Anyone here play the guitar?

Really, I would avoid Internet or mail order buying. Do you have any friends who play? Maybe someone could go to a few shops with you. You pick out what you like and they can try the guitar.

More established players often forget that we think nothing of buying on eBay and then spending a weekend going at the thing with screwdrivers and Allen keys.

I wouldn't drop money on a budget Marshall. You are paying for an ok amp with a good name. The Marshall sound comes from tubes.

What kind of music do you like?
 
Another self-taught player here.

I was 15, mad keen on AiC, Pearl Jam etc and wanted to be a rock star. Those dreams faded somewhat but I've kept playing (badly) for nearly 20 years and it still makes me smile to piece together some good chords. I find it very relaxing overall.

Started on a cheap strat copy that was okay, but blew the 5w amp I bought from a junk shop. I just saved up and bought a massive 85w. carlsbro amp instead then, but hardly got it past '1' on the volume - it was proper loud!

Sold the strat copy to a mate, bought a rare(ish) Epiphone flying-V, then bought a telecaster, which is my fave guitar. Also bought a cheapo Encore electro acoustic - the pickups don't work any more on it after I dived into a swimming pool with it in a last-ditch attempt to impress a bird! Great guitar that I still live playing. I've ditched the big amp though, and now play on a tiny Fender 2w job that is villiant for in the house...

Advice? Enjoy it - yes, your fingers will hurt and you'll get frustrated at not being able to piece things together as quickly as you like but it all comes with practise.
 
Ebilpirate said:
I wouldn't drop money on a budget Marshall. You are paying for an ok amp with a good name. The Marshall sound comes from tubes.
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I'm not a label worshipper by any means, but when I had a small Marshall amp before it did put a little smile on my face every time I looked at it :D I'm actually thinking of just getting that Zoom G3 for now anyway ... all those effects through headphones can transport you to all sorts of worlds ;)
 
HMansfield said:
If you like the slim necked Ibanezes, then the SA series are well within your budget.
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Looking on Ebay and there are no 550's except for DOLLAR! I'm looking at the proper budget end.
 
Nip into PMT in northampton Dean and try a few.
 
I'd be way too embarrassed to play in public. :D

Which one is that? Kettering road??
 
Excellent, I'll take a look. I wont tell them my limited ability has required 20 years of not very hard work. ;)
 
I'm looking second-hand and bloody cheap. :)
 
i was just looking through youtubes for that sa160 and was getting some good reviews, although apparently not a thick/warm enough sound for good distortion. am now looking at the ibanez art120
 
Okay, i've taken on some advice and gone against others

and ordered

An Ibanez RGA32, which arrived earlier today
and a Zoom G3x, which will be here in 3-10 days

The ibanez feels great for me, but I want to plug it into something now!


Edit: Forgot about another music shop not far from me, so now am the owner of a Vox Pathfinder 15R!


Happy :)
 
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As mentioned by Comfortably Numb further back in the thread...........

Great program here for anybody interested in Guitars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvbf-HC2BvM

It features Mark Knopfler (not that it matters who) giving us a tour of his top 5 guitars that define him and his sound.

Anyway - it's about an hour long and it goes all around the world visiting diferent shops, guitar makers from well known Gibson & Fender through to less known models such as Pensa & the stunning Monteleone guitar. The last bit of the program - visiting Monteleone is well worth checking out.
 
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Started playing back in the late 80s - a few pub rock nights etc, metal covers and a few of our own - got a CD somewhere but nothing came of it after we all went on our way. Enjoy playing a bit of everything now and still do a bit of relaxed strummy open pub nights.

Couple of crappy shots taken on my phone tonight of my accoustic. I've had various accoustic guitars kicking about over the years but I've never felt inclined to part with this one. I tell the wife that it's down to the fact that she bought it for me 18 years or ago but the truth is I've just always enjoyed playing this one and the tone is lovely and rich.

Dreadnought
Solid spruce top
Rosewood back & sides
Mahogany Slim Neck
Rosewood fingerboard Pearl V-block inlays
Pearl Body Binding & Pearl Headstock Crown
Gold hardware

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Couple of others that I've kept but never see the light of day these days as i just tend to use my accoustic and rarely play anywhere other than at home.

Epi X-1000 Never had the heart to part with this one either. Through neck with that slippery fast Ebonol finger board, great access to upper register and with Kayler trem added a real 80s shredder.
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P-Bass which was used for one week after purchase to lay down some bass tracks and has spent it's whole life since in a flight case.
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Adams beginner guitar advice: do not try to have a Van Halen, Steve Vai or Joe Satriani song as your first song. It causes years of pain and anguish.

I've had somewhere between 50-60 guitars in the last decade. Pre recession I used to swap, buy/sell a LOT. From my £1.5k second hand PRS down to a £50 eBay bargain my fave guitars have all been sub £300. Long story short, you don't really have to spend a lot to get a good quality guitar any more.

Justin Sandercoe has a treasure trove of free tuition videos, even my old uncle has learnt from him!
 
Adam_M said:
Adams beginner guitar advice: do not try to have a Van Halen, Steve Vai or Joe Satriani song as your first song. It causes years of pain and anguish.
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I loved my Floral Gem - even if I looked a prat :D
 
dinners said:
I loved my Floral Gem - even if I looked a prat :D
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You definitely did! :p

I was the biggest Ibanez fan for the longest time. Had three RG550s over the years. An SA1260 prestige which was pretty similar to the 2nd Andy Timmons model was nice too. Had lots of others like an SZ series and loads that i barely remember. Had some 7 strings, nearly got the universe once too... Really wanted the PGM300 or 301, the one with the hard tail, for the longest time..

Sadly my hands can't stand the wonderful Wizard original necks, or the Wizard II's :(
 
I never fancied 7 strings LOL although my mate had the black and green Universe UV7BK which I thought looked great.

I changed my Gem for a Jackson Soloist with Floyd Rose. I wish I'd kept the Jackson but it was sold when I got older and realised money could by nappies and I kept my X1000 for the rare occasions I ever felt like plugging a guitar in.
 
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Adam_M said:
Adams beginner guitar advice: do not try to have a Van Halen, Steve Vai or Joe Satriani song as your first song. It causes years of pain and anguish.
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Page & Blackmore are still causing me anguish :D
I gave up trying to solo years ago, but I'm loving this Ibanez! Still can't play the stairway solo smoothly though :nuts:
 
Adam_M said:
Adams beginner guitar advice: do not try to have a Van Halen, Steve Vai or Joe Satriani song as your first song. It causes years of pain and anguish.
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His name is Stevie Vai,
And he's a crazy guy
Last November, I recall,
He needed a spanking

He decided then
A female specimen
Would be exciting for a night
To give him a spanking

Laurel was her name
She came to Notre Dame
He told me just the other day
He oughta be thanking
Her for the spanking


FZ ;)
 
have treated myself to a new geetar... could not even imagine nor afford a ES335 so have decided to go for an Epi Dot that will pretty much immediately be sent to a tech for a leccy and pick up change and pro set up, reckon total cost will be no more than £600 when its done which is pretty darn good IMO
 
7 strings? Well I play 5 string bass albeit it not that regularly and it always makes my hand ache, no idea how these guys with 8 or 12 get on!
http://www.conklinguitars.com/custo..._purpleheart_swamp_ash_neck_through_body.html

Oh and hope no one minds me dropping this in conversation, my band have a gig at the Bodega in Nottingham this week supporting Soft Bullets if anyone is interested.
http://www.conklinguitars.com/custo..._purpleheart_swamp_ash_neck_through_body.html
https://www.facebook.com/events/354653381288793
 
Here's my old guitar rig, 1000w (@ 4ohm) of amps going through custom made bass cabs.....and I wasn't even the bass player!! :nuts:

Sound engineers used to hate my guts!! :lol:

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As much as I love the stylings of Conklins, that 8 string bass neck can't be comfortable to play.

My bass has 4 strings. I've played a 5 string before and it just feels weird.
 
strumstrum said:
have treated myself to a new geetar... could not even imagine nor afford a ES335 so have decided to go for an Epi Dot that will pretty much immediately be sent to a tech for a leccy and pick up change and pro set up, reckon total cost will be no more than £600 when its done which is pretty darn good IMO
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Have you tried the irongear pickup range? Fantastic value for money. On my Paul I have a blues engine at neck and a dirty Torque at bridge. The torque is easily on a par with the Seymour Duncan's in my hello kitty fat strat.

I have iron gear p90's in a Gould LP jr copy and that thing sounds very "right".
 
Ebilpirate said:
Have you tried the irongear pickup range? Fantastic value for money. On my Paul I have a blues engine at neck and a dirty Torque at bridge. The torque is easily on a par with the Seymour Duncan's in my hello kitty fat strat.

I have iron gear p90's in a Gould LP jr copy and that thing sounds very "right".
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Funny you should mention Irongear.

My mate has just fitted passive IronGear SteamHammer Pickups into his Ibanez and says despite being a fraction of the price - they're almost on a par with the active EMG's on his ESP.
 
Blimey, I wish I could. I started playing aged 10...I learned a few classical bits and pieces then quit. Now, aged 42 and 3/4 all I wanna do is be in a band!

My daughter started piano lessons, but quit...now she does singing and drama. All I wanna do is get on stage like she does! She's 6! But I don't have the guts!

I say, get on with it...get some lessons, and then join up with some more mid-life crisis fellas and get stuck in. :)
 
Ebilpirate said:
Have you tried the irongear pickup range? Fantastic value for money. On my Paul I have a blues engine at neck and a dirty Torque at bridge. The torque is easily on a par with the Seymour Duncan's in my hello kitty fat strat.

I have iron gear p90's in a Gould LP jr copy and that thing sounds very "right".
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A Hot Slag in the bridge is on my consider list, Keith Axetec is a member on a music forum I use, great chap.
 
A good tradesman never blames his tools
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I always blamed my cheap choice in guitars for not being able to play much more than simple melodies and rhythm. Having owned a nice fitting guitar and a pedal that actually sounds good via headphones for less than 3 months, I feel justified in doing so.

I'm still sloppy and slow, but have made much bigger leaps than before.
My 5 solos at the moment are
  • Celebration Day - Led Zeppelin
  • Stairway To Heaven -Led Zeppelin
  • Nightrain - Guns n Roses
  • Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
  • Freebird - Lynyrd Skynyrd

What are your favourite solos to play (i'm sure you're all capable of constructing your own solos too ;))
 
After not playing bass for a couple of years i decided to take up acoustic. Currently learning on an Ibanez TCM50e. Looovely playing guitar!
 
Michaelk20 said:
After not playing bass for a couple of years i decided to take up acoustic. Currently learning on an Ibanez TCM50e. Looovely playing guitar!
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That's a beautiful looking guitar. It doesn't look as well made as the Recording King ones, but, man, it's a shexey looking thing.
 
new2me said:
What are your favourite solos to play (i'm sure you're all capable of constructing your own solos too ;))
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Boredom - The Buzzcocks. ;-)
 
Used to play bass but the band split due to ill health. Occasionally pick it up and have a plunk but rarely (inflexible fingers:() these days. Have an old accoustic 6 string with a high action so mess about with an open E tuning and attempt (very poorly!) some slide.

New2Me, 3 of those tunes would get you slung out of many guitar shops! You're just missing Smells Like Teen Spirit and Layla.
 
Nod said:
Used to play bass but the band split due to ill health. Occasionally pick it up and have a plunk but rarely (inflexible fingers:() these days. Have an old accoustic 6 string with a high action so mess about with an open E tuning and attempt (very poorly!) some slide.

New2Me, 3 of those tunes would get you slung out of many guitar shops! You're just missing Smells Like Teen Spirit and Layla.
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Wayne's World...
 
Nod said:
New2Me, 3 of those tunes would get you slung out of many guitar shops! You're just missing Smells Like Teen Spirit and Layla.
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Haha, I know! That was even the case when I last tried to play them, 10 years ago :D
 
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