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Drunk Driver Dad posted:I don't think it runs their plug-ins yet, but it's supposed to at some point.
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# ? May 8, 2022 18:12 |
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# ? Jun 8, 2024 14:27 |
nwin posted:So I want a telecaster…why? I just want one. MIM if you want the authentic thing, Schecter PT or LTD TE if you want a humbucker configuration. You should be able to get those anywhere from the $350-500 haggling on reverb. Buy used and haggle For what it's worth, the satin maple necks on late 90s/early 2000s MIM fenders are my favorite goddamn thing so if they speak to you I highly recommend going that route, but I also have and enjoy the PT (though I did have to swap out the stock pickups). I actually bought an MIA after the MIM and ended up selling the american. I haven't played the TE but they look so pretty
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# ? May 8, 2022 18:37 |
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Drunk Driver Dad posted:I don't think it runs their plug-ins yet, but it's supposed to at some point. Either way, I'm definitely going with Helix whenever I can. Is there any real reason to spend money on a Helix floor, as opposed to a Helix LT which is like 500ish cheaper? I think the LT just doesn't have as fancy of an i/o and user interface? I'd mostly edit preset stuff on the computer. And if I ever get a social life I'd have a Helix/FRFR cab I could just carry around. And if I somehow ever con my way into playing a show, I think these days you just can have the sound guy run the Helix to their PA set up? Seems like a Helix covers everything. I just find the LT really ugly but other than that theres no real benefit to the floor DSP wise. A couple people on forums complain about the LTs expression pedal being more breakable than the floor. The floors scribble strips are nice especially if you run a complex setup with a lot of automation tied to every switch (its nice having strips that just say VERSE/CHORUS/WHATEVER) The floor has mic input and I think more loops if you want to integrate it into other equipment. If my floor broke id probably survive with an LT but I wouldn't love it like the floor. e; also something unrelated I just found out yesterdaythat I love on the helix: the looper/synth pad effect can keep playing while youre tuning so you dont have to tune silently like an awkward goon.
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# ? May 8, 2022 18:48 |
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Matt Zerella posted:https://xsonicaudio.com/products/xtone-pro poo poo. this is the solution, isn't it. Thank you! It's even got an exp pedal input, which I really want on the next setup. This is literally perfect for what I need.
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# ? May 8, 2022 20:41 |
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This is a stupid question but what exactly is the use case for FRFR cabinets? It seems like 99% of the time you could just plug directly into FoH live or into a computer/interface/studio monitors/headphones for practice and recording. I'm just a dumb hobbiest though, so I'm assuming I'm missing something since they seem so popular.syntaxfunction posted:If we're restarting the thread with a fresh OP I'd be happy to write up a bunch of stuff that might interest people, especially in terms of writing guitar parts. Things like complimentary chords and melodies (or counter), how to fit in a mix, etc. This would be great. I'm a solidly intermediate player and this kind of stuff is helpful and kind of hard to come by in a useful format outside of one-on-one instruction
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# ? May 8, 2022 20:44 |
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Jonny 290 posted:poo poo. this is the solution, isn't it. Thank you! You’re welcome. I’ve only had mine for a few weeks but the build is really solid.
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# ? May 8, 2022 20:45 |
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800peepee51doodoo posted:This is a stupid question but what exactly is the use case for FRFR cabinets? It seems like 99% of the time you could just plug directly into FoH live or into a computer/interface/studio monitors/headphones for practice and recording. I'm just a dumb hobbiest though, so I'm assuming I'm missing something since they seem so popular. This isn't a dumb take at all. FRFR is a buzzword. Think of them instead as "a PA system for your amp sim rig." They're just PA monitors with some lipstick and eyeliner on the marketing copy. You can use them to throw a house party with a DJ rig, or set them up to play tunes in the park off a phone, orrrrrrrr plug your helix in and there's your 'guitar rig.' And if you're at a live show with a house PA, they're a known quantity for your floor monitor instead of using whatever plywood and sadness Peavey wedge the house has.
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# ? May 8, 2022 20:46 |
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Jonny 290 posted:And if you're at a live show with a house PA, they're a known quantity for your floor monitor instead of using whatever plywood and sadness Peavey wedge the house has. I suppose that makes sense, although it seems like in-ears would be overall better. I don't know though, I don't play live. Seems to me one of the advantages of modelers is that you can eliminate some heavy gear and adding a special powered speaker cab defeats some of that.
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# ? May 8, 2022 21:17 |
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Also a FRFR speaker is probably more portable and better sounding if you wanna go to your buddies house and jam. My monitors are only 6.5" but a Headrush FRFR speaker is a single 12, so I'm just assuming that's better for jam environment. I think of them as the guitar amplifier version of studio monitors, minus the preamp of course.
Drunk Driver Dad fucked around with this message at 22:03 on May 8, 2022 |
# ? May 8, 2022 22:01 |
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Dr. Faustus posted:Feels good, man. There is really nothing like it. Saw a female-fronted cover band in NC get posted on tik tok, they conveniently didn’t pan over to the guitarist, so this must be Dr Faustus’ band. [link removed because it might be an unwelcome dox] duodenum fucked around with this message at 22:18 on May 8, 2022 |
# ? May 8, 2022 22:14 |
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800peepee51doodoo posted:I suppose that makes sense, although it seems like in-ears would be overall better. I don't know though, I don't play live. Seems to me one of the advantages of modelers is that you can eliminate some heavy gear and adding a special powered speaker cab defeats some of that. the frfr's / powered monitors are so much lighter than guitar cabs, which generally just make up the difference by all being made out of insanely heavy 13/16" plywood or whatever. The monitors are very tote-able. I say, as i stare at this stupid rear end 600w ashdown bass 2x10 that requires me to lift for a couple days before I'm ready to even move it.
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# ? May 8, 2022 22:17 |
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Also a normal cab is going to have it's own sound and not work with IRs as well as a FRFR cab, as far as I understand it. Plus you'd need a power amp to go along with it.
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# ? May 8, 2022 22:24 |
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Jonny 290 posted:the frfr's / powered monitors are so much lighter than guitar cabs, which generally just make up the difference by all being made out of insanely heavy 13/16" plywood or whatever. The monitors are very tote-able. I say, as i stare at this stupid rear end 600w ashdown bass 2x10 that requires me to lift for a couple days before I'm ready to even move it. Fair enough, I've never handled them and assumed they were as heavy as any other speaker cab, especially with an integrated amplifier. Drunk Driver Dad posted:Also a normal cab is going to have it's own sound and not work with IRs as well as a FRFR cab, as far as I understand it. Plus you'd need a power amp to go along with it. Right, yeah, that's kind of the reason to use them as I understand it. You can set up your own cab sims and virtual mic placement and whatever in the modeler and ideally the FRFR speakers will project it correctly. I just figured that since they are glorified PA speakers they would be largely redundant in most of the applications I was envisioning.
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# ? May 8, 2022 23:28 |
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Alright y'all I'll try to start writing some stuff up for everyone, starting with same basic topics and going into the niche. Full disclaimer I'm not really a professional in that I have been paid for music stuff (and production more honestly) but it isn't a job or career. So it's all just my opinions and knowledge I've cobbled together over my life playing. If it goes in a new thread feel free to edit the poo poo out of it lol
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# ? May 8, 2022 23:36 |
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Boss Katanas have come up a bunch, I think specifically This 50W Mk2 version for home practice? Just wanted to check, looks good to me and think it makes sense to give it a go before exploring effects further. Pretty good price new so I may drive over tomorrow and pick one up. Super secondary- it's not going to have issues with being used as a bass amp as well is it? Not a deal-breaker at all but thought I best ask. What's a good price for guitar lessons now BTW? I've found £30 per hour so far, £35 or so if I go for the one down the street instead of driving 10 mins. BizarroAzrael fucked around with this message at 00:49 on May 9, 2022 |
# ? May 9, 2022 00:45 |
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I'm torn on what my next gear purchase should be. I kind of want to get another amp head (most likely a Marshall DSL100HR) but all this talk of modellers and effects units is making me want to pick up a Helix HX Effects box. I don't need the amp sim stuff but my old BOSS ME-25 is showing its age and modern DSP based effects boxes are so friggin nice. It looks like the HX Effects can be wired up with the four-cable method which could be super handy to run into my Mark V once Mesa tells me how to fix the effects loop in it. I wish ol' mate BOSS would just fuckin throw the guts of the Katana into a pedalboard unit with a little touchscreen and the option to disable the amp modeler. That would absolutely rule.
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# ? May 9, 2022 02:32 |
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BizarroAzrael posted:What's a good price for guitar lessons now BTW? I've found £30 per hour so far, £35 or so if I go for the one down the street instead of driving 10 mins. Related: I’m keen to figure out how to find a good teacher! There seems to be heaps but not sure where to start…
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# ? May 9, 2022 03:32 |
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Kazinsal posted:I wish ol' mate BOSS would just fuckin throw the guts of the Katana into a pedalboard unit with a little touchscreen and the option to disable the amp modeler. That would absolutely rule. I *think* thats what these are: https://www.boss.info/us/products/gt-1/ Idk about turning the modelling off though e: and no touch screen lol. but it is katana guts!
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# ? May 9, 2022 04:20 |
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Red_Fred posted:Related: I’m keen to figure out how to find a good teacher! There seems to be heaps but not sure where to start… My advice would be to ask people you know for recommendations. Otherwise, search in your local markets and give things a try. If you think you’ll learn and enjoy your time, great. If not, talk to them and move on if you still have doubts. One last bit of advice is to come with some ideas about what you want to work on too.
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# ? May 9, 2022 04:33 |
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massive spider posted:I just find the LT really ugly but other than that theres no real benefit to the floor DSP wise. Were you the one I got to the moog factory for a FolkTek mescaline? I don't remember, it's been over a year but I was curious how the folktek has worked out for you. $500 for that was a steal. EDIT: I am in the wrong thread, hah. sorry about that. Cheese Thief fucked around with this message at 07:16 on May 9, 2022 |
# ? May 9, 2022 06:26 |
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What I meant to come in here and say, I've throughly enjoyed having played guitar daily around large groups of people (at work). I went through a johnny b good thing and all the patients started clapping together in rhythm, there are lots of cool experiences like that every day. But it's helped my mind make new songs, because the only way I've ever played is making it all up, but experimenting with new tunings + an audience and I've came up with several "songs" that I love playing.
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# ? May 9, 2022 07:18 |
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Malaria posted:Probably could use some basic instructions for audio interfaces and plug-ins too and DAWs. Even if it's just "get a cheap Focusrite and use reaper". If I had known guitar plugins had become so good I probably would have tried guitar sooner. I grabbed a cheap guitar and a few and it was like $200 to start playing. I already had an audio interface and daw experience though so I'm probably not a normal beginner.
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# ? May 9, 2022 09:08 |
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I've been checking out guitar setup, I mean to do a few bits and pieces and I think I need to adjust the truss rod on my Gretsch. I've looked down it and the neck looks pretty much straight, I gather it should be very slightly concave? My Epiphone does seem to have a slight concave curve to it so can use that as a guide.
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# ? May 9, 2022 12:36 |
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800peepee51doodoo posted:This is a stupid question but what exactly is the use case for FRFR cabinets? It seems like 99% of the time you could just plug directly into FoH live or into a computer/interface/studio monitors/headphones for practice and recording.
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# ? May 9, 2022 13:10 |
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I hate the idea of in-ears but I may have to since I’m writing a set with a lot of sequenced tracks and the alternative is playing a click track through the frfr.
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# ? May 9, 2022 14:38 |
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Got some toys, the HB Jazzmaster I may not do yet, need to figure how to cut the headstock. Tele is nice for the money, feels good in hand even if you'd never mistake it for something expensive. Pick guard is a bit bleh, very obviously a tortoise shell image printed on, but not a serious issue and fixable. Gig bag seems decent for a £15 upgrade with a cable. And I picked up a Boss Katana, seems sweet already, even at .5 watts out of consideration for my neighbors. Definitely better getting my amp upgraded before effects.
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# ? May 9, 2022 23:10 |
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Noise Machine posted:Long time listener, first(ish) time poster itt i can't argue against the importance of knowing chord voicings inside and out. i'm used to being able to look at my jam partner's hands and use that to figure out what to play next, but that doesn't work if i've never played in the weird tuning. As it turned out, i ended up using my ears more than my eyes, but playing very conservatively to start out with. Starting with just bass notes or power chords, then maybe some triads after a couple repetitions, once i knew what to expect. But most of the time, i just tried to improvise a nice melody that respects the chord changes. My jam partner seemed unaccustomed to playing with others, so keeping time was a struggle. In this situation, i exaggerate my body movements in order to really embody whatever rhythm i was feeling, hoping he would entrain with me. Mixed results -- he was nervous lol. He'll get there, I remember being nervous before i learned to jam
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# ? May 10, 2022 02:49 |
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landgrabber posted:playing jazz has really changed my style and made me confront some stuff and it’s all great now. I wanna hear the new sound. Sounds like music school has been good for you -- are you meeting people you actually want to be around on purpose? i hope so. Cheese Thief posted:What I meant to come in here and say, I've throughly enjoyed having played guitar daily around large groups of people (at work). I went through a johnny b good thing and all the patients started clapping together in rhythm, there are lots of cool experiences like that every day. But it's helped my mind make new songs, because the only way I've ever played is making it all up, but experimenting with new tunings + an audience and I've came up with several "songs" that I love playing. pretty cool to have those kinds of musical moments and use music to connect with others on the reg! syntaxfunction posted:Alright y'all I'll try to start writing some stuff up for everyone, starting with same basic topics and going into the niche. Full disclaimer I'm not really a professional in that I have been paid for music stuff (and production more honestly) but it isn't a job or career. sounds cool. the current OP has some good information, but it's out of date, and it tries too hard to be funny. would be nice to have something more up-to-date and with a better vibe
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# ? May 10, 2022 03:07 |
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i am meeting people i want to be around and actually we've talked about getting together and doing some stuff during the summer. i'm really close friends now with a super good drummer actually, and they like the sorta poo poo i do, so i'm going to get my scraps together/notated/organized, and let them pick something, and we'll finish it up. https://vocaroo.com/1wjD0BMJeQdL is an example of the stuff i find myself writing more of now, though, since then, i've started incorporating more 9s and 11s. influence from michelle branch, modern baseball, and weezer
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# ? May 10, 2022 03:24 |
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Hell yeah, I'm actually loving that.
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# ? May 10, 2022 03:34 |
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That is really quite catchy. I’d love a chord chart to mess around with some of those chords myself, but no expectations there. Definitely jam with that drummer though.
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# ? May 10, 2022 05:19 |
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yeah there's more to come on that song. it didn't have any melodies, it's 3 weeks old at this point but this is the last week of school, so basically right after i did it, i went back to school that monday and it got serious as finals approached. lead work needs to be done on it to make the breakdowns a little more interesting, and of course, it needs vocals and lyrics, but i've gotten much better at writing melodies that are actually worth a drat over the last couple months.
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# ? May 10, 2022 05:30 |
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I hope I didn’t mess up, but I’m getting a custom axe. The factory that makes the bad cat guitars (which are great) also does custom orders so I’m having them put together an lp but with a Tele neck. The lp body is the most comfy for me but my Tele is easier to play with the low radius. It was under $300 so we’ll see how it goes. If you goons are interested, I’ll post pics when it gets here or I get an update. They make “replicas” but I asked for a blank headstock although I thought one of the big names on it would be funny
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# ? May 10, 2022 12:43 |
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Have them put a Schecter or BC Rich logo on it.
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# ? May 10, 2022 12:57 |
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Put Casio or Moog on it
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# ? May 10, 2022 13:10 |
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stoopidmunkey posted:I hope I didn’t mess up, but I’m getting a custom axe. The factory that makes the bad cat guitars (which are great) also does custom orders so I’m having them put together an lp but with a Tele neck. The lp body is the most comfy for me but my Tele is easier to play with the low radius. It was under $300 so we’ll see how it goes. If you goons are interested, I’ll post pics when it gets here or I get an update. They make “replicas” but I asked for a blank headstock although I thought one of the big names on it would be funny Regular LP stock with a Fender logo probably funniest, but that sounds interesting, obviously the body is immediately associated with a 3x3 so curious how it will look with an inline. Preemptive
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# ? May 10, 2022 14:16 |
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stoopidmunkey posted:I hope I didn’t mess up, but I’m getting a custom axe. The factory that makes the bad cat guitars (which are great) also does custom orders Do you know offhand if they'll do any baritone stuff? i love my long scale bullshit 29 or 30" tele would make me squeal
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# ? May 10, 2022 18:42 |
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Anyone have any good ideas for where you can get those rubber band strap things for a guitar stand? I have an old double-stand and one of the bands is just about rotted through.
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# ? May 10, 2022 19:12 |
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Baron von Eevl posted:Anyone have any good ideas for where you can get those rubber band strap things for a guitar stand? I have an old double-stand and one of the bands is just about rotted through. I think finding the part will be pretty tricky. On-Stage has a part for something similar, but none are available: https://on-stage.com/products/view/10586 I think you might have to settle for a substitute like a nice rubber band or a scrunchy.
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# ? May 10, 2022 21:16 |
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# ? Jun 8, 2024 14:27 |
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Hello and welcome to the guitar thread! Chances are you are familiar with the types of sounds that come out of guitars. Something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI6t829uDfo&ab_channel=GuitarSalonInternational or this! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvo-4x3y9aU&ab_channel=CarterVintageGuitars or this! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU-vvlFvzuk&ab_channel=ATOMICPUNK27 The Wiki says posted:The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strings against frets with the fingers of the opposite hand. A plectrum or individual finger picks may also be used to strike the strings. The sound of the guitar is projected either acoustically, by means of a resonant chamber on the instrument, or amplified by an electronic pickup and an amplifier. But you’re not here to read a wiki, you’re here to There are three broad categories of guitar: nylon-string acoustic, steel-string acoustic, and electric. I’ll give three very basic rules for buying your first guitar: 1. If it feels good to hold and sounds good, it’s a good instrument to start playing on. Do your best to sit down with an instrument before you buy it. Your hands will show you the way. 2. When you close your eyes and imagine yourself happily playing a guitar, what are you playing? That's the instrument you should start on. The “easiest” guitar to learn on is the one you’re most excited to pick up and practice. 3. When in doubt, decide your budget then go out and buy the best Yamaha you can afford. They make universally praised instruments at every price. A $300 Yamaha is going to be on-par with as good as you can do for $300. Same for $200 and $500. Nylon-string Acoustic Typically associated with classical music, they can also work well for simpler strumming. Warm and mellow, they are the naturally quietest of the guitar family and will most-often be amplified through a separate microphone. Looks like this: Starting out, brands to look for are Yamaha and Cordoba (particularly the C5). You’ll see them in either Spruce-top or Cedar-top: Spruce is a little snappier, Cedar is a little warmer. Do not put steel strings on your nylon-string guitar, you will destroy your instrument. Steel-string Acoustic What most people will immediately picture when you say “acoustic,” the steel-string guitar took over the guitar world in the early 20th century, in large part to being much louder than its nylon cousin. Sometimes still amplified through a microphone, often now even inexpensive models will come with on-board systems for plugging into an amp. It’s played across all types of music and comes in several common body sizes. Looks like this: Starting out, brands to look for are Yamaha, Epiphone, Alvarez, and Ibanez. The big, well-known step-up brands are Taylor and Martin. Examples of common sizes are Dreadnought (big and boomy), Orchestra or OM (slightly smaller and may be more comfortable, particularly seated), and Parlor (couch guitars, the quietest and smallest). If you are buying for a smaller learner, it’s important for them to sit with instruments. A giant Dread might look great on Johnny Cash standing on stage, but you may personally seriously struggle with one on your lap on the couch. Smaller guitars are not worse guitars. In general, it’s much more important when buying an acoustic guitar to put your hands on it first. You’d be amazed how different they can sound in person. If you can strum 2-3 chords, you can tell in 30 seconds whether an acoustic is going to work for you. Electric You’re most likely very familiar here. The fun thing is, modern production techniques have made inexpensive guitars pretty amazing. Ask yourself, “what shape guitar does my favorite guitar player play?” Then go play one that shape. Chances are you’ll be happy! Looks like this: And sometimes like this: Cool! Starting out, brands to look for are Squier, Epiphone, Ibanez, and Yamaha (particularly the Pacifica line). BUT WAIT! Your electric guitar will need an amplifier. There’s a LOT of ground to cover here, but as a pure starter I’ll just echo the thread advice. Buy a Boss Katana. There are plenty of other contenders at this price, but nothing as good. Buy a Katana. If that doesn’t suit you, come ask the thread what to do. Say out loud, “The OP told me to buy a Boss Katana but I don’t want to do that for some reason. What else should I buy?” If you want an amp specifically for headphones, buy a Fender Mustang Micro. If you want to plug directly into your computer and play through a multi-FX type system, see the FAQ below. If you want to spend big-person money on something with tubes, take a guitar you are intimately familiar with into a big box store and plug in. Again, your ears will lead your way. The best way to learn quickly and properly is to get a teacher. Most studios will offer you a trial lesson off contract then ask you to commit for a semester. Find a teacher you vibe with and who listens when you tell them what you want play. If your dream is to play Metallica, don’t stick with a teacher who insists you run through the 1-2-3 Berklee Method first. A good teacher leads you on the path you WANT to be on. The next best way to start out is the internet, which has gotten pretty dang good at this. The biggest name in the beginning guitar YouTube game is Justin. https://www.youtube.com/c/justinguitar There are plenty of others, but be wary as a beginner: guitar YouTube can be a slippery slope of gear lust. If the channel spends more time talking about the gear they’re playing than the music they’re playing, don’t get too wrapped up. There are plenty of great channels, and not every gear-head channel is specifically and directly guitar QVC, but be aware that many are. Then, there’s books! Books are great. I’ve done more learning from a properly put together book than I have a million YouTube pedal videos. Every Hal Leonard method book I’ve ever picked up has been thoughtfully laid out, well written, and useful. They feature real music, tab notation, and steady but slow advancement. The aforementioned Berklee Modern Method 1-2-3 is great IF you can read music and IF you are more interested in getting good at playing than getting good at specific songs. Here are the things you absolutely must be willing to learn to enjoy your guitar. 1. How to tune it (buy a proper tuner, not just your phone). 2. How and when to change strings (all 3 types use different strings and change them differently). 3. How and when to humidify your acoustic guitars (see FAQ below). Here are the things that are easier than you might imagine to do yourself if you are handy enough to turn a screwdriver the right direction. 1. Measure and adjust the height of your electric guitar strings (your “action”). 2. Measure and adjust your truss rod (your “relief”). 3. Measure and adjust your electric guitar pickup height. 4. Tune and adjust your intonation. Here are some thing that you may talk yourself into doing, and will probably be OK at. 1. Adjusting the action on your acoustic guitar. 2. Swapping around the pickups and wiring on your solid-body electric guitar. Here are some things nobody would ever blame you for going to a trusted luthier for. 1. Honestly, anything in the prior category. 2. Filing your frets. 3. Filing your nut. 4. Anything electrical inside a hollow-body electric guitar. 5. Properly repairing any type of serious damage. Let me draw you a picture. Guitar-enjoying Person posted:I’ve have been playing guitar for a few months and I’m loving it! The problem is, I’m sitting at work and my guitar is at home. Boy, I wish I could be playing guitar. So I’ll do the next best thing, and that’s start reading forums and watching YouTube videos about guitar. And all of a sudden … I love my Tele but that Strat sounds really sweet. A lot of the music I love comes out of a Strat. Do … do I also need a Strat? And that guy’s T-shirt says I also need a Les Paul, but I played a buddy’s Les Paul and it was pretty heavy, maybe what I really want is an SG. Angus Young plays an SG! You’ll hear around the internet the term “GAS” or “Gassing”. It’s an acronym that stands for Gear Acquisition Syndrome And it’s a slippery slope to unhappiness, particularly in adult high-beginner, low-intermediate players. You’ve got enough music in your fingers, money in the bank, and time on your hands to fall down a dozen different rabbit holes of what you “need” to get exactly the sound that’s in your head. You can’t get better sitting there at work bored, but maybe you can get better by shopping. The truth is, you almost certainly don’t need new gear. You don’t need new pickups. You don’t need a boutique pedal. You need to get off YouTube. All of that stuff has its place, but when you’re starting out you need an instrument that doesn’t fight against you and an amp that noise comes out of and has some effects built into it. You have to realize the difference between being unhappy with your gear and just being homesick for the gear you have. Upgrading your $50 Tube Screamer clone into some $400 discontinued JHS pedal isn’t going to make you a better guitar player. Wait, humidity? Yep. Guitars are made of wood and wood is essentially a sponge. It is constantly absorbing and letting off water from the environment, swelling and contracting, breathing with the seasons. If you live in a stable environment, humidity-wise, you may be OK. But many of us live in places that get cold (and dry) in the winter and hot (and humid) in the summer. This causes your guitar (specifically and particularly acoustic, both types) to shift, grow, and shrink. This can push you out of tune once or twice a season and mess with your neck relief, but those are small setup issues. The real problem is your guitar can AND WILL crack. Often lengthwise down the top or back. This is fixable by a professional luthier if your instrument is worth fixing, but it’s easier to care for your guitar properly. A guitar in a case is a sad guitar, but a hard-shell case is a much more stable environment than hanging on a wall. There are various types of solutions to humidifying your guitars, from special humidity packs to sponges you soak. If you have a VERY nice instrument and live in a VERY unstable climate, it’s not insane to keep a hygrometer in your case. Much like your house, 40%-60% humidity is good. Anything outside that you may need to take measures. Humidity control: It’s Not A Scam. Should I pay for a setup? In general … maybe. A setup is when you take your guitar to a professional luthier, and that person will go over it for about an hour doing things like lowing your string action at the nut, adjusting your intonation and relief, adjusting your action at the bridge, and potentially spot levelling a high fret or two and fixing any sharp frets poking out around your fingerboard. A setup will take a guitar you enjoy and dial it in and make it comfortable. It’s more akin to a day at the spa than a week in the hospital. Be prepared to answer the question, “What about your guitar bothers you?” In the course of this, your luthier may discover bigger problems (such as your guitar needing a complete fret overhaul or serious electronic issues) that require more time to fix. Prices fluctuate, of course, regionally and with time. But as of 2022, expect a professional setup to cost somewhere in the $80-120 range. Tell me about playing directly into my computer. This is important, and lots of people do it! But I don’t know enough about it to lead your way. Someone else will hopefully write it soon, and I’ll replace this blurb with a link to their post. Huxley fucked around with this message at 17:19 on May 18, 2022 |
# ? May 10, 2022 21:53 |