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General => General Discussion and ??? => Topic started by: mooseman on December 09, 2014, 07:45:14 AM
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Total newb to this i can't make music happen with a DJ but I am going to dive into an electric guitar just because I always wanted to and now seems to be the time.
Here are two that i am down to, by a real players definition these are possible toys but i am allowing myself a $200.00 toy budget .
Any suggestion/ other recommendations would be appreciated.
Keep in mind I do not play (yet), if this goes as well as my jump into screen printing.........well you know there is always room on E-bay:P
mooseman
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003EU8H4Y/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003EU8H4Y/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005RA3RBW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_7?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005RA3RBW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_7?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER)
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I am a player for decades and have a LARGE collection of guitars, for a beginner I recommend an acoustic guitar. I know the electric is more appealing, but if you can learn on an acoustic, the electric will feel like butta! There are only 7 basic chords, LEARN THOSE FIRST!!!!!! Get back with us when you have all of those down. If you skip my advice and go for the electric, get the squire, its made by Fender.
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i second dirks advice
plus if the electricity goes out you can still play.
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agree with all the above. I've been playing guitar, bass, and some drums since I was a young kid. and have been in tons of local bands around the chicago area.
Also, plan to get whatever guitar you buy professionally set-up at your local music shop.. costs $40-$50, but will make any guitar (from the cheapest to the nicest) play the best it can....
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If your budget is $200..... I'd suggest you start on Craigslist.
You should be able to find a used package that includes a Squire and a modest amp in that price range.
The amp should have a reverb function.... which will keep to interested in playing for awhile.
The advantage the electric offers is lower string action, it's easy to get the strings pressed down firmly to the fretboard.
Use YouTube for lessons and backing tracks that you can play along with.
A standard instruction class will have you focused on learning full chord shapes (all six strings).... but there's nothing wrong with starting with partial chords (triads, using three strings). Playing just three strings allows you to focus on tempo and strumming technique.
The first 30 seconds of the video is all triads. It's not learner level lesson, but is a good example how many guitarists use partial chords
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=difxJtlovg4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=difxJtlovg4)
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Now, the one thing everyone keeps in mind is MOTIVATION and FUN.
If he gets an acoustic and WANTS an electric, he may not be as motivated or have as much fun. This will mean he will practice/play less.
THOUGH, I do agree with what they are saying. :)
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Moose get yourself a Chord Buddy I got one, the cat that makes them live right here in town, really neat device, and I second those guys on getting an acoustic. I bought an electric for the cool factor but do a lot of playing them unplugged, oh and you can get a real nice guitar from the pawn shop if you know what your looking for. Some really good guitar players with a nice axe gets down on there luck and will let it go for nothing, sad but your gain.
darryl
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You've got some really good feedback here. Have you considered Ibanez? Fender is a well known brand, but the Fenders of today are not the same as the Fenders of old. My son's first electric was a Squire, if I were buying now I would look at Ibanez. Here is one http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/ibanez-grx70qa-electric-guitar (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/ibanez-grx70qa-electric-guitar)
Knowing your chords is essential, you might also consider learning your minor pentatonic scale. Then you can play the "Sunshine of your love" riff which will make you happy.
Have Fun.
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I play my electrics unplugged 90% of the time. I hear them fine for my purposes. :)
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craigslist semi hollows. always super fun.
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I have been playing since I was 13 (which will be 50 years next year) and I agree with everybody but get a Tele. Maple fretboard. They are a little bit lighter than a Strat. If you go the cheap acoustic route, I have had good luck with
Rogue (still have it set up professionally).
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Hey Gang thanks for the help, really appreciate it.
Actually I have an acoustic gave up on it because of exactly what northland said "The advantage the electric offers is lower string action, it's easy to get the strings pressed down firmly to the fretboard" .
The acoustic has been the fun killer for me, my kinda round finger tips combined with some arthritis on my hands makes me want to leave the acoustic in the corner where it has been for about 3 years now.
I looked at Ibanez and for some reason moved on, I will definately go back and look there again.
I know about the chord buddie, definately planned on grabbing one because I really never got off the dime with the acoustic...thanks 3Deep
At the end of the day this is just for my fun, my brother is a very accomplished sax palyer, he is a musician, I do not have that talent or desire.
I will never be a musician, I just want to learn some music and have some fun (and drive my wife nuts).
Thanks agan...as always youz guyz rock!
mooseman
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there are a lot of players here... I started in '65 myself, thank you Beatles. I also think starting on acoustic is best, but, all the major brands make kits with a guitar, small amp and other accessories in that range. The Fender packages are pretty good, my nephew had one, and the guitar was quite playable. In the days when I started, most beginner acoustics were pretty hard to play, one needed to spend at least $50, 1965 dollars that is. Still, I have my first guitar, which I electrified and played many gigs with, hanging on the wall in my garage. I also 16 others, from vintage Fenders and Gibsons to acoustics from Taylor and Santa Cruz, a half dozen classicals. Be careful, or you'll get G.A.S. (guitar acquisition syndrome). Also, there are a billion lessons online in a million styles, though I will always recommend private instruction as best.
Steve
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Up until last year I would have agreed with most of what's been said. "get an acoustic first, learn your 7 chords and Major & Minor chord finger positions that can move anywhere on the neck, blah, blah, blah"
Then I got Rocksmith 2014 for Christmas last year.
Changed everything. Wish they would've had something like this 30 yrs ago when I was trying to learn, watching my parents dump $$$ down the drain on lessons that never went anywhere, being told over and over by instructors/teachers.."You're not practicing enough!"
Even the local guitar teacher that works out of the local music store here, he now pretty much teaches the game to beginners(how to get around in it), because the basic lessons are built into it, then he can spend more time on proper techniques and advanced stuff rather than where to put your fingers for an A chord and how to restring & tune.
Our embroidery guy (who's been playing for 25+yrs, was also the lead guitarist for Two Camel Garage back in the day) LOVES IT! it's got a "Session Mode" where he can play whatever he wants (on HIS guitars) and other instruments (drums, bass, keys, etc.) will play their own parts and follow along. He can relive the band days, without all the BS of being IN a band.
Since the gameplay is similar to that of Guitar Hero or Rockband, most everybody can pick up on it very quickly, and it "learns" with you. So you don't really have to "pick a level" and struggle through it. It adapts to how well you play. The better you play, the harder the game gets. (or easier, because you now have learned the song if you look at it like that)
And you can play with family/friends if you choose on your (or their own) guitars or bass
As for guitars, pretty much all major music stores are doing some sort of beginner player package for Christmas. So it's just finding a guitar you like. As others said, get it professionally set up locally.
Here's one: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PPEGEGL1VSCH/ (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PPEGEGL1VSCH/)
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I play my electrics unplugged 90% of the time. I hear them fine for my purposes. :)
When I get a new electric, I always play it acoustically first, as I've found that if they sound good acoustically (not in comparison to a real acoustic, but solid and resonant for what it is) then they sound good plugged in. Strat and Tele are my two favorite electrics, with Les Paul right on their heels.
Steve
Haven't read all of the others, but starting with the blues can be easy, as it's not overly complex as jazz, metal, or classical. It also translates easily into simpler rock, Chuck Berry and the like. I started with a ton of chord strumming with a pick, then one day at a lesson, my teacher went to the head, and I played what was on his turntable, an Andres Segovia album, classical guitar all Bach, what an eye opener. Anyway, just go for it, it's very easy to learn to play a little; to play great it's like any other endeavor, it takes the work and dedication.
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Sorry to hijack the thread (not super sorry, but sorry)
What's everyone playing?!
I have (2) rickenbacker 360s, and my main guitar which is a custom built semi hollow Electrical guitar company guitar!
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Guitars:
Fender Custom Shop 'Mary Kaye' Fender Strat
Fender Spalted Maple Tele with Seymour Duncan Humbuckers
Gibson Firebird
Taylor 314ce Acoustic
Fender 12string Acoustic
Ovation Celebrity Acoustic
Basses:
Marcus Miller Jazz Bass
Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
70's Ibanez Rickenbacker copy
Gibson Thunderbird
Amps:
Ampeg SVT3pro with a 2-10" avatar cabinet, and a 4-10" cab
handbuilt (by me) Marshall Plexi amp copy
67 Fender Black Face
Marshall Class-5
Drums:
Yamaha Stage Custom
Sound kit:
Behringer X32 mixer
Mackie SR24.4 mixer
EV Live-X monitors, mains and subs.
Various Shure and Audix mics
Shure PSM wireless system for in-ear monitoring
Custom molded in-ear monitors by Sensaphonics.
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currently drooling over a Dean Soltero, believe it or not...not too many people jamn the deans...besides dimebag..rip.... I was a Paul Reed Smith guy for the longest time but they lost their fancy with me...I'm a les paul guy, I have a few along with Ibanez. learned to play 20+ years ago on a gibson 12 string acoustic..that effer was nuts. just picked up one of those line 6 HD400, had a mesa triple rec but i just sold it. I'm really into looping and messing around with that stuff...
Moose, just learn a frank zappa song and you'll be set for life ;D
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(http://cdn.meme.am/instances/56034498.jpg)
Jason had to bring the hard stuff.
I can't keep up like that but considering I am a bad musician (no timing and not the best fine motor skills) I have an ok spread.
Guitars:
Ibanez Les Paul copy (before they got sued)
Strat Squire (mexican from the 80's I think)
Charvell 24 fret neck through (when the only difference between them and Jackson was Jackson was hand made)
Jackson something or another... I think it was the bomber guitar. Friend gave it to me after stripping the paint off of it and living with me for a few months rent free.
Acoustic:
Crappy Johnson that a roommate gave me
Awesome First Act pink mini guitar for the 4 year old... it's really terrible but being so small it sits around the shop and I pick it up from time to time.
I have a 5 string Banjo as well (don't think I sold it *shrug*)
Bass:
Wife has a 4 string Kramer that has some crazy knob that does some interesting pick up configs
Drums:
Yamaha DTXpress II electric drum set
Wife has a Premier 5 piece.
PA related stuff:
Presonous 16.0.2 digital mixer
Behringer something or another, need to sell it since I got the presonus.
Mackie 1202VLZ (work horse from back in my gigging days being used my wife's business)
Cheap wireless rig with two hand helds and two lavs... it's awesome and cheap!
Behringer tops (12" powered tops) cheap and loud, serve my purpose.
CAD drum pack of mics
Behringer hand held mics
Guitar amps
3 (yep three) Line 6 75 watt Spider 4's? (I don't remember, pretty much the latest ones) They are part of a rental rig that I make a ton of money renting them out every year... paid for themselves and was making me money on the 2nd gig!
Bass Amp:
Fender Rumble 2 10" model (I think it's 10's)... the nicest one they make.
I also have a few keyboards and such and I'm sure I'm missing something else.
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What I need to fill out my collection... sorry not enough space. I want all the classics... SG, Rickenbacker, Gretch, 331, 7 string of some sorts, PRS, parker fly, Tele, Jaguar or mustang or jagstang... I'm forgetting a few of them I'm sure. Oh, the musicman EVH.
Another thing that my printer and I like to do (he plays bass) is I downloaded all the rock band and guitar hero multitrack files. You can load them into Audacity and mute whatever instrument you want and the rest is played by the real musicians. So we just pick a song and rock out with the real deal singing or playing drums or whatever. If someone comes in and wants to sing or play drums, then we mute those as well.
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Gibson 61 reissue SG
Gibson Les Paul Standard
Fender Jazzmaster
Fender Johnny Marr Jaguar
Fender SHITTY acoustic
Martin DM
Gretsch Tennessee Rose
Epi Sheraton
Epi Supernova
Epi Riviera
Marshall 80w solid state
Fender Deville 2x12
Vox pathfinder
Fender Frontman
Digitech rp500
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Like JV I have an Ovation acoustic/electric and thats all currently I gave up playing years ago. But my favorite guitar i owned was an old Takamine dreadnought left to me by my father then eventually stolen by my brother and pawned.
I second prowling the pawn shops, many excellent guitars find their way into them and many are real jewels in the rough hand some of the shop owners really do not know the real values of some of the stuff they get in.
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Careful with the Ovations...
They are very prone to the neck/body joint separating... mine separated about 4 or 5 years after I got it... had to steam it off, and glued it back on with epoxy and some screws... (not a factory approved repair job).
I really do like the way it sounds tho...
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Gibson 61 reissue SG
Gibson Les Paul Standard
Fender Jazzmaster
Fender Johnny Marr Jaguar
Fender SHITTY acoustic
Martin DM
Gretsch Tennessee Rose
Epi Sheraton
Epi Supernova
Epi Riviera
Marshall 80w solid state
Fender Deville 2x12
Vox pathfinder
Fender Frontman
Digitech rp500
you sir have an addiction ;D...nice line up for sure. my badassness is about a 1, no badass here gilly...
I'm addicted to watching rig rundown on you-tube, Anyone ever watch these things? it will consume an entire day.... Joe Perry from Aerosmith, his rig is nuts....15-20 amps....30 guitars, 1 1/2 hour set....freakin tone snob
I want to go thrift shopping over Christmas break and see if I can find a new toy. I really want a viola, violin, or some v-drums, maybe a guitar needing a make over, some duncan pick ups or something...
you guys have some nice gear....Taylors and Martins, dang...someday....
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1965 Harmony Monterey Leader
1964 Gibson ES-330
1964 Fender Duo-Sonic
1986 '62 Reissue Stratocaster
1984 MIJ Telecaster (in '84, the Fender factory was closed while being sold from CBS to the current owners)
1986 Guild Nightbird
2001 Guild Bluesbird
1990 Guild Liberator
1969 Antonio Hernandis classical
2000 Takamine 132 SC classical C/E
2005 Godin Concert Classical (midi equipped to drive a Roland Synth)
2002 Darren Hippner classical (my very favorite instrument)
1984 Masuru Kohno classical (my best instument)
1998 Taylor 714 C/E
1986 Taylor K-22
1998 Santa Cruz Model "H"
'62 Ampeg Rocket II (not the ReverbRocket)
'64 Fender Deluxe Reverb blackface (bought it for my wife back in '78 for $250)
100W Marshall Stack, long gone, 100W Ampeg V4 stack, long gone
Bedrock 652 50W combo, 2-12"
Bedrock 651 25W combo, 1-12"
Quilter Micro-Pro 200 (holy crap, 20lbs., 200 watts)
a bevy of vintage and current pedals
Steve (note my avatar from '73)
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I love rig rundown, I have watched all of them multiple times. Have you watched the Brian Setzer one? He is one of my fav. guitarists, I met him last Friday night after his show in ATL. Super cool dude, and I dare ANY living guitarist to challenge his skills, ANY!
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if any of you old grandpas have a Sound City Amp lying around...i'd love to buy it from you!
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... my badassness is about a 1, no badass here gilly...
I'm addicted to watching rig rundown on you-tube, Anyone ever watch these things? it will consume an entire day.... Joe Perry from Aerosmith, his rig is nuts....15-20 amps....30 guitars, 1 1/2 hour set....freakin tone snob
I was referring to Jason's ridiculous list above your post... took me too long to punch mine up. :)
Do they have one of these rig rundowns on Eric Johnson? Now, I have never heard of anyone worse than him.
He leaves the battery covers off some pedals because of the tone difference, he has pedals laid on top of other pedals and particular angles because of the tone difference. He uses a copper 1/4" on this end of the cable and nickle on this end of the cable.
COME ON MAN!! No one listening to your ass through the PA is gonna hear that!
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One of my old mates from the late '60's and early 70's is the local guy who made it. Hit the LA scene in the early eighties and made the rounds; was Cher's touring player for about 7 years, and has been in REO Speedwagon for the last 20 years. Every summer they come by, and we all get backstage passes and great seats. His touring cabinet is just loaded with drool-worthy toys. His personal collection is pretty spectacular. Check out daveamato.com
Steve
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At the end of the day this is just for my fun, my brother is a very accomplished sax palyer, he is a musician, I do not have that talent or desire.
I will never be a musician, I just want to learn some music and have some fun (and drive my wife nuts).
A sax scholarship paid for my college...was very close to majoring in jazz studies but being broke and wanting a large family made me head in another direction. I am glad to hear it sounds like your brother is making it work because it can be a tough life. Wish I could help with the electric guitar question but I have only owned acoustics.
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At the end of the day this is just for my fun, my brother is a very accomplished sax palyer, he is a musician, I do not have that talent or desire.
I will never be a musician, I just want to learn some music and have some fun (and drive my wife nuts).
A sax scholarship paid for my college...was very close to majoring in jazz studies but being broke and wanting a large family made me head in another direction. I am glad to hear it sounds like your brother is making it work because it can be a tough life. Wish I could help with the electric guitar question but I have only owned acoustics.
Uhh... And how is your degree any different/more useful? :-p
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Haha...I started in Electrical Engineering but decided after two years that I did not want a desk job and made the money making switch to philosophy and theology. Taught a year and then started a business so that I could hopefully one day actually support a family.
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Sorry to hijack the thread (not super sorry, but sorry)
What's everyone playing?!
I have (2) rickenbacker 360s, and my main guitar which is a custom built semi hollow Electrical guitar company guitar!
Gibson SG standard
Fender Stratocaster (early 90s mexican)
Roland G-707 with synth board
Guild D4 (pre fender)
late 70s Twin Reverb
Kustom K250-4 with matching cab - 1x15 and 2x10
Marshall Valvestate head
Marshall 4x10
early 70s crybaby
early 90s Big muff
70s Maestro MP1 Phaser
used to have a full marshall stack with two 4x12 cabs - i was in a band that thought volume was better than quality... i stick to the acoustic now - its safer for the ears
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Sorry to hijack the thread (not super sorry, but sorry)
What's everyone playing?!
I have (2) rickenbacker 360s, and my main guitar which is a custom built semi hollow Electrical guitar company guitar!
Gibson SG standard
Fender Stratocaster (early 90s mexican)
Roland G-707 with synth board
Guild D4 (pre fender)
late 70s Twin Reverb
Kustom K250-4 with matching cab - 1x15 and 2x10
Marshall Valvestate head
Marshall 4x10
early 70s crybaby
early 90s Big muff
70s Maestro MP1 Phaser
used to have a full marshall stack with two 4x12 cabs - i was in a band that thought volume was better than quality... i stick to the acoustic now - its safer for the ears
Always wanted a Roland synth guitar. I remember the first retro fits, used by such as Vernon Reid, they were such an awesome concept. Even though they didn't work as well as you would like, still wanted one... Still do. :)
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Sorry to hijack the thread (not super sorry, but sorry)
What's everyone playing?!
I have (2) rickenbacker 360s, and my main guitar which is a custom built semi hollow Electrical guitar company guitar!
Gibson SG standard
Fender Stratocaster (early 90s mexican)
Roland G-707 with synth board
Guild D4 (pre fender)
late 70s Twin Reverb
Kustom K250-4 with matching cab - 1x15 and 2x10
Marshall Valvestate head
Marshall 4x10
early 70s crybaby
early 90s Big muff
70s Maestro MP1 Phaser
used to have a full marshall stack with two 4x12 cabs - i was in a band that thought volume was better than quality... i stick to the acoustic now - its safer for the ears
Always wanted a Roland synth guitar. I remember the first retro fits, used by such as Vernon Reid, they were such an awesome concept. Even though they didn't work as well as you would like, still wanted one... Still do. :)
honestly ive only got it to make a few notes through the synth. i think the ribbon cable inside the body needs replacement.
i was passing by a music shop and had 10 minutes to kill, stopped in and saw it - played fine through the regular pickups. sales guy said he had the other half of it in the back. he came out with this monster of a pedal board - two feet wide and weighed a ton. he didnt know if it worked - and he didnt seem to care. sold me the guitar and pedal board for $150. a new cable from roland cost about $70...
ive never seen anyone play one, and its the only roland guitar ive ever come across.
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Awesome deal!
They say they are built pretty well.
This is the guy that I was referring to earlier. I don't know how much better the 707 works but it's a cool concept.
(http://www.jagshouse.com/music/images/rolandGK-2A.jpg)
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Awesome deal!
They say they are built pretty well.
This is the guy that I was referring to earlier. I don't know how much better the 707 works but it's a cool concept.
([url]http://www.jagshouse.com/music/images/rolandGK-2A.jpg[/url])
I have the exact same setup on my Strat, though I haven't employed it in a while. I do keep thinking about it though, I think when we're closed for the week between Christmas and New Year's Day I'll drag it out. I have the GR-33 synth. In the band I was in when I bought it, our keyboard player would be late on occasion, and I'd use it to play Organ sounds...
Steve
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How's the tracking on that thing?
I remember it being iffy back in the day.
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Oh this is much more fun than talking about emulsion. It amazes me how many in our industry are musicians.
I would go with the electric and a Roland Sound cube with the ability to plug in a drum machine or CD so you can play along.
Of the electrics, Strats are hard to beat, but I would look for a Mexican Strat (300), then replace the pick ups with some Seymour Duncans, Intonation, Action set up all done by a pro luthier, another 300. That guitar is equal to a 2k-3k US Shop Strat. Take a tuner with you. Check how well it tunes up and how accurate the tone is at the double dots. An open string in tune should read exactly the same at the double dots an octave above the open note. Pawn shops and Craigslist this time of year are good sources. The older the guitar the better. Less moisture, may have been played a ton and intonated may times. Avoid tremolo bars, fixed set tail pieces to begin with.
There are many good no brands out there, especially from Korea. You do get what you pay for and to me a guitar that holds tune and is intonated well is worth the extra money. Wait until after Christmas. Goodwill stores in my area get all the unsold Target merchandise as well as a lot of Costco guitars. I have bought First Act Acoustics and a first act 222 for 22 dollars, as well as a 72 Korean Strat for yep 22 bucks that is my slide guitar and all bought with my senior discount! yeah. Also picked up an Epiphone practice tube amp that I haven't looked up, cause the wife will sell it if its worth more than a hundred. I got it for 25, a tube amp no less. Screams the blues. First Act is not a bad guitar for those still laughing. My acoustic took a little TLC but with all Mahogany construction (All dark maroon, not the one with a spruce top) it has a less tiny sound and incredible sustain. My 222 has almost the same fretboard shape as my Gibson. I intonated it, set the action myself, (lots of You Tube stuff on this), put on some Blue Steel Electric 11-52's and a D Addario wound G 18. To me that is key on any Electric except Fender type guitars. A wound G is more forgiving if you are heavy handed, which is exactly what happens with too much acoustic playing. Good string tuners are a must as well. A highertuner ratio also helps, the more you have to turn the key the better, allows for finer tuning. Low end Fenders have coarse tuning and fall out when played hard.
I have been playing in the same band with the same guys for 40 years now. 750 songs to date in memory, I hate sheet music. That to me is key. Start off with some friends, pick your poison and learn 2 chord jams. Pull down some Tabliture and lyrics from the web and learn some basic blues, Stevie Ray Vaughn stuff, or songs like Red House or Stormy Monday that are simple 3 chord blues with standard blues song construction.
Our band all started with the same skill set and we grew together. Having someone play the other parts makes life easy, especially if you can find a good drummer and bassist, usually precious commodities in any area. Bass, Drummer, and Rhythm in my band play by ear and by memory. I can learn a song in one take watching the chords being played by my lead guitarist, whereas give me tab or Sheet music and my timing sucks. Playing by memory has it's advantages, like when you play live, all you have to do is listen to good music being played instead of read, send message to brain to interpret, send message to hand to form chord or lead riff. Screw all that. Memorize the song in chords, close your eyes and listen to it and make it better.
My set up:
68 Gibson Standard (My other wife, and yes she is jealous of it)
72 Korean Strat - Set up in either open E or G tuning for slide
First Act Acoustic
222 Artist Series Adam Levine
72 Mexican Strat Modded with Seymour Duncans, fretwork, and intonation
Amps
Fender Chorus - I run a Line 6 through it for other Amp sounds, I play Rhythm
Epiphone 10" tube amp
Roland
Mackie PA
Wish List:
Mesa Boogie Lone Star
Lap Steel Guitar
Pedal Steel Guitar
QSC 1500 (2) power amps
In ear monitor system
Original JBL Voice of the Theater 15's 3 way.
For those wanting to get into slide guitar check out this guy from England:
https://www.youtube.com/user/NellySlideGuitar (https://www.youtube.com/user/NellySlideGuitar)
Try open G tuning or look up his video on tuning it. So easy to play Stones now!
My band wasnt going to play this year at ISS Long Beach, but if there is enough interest
we will play at a local watering hole Friday night and we don't mind kaoroke or guests
but I would want to verify the song any would want to play so we can dial it in.
Al
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Al... Do you guys do your own sound or PA everywhere you play (for the most part?)
If so... I HIGHLY recommend a presonus Studiolive board and in ear monitors. You can call mix your own mixes from an ipad on stage (as well as the main mix if you guys mix from the stage). If I were doing it all over again this would be a no brainer. They aren't THAT expensive and you have one amazing (compact) setup that gives you ridiculous freedoms.
My Mex strat has EMG's in it. :)
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Oh this is much more fun than talking about emulsion. It amazes me how many in our industry are musicians.
I would go with the electric and a Roland Sound cube with the ability to plug in a drum machine or CD so you can play along.
Of the electrics, Strats are hard to beat, but I would look for a Mexican Strat (300), then replace the pick ups with some Seymour Duncans, Intonation, Action set up all done by a pro luthier, another 300. That guitar is equal to a 2k-3k US Shop Strat. Take a tuner with you. Check how well it tunes up and how accurate the tone is at the double dots. An open string in tune should read exactly the same at the double dots an octave above the open note. Pawn shops and Craigslist this time of year are good sources. The older the guitar the better. Less moisture, may have been played a ton and intonated may times. Avoid tremolo bars, fixed set tail pieces to begin with.
There are many good no brands out there, especially from Korea. You do get what you pay for and to me a guitar that holds tune and is intonated well is worth the extra money. Wait until after Christmas. Goodwill stores in my area get all the unsold Target merchandise as well as a lot of Costco guitars. I have bought First Act Acoustics and a first act 222 for 22 dollars, as well as a 72 Korean Strat for yep 22 bucks that is my slide guitar and all bought with my senior discount! yeah. Also picked up an Epiphone practice tube amp that I haven't looked up, cause the wife will sell it if its worth more than a hundred. I got it for 25, a tube amp no less. Screams the blues. First Act is not a bad guitar for those still laughing. My acoustic took a little TLC but with all Mahogany construction (All dark maroon, not the one with a spruce top) it has a less tiny sound and incredible sustain. My 222 has almost the same fretboard shape as my Gibson. I intonated it, set the action myself, (lots of You Tube stuff on this), put on some Blue Steel Electric 11-52's and a D Addario wound G 18. To me that is key on any Electric except Fender type guitars. A wound G is more forgiving if you are heavy handed, which is exactly what happens with too much acoustic playing. Good string tuners are a must as well. A highertuner ratio also helps, the more you have to turn the key the better, allows for finer tuning. Low end Fenders have coarse tuning and fall out when played hard.
I have been playing in the same band with the same guys for 40 years now. 750 songs to date in memory, I hate sheet music. That to me is key. Start off with some friends, pick your poison and learn 2 chord jams. Pull down some Tabliture and lyrics from the web and learn some basic blues, Stevie Ray Vaughn stuff, or songs like Red House or Stormy Monday that are simple 3 chord blues with standard blues song construction.
Our band all started with the same skill set and we grew together. Having someone play the other parts makes life easy, especially if you can find a good drummer and bassist, usually precious commodities in any area. Bass, Drummer, and Rhythm in my band play by ear and by memory. I can learn a song in one take watching the chords being played by my lead guitarist, whereas give me tab or Sheet music and my timing sucks. Playing by memory has it's advantages, like when you play live, all you have to do is listen to good music being played instead of read, send message to brain to interpret, send message to hand to form chord or lead riff. Screw all that. Memorize the song in chords, close your eyes and listen to it and make it better.
My set up:
68 Gibson Standard (My other wife, and yes she is jealous of it)
72 Korean Strat - Set up in either open E or G tuning for slide
First Act Acoustic
222 Artist Series Adam Levine
72 Mexican Strat Modded with Seymour Duncans, fretwork, and intonation
Amps
Fender Chorus - I run a Line 6 through it for other Amp sounds, I play Rhythm
Epiphone 10" tube amp
Roland
Mackie PA
Wish List:
Mesa Boogie Lone Star
Lap Steel Guitar
Pedal Steel Guitar
QSC 1500 (2) power amps
In ear monitor system
Original JBL Voice of the Theater 15's 3 way.
For those wanting to get into slide guitar check out this guy from England:
https://www.youtube.com/user/NellySlideGuitar (https://www.youtube.com/user/NellySlideGuitar)
Try open G tuning or look up his video on tuning it. So easy to play Stones now!
My band wasnt going to play this year at ISS Long Beach, but if there is enough interest
we will play at a local watering hole Friday night and we don't mind kaoroke or guests
but I would want to verify the song any would want to play so we can dial it in.
Al
and all we talked about when we met in vegas was emulsion, wtf?
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Yep, this is the only reason I work, to be able to play music. When I had my shop it was 12-14 hour days and no time to jam.
Now with an 8-5 job we play Mon and Thursday and weekend gigs, which has been for the past 40 years! It took that long to get the wife trained!
Seriously though this group needs to get together and play. If anyone is in LA for the Long Beach Show and if we don't do the
gig at ISS, I can take a couple of guests in our studio on Thursday before the show or Monday after the show. First come first served. The couch holds two people, but the studio is all set up and ready.
And as I said if we get enough interest the band will play at the ISS show Long Beach. Eric from Action Engineering is quite the singer,
just got get up and do it Eric! Close your eyes. James Ortalani from Naz Dar also has serious chops and I'd love to get the chance to play a few with him.
You will never see a Murakami Show shirt designed by me without a guitars, drums, or a sax!
Al
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Al... Do you guys do your own sound or PA everywhere you play (for the most part?)
If so... I HIGHLY recommend a presonus Studiolive board and in ear monitors. You can call mix your own mixes from an ipad on stage (as well as the main mix if you guys mix from the stage). If I were doing it all over again this would be a no brainer. They aren't THAT expensive and you have one amazing (compact) setup that gives you ridiculous freedoms.
also check out the Behringher X32 series... all digital board, designed by Midas engineers who Behringher bought a few years back... we've had one since the first rev, and I wouldn't hesitate to replace it again... I wouldn't own a board that doesn't have motorized faders ever again, it's that nice for saving and recalling settings... same mix from ipad, laptop, iphone features as the Presonus.
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Well I will hit the tail end of this and most likely be the last post LOL only guitar's I own are a Lotus which I think is a Fender knock off, pretty heavy but sounds and plays nice and I bought a First Act after seeing the dude from Maroon 5 playing one. I had too many amps to mention which I've giving away or loan out never to see again. You guys are going to have to get together and do a TSB jam session and post it up.
darryl
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Al... Do you guys do your own sound or PA everywhere you play (for the most part?)
If so... I HIGHLY recommend a presonus Studiolive board and in ear monitors. You can call mix your own mixes from an ipad on stage (as well as the main mix if you guys mix from the stage). If I were doing it all over again this would be a no brainer. They aren't THAT expensive and you have one amazing (compact) setup that gives you ridiculous freedoms.
also check out the Behringher X32 series... all digital board, designed by Midas engineers who Behringher bought a few years back... we've had one since the first rev, and I wouldn't hesitate to replace it again... I wouldn't own a board that doesn't have motorized faders ever again, it's that nice for saving and recalling settings... same mix from ipad, laptop, iphone features as the Presonus.
BOOOOO!!!
But seriously, the Presonus guys are amazing guys... they are literally an hour away from us and I know several of their employees (my old guitar teacher works for them)... they really do give back and they are uber helpful when you need any assistance.
Behringer is known for basically reverse engineering/bootlegging/cheap knock offs... and though not always bad, this one hits REAL close to home. Hell, we've shared the stage with La Reoux who Jim Odom plays for and he is the founder of Presonus.
Buy Presonus!
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How's the tracking on that thing?
I remember it being iffy back in the day.
It's really quite decent, it's not like I'm Yngwie Malmsteen, so it keeps up to me. I never had a tracking problem, but after the novelty wore off, I just stopped using it.
Steve
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Sorry to hijack the thread (not super sorry, but sorry)
What's everyone playing?!
I have (2) rickenbacker 360s, and my main guitar which is a custom built semi hollow Electrical guitar company guitar!
Currently hanging around the house:
Epiphone Les Paul Goldtop
Ibanez Roadstar II
Fender Tele (MIM)
Fender Gemini acoustic
Ovation Celebrity Deluxe
Abilene acoustic (campfire guitar)
Epiphone Mandolin
Ibanez GSR200 Bass
Galveston Acoustic/electric Bass
Vox Violin Bass (late '60's, made in Italy)
Line 6 Vetta HD head and cabinet
Marshall Bi-Chorus 200
Fender BXR 100 bass amp
PA: been selling off the PA since I don't do live sound anymore, but still have custom CGM, ordered direct from factory when they were still in business, Trapezoid Mains (they have a 15, a 10 and a wide dispertion horn in each) and 18" Subs and Samick Power Amps.
And my "Beat Laboratory": this is what it looked like right before Thanksgiving. Currently tore apart awaiting a new desk and racks to be finished. Running Pro Tools 11, or can stay analog and go 8 tracks to 1/4" tape, then to 2 track tape.
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I'll check out the Presonus product for the monitoring. We have a Presonus 8 channel digital converter that we record with for almost every practice. Once the incoming levels are balanced mix down is immediate so we can burn CD's as we are breaking down to listen to all the mistakes on our travels. Mixing down a song in Cubase is a lot of fun when I am on the road stuck in some hotel in the middle of El Salvador. It is amazing what we don't hear that comes out loud and clear in a mixdown. The I-pad is essential now. I don't what know the software is called but we have put all our lyrics and tab on the ipad and it scrolls automatically at the speed of the song for the singers and Karaoke guest singers. It also links to the song so when we are failing we can listen to the offending part.
The other area we haven't mentioned is music theory. For anyone starting this helps accelerate the knowledge of where to go next in a song or what notes to play in a lead. Blues is 1-6-8, So 1 is the root note like A Chord in a lot of songs, 6 is a 6th away from the number one chord (A) (There are no zeros in modes (scales), so 1 counts as 1, a sixth up is D, from A thats A (1), Bb (2nd), B(3rd), C(4th), Db(5th), D (the sixth), the eight is an E (2 frets above the 6th). That pretty much sums up about a hundred blues songs. Play a pentonic or 7th scale in A over it for lead. There are only 12 notes that make up all music, and most music is specific to scales and chord patterns that repeat throughout most music and are modified with timing, rests, and song structure. Music is math to a great degree. Having this stuff in the back of your head helps to play live. Know the structure and scale for that song is much easier. ABABCAB could be the three parts of a typical blues pattern, A for the verse, B is the chorus, C is the turn around. Chords would be A, D and E with a 7th scale blues lead in A. That is Stormy Monday, don't have to remember much this way.
Tonight is practice night, a real addiction for sure, can't wait.
This is the gang: 7th Son, I don't have speakers on this computer so I have no idea how this sounds.
Just a practice vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cos6a8BZo4U (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cos6a8BZo4U)
Rock on
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if you guys are ever bored and want to let out a good "WTF?", check out Nickelback's rig run down on youtube..they completely destroyed what used to be some very nice guitars by "customizing" them......Gibson should kick them all square in the nuts...in fact, I'd do it for free...
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Total newb to this i can't make music happen with a DJ but I am going to dive into an electric guitar just because I always wanted to and now seems to be the time.
Here are two that i am down to, by a real players definition these are possible toys but i am allowing myself a $200.00 toy budget .
Any suggestion/ other recommendations would be appreciated.
Keep in mind I do not play (yet), if this goes as well as my jump into screen printing.........well you know there is always room on E-bay:P
mooseman
[url]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003EU8H4Y/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER[/url] ([url]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003EU8H4Y/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER[/url])
[url]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005RA3RBW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_7?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER[/url] ([url]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005RA3RBW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_7?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER[/url])
Once you have your new axe, you might want to look at this site. One of the best sites I've found, especially for beginners
http://www.justinguitar.com/ (http://www.justinguitar.com/)
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in my home studio, everything is close mic'd, and we record the entire multichannel set to my Mac...
I use Reaper to do the recording, and then mix down... makes it really easy to change things around later, make practice tracks for each member with their parts dropped out, etc.
And when we have a really good rehearsal night, makes for great demo material too.
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Al, the presonous is ridiculously configurable for such a price.
You have a 16 channel mixer that has 4 effects channels built in (2 reverb and 2 delay) and 6 aux sends. Then the 24 channel has the same 4 effects and 10 aux sends. The 32 has 14 auxes. All of this is completely configurable and controllable via ipad/table/laptop whatever. It's so remotely controllable that they offer a rack mount only version. They just have the ins and outs on them... no control surface, everything controlled via pc/tablet. Full parametrics, compressor, gates... basically an entire FOH rack built into the mixer on each channel.
All for a ridiculous price... only thing bad about them is good luck selling your analog gear now! EVERYONE is moving to digital consoles.
OH, and since you like to record rehearsals... the presonus has firewire outs that dump EACH channel straight to a computer (free software) and you can do this at gigs, practice or whatever. All multitrack easy peasy! We record a massive rock show every year and mix it down for the DVD, even have 2 room mics being recorded but muted in the mains.
My buddy is the tour manager for Sevendust and back when I met him he was running an old Peavy Mark 3 (I think... nasty thing built straight into the flight case)... "upgraded" to a mackie (one of the first bigger consoles) and eventually ended up with Allen and Heath before that bad called it quits. I NEVER thought he'd be a digital guy... he could mess up a calculator he was so bad with computers. LOL Now he tours with this little bitty rack for his vocal preamps and everything else is done in the digital consoles.
Here he is with Sevendust on a Digidesign SC 48:
(https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/1397261_10201273564145206_1069956130_o.jpg)
And here he is with Paul Rodgers (Bad Company) in Poland on a Midas Pro 6:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/294535_3779210082861_1127334610_n.jpg?oh=7b7744d0f8c1a6f2e31bd4ee98bd1678&oe=5509D618&__gda__=1427189969_0df7995cf3306d12e8acca844d1f57a1)
He's come a LONG ways! LOL
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Al, the presonous is ridiculously configurable for such a price.
You have a 16 channel mixer that has 4 effects channels built in (2 reverb and 2 delay) and 6 aux sends. Then the 24 channel has the same 4 effects and 10 aux sends. The 32 has 14 auxes. All of this is completely configurable and controllable via ipad/table/laptop whatever. It's so remotely controllable that they offer a rack mount only version. They just have the ins and outs on them... no control surface, everything controlled via pc/tablet. Full parametrics, compressor, gates... basically an entire FOH rack built into the mixer on each channel.
All for a ridiculous price... only thing bad about them is good luck selling your analog gear now! EVERYONE is moving to digital consoles.
OH, and since you like to record rehearsals... the presonus has firewire outs that dump EACH channel straight to a computer (free software) and you can do this at gigs, practice or whatever. All multitrack easy peasy! We record a massive rock show every year and mix it down for the DVD, even have 2 room mics being recorded but muted in the mains.
My buddy is the tour manager for Sevendust and back when I met him he was running an old Peavy Mark 3 (I think... nasty thing built straight into the flight case)... "upgraded" to a mackie (one of the first bigger consoles) and eventually ended up with Allen and Heath before that bad called it quits. I NEVER thought he'd be a digital guy... he could mess up a calculator he was so bad with computers. LOL Now he tours with this little bitty rack for his vocal preamps and everything else is done in the digital consoles.
Here he is with Sevendust on a Digidesign SC 48:
(https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/1397261_10201273564145206_1069956130_o.jpg)
And here he is with Paul Rodgers (Bad Company) in Poland on a Midas Pro 6:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/294535_3779210082861_1127334610_n.jpg?oh=7b7744d0f8c1a6f2e31bd4ee98bd1678&oe=5509D618&__gda__=1427189969_0df7995cf3306d12e8acca844d1f57a1)
He's come a LONG ways! LOL
Ok this is now the main priority purchase for next year. Our little Mackie 8 Channel needs an upgrade! I still like Analog sound, Tube amps for vocals and guitars (Yet my whole rig is digital!) major difference in my lead guitarists Fender Deluxe Tube Amp over my Fender Chorus digital unit, but hey we are just a garage band who likes to learn a new song every friggin practice. Still we have had some great gigs. If all of you printers out there think collecting a bill from a customer is hard try finding the owner of a bar at 2am to get paid. Prepay only. Literally have had to occupy bars and have the cops brought out to kick us out to get paid sometimes. Cops have no mercy for bar owners who stiff bands turns out.
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Damn!
We've never been in that boat before. Pretty terrible band houses but they always paid us.
http://www.presonus.com/products/StudioLive-AI-Series (http://www.presonus.com/products/StudioLive-AI-Series)
This is where you need to be man!
(http://www.sweetwater.com/images/items/1800/StudioLive24-xlarge.jpg)
Maybe you need to make a trip down here and I can let you check out the 16.0.2 I have laying around... OR, we could probably hop on over to the Presonus shop and get a grand tour of the place. :)
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Teaching myself to play the guitar. Have been playing the drums for close to 30 years now.
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Yep, this is the only reason I work, to be able to play music. When I had my shop it was 12-14 hour days and no time to jam.
Now with an 8-5 job we play Mon and Thursday and weekend gigs, which has been for the past 40 years! It took that long to get the wife trained!
Seriously though this group needs to get together and play. If anyone is in LA for the Long Beach Show and if we don't do the
gig at ISS, I can take a couple of guests in our studio on Thursday before the show or Monday after the show. First come first served. The couch holds two people, but the studio is all set up and ready.
And as I said if we get enough interest the band will play at the ISS show Long Beach. Eric from Action Engineering is quite the singer,
just got get up and do it Eric! Close your eyes. James Ortalani from Naz Dar also has serious chops and I'd love to get the chance to play a few with him.
You will never see a Murakami Show shirt designed by me without a guitars, drums, or a sax!
Al
Absolutely, I work so I can play. I opened for some big names in the early seventies, and realized it wasn't what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I started screening about then, and discovered something I liked ALMOST as much as playing. Now I play for gas money, unless it's corporate functions or weddings, then it's good money. I practice a good hour a day minimum, after working 12 - 13 hours, all acoustic, no plugging in and no recording, just playing. The electrics come out about once a week... sitting in with some friends Saturday night, they usually let sit in for a whole set... can't wait.
Steve
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this is my band, if anyone is interested...won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it's super fun:
http://destroytinyempires.bandcamp.com/ (http://destroytinyempires.bandcamp.com/)
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I wasn't going to bring up theory, but since Al did, I would always advise learning to read and understand. Music I couldn't have possibly pulled off a record, I could read. Talking about classical and jazz here; rock doesn't need it much as most is harmonically fairly simple. To add to Al's take on the blues, all the chords in a major key blues are dominant, meaning they are 7th chords, even sexier if you use 9th chords, not to mention 13th chords. For those not asleep yet, chords are made up of thirds, meaning every other note in a scale. For instance, the Key of C (no sharps or flats) the first note is C, the 3rd note in the scale is E, and the 5th note is G. When Moe, Larry and Curly sing "Hello, Hello, Hello" they are singing those notes (or whatever key they are actually in). Sing them together and you have a C chord. In Al's example of the Key of A (3 sharps) the A chord is A, C# and E. F# is the sixth (A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#). Dominant seventh chords are built off this theory by using the V chord of the scale (chords are expressed theoretically with Roman Numerals). So, in the Key of C (C, D, E, F, G, A, B) you start with G, and add B, the third of a G chord, D, the 5th, and then F the seventh of a G7 chord. To make a ninth chord, add an A... apply this formula to the C chord in the key of C and you'll have C, E, G, and B, which will make a C major 7th, a "pretty" chord. In the Dominant 7th V chord, the seventh is a whole step below the root, where as with the I (1) chord, the formula produces a 7th that is only a half-step from the root... anyone still awake? This sounds scary to some, but it's really just knowing the names of all of the available tools. Theory is not a bunch of rigid rules, it's an observation of the common practice of composers, labeled, organized and written down. It's there for you, but you do not need to know how to read to play, ala Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, George Shearing, Marcus Roberts or any of the other truly fabulous blind musicians who can sit in with anyone, anytime.(they do know their theory though).
Steve
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This has been a fun thread. I will approach the band tonight on the Presonus board. We have sub boards for the 8 mic drum kit, and split up intruments and vocals over two 8 tracks as well, it would be nice to consolidate all that and have far better recording control.
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Yeah, with these guys you don't need to sub mix anything. Everything stays separate... it's awesome for tracking and especially live recordings since it's all there to be recorded anytime you want.
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Maybe someday I'll learn to take a decent picture, or remember that my phone can take video. This past weekend was spent in a studio in Seattle working with friends of mine. The guy on the drums is Ben Smith, drummer for Heart. You haven't really lived until you've had your face right next to a 24" kick drum, adjusting the sub mic, and had him give it a nice kick for fun. It's enough to not only make your heart skip a beat, it will loosen your bowels.
Finding out the hoodie I printed for the local band he's working with is also the one he takes on tour with him, has been all over the world and is headed to New Zealand after the holidays was pretty cool too.
Sent from my iPad because pigeons, owls & ravens poop too much.
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My current practice setup in my office.
Fender Jaguar Johnny Marr Signature
Vox 10w pathfinder
Digitech RP500
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/jlansdell/20141216_195131_zps13cdae2f.jpg)
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wow , I ask a simple guitar question and I get this.........
i always thought I was screen print stupid, now I find I am also a guitar idiot....
mooseman
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we like to call it "Guitarded" ;)
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that too............dee da dee :'(
mooseman
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that too............dee da dee :'(
mooseman
Start slowly, grasshopper, it will come. And it's a blast...
Steve
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And don't forget, just like screen printing. Some people just want to put ink on a shirt and make money and some people nerd out on it and want to know how many microns of emulsion they have on the screen and at what tension... which angle and psi they are using with what duro squeegee... blah blah blah.
Some people just want to rock and some people nerd out learning all the Hungarian Minor scale and where it can be used. :)