorite.

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=91176)

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=91177)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: CactusBob on 11 Dec 2013, 12:25 am: Beautiful Steve! Alvin would be smiling! :thumb:
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 11 Dec 2013, 12:39 am: Well I guess I am an Gibson SG kinda guy.

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=91179)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 11 Dec 2013, 12:43 am: You think? :D

I saw my old SG Standard that I bought back in Jr. High School at the Philadelphia Guitar Show a little while back.
Not the same year or the same model but the same guitar. I'd know that one anywhere.
I did a double take and then kept going as I had like 3 bucks to my name and couldn't bear to look at it.
If I see it again next year the mortgage can wait!
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: WireNut on 11 Dec 2013, 02:47 am: :o Nice.....
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 15 Dec 2013, 05:33 pm: Do I have some news!
Last year I had to sell my beautiful red Gibson Lucille to make a mortgage payment which just about killed me.
I wrote to the fellow who I sold it to and he still has it and he's going to hold it until I get my tax refund and sell it back to me!
This is the best news I've had all year, I can't believe it!
This is easily the best guitar I've ever owned.

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=91501)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: WireNut on 15 Dec 2013, 05:45 pm: Awesome news Steve. That sure is a beautiful guitar :o
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 15 Dec 2013, 08:37 pm: Thanks!
Their top of the line instruments just have a certain feel to them, you can tell just the second you pick them up that you're dealing with something really exceptional which was built by people who took a lot of pride in their work.
I've only owned two other guitars which had that same feel to them (a red Firebird VII and a really wild Explorer).
It's hard to describe but you just know it when you pick up THE guitar, the class kind of oozes out of it.

I guess it makes the tedious slog that is my adult life worth it!
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 7 Jan 2014, 10:06 pm: (http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=92642)

Did somebody say Power Chords?
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 7 Feb 2014, 10:29 pm: I had to sell my SG to get this one, but there was just no way to pass it up.
2011 Les Paul Special, P90s, gloss TV Yellow finish, ebony fret board. It's just about perfect.

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=94402)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=94403)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=94404)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Ericus Rex on 8 Feb 2014, 12:25 am: Quote from: SteveFord on 7 Feb 2014, 10:29 pm
I had to sell my SG to get this one, but there was just no way to pass it up.
2011 Les Paul Special, P90s, gloss TV Yellow finish, ebony fret board. It's just about perfect.

SWEET! I've got P90s in my LP and they scream! Love that vintage yellow!
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 3 Mar 2014, 10:09 pm: The mail man was nice to me today!

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=95837)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: k6davis on 3 Mar 2014, 10:16 pm: Congratulations Steve.

She's a beauty.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Ericus Rex on 4 Mar 2014, 01:10 am: Quote from: SteveFord on 3 Mar 2014, 10:09 pm
The mail man was nice to me today!

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=95837)

And that's the very guitar you wrote about a while back. Yes?
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 4 Mar 2014, 10:10 am: That's the one.
My wife said I'd be an idiot to ever sell it again as I'm only going to get it back once.
She's okay in my book.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: jackman on 5 Mar 2014, 01:04 am: Steve, cool wife! Also, nice guitars. I am a sucker for TV yellow or TV white as some call it. My guitar is not nearly as nice as they gloss Les Paul but I've got a faded yellow Les Paul Special DC. It's so light and those P90s scream. Haven't played in a while but your pictures make me want to play.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 5 Mar 2014, 01:19 am: I had that exact same model - double cutaway in faded TV yellow.
That was such a fun, easy guitar to play and the P90s really sound good in that model, too.
You should dig it out and get back into it again.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: GT Audio Works on 5 Mar 2014, 12:32 pm: Congrats on getting it back Steve...a beautiful instrument. For me this is what a guitar should look like.

It made me think of my first big 2 wheeler my grandpa got me so long ago.
We went to an auction and he said I could have any one I wanted.
It was red with white pin stripes and looked a lot like this.

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=95890)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 6 Mar 2014, 12:29 am: I see what you mean about the bicycle and the guitar - they're both old designs.
It must be difficult being a guitar manufacturer as they were pretty much perfected by the late 1950s and ever since all they've been doing is rehashing the same thing and trying out dubious improvements.

Your son's Strat, this big red one, Jackman's double cutaway Les Paul - they're all old designs with maybe a few new touches on them.
The Lucille has no F-holes and a fine tuning tail piece; other than that, it's basically an ES-355 which came out in the late 50s.

Those guys just nailed it way back when; they all had that eye for pleasing lines and they've certainly stood the test of time.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: HAL on 6 Mar 2014, 02:56 am: Then in 1961 came the SG, introduced as the replacement to the original Les Paul body. :)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 6 Mar 2014, 11:24 pm: I'm sure that the SG is Gibson's best selling electric, too, for good reason.
You've got the neck through the body design of the Firebird in 1963 and that's really about it for major innovations in guitar design.
I guess if you count active electronics, alternate body materials and no peg heads the guitar has continued to evolve but I'd say that's more of a sideshow than a main event.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: bunky on 7 Mar 2014, 12:56 am: I bought a mint Parker PM10 three months ago and I just bought a flawless wine red Parker PM20 last week.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=95944)
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 21 Mar 2014, 12:32 pm: (http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=96652)
I didn't want to do this but the temptation was too great to resist.
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: Ericus Rex on 21 Mar 2014, 03:58 pm: I love Firebirds! Is that one new or vintage?
Title: Re: The Guitar Thread
Post by: SteveFord on 21 Mar 2014, 05:05 pm: I've always had a thing for them, myself. There's just so many cool features to the design.

This one is a 2013 which somebody owned for a little bit and it's in perfect shape.
I was really leery of the Steinberger tuners but once I figured out how to use them they work great - they hold perfect tune with brand new strings.
I owned two 2007 Firebirds before (a flamed maple Guitar of the Week) and a VII and it looks like they've changed the neck profile to a slimmer, narrower one and are using lower frets so it's really easy to play.
Next year I'll get another VII because that was just one hell of a guitar - the second you picked it up you could feel how it was in a class of it's own.