Guitar Questions

[nashhorn]

Ok, I do have the typical - what recommendations for an old guy who
plays just for himself, now on acoustic elect/ but wants an electric for some rock. Not into anything drastic, do old stuff from Country to old rock, Denver to Eagles but like to do some ZZ Top and Bryan Adams, etc. and if you have ever heard of them, James Gang, stuff that really needs electric.

But also have questions about the basics like, what is most important quitar or amp? Is the versatility of sounds from the guitar or amp? Would you pay more for guitar or amp, ie, is a $300 guitar with a $500 amp better for you than a $500 guitar with a $150 amp?

And how do you lower the strings on an electric, you know bring them down closer to the frets, like you can using the neck screw on an acoustic? The ones I have played with at the stores seem very high.
Thanks, feel pretty stupid asking these simple questions but nowhere but Hornfans!!

Hookem

 

[jimmyjazz]

I'd put more into the amp than the guitar. For the kind of music you're interested in playing, I'd look for a Japanese or Mexican Fender Telecaster, and maybe a Peavey Delta Blues or Fender Blues Junior amp. You can probably pick up a Tube Screamer or similar overdrive pedal for another $80. A Tele is certainly the most versatile guitar I've ever played -- I own 2 of them -- and I think Joe Walsh would agree (which probably matters to you). A Les Paul won't really twang, and a Strat won't crunch, at least in the same way.

Ask the store to set up the guitar for you. It should come with the sale.

 

[tbone]

I agree with Jimmyjazz, as usual.

If I were you I'd get a tele and a some sort of low watt tube amp - Like a Peavey Classic 30 - and maybe even a tube screamer.

With that setup, you be able to play just about anything. The Mexican tele is fine too, just get them to set it up at the store where you buy it. Tell them you want the action low.

 

[GarCiaRia]

Agree totally with the first two posts. I'd add that for true versatility you should consider even some sort of multi-effects processor like a digitech RP250 or something like that. They cost $100-$200 and provide lots of versatility in your town. You can even download tone patches from a patch library to a computer then sync your computer with the processor. I'm a closeted bedroom player and my set up is a mexican fat strat, fender 25w frontman and RP250 digitech multi processor. cheap and quite plesant sounding with a ton of tone options.

 

[nashhorn]

Man I love HFs.

Thanks all. What about the string positioning? All except a few I have strummed at the stores have VERY high string positions down at neck
end. Can this be adjusted like on an acoustic?

Very much appreciate everyones input - Closet bedroom player, yeah that is me. Wife will go in bedroom and close door everytime I crank up. Only my tone deaf grandkids can stand to listen to me - ha.

Hookem

 

[Dionysus]

String height can be adjusted, as mentioned above you want the "action set low" which refers to positioning the strings closer to the fretboard, and makes it much easier to play.

I don't know where you live but I have a shop where I take my guitars in Houston that does a great job of setting action and intonation. PM me if you want info on the shop.

I agree on the Strat suggestions. I also have an Epiphone Les Paul which is priced pretty well and is a blast to play. Line 6 makes some good amps that are worth checking into.

I remember the James Gang, love playing a little Funk 49 now and then... rock on!

 

[crayon1973]

Another vote for the tele. I would also like to take this moment to advocate a somewhat ugly but great playing/sounding alternative which is the Parker P-36. Its basically their version of a Tele but it has a Piezo pickup at the neck for an acoustic tone which can be blended with the single coil and the lipstick. I loaned one to a friend (I need humbucker crunch when I gig) and he liked it so much he took it on tour. If you poke around craigslist or ebay long enough you will find one for $500-ish. For amp unless you are spending $400 or so you will get a solid state amp. I'd also check craigslist for a used one. I'll help you look if you want.

 

[crayon1973]

I'd offer the guy $150 for this amp, it'll work well for you

As for the $500 amp with the $300 guitar, its a waste. You really don't want a MIM guitar. If you can get your budget up to maybe $500 for the guitar you will have a much nicer piece of gear.

 

[jimmyjazz]

I have a Mexican Fat Tele, an American Standard Tele, a Japanese Fender Strat, and an American Standard Strat. I honestly can't tell much difference in build quality across those four instruments.

Saving $150 - $200 or so on the guitar and putting it into the amp will net a better sound than vice versa, in my opinion. (Getting a tube amp in the first place should be a primary objective.)

 

[amnosis]

If you do go with a tube amp I'd highly recommend a palomino by crate. I'm not a fan of their solid state amps at all, but the palomino is amazing, to my ears at least. I just picked one up the other day and I think it sounds much better than other amps in that price range. I a/b'd it with a peavey classic 30, valveking, vox ac15, and a couple fender amps that are hybrid combo's. The lower end ones are single channel and you could get a tubescreamer for your dirty sounds or if you went with a bigger one (32) it has an overdrive channel that will cover ZZ Top like stuff. Anyways good luck and happy hunting! I love getting new gear.

 

[crayon1973]

The crate Palmomino DOES sound great, but it's resale value is really bad and you can get a fender hotrod deluxe for another $50-$100 which will hold it's value. If you can find a MIJ fender THAT is a great guitar. I'd say at least the quality of an American fender. I would seriously consider going to Austin Vintage guitar and telling him to give you the best guitar possible for $400.

 

[amnosis]

The palominos I've seen on ebay seem to be holding value pretty well. I'm not sure about the local resale market in austin b/c I'm not there. I will add that I think low end mim guitars are generally crap, but I have a mim classic players 60's strat that I like better than most am standards I've ever played. The HRD is a great amp, just seemed like more then I need. I think a hwy 1 or baja tele would be great in this case but that's getting pretty expensive unless the op can find one used. I'm sure that's much easier in austin then where I am.

 

[Wild Bill]

Good advice by all. I believe Joe Walsh recorded "Funk #49" on a Fender Broadcaster which was the early version of the Tele but with only a bridge pick-up. The best Tele I ever played was a G&L, but they are pricey.

 

[nashhorn]

thanks all,
Like Amnio says, buying new gear is always cool. Looking forward to it. Sounds as though its a typical, could get by with....but if you can spend a bit more is probably worth it. As I said I just need something that when I do manage to hit a good lick I want it to sound awesome. I am coming into Austin soon so may visit the guitar place you mention Crayon.

Love playing but others don't share my enthusiasm when I am playing. For me it is great therapy and sometimes the louder the more stress released, know what I mean? Really looking forward to being able to get some genuine 'electric' sounds that cannot produce (at least I cannot) from the acoustic.
Regards all,
Hookem

 

[Not that Bob]

All good posts above. If you are worried about disturbing the family and neighbors, you could consider an "ear phone" amp. I have a Korg AX1000G that has every echo, flanger, reverb, tremolo, fuzz doodad in the world. All this plays through your standard headphones. No, in the long run it sounds nowhere near as good as a tube amp, but the advantage is that, through headphones, no one can hear how bad I sound.

I see them sometimes on ebay.

I have an American Deluxe Stratocaster that I love, but truth be told, I have a Made In Mexico that I also love...it is not junk, and cost 1/3 what the American cost. I don't have a Tele, but I think the American vs. MIM comparison would hold.

 

[fratboy_legend]

I have a blues Jr and it is great with respect to sound and space requirement so i can second that recommendation. I agree with the poster that said you cant get a Twang out of a les paul like you can a strat. I have never played a Tele but it sounds like an interesting middleground.

I am very pleased with my Les Paul and blues Jr setup. I have a multi effect pedal and a few others, but am looking for that PERFECT distorted sound and havent found it yet.

 

[jimmyjazz]

Jimmy Page played a Tele -- often. That's good enough for me.

 

[Not that Bob]

The Link

There you go, frat boy. Crank this beauty up to 9 or 9.5, and you will have that perfect distorted sound.

 

[crayon1973]

The Blues Jr is a GREAT amp. We used 2 when we played our gig in LA and we were both thrilled with them. The only issue is that you can't really play a show with it by itself unless its an acoustic show. I am somewhat hesitant to tell you to spend $400-$500 on an amp with which you can't play a gig unless you are 100% sure that you'll never use it to play a show.

And Austin Vintage guitar is worth it just to go loiter. I actually need to go there this week to pick up my Japanese P-Bass which was setup and incidentally, if you manage to find a Japanese P-Bass, the damn things are indestructible and sound amazing.

 

[Wild Bill]

In reply to:

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[nashhorn]

Jimmy Page played a Tele...... well there you go!

NtBob - Yeah I have done the earphone out in my tiny amp with the acoustic when just don't want to disturb but, as you say, not the same. And is not a case of 'worry' about bothering fam/neighbors just always

when it sounds good to me and everyone else just leaves and/or closes the door. Know what I mean. Definitely not going to stop me.
Play a gig? Ha, not going to happen, although like everyone I do sometimes pretend - like I am doing a Church thing or something. Now that would be quite amusing if anyone in my fam could hear that - ha ha.
I will definitely be going by that Austin store.

Thanks again all, really enjoyed the responses. Oh, cool link posted on that amp, some good sounds. Haven't heard from the poster with the used amp yet.

 

[Not that Bob]

Nash, what I'm talking about is not the same as an earphone into a "tiny" amp. The Korg is darn near a studio in a box...I'm sure jimmyjazz will rip me a new one for being so simplistic, but anyway, don't confuse the Korg with the earphone jack on your amp.

 

[nashhorn]

sorry about the earphone jack comment. But actually my whole premise here
is your bottom line simplicity. I did not even realize what I was talking about with lowering the strings was referred to as the 'action'.
Learned a lot on this thread - appreciate the great interaction and I may even look into the Korg thing now that I have a better appreciation of your recommend.
Regards all

 

[jimmyjazz]

Bob, I don't know anything about the Korg. I'm sure not gonna criticize it without hearing it.

And let's not confuse me with someone who can actually play, like tbone. I have several guitars and amps, but mostly so people I record can have some options. I've tracked things through a POD that made their way onto records instead of amps, so it's all just about the right tool for the moment. I have certain sounds I like, but so does crayon, hulla, etc., and if it works for you . . .

 

[uisge beatha]

The string height can be adjusted just behind the pickups

 

[tbone]

Here's another option:

I have a Line 6 PODXT Live, which is a floor pedal thing that replicates just about every amp/effect combination you could imagine. Now that I have a 15 month old, i play it constantly through head phones and it sounds unbelievable through them, way better than through an amp. They cost about $399 and are very cool. And this coming from a 20 year tube snob.

 

[Napoleon]

Rhett Miller (of the Old 97s) almost exclusively plays a Tele and I've seen him play about a kazillion times with the band or solo. That's led me to wanting one some day.

Also, Tom Petty likes the Tele. And I like Tom Petty.

It's a good thing that my brother isn't on Hornfans or he would go off for days. He showed me his most recent buy last week. It's a Les Paul (Gibson). This led me to look at the other 3 guitars on stands in that room along with the bass on a stand. I asked "How many guitars do you have right now?"

He started to real off about 8 to 10 guitars. He occasionally sells one to upgrade something or another. He also builds his own tube amps.

He'll show me tubes from a 1957 blah-blah-blah that he's going to put in a 1960-something blah-blah-blah to get a sound like Somebody-or-Another.

This hobby can turn into an addiction.

 

[Not that Bob]

tbone.

How user friendly is the Line 6 POD thing? I'm old and "scrolling menus" came into existance very late in my life. The thing I like about the Korg is that it is very intuitive. If you want more echo you turn up the echo knob rather than scrolling to the echo menu, hitting enter, scrolling to the increase effect menu, hitting enter, ad infinitum. I'm positive that the POD sounds better, and the Korg sounds like poo through an amp, but this old dog is averse to new tricks. I'm pretty much a techno-dunce and I have some expensive toys that just sit on the shelf because I can't figure out how to use them.

 

[Poke]

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I had a question for the dudes who play...

Does anyone here have a Boss DS1 pedal? I'm just starting out so I have a cheap starter guitar and a practice amp. I'm just looking for a distortion/overdrive pedal to mess around with and it seems to be pretty popular and versatile. Opinions?

 

[hullabelew]

The one thing I would caution you about it buying too much amp like I did when I was 16 yrs old. A kid playing in his bedroom does not need a Fender Super Reverb. I couldn't turn it up past 2, ever, if my folks were home. Plus, it was heavy as hell to carry,.......uh, roll around.

The Fender Blues Jr is a great option as is the Peavy someone mentioned above. A buddy of mine was in the market for a set up like you want. I cautioned him not to over buy and told him to look at the blues jr. He comes back with a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. WAYYYYYYY too much amp for his needs. He ultimately sold it and bought a Deluxe Reverb, still possibly too much amp for him but a better fit than the hotrod.

BTW, the Vox amp in Crayon's post has a cool feature in that you can control the power level control (sets the amp 'wattage' to different levels) on the output allowing you to get really cool overdrive without much volume. You can set the 'wattage' low and really crank the volume. It is a fun toy.

One thing I didn't see mentioned above is that a Strat is an easy guitar to play while you are sitting on a couch, chair or stool. It sets perfectly in your lap while most others you kind of have to wrestle with. I sometimes sit in with a group and occasionally use a buddy's American Deluxe Strat. He paid HIGH dollar for it. The lead guitarist has a Mex strat and like is mentioned above, the difference probably isn't worth the cost for you.

Personally, I have a Nashville Tele which is made in Mexico but has three pickups which adds a little more flexibility. I picked it up in used guitar shop for $250 and it didn't have a scratch on it.

Best of luck. Best advice is have someone show you how to properly change strings and buy a good tuner. Also, leave the guitar and amp out so you will play it. If you put it in a closet, it will stay there.