Guitar Questions

Poke,

I have a ds1, and I see Guitar Center has it online for 40 bucks! Wow, good price. What can you lose for 40 bucks? I have an Electro-Harmonix Metal Muff with Top Boost that, for me, is a bunch more fun. The Metal Muff can do what the ds 1 does and more, however it's twice the price.
 
Bob - the POD is big on scrolling menu's but its still pretty cool.

Not sure the cost, but I'd look at the Pro Co Rat and/or the Big Muff Pi for distortion pedals.
 
"A kid playing in his bedroom does not need a Fender Super Reverb."

You, sir, are a heretic.


biggrin.gif
 
For any of you still on the tread one more question.

Went by GCtr and played on a Tele for awhile - really, really liked it.
Tried diff pricing options - Ash body (basic config), Nashville model, and
the 'deluxe' which has the upgrade in pickups. Although I do not
think my playing justifies the extra $200 for the deluxe it sure felt
great, just better feel to me in changing chords, etc, with a doz others playing around the place at the same time cannot say anything about diff in sound though couldn't hear that well and too embarrassed to turn mine up very loud. Of course when you cannot hear yourself so well you think you are playing great!

But my question. To save a bit is it worth ordering the guitar on line?
Just not sure if $50 bucks is worth the hassle if something was wrong with it when I got it. Actually, I think I have talked myself out of it. Wish I could find a 'deluxe' used in good condition but I'll probably get one of the basic Tele's from GCtr this week. Getting pretty excited about the thought.

Thanks everyone - really enjoyed learning from you all.

Hookem - anyone going to the Scrimmage Sat?
 
Of course you are right, Hulla. I spend 95% of my playing time on my 5 watt Victoria 5112. If you ever have a chance, play through one. "Clouds part. God speaks." All that stuff. If I buy another amp it will be a Carr Mercury which is, I think, 8 watts. I'm a bedroom player, no gigs in decades, so I don't need to worry about filling up the FEC with sound.

Nash, I have had good luck with online purchases. My American Deluxe Strat was "butter" out of the box...guitar lingo for "easy to play." If you can afford the extra bucks you will find that your initial experience is accurate...it plays better. They spend more time on making the frets smooth and level, and making the fret edges smoother, stuff like that. If you buy at a local store they should "set it up". That means they should make the adjustments needed to make it play it's best. You are at the mercy of the store's guitar tech. I have no idea about Guitar Center's tech. The guy at Austin Vintage has done a couple for me and it was all good. All that said, I love my Made In Mexico also. Walter, at Music Exchange on Koenig does a good job. He is an Austin original. I think I paid about $65 for a good set up and two sets of strings. This is a fun hobby.
 
On a tangent -- do any of you know of a new small tube amp that actually gets a vintage Marshall tone (plexi or JCM800)? Ideally, I'm thinking of a 1 x 12 combo, maybe a boutique amp, but no modelling and no solid state.
 
since this thread seems to have some legs i have another off topic question: anybody out there ever built an electric guitar? i dont mean assembled - i mean crafted from rough wood.

I know a good deal about woodworking but not a lot about guitar making. an electric seems rather straightforward since it is really not a musical instrument like an acoustic or a violin.

anyway, if anyone has attempted it, please let me know if it is simple / difficult. thanks.
 
nash--i would absolutely go with the one that feels the best. As long as it's not gonna put you in the poor house. I think that sometimes you just bond with a guitar...feels perfect. If it happens to have better pickups then that's an added bonus. Try a couple different stores and play as many as you can. If you think, well this is pretty nice but I like that one at guitar center better, then you'll have your answer. I don't order online personally, I want to have played it first. There can be huge variations in the same model. I got a cheap acoustic for christmas this past year that my mom ordered online from guitar center. The outer box looked like it had been attacked by rabid dogs, but the guitar itself was in great shape.
 
What's your price range, jimmy? The one's I've seen are going to eat up 2K. I'm at work right now, but if that price doesn't put you off I'll try to find some links tonight.
 
$2K is a little tough to swallow. $1K would be better. (No kidding.) I was just hoping there would be a low-cheese Laney or Ampeg or something out there that happens to get somewhere close to a Marshall tone. Problem is, most modern amp manufacturers can't seem to avoid the cheese.
 
Online vs Big Box vs locally owned small shop:
(Pulling out my soapbox). Personally, I would only buy a guitar online if it was true steal or a one of a kind guitar. If I take up a salesman time playing guitars in their shop, I feel bad about then ordering online just to save a few bucks. (I would NEVER buy and acoustic guitar without playing it first.)

Personally, I always try to buy from the locally owned shops because they will generally give you better and lasting service. The big box stores may have cheaper prices, especially on the standard models, the local shops will beat their prices on the high-end guitars. I saved $400 on my Taylor 514 buying from the small shop compared to what GC/Sam Ash/Marrs listed the guitar at. Plus, I hate that local shops are harder and harder to find.

It is sad that Fender has made it damn near impossible for the small shops to be a factory authorized dealer. Before that happened, my buddy ordered his Amer. Deluxe Strat from a local shop. When it came in, the guys didn't even open the box. They called my buddy and told him the guitar was in and that since it was his guitar, he deserved to be the one to unpack it and hold it first. Pretty cool idea.

Nash, keep up posted on what you buy. This has been a great thread.
 
I've just gotta say that I love these threads & I've never strummed a chord from a guitar. I've always wanted to learn & even promised myself that I would begin taking lessons "when I found the time" but like most everything else these days it seems that kind of time is never found. Hulla emailed me a ton of excellent information a few years ago when I really thought I was going to be able to start taking acoustic lessons. That still hasn't happened, but the only direction I had was that if I bought a guitar I thought I'd buy a Takamine dreadnought AE because....****, that's what Springsteen plays & it looks cool.

Anyway, I just love reading these threads & if hornfans ever decided to set aside a board just for guitar talk I doubt I'd ever get anything done. I'd just read all day about a bunch of **** that I don't understand but would enjoy the passionate way enthusiasts talk about their gear .
 
hullaballew is right on. I've always liked the local shops more. Like he said, make sure they "set up" your guitar for you.
 
Ghost,

Buy that guitar and learn one song. Just one. Start easy. 50 years ago my first song was "Down In The Valley." Two chords. When you are comfortable with that two chord song, learn a 3 chord song. "Gloria" would be a good choice. Just don't get overwhelmed by trying to be Segovia in a week. Have fun and try to not worry too much about being "good." 50 years later and I'm still not "good." Except for "Down In The Valley." I kick *** on that song.

NTB
 
Kind of late in the game, but I would highly recommend a MIM strat. I've played on one for the past 7-8 years and love it. Still sounds great and very easy to play for a beginner.

I just purchased this bad boy a few months ago....and love it for my ZZ top/classic rock type playing. Although you could probably get away with the 30 instead of the 50. Great amps for a combo.
VOX AD50VT
 
jimmyjazz,
Have you tried any Carvin amps? They have a 16 Watt tube combo for about 300+. I bought a 33 watt 1x12 combo tube amp about 20 yrs ago and used it for gigs. The clean tone and overdrive are awesome. For a more distoted tone (Metallica), you need a good pedal or multi-effects processor. Now my 12 yo son is using my old equipment and is kicking ***. He can play most of "Cliffs of Dover" by Eric Johnson, which I could never play.
Carvin vintage amps
 
Hadn't considered Carvin -- I used to scoff at them, but that was probably a stupid bias (ha) on my part. I'll look into them. Thanks!
 
Ghost - my acoustic is a Tak and I have to say I love it. It taught me that there are 'easy' guitars vs not. I play only for me and I love it. I am the only one who would say some of my playing sounds good but as another said on here it is incredible therapy. My deal now is there just are some songs that you need to have electric and I have always wanted to have a decent electric just for the fun.
My update and new question, man I love this thread, I have arranged meeting on the Vox30 and pretty excited about this amp for making my acoustic sound better too because am out growing this mini I have and seeing its imperfections, like some sounds are better with no amp no what I mean?
Some one sent me a response that misinterpreted what I said about a 'Deluxe', the one I was infatuated with, still am, was not an Am Deluxe, I am sticking with the MIM for cost, although I did find a place here in Houston that sells the basic Tele American for under $700. Oh yeah, my question is the one I really like has two humbuckers, it is a Deluxe Tele MIM and cost is about $300 more than the basic Tele. Now as I understand it what these pickups bring to the party is no hum. where I play, game room I have TV, computer, etc, etc, am I over buying? Over concerned? And here is the best part, my wife is in favor of the more expense because she thinks the white pick guard on the basic Tele looks cheap. Now how great is that?

Rock on HF's.
Hookem
 
Oh forgot, wanted to tell Hulla I agree on the 'local' aspect. I feel guilty if I spend time with someone and then buy somewhere else if a price diff is the issue, unless dramatic. I would always give a guy the opportunity to match first off, but for the local attention after the sale it would be worth it unless the diff is huge. I found a place in Houston that offers free adjustments and stringing (you buy strings) for the life of ownership. Now that is worth a price differential. Unfortunately they do not have a big Tele selection, usually do higher market but I may see if they would order whatever I end up going with. Right now I like a custom model that has the Hum's hence the question and a 'blackie' that has three pickups which to me makes it a Strat in a Tele body, not too sure about that because of the advise from you guys on this board.
Man I am getting excited.
hookem
 
1. Somehow the discussion of a Vox AC30 went right by me. Regardless, depending on the year, that's the greatest amp ever made. (Probably only vintage top-boosts, though, although I'm not a Voxophile, so don't take my word for it.)

2. regarding a humbucking Tele -- whatever feels good and sounds good to you. However, that ain't a "TELE". If it doesn't have 2 single-coil pickups (lipstick on the neck, traditional on the bridge), then it's something different. It might have "Tele" in the name, but that's like saying a '78 Mustang is a Mustang, if you get my drift.

Fender_Telecaster_258320_01.jpg


3. regarding pickguards -- I replace all my pickguards with "mother of toilet seat" models. (Pearlescent, typically white, sometimes black.) Don't choose your guitar for the pickguard, choose a pickguard for your guitar! They cost maybe $50. (Haven't bought one in awhile.) This isn't my guitar, nor is the one above:

bodyfr.jpg
 
Jimmyz you are too cool. "mother of toilet seat" is that a real description/name?
The point on pick guard was that my wife was 'blessing' a higher $ purchase than the basic - not that the guard was motivating the purchase but helping sell it to her because the 'feel' I described earlier as liking was on a higher priced than the basic. But changing out the guard for diff color is something I had not thought about - again, great info, thanks.
 
Yeah, "mother of toilet seat" is pretty much the accepted slang for those things. And they look GREAT on all Fenders. (I've never seen a MOTS pickguard on a Les Paul. That would be creepy.)
 
Nash,
Jimmy is right about the single-coil Tele. The modern single-coils do not cause as much "hum" as the older ones did. It won't sound like a Tele with humbucking pickups. But again, pick what feels and sounds good to you. Try out as many models as possible. You can't go wrong with any Fender model. I bought my Am. St. Tele in 1988 for $550, and it certainly has not depreciated much.
 
You're right fratboy. I was being sarcastic. These models appreciate (how much, I'm not sure). For example, that $550 Tele is now about $800 new. The Les Paul I bought new in 1987 for $1000 is now about $2500 new. Regardless, since they are in excellent condition, I'm sure I could get more than I paid for them. Bottom line: you can't go wrong with a Fender or Gibson. I like your analogy to a Rolex.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Weekly Prediction Contest

* Predict HORNS-AGGIES *
Sat, Nov 30 • 6:30 PM on ABC

Recent Threads

Prediction Results Threads

2024 Schedules

Back
Top