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The Guitar Thread

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@Ohdang what kind of guitar are you getting? Brand, model, etc.
 
@Ohdang , that guitar is definitely a nice beginner choice. Outside of what other people have suggested, if you go to ultimate-guitar.com you can buy something called Guitar Pro which lets you slow down any song you want to learn while providing you with (sometimes) accurate tablature. I was a pretty shitty player for a bunch of years until I bought it about 3 years ago. I'm still not "good" by any means but I went from being "shitty" to "decent" in a quick period.

@Marcus what year is your LP? She looks like a beauty.
 
@Ohdang , that guitar is definitely a nice beginner choice. Outside of what other people have suggested, if you go to ultimate-guitar.com you can buy something called Guitar Pro which lets you slow down any song you want to learn while providing you with (sometimes) accurate tablature. I was a pretty shitty player for a bunch of years until I bought it about 3 years ago. I'm still not "good" by any means but I went from being "shitty" to "decent" in a quick period.

@Marcus what year is your LP? She looks like a beauty.

My LP is a 2014. Since it's a Studio it wasn't as expensive as a standard - cost me $1200 I think, as opposed to the $2K+ that you would spend for a Standard.

Unfortunately I don't really have a good amp to really take full advantage of its range of sound. Right now I'm either plugging my guitar into my Mac and using GarageBand or using an old Line 6 Spider and Line 6 pedal. Like you, I'm looking to upgrade my amp yesterday. :chuckle:

Would certainly love to get an Orange or Marshall combo amp when finances permit. I don't really need a separate amp head or cabinet or anything like that. Could also use a new pedal and a good wah pedal, as well.

How long have you been playing for? What kind of strings?
 
My LP is a 2014. Since it's a Studio it wasn't as expensive as a standard - cost me $1200 I think, as opposed to the $2K+ that you would spend for a Standard.

Unfortunately I don't really have a good amp to really take full advantage of its range of sound. Right now I'm either plugging my guitar into my Mac and using GarageBand or using an old Line 6 Spider and Line 6 pedal. Like you, I'm looking to upgrade my amp yesterday. :chuckle:

Would certainly love to get an Orange or Marshall combo amp when finances permit. I don't really need a separate amp head or cabinet or anything like that. Could also use a new pedal and a good wah pedal, as well.

How long have you been playing for? What kind of strings?
I am probably going to buy a used Orange Tiny Terror combo. They go for like $500, which is hella expensive, but I've really been saving. I played one awhile ago and have been saving ever since, lol.

I played from about 2006 until 2010. I took a "forced" break between 2010-2011 and resumed in mid-2011. I've been playing religiously since that point. You?

On my Firebird I use Ernie Ball 10s with an 11 on the low-E and on my telecaster I use 9s with a 10 on the high-E. You?
 
I am probably going to buy a used Orange Tiny Terror combo. They go for like $500, which is hella expensive, but I've really been saving. I played one awhile ago and have been saving ever since, lol.

I've been looking at some tube combo amps, particularly just Orange or Marshall. Think I'd prefer a Marshall, although Orange might be a little more versatile.

I played from about 2006 until 2010. I took a "forced" break between 2010-2011 and resumed in mid-2011. I've been playing religiously since that point. You?

That's about when I started, too. I've been playing on and off the last few years based on whether I am actually able to be at home or not (used to travel around a whole lot and couldn't bring a guitar with me, about to be in that same boat again soon). I taught myself in high school, but didn't pick up my first acoustic guitar (the Fender) until 2011.

On my Firebird I use Ernie Ball 10s with an 11 on the low-E and on my telecaster I use 9s with a 10 on the high-E. You?

On my LP I've been experimenting with different strings. I usually stick with 9's, but sometimes I use 10's. Right now I am using Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt 9's. They sound great and they feel great. They were $10 I think, but they are a great value for how much use you can get out of them.

On my Fender acoustic I use Elixir Lights (80/20 Bronze, .012 on the high E) with PolyWeb coating. They were pretty expensive ($16 a pack) but they last a super long time without losing their tone at all. They took a little getting used to because the coating made them somewhat slippery at first, but I've gotten used to them and they are great. The only issue I have is that I've noticed some of the coating visibly starting to come off. It doesn't really affect performance or sound, but it does look a little funny.
 
I've been looking at some tube combo amps, particularly just Orange or Marshall. Think I'd prefer a Marshall, although Orange might be a little more versatile.

The Marshall JCM 800 combo is one of my dream amps, along with a variety of Mesa Boogies, but I can't find any used like I can with the Orange Tiny Terror, which is a fantastic amp in its own right.


That's about when I started, too. I've been playing on and off the last few years based on whether I am actually able to be at home or not (used to travel around a whole lot and couldn't bring a guitar with me, about to be in that same boat again soon). I taught myself in high school, but didn't pick up my first acoustic guitar (the Fender) until 2011.

I actually have a Baby Taylor acoustic, which is kind of a crappy sounding acoustic, but I can bring it everywhere I travel. Guitar has been there for me for two rough patches, hence why I do enjoy the acoustic.

On my LP I've been experimenting with different strings. I usually stick with 9's, but sometimes I use 10's. Right now I am using Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt 9's. They sound great and they feel great. They were $10 I think, but they are a great value for how much use you can get out of them.

I used EB Slinky 9s on my Telecaster for the longest time, but, now that I have started using different thicknesses they were too expensive. I like the D'addario nickel wound 9s as an alternative.

On my Fender acoustic I use Elixir Lights (80/20 Bronze, .012 on the high E) with PolyWeb coating. They were pretty expensive ($16 a pack) but they last a super long time without losing their tone at all. They took a little getting used to because the coating made them somewhat slippery at first, but I've gotten used to them and they are great. The only issue I have is that I've noticed some of the coating visibly starting to come off. It doesn't really affect performance or sound, but it does look a little funny.

I use the exact same strings, haha. They are perfect for my use. I also re-string once every 2-3 months so the coating peeling does not bother me too much.

One of these days I am actually going to try and join a band again. My first experience was great (though, how much we were a band is debatable) but I realized towards the end I needed to improve. In all my high school glory this resulted in me all but quitting guitar. I started playing again in college when I could afford an amp and shortly sold both of my guitars (PRS SE Custom and Fender MIM HSS Strat), combined it with some leftover cash, and bought the Telecaster. I've played almost every day since.
 
The Marshall JCM 800 combo is one of my dream amps, along with a variety of Mesa Boogies, but I can't find any used like I can with the Orange Tiny Terror, which is a fantastic amp in its own right.

That's one I've been looking at, too.

I actually have a Baby Taylor acoustic, which is kind of a crappy sounding acoustic, but I can bring it everywhere I travel. Guitar has been there for me for two rough patches, hence why I do enjoy the acoustic.

I've got a Takamine as my alternate. It doesn't see the outside of the case much.

I used EB Slinky 9s on my Telecaster for the longest time, but, now that I have started using different thicknesses they were too expensive. I like the D'addario nickel wound 9s as an alternative.

I only ever use D'addario strings on my Fender, but after using these Elixir strings I'm pretty sure I'm never going to go back. I like them that much.

I use the exact same strings, haha. They are perfect for my use. I also re-string once every 2-3 months so the coating peeling does not bother me too much.

With the frequency I play it varies. At the height of my playing, I try to restring every 2 weeks to a month.

One of these days I am actually going to try and join a band again. My first experience was great (though, how much we were a band is debatable) but I realized towards the end I needed to improve. In all my high school glory this resulted in me all but quitting guitar. I started playing again in college when I could afford an amp and shortly sold both of my guitars (PRS SE Custom and Fender MIM HSS Strat), combined it with some leftover cash, and bought the Telecaster. I've played almost every day since.

Always a lot more fun to play with other people. That's when playing is the most rewarding, I think. Unfortunately, I don't really know anybody around me anymore who has a lick of musical talent or plays an instrument, so consequently I haven't played with any other musicians in years.

And in terms of "needing to improve," I am of the opinion that a guitar player can ALWAYS improve. In fact, you basically spend your entire playing career improving and building upon what you already know. You can get really, really good at guitar, but you can't fully master it. There's always new techniques to learn and existing skills to improve upon.
 
You guys are focusing on the tool rather than the artist and his composition.

My guitar is a joke and people pay me to play.

Your money though
 
You're a lefty?

Not bad for a beginner guitar. Can't beat the price. Should be enough to tide you over long enough until you decide whether you want to get something a little more high end.

Yeah. If it weren't for being left handed I'd have probably learned a long time ago. I had plenty of access to right handed guitars and was told left handed guitars were too expensive to buy unless I was serious about playing, so I should just learn right handed. I tried and hated the way it felt.

Well, for $150 I got what seems to be a really good beginner guitar and rocksmith to help me learn a little. Pretty small investment and most importantly I won't be learning in a way that feels unnatural. Not too bad, I think.
 
Yeah. If it weren't for being left handed I'd have probably learned a long time ago. I had plenty of access to right handed guitars and was told left handed guitars were too expensive to buy unless I was serious about playing, so I should just learn right handed. I tried and hated the way it felt.

Well, for $150 I got what seems to be a really good beginner guitar and rocksmith to help me learn a little. Pretty small investment and most importantly I won't be learning in a way that feels unnatural. Not too bad, I think.

Someone told you to switch hands? That's pretty ridiculous. You have to be comfortable while playing, too.
 
You guys are focusing on the tool rather than the artist and his composition.

My guitar is a joke and people pay me to play.

Your money though
I'm sure you are a great player. I also would agree that a lot of "tone" comes from the artist's fingers. But you are assuming all tools are the same. A Gibson Les Paul and Fender Strat sound totally different, regardless of the musician's talent.
 
Just got my first guitar last week.
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Someone told you to switch hands? That's pretty ridiculous. You have to be comfortable while playing, too.

Yeah, my step dad when I was a teenager. He said I'd get used to it, but I never enjoyed it enough playing that way to want to put any time into it. He chalked it up to me being a teenager without a work ethic but it was really that it felt like being told to write a book with my off hand. Could I do it? Yeah, probably. It wouldn't be an enjoyable experience and the end product would be shit, though. So I never learned until I just recently got the urge.
 

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