The Guitar Thread

[Top_Cat]

I've just started experimenting with Reaktor and Propellerhead's Reason to write electronic music but with a twist - I'm using my MIDI guitar to do the sequencing on the fly. I had several incredulous replies when I posted a song to an electronic music forum. Most people didn't believe me.

[Top_Cat]

[Top_Cat]

Thread dig.

Recently bought one of these babies for my Casio guitar;

http://www.theguitarfiles.com/product_id-2520.html

So many tone snobs say you can't get vintage tone without buying something like vintage custom-shop Strat (a 'bargain' at AUD$5500, thank you very much!) with vintage Dimarzio pickups. Sure, they're nice guitars but wow, the price is killer.

However, I defy anyone to use a guitar with these pickups in it and pick the difference in tone or playability. There are a metric butt-load of reviews on Harmony Central of people who've tried these against their multi-thousand-dollar Strats and you'll be hard-pressed to find a negative review. They bloody sing and when you consider you're paying $200+ for one Dimarzio noiseless vs $30 for one of these, well, the debate is over isn't it? These are pretty quiet but if you want to get rid of the noise, just get some alunimium tape and cost the inside of the pick-up cavity with it. No noise.

Anyway, this is for those looking to upgrade their gear; the instrument industry is a bit of a rort so don't believe the hype.

[Top_Cat]

Just wanted to highlight a player many people aren't aware of, Stochelo Rosenberg. Shred is for chumps, this guy kills. Amazing technique in gypsy jazz here, what a player. Christ, even the rhythm parts are bloody tough in the Maraouche style.

Check out the melody in this one. Most guys struggle to play that quick topping out, Stochelo does it multiple times, perfectly in time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osmCjeQ1duE

And here he is with a couple of other gods of the genre, he's the 3rd soloist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEhJhvq6J4k

I'm not a guitar player. I didn't have the right to call myself one any more after hearing this guy for the first time.

EDIT: Hah! Just noticed Debarre broke a string at about 3:59. Kept going like a champ, though.

[Josh]

Yeh shredding is just a new way for people to compare egos, in my opinion. Gimmie a nice blues or jazz solo any day over that ****e.

[Steulen]

Originally Posted by Steulen

I've got a Peavey T-60 (electric) and a Fender Stratacoustic guitar, and a Yamaha 270 bass. Got the amps as well, but mainly plug them into my Line6 TonePort KB37 and on into the computer where GearBox provides all the amp models and Ableton Live turns my riffing into songs.

Despite being an utterly crap musician, I have almost finished my fourth song...so look out for that cheap download later this year

A well-timed thread dig

My first CD is finished and should be up for download sometime next week. I'll keep you posted on the URL. Dark eclectic rock, methinks it is. Otherwise known as crap, probably, but I had fun recording it and that's what counts.

[PhoenixFire]

Digg.

This is aimed at Corey, or anyone else who feels they are knowledgable about guitars to help me.

I played the accoustic when I was a bit younger for a few (about 2) years, but then gave it up when I left primary school when I was 11. I really regret this as I really enjoyed playing and I was semi-decent at it as well. I have a pretty crap Encore ENC34 that I used when I played a while ago. It does the job OK now when I just piss about, but it has some really annoying faults with it that I CBF going in to. Anyway, I just piss about playing now, when I'm bored, but I end up enjoying it quite a lot, so I am planning on buying a new one.

Question is, accoustic or electric? Is there much difference (bar the obvious ones) or are they the same things in essence (sp?) when you are actually playing them. Basically, would I be able to pick it up quickly enough? I have thought about buying a 2nd hand one, as I assume that they would be a fair bit cheaper, but are there any drawbacks of buying them?

[Top_Cat]

Well, all the notes and stuff are the same with electrics so in terms of learning chords, etc., it'll be no different. Steel string acoustics hurt more when you're learning but you can't bash a nylon string guitar in the same way. Electrics require a softer touch to play, easier to play faster generally but cost more to buy and to maintain (plus you need an amp or amp emulator, acoustic you can play anywhere). It basically comes down to what style of music you intend to play.

As for buying a second-hand guitar, you only really have to be wary of things like fret wear, warping in the neck, rust on the pickups, etc. That said, most stuff is easily fixable but some tools like fret cleaners are specialised and hard to get hold of so getting a full set-up from a local store would be prudent. They're usually AUD$80-$100 because they don't usually take too long. Just saying if you buy a second-hand guitar, factor in the cost of a set-up.

There are a few tricks when buying new or second-hand guitars to make sure you get a the best bang for buck. If you're buying an electric, try playing it without an amp. If it's crap, it'll just sound really dead. Play each fret on the highest and lowest string to see if the notes get choked off or whether they ring out and hold the note like they should. Play barre chords at different points along the neck to check the intonation although that would be fixed in a set-up. When you plug it in, you'll be looking for cheap pick-ups so crank that amp hard. Cheap pick-ups feedback uncontrollably.

[Top_Cat]

Anyone played one of these babies?

VISUAL SOUND JEKYLL & HYDE ULTIMATE OVERDRIVE | GEAR-VAULT

I'm looking to get one for my heavy project and I gave it a quick go in a local guitar store. Pretty mean sound but looking to get any available perspectives on it as well as battery-life, gig-worthiness, etc. Every review of it I've read has been positive so far.

[Hoggy31]

Play in a Captain Beefheart coverband tbh.

[nightprowler10]

Own a cheap Strat and a Fender acoustic.

[PhoenixFire]

Just bought a rather nice Electro Acoustic Yamaha CPX500 Old Violin Sunburst. Absolutely love it.

[Agent TBY]

Electro Acoustic? I suppose that means an acoustic with pickups. Neat investment, then.

Doesn't look half-bad, either. Love the classic look + the F-Box hybrid design.

[PhoenixFire]

Yeah read a review in Guitar magazine, looked really nice and had everything that I was looking for untilI saw that it was retailing for about 400 quid, which is a fair bit over budget. Looked on Amazon and found it for 249.99, great deal.

Haven't actually got any amps or leads, but I mightlook into buying some if I ever intend to play it electrically.

[GIMH]

It looks sexy