The Guitar Thread

HAL · « **Reply #20 on:** 1 Jan 2013, 08:05 pm »

This would be one of mine:

medium jim · « **Reply #21 on:** 1 Jan 2013, 08:30 pm »

So there are some SG fans here

Here's a nice 1968 Gibson SG Custom:

Jim

HAL · « **Reply #22 on:** 1 Jan 2013, 08:40 pm »

Very nice!

I have the Epiphone G400 Custom version:

There are 7 SG's here!

SteveFord · « **Reply #23 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.

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.

Rclark · « **Reply #24 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:

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

medium jim · « **Reply #25 on:** 1 Jan 2013, 11:12 pm »

9's are for wimps and old men, real guys play 10's

Jim

SteveFord · « **Reply #26 on:** 1 Jan 2013, 11:23 pm »

I'm a wimp!

medium jim · « **Reply #27 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

Jim

HAL · « **Reply #28 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.

Rclark · « **Reply #29 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.

SteveFord · « **Reply #30 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.

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #31 on:** 2 Jan 2013, 12:05 am »

That Chapman looks nice! Is it available in the US?

medium jim · « **Reply #32 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

Rclark · « **Reply #33 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.

SteveFord · « **Reply #34 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.

Rclark · « **Reply #35 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.

Rclark · « **Reply #36 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.

medium jim · « **Reply #37 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

SteveFord · « **Reply #38 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.

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.

medium jim · « **Reply #39 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