***OFFICIAL*** Guitar Guys Thread -- all axes, all the time (2 Viewers)

[Britney Spears]

Ok I will apologize in advance for this, I'm not sure which is worse, my guitar playing or my butchery of technology. It pretty tough to hear the tone of the guitar even though my phone is sitting right on top of the amp, which makes no sense to me. I'm also really not very good playing, mostly I really only play open chords.

But it's so freaking awesome of someone you've never met to send you something so cool across the country for free that I had to post a thank you for such a great gesture.

http://youtu.be/0ZuF1kNjL1U

Maybe next time you could send me a lesson?

 

[Otis]

Ok I will apologize in advance for this, I'm not sure which is worse, my guitar playing or my butchery of technology. It pretty tough to hear the tone of the guitar even though my phone is sitting right on top of the amp, which makes no sense to me. I'm also really not very good playing, mostly I really only play open chords.

But it's so freaking awesome of someone you've never met to send you something so cool across the country for free that I had to post a thank you for such a great gesture.

http://youtu.be/0ZuF1kNjL1U

Maybe next time you could send me a lesson?

Awesome. Good play my man. biggie

 

[bigbottom]

Ok I will apologize in advance for this, I'm not sure which is worse, my guitar playing or my butchery of technology. It pretty tough to hear the tone of the guitar even though my phone is sitting right on top of the amp, which makes no sense to me. I'm also really not very good playing, mostly I really only play open chords.

But it's so freaking awesome of someone you've never met to send you something so cool across the country for free that I had to post a thank you for such a great gesture.

http://youtu.be/0ZuF1kNjL1U

Maybe next time you could send me a lesson?

Brit: That video made my day. Thanks for posting it. It was my pleasure to send the pedal and I'm just glad it found a home on your board. That's a sweet rig by the way. And you're a fine player. Lots of folks make a living playing chords. That's all I do! Too many damn shredders in this biz as it is!

 

[jdoggydogg]

Pretty cool...

 

[bigbottom]

Pretty cool...

Whoa. That's cool. What is the medium?

 

[jdoggydogg]

Pretty cool...

Whoa. That's cool. What is the medium?

Reddit mentioned Sharpie.

 

[bigbottom]

GB CraigsList. Found an Orange Rocker 30 combo amp for sale at an amazing price. Plan to meet the guy early next week to test it out and hopefully buy it (fingers crossed). I love my Tiny Terror, but it's only a single channel. I've been jamming with another line-up and am playing a lot more electric. With this group. I really need a dual channel amp so I can switch between a clean and dirty channel on the fly. I've been using my Marshall rig during practices at our rehearsal space, but now that I'm comfortably within middle age years, I'm sort of dreading having to drag the Marshall to a gig. We're playing a short seven-song set at an event next weekend, so this purchase, if I can close it, comes at a perfect time. The Rocker 30 has a bit of a legendary status among Orange enthusiasts. It's been discontinued, so they're a bit sought after and hard to find (at a decent price). Unlike Orange's newer "budget" (i.e., less than $2,500) tube amps, which are now manufactured in China or Korea, the Rocker 30 was manufactured in England. Though I've never played through one myself, I've heard one played live and really loved the sound. I'm really geeked right now.

 

[jdoggydogg]

GB CraigsList. Found an Orange Rocker 30 combo amp for sale at an amazing price. Plan to meet the guy early next week to test it out and hopefully buy it (fingers crossed). I love my Tiny Terror, but it's only a single channel. I've been jamming with another line-up and am playing a lot more electric. With this group. I really need a dual channel amp so I can switch between a clean and dirty channel on the fly. I've been using my Marshall rig during practices at our rehearsal space, but now that I'm comfortably within middle age years, I'm sort of dreading having to drag the Marshall to a gig. We're playing a short seven-song set at an event next weekend, so this purchase, if I can close it, comes at a perfect time. The Rocker 30 has a bit of a legendary status among Orange enthusiasts. It's been discontinued, so they're a bit sought after and hard to find (at a decent price). Unlike Orange's newer "budget" (i.e., less than $2,500) tube amps, which are now manufactured in China or Korea, the Rocker 30 was manufactured in England. Though I've never played through one myself, I've heard one played live and really loved the sound. I'm really geeked right now.

 

[Otis]

GB CraigsList. Found an Orange Rocker 30 combo amp for sale at an amazing price. Plan to meet the guy early next week to test it out and hopefully buy it (fingers crossed). I love my Tiny Terror, but it's only a single channel. I've been jamming with another line-up and am playing a lot more electric. With this group. I really need a dual channel amp so I can switch between a clean and dirty channel on the fly. I've been using my Marshall rig during practices at our rehearsal space, but now that I'm comfortably within middle age years, I'm sort of dreading having to drag the Marshall to a gig. We're playing a short seven-song set at an event next weekend, so this purchase, if I can close it, comes at a perfect time. The Rocker 30 has a bit of a legendary status among Orange enthusiasts. It's been discontinued, so they're a bit sought after and hard to find (at a decent price). Unlike Orange's newer "budget" (i.e., less than $2,500) tube amps, which are now manufactured in China or Korea, the Rocker 30 was manufactured in England. Though I've never played through one myself, I've heard one played live and really loved the sound. I'm really geeked right now.

Awesome. I've heard nothing but good things about these Orange amps. Can't wait to hear your review of it. Fingers crossed on it going through.

More and more I'm going full blown acoustic setup these days. I've missed it. I still have my Yamaha semi-hollow electric (and it's awesome), as well as a vintage Fender 2x12 stage lead, but I haven't plugged in either in a while now. Instead I have a growing collection of acoustics in cases in our den (much to Mrs' O's dismay). One of the Taylors I bought I'm just "meh" on, so I'm near a deal to trade it in for a Larrivee parlor guitar. In the intervening time I bought a Pono parlor -- they are a Hawaiian uke company who just started making guitars, and I absolutely love it. Something about the shorter scale and smaller body of these parlor sized guitars just makes them so sweet for the kind of playing I do (on a couch in my living room). Sounds beautiful, I can't stop playing it. So I'm looking to trade the bigger bodied Taylor that I never play for another parlor size, and I've read and heard great things of the Larrivees. We'll see.

I'm working on a new tune that I just love. Kenny Burrell did his own version of this spanish classic song -- Tres Palabras. Such a sweet sounding song, and I'm slowly but surely getting it. It's tricky -- for some of the chords it's hard to know what forms to use, but I'm getting it... for anyone else interested, I got some awesome help here.

 

[bigbottom]

It's all about finding what you like to play, so congrats on that front. I've never played a parlor guitar. I'll have to try one out sometime. Too bad about your Martin. Weren't you thinking about buying another one as well? If so, was that one more to your liking?

 

[Britney Spears]

I also keep hearing great things about these Orange amps.

I have a Fender Deluxe tube amp, which is pretty great, maybe I should look at a trade. Can always improve the tone. The deluxe is also a little oversized for what I do (sit in my office, sometimes pack it to someone's house).

 

[bigbottom]

I also keep hearing great things about these Orange amps.

I have a Fender Deluxe tube amp, which is pretty great, maybe I should look at a trade. Can always improve the tone. The deluxe is also a little oversized for what I do (sit in my office, sometimes pack it to someone's house).

Keep in mind that an Orange is going to give you a different tone than your Fender Twin. Although Orange's have a wide range, from sparkling cleans, to crunchy overdrive, to British stack, to hi-gain distortion, and its various models have different strengths in each of those areas, it is still very much in the mold of a "British amp." I think it will give you quite a different tone than your Fender Twin, so I really wouldn't consider it a replacement for your current rig. It's more along the lines of Marshall or Blackstar amps. That's not to say it's limited to classic rock by any stretch. One of my favorite bands out there today, Blackberry Smoke, uses Orange amps liberally on stage and they're Southern rock all the way.

 

[bigbottom]

GB CraigsList. Found an Orange Rocker 30 combo amp for sale at an amazing price. Plan to meet the guy early next week to test it out and hopefully buy it (fingers crossed).

Closed the deal. It's crazy. I could turn around and sell this thing for 40% more than I paid for it. The only issue was that one of the knobs had come off. The seller made a big point of disclosing this in the CL ad, and then again when we met. He gave me the knob, and after he left, I fixed it in about 20 seconds. And it's not like I'm mister fixit. All I had to do was tighten a screw.

Have noodled with it a bit and it sounds good, but still need to spend some more time dialing in the tone. Will take it for a real spin at practice tomorrow night.

Now to sell my Tiny Terror on CL as it's sort of redundant at this point.

 

[Britney Spears]

GB CraigsList. Found an Orange Rocker 30 combo amp for sale at an amazing price. Plan to meet the guy early next week to test it out and hopefully buy it (fingers crossed).

Closed the deal. It's crazy. I could turn around and sell this thing for 40% more than I paid for it. The only issue was that one of the knobs had come off. The seller made a big point of disclosing this in the CL ad, and then again when we met. He gave me the knob, and after he left, I fixed it in about 20 seconds. And it's not like I'm mister fixit. All I had to do was tighten a screw.

Have noodled with it a bit and it sounds good, but still need to spend some more time dialing in the tone. Will take it for a real spin at practice tomorrow night.

Now to sell my Tiny Terror on CL as it's sort of redundant at this point.

Time for a video?

 

[bigbottom]

Time for a video?

Taking the new rig for a spin tonight at a birthday party jam for a good buddy. A bunch of musicians will be in the house jumping on and off stage for various tunes. There may be some video - though this is just for fun and won't be professional quality. Will post if there's anything decent.

 

[Otis]

HNGD to me. Bought a beautiful used 00-sized Collings acoustic short-scale, slotted headstock . Pic

Collings and Santa Cruz are the best boutique acoustic guitar makers out there. This could be "the one."

:giddy:

 

[Britney Spears]

HNGD to me. Bought a beautiful used 00-sized Collings acoustic short-scale, slotted headstock . Pic

Collings and Santa Cruz are the best boutique acoustic guitar makers out there. This could be "the one."

:giddy:

Oh yes!! What song are you going to play for us?

 

[bigbottom]

HNGD to me. Bought a beautiful used 00-sized Collings acoustic short-scale, slotted headstock . Pic

Collings and Santa Cruz are the best boutique acoustic guitar makers out there. This could be "the one."

:giddy:

Congrats! Beautiful guitar. But I have to ask, what is the draw of the smaller scale guitars?

 

[Otis]

HNGD to me. Bought a beautiful used 00-sized Collings acoustic short-scale, slotted headstock . Pic

Collings and Santa Cruz are the best boutique acoustic guitar makers out there. This could be "the one."

:giddy:

Congrats! Beautiful guitar. But I have to ask, what is the draw of the smaller scale guitars?

It's my new love and discovery. Couldn't figure it out for the longest time why I loved a couple guitars more than others.

As for the smaller body size, they're just sweeter sounding for intimate playing at home in a small room. Hard to describe but the tone is just sweet and wonderful.

But the short scale is so awesome. The shorter scale of the neck means that the string tension is significantly reduced. So even with thicker gauge strings you'd use on an acoustic, you end up with really easy-to-play, easy-to-bend strings. It's like butter. Ever since I made that connection, I started shedding my normal scale guitars for short scale. Even with my fat fingers/hands, I don't find the fretboard to be too crowded at all -- in fact, it's a shorter way to travel around, and I'm not playing EVH solos up on the 17th fret anyway.

Check out some short scale acoustics some time when you can. 24.75" scale, 24.9" scale, that sort of thing. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Can't wait...

 

[Britney Spears]

HNGD to me. Bought a beautiful used 00-sized Collings acoustic short-scale, slotted headstock . Pic

Collings and Santa Cruz are the best boutique acoustic guitar makers out there. This could be "the one."

:giddy:

Congrats! Beautiful guitar. But I have to ask, what is the draw of the smaller scale guitars?

It's my new love and discovery. Couldn't figure it out for the longest time why I loved a couple guitars more than others.

As for the smaller body size, they're just sweeter sounding for intimate playing at home in a small room. Hard to describe but the tone is just sweet and wonderful.

But the short scale is so awesome. The shorter scale of the neck means that the string tension is significantly reduced. So even with thicker gauge strings you'd use on an acoustic, you end up with really easy-to-play, easy-to-bend strings. It's like butter. Ever since I made that connection, I started shedding my normal scale guitars for short scale. Even with my fat fingers/hands, I don't find the fretboard to be too crowded at all -- in fact, it's a shorter way to travel around, and I'm not playing EVH solos up on the 17th fret anyway.

Check out some short scale acoustics some time when you can. 24.75" scale, 24.9" scale, that sort of thing. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Can't wait...

Dumb question: How do I know what size scale I have?

 

[Otis]

HNGD to me. Bought a beautiful used 00-sized Collings acoustic short-scale, slotted headstock . Pic

Collings and Santa Cruz are the best boutique acoustic guitar makers out there. This could be "the one."

:giddy:

Congrats! Beautiful guitar. But I have to ask, what is the draw of the smaller scale guitars?

It's my new love and discovery. Couldn't figure it out for the longest time why I loved a couple guitars more than others.

As for the smaller body size, they're just sweeter sounding for intimate playing at home in a small room. Hard to describe but the tone is just sweet and wonderful.

But the short scale is so awesome. The shorter scale of the neck means that the string tension is significantly reduced. So even with thicker gauge strings you'd use on an acoustic, you end up with really easy-to-play, easy-to-bend strings. It's like butter. Ever since I made that connection, I started shedding my normal scale guitars for short scale. Even with my fat fingers/hands, I don't find the fretboard to be too crowded at all -- in fact, it's a shorter way to travel around, and I'm not playing EVH solos up on the 17th fret anyway.

Check out some short scale acoustics some time when you can. 24.75" scale, 24.9" scale, that sort of thing. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Can't wait...

Dumb question: How do I know what size scale I have?

Look up your guitar on the web is the easy way. Measure it is the hard way.

For example, Fenders typically have a longer scale length than Gibsons. I've always found Gibson guitars more playable because that's what I always played. That's probably one reason why. Though both are still within the range of "standard" scale length.

If you play a short scale guitar, you can bend strings on an acoustic the way you normally would on an electric.

More and more, I see no upside to a standard scale guitar. It's taken me nearly 25 years since I first started playing, but it's dawned on me in a big way. It took a random leap on a $150 used Taylor Baby to help me discover it. I couldn't figure out why I bought this little junky "fake guitar" and yet found it more fun to play than my $3k and $4k Taylors. Then I ended up picking up a $700 parlor guitar with short scale on a whim. That became my new favorite. Then I pieced it together. Now I'm out on a limb with my first "high end" short scale guitar. If what I'm reading is right, it should hit the spot.

We shall see.

 

[bigbottom]

HNGD to me. Bought a beautiful used 00-sized Collings acoustic short-scale, slotted headstock . Pic

Collings and Santa Cruz are the best boutique acoustic guitar makers out there. This could be "the one."

:giddy:

Congrats! Beautiful guitar. But I have to ask, what is the draw of the smaller scale guitars?

It's my new love and discovery. Couldn't figure it out for the longest time why I loved a couple guitars more than others.

As for the smaller body size, they're just sweeter sounding for intimate playing at home in a small room. Hard to describe but the tone is just sweet and wonderful.

But the short scale is so awesome. The shorter scale of the neck means that the string tension is significantly reduced. So even with thicker gauge strings you'd use on an acoustic, you end up with really easy-to-play, easy-to-bend strings. It's like butter. Ever since I made that connection, I started shedding my normal scale guitars for short scale. Even with my fat fingers/hands, I don't find the fretboard to be too crowded at all -- in fact, it's a shorter way to travel around, and I'm not playing EVH solos up on the 17th fret anyway.

Check out some short scale acoustics some time when you can. 24.75" scale, 24.9" scale, that sort of thing. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Can't wait...

Will have to check one out sometime. But since I have to stay in performance shape on a full-size guitar, I'm hesitant to spoil myself and get hooked on an easier to play short-scale guitar.

By the way, are you "shedding" those full-sizes at a discount??? FBG pricing perhaps?

 

[Otis]

HNGD to me. Bought a beautiful used 00-sized Collings acoustic short-scale, slotted headstock . Pic

Collings and Santa Cruz are the best boutique acoustic guitar makers out there. This could be "the one."

:giddy:

Congrats! Beautiful guitar. But I have to ask, what is the draw of the smaller scale guitars?

It's my new love and discovery. Couldn't figure it out for the longest time why I loved a couple guitars more than others.

As for the smaller body size, they're just sweeter sounding for intimate playing at home in a small room. Hard to describe but the tone is just sweet and wonderful.

But the short scale is so awesome. The shorter scale of the neck means that the string tension is significantly reduced. So even with thicker gauge strings you'd use on an acoustic, you end up with really easy-to-play, easy-to-bend strings. It's like butter. Ever since I made that connection, I started shedding my normal scale guitars for short scale. Even with my fat fingers/hands, I don't find the fretboard to be too crowded at all -- in fact, it's a shorter way to travel around, and I'm not playing EVH solos up on the 17th fret anyway.

Check out some short scale acoustics some time when you can. 24.75" scale, 24.9" scale, that sort of thing. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Can't wait...

Will have to check one out sometime. But since I have to stay in performance shape on a full-size guitar, I'm hesitant to spoil myself and get hooked on an easier to play short-scale guitar.

By the way, are you "shedding" those full-sizes at a discount??? FBG pricing perhaps?

I should have sold you the Taylor I just sold. It was a build price of $6500, I paid $4k for it, and just sold it after 30 minutes of playing time to some guy at AGF for $2700. If he wants he can turn around and sell it for $3100 probably. I just didn't feel like waiting.

 

[bigbottom]

HNGD to me. Bought a beautiful used 00-sized Collings acoustic short-scale, slotted headstock . Pic

Collings and Santa Cruz are the best boutique acoustic guitar makers out there. This could be "the one."

:giddy:

Congrats! Beautiful guitar. But I have to ask, what is the draw of the smaller scale guitars?

It's my new love and discovery. Couldn't figure it out for the longest time why I loved a couple guitars more than others.

As for the smaller body size, they're just sweeter sounding for intimate playing at home in a small room. Hard to describe but the tone is just sweet and wonderful.

But the short scale is so awesome. The shorter scale of the neck means that the string tension is significantly reduced. So even with thicker gauge strings you'd use on an acoustic, you end up with really easy-to-play, easy-to-bend strings. It's like butter. Ever since I made that connection, I started shedding my normal scale guitars for short scale. Even with my fat fingers/hands, I don't find the fretboard to be too crowded at all -- in fact, it's a shorter way to travel around, and I'm not playing EVH solos up on the 17th fret anyway.

Check out some short scale acoustics some time when you can. 24.75" scale, 24.9" scale, that sort of thing. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Can't wait...

Will have to check one out sometime. But since I have to stay in performance shape on a full-size guitar, I'm hesitant to spoil myself and get hooked on an easier to play short-scale guitar.

By the way, are you "shedding" those full-sizes at a discount??? FBG pricing perhaps?

I should have sold you the Taylor I just sold. It was a build price of $6500, I paid $4k for it, and just sold it after 30 minutes of playing time to some guy at AGF for $2700. If he wants he can turn around and sell it for $3100 probably. I just didn't feel like waiting.

Oh man, was that the walnut one? I'm really glad you didn't offer to sell it to me. Because I would have been absolutely tortured by the decision.

 

[Otis]

Here's a guy I just love listening to these days -- his signature model Santa Cruz is a short scale guitar, and it's stunning -- though in this piece he's playing another short scale Santa Cruz:

Eric Skye

Guy is so talented. Such a pretty song throughout, and then he breaks out those nice jazz runs and it's perfect.

He's got some awesome lesson vids on Youtube that are actually a really clear, practical way of teaching:

Scales Lesson

Freddie Freeloader

Arpeggios

 

[Otis]

HNGD to me. Bought a beautiful used 00-sized Collings acoustic short-scale, slotted headstock . Pic

Collings and Santa Cruz are the best boutique acoustic guitar makers out there. This could be "the one."

:giddy:

Congrats! Beautiful guitar. But I have to ask, what is the draw of the smaller scale guitars?

It's my new love and discovery. Couldn't figure it out for the longest time why I loved a couple guitars more than others.

As for the smaller body size, they're just sweeter sounding for intimate playing at home in a small room. Hard to describe but the tone is just sweet and wonderful.

But the short scale is so awesome. The shorter scale of the neck means that the string tension is significantly reduced. So even with thicker gauge strings you'd use on an acoustic, you end up with really easy-to-play, easy-to-bend strings. It's like butter. Ever since I made that connection, I started shedding my normal scale guitars for short scale. Even with my fat fingers/hands, I don't find the fretboard to be too crowded at all -- in fact, it's a shorter way to travel around, and I'm not playing EVH solos up on the 17th fret anyway.

Check out some short scale acoustics some time when you can. 24.75" scale, 24.9" scale, that sort of thing. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Can't wait...

Will have to check one out sometime. But since I have to stay in performance shape on a full-size guitar, I'm hesitant to spoil myself and get hooked on an easier to play short-scale guitar.

By the way, are you "shedding" those full-sizes at a discount??? FBG pricing perhaps?

I should have sold you the Taylor I just sold. It was a build price of $6500, I paid $4k for it, and just sold it after 30 minutes of playing time to some guy at AGF for $2700. If he wants he can turn around and sell it for $3100 probably. I just didn't feel like waiting.

Oh man, was that the walnut one? I'm really glad you didn't offer to sell it to me. Because I would have been absolutely tortured by the decision.

Hai. Though the guy who bought it from me received it today -- he said it's beautiful and was thankful for the price, but wasn't sold on the sound. Neither was I. I didn't like how it played or how it sounded. Looks are nice, but that's 90% of the equation in a guitar, so that was pretty easy.

 

[Otis]

Here's a guy I just love listening to these days -- his signature model Santa Cruz is a short scale guitar, and it's stunning -- though in this piece he's playing another short scale Santa Cruz:

Eric Skye

Guy is so talented. Such a pretty song throughout, and then he breaks out those nice jazz runs and it's perfect.

He's got some awesome lesson vids on Youtube that are actually a really clear, practical way of teaching:

Scales Lesson

Freddie Freeloader

Arpeggios

By the way, if any other jazzer nerds here, this arpeggios lesson is great. I want to sit down and watch and play through it ten times a day until I know it like the back of my hand.

 

[Britney Spears]

HNGD to me. Bought a beautiful used 00-sized Collings acoustic short-scale, slotted headstock . Pic

Collings and Santa Cruz are the best boutique acoustic guitar makers out there. This could be "the one."

:giddy:

Congrats! Beautiful guitar. But I have to ask, what is the draw of the smaller scale guitars?

It's my new love and discovery. Couldn't figure it out for the longest time why I loved a couple guitars more than others.

As for the smaller body size, they're just sweeter sounding for intimate playing at home in a small room. Hard to describe but the tone is just sweet and wonderful.

But the short scale is so awesome. The shorter scale of the neck means that the string tension is significantly reduced. So even with thicker gauge strings you'd use on an acoustic, you end up with really easy-to-play, easy-to-bend strings. It's like butter. Ever since I made that connection, I started shedding my normal scale guitars for short scale. Even with my fat fingers/hands, I don't find the fretboard to be too crowded at all -- in fact, it's a shorter way to travel around, and I'm not playing EVH solos up on the 17th fret anyway.

Check out some short scale acoustics some time when you can. 24.75" scale, 24.9" scale, that sort of thing. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Can't wait...

Dumb question: How do I know what size scale I have?

Look up your guitar on the web is the easy way. Measure it is the hard way.

For example, Fenders typically have a longer scale length than Gibsons. I've always found Gibson guitars more playable because that's what I always played. That's probably one reason why. Though both are still within the range of "standard" scale length.

If you play a short scale guitar, you can bend strings on an acoustic the way you normally would on an electric.

More and more, I see no upside to a standard scale guitar. It's taken me nearly 25 years since I first started playing, but it's dawned on me in a big way. It took a random leap on a $150 used Taylor Baby to help me discover it. I couldn't figure out why I bought this little junky "fake guitar" and yet found it more fun to play than my $3k and $4k Taylors. Then I ended up picking up a $700 parlor guitar with short scale on a whim. That became my new favorite. Then I pieced it together. Now I'm out on a limb with my first "high end" short scale guitar. If what I'm reading is right, it should hit the spot.

We shall see.

Internet message board post is calling my 72 Guild D25 a 25 1/2" scale. Does this seem right?

I can definitely bend the strings fine, but its nowhere near as bendy as my telecaster (which is the most comfortable guitar for me since I've played it the most).

 

[bigbottom]

HNGD to me. Bought a beautiful used 00-sized Collings acoustic short-scale, slotted headstock . Pic

Collings and Santa Cruz are the best boutique acoustic guitar makers out there. This could be "the one."

:giddy:

Congrats! Beautiful guitar. But I have to ask, what is the draw of the smaller scale guitars?

It's my new love and discovery. Couldn't figure it out for the longest time why I loved a couple guitars more than others.

As for the smaller body size, they're just sweeter sounding for intimate playing at home in a small room. Hard to describe but the tone is just sweet and wonderful.

But the short scale is so awesome. The shorter scale of the neck means that the string tension is significantly reduced. So even with thicker gauge strings you'd use on an acoustic, you end up with really easy-to-play, easy-to-bend strings. It's like butter. Ever since I made that connection, I started shedding my normal scale guitars for short scale. Even with my fat fingers/hands, I don't find the fretboard to be too crowded at all -- in fact, it's a shorter way to travel around, and I'm not playing EVH solos up on the 17th fret anyway.

Check out some short scale acoustics some time when you can. 24.75" scale, 24.9" scale, that sort of thing. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Can't wait...

Will have to check one out sometime. But since I have to stay in performance shape on a full-size guitar, I'm hesitant to spoil myself and get hooked on an easier to play short-scale guitar.By the way, are you "shedding" those full-sizes at a discount??? FBG pricing perhaps?

I should have sold you the Taylor I just sold. It was a build price of $6500, I paid $4k for it, and just sold it after 30 minutes of playing time to some guy at AGF for $2700. If he wants he can turn around and sell it for $3100 probably. I just didn't feel like waiting.

Oh man, was that the walnut one? I'm really glad you didn't offer to sell it to me. Because I would have been absolutely tortured by the decision.

Hai. Though the guy who bought it from me received it today -- he said it's beautiful and was thankful for the price, but wasn't sold on the sound. Neither was I. I didn't like how it played or how it sounded. Looks are nice, but that's 90% of the equation in a guitar, so that was pretty easy.

Make no mistake, there's no way I could have dropped that kind of coin, but I would have been tortured nonetheless.

 

[Otis]

HNGD to me. Bought a beautiful used 00-sized Collings acoustic short-scale, slotted headstock . Pic

Collings and Santa Cruz are the best boutique acoustic guitar makers out there. This could be "the one."

:giddy:

Congrats! Beautiful guitar. But I have to ask, what is the draw of the smaller scale guitars?

It's my new love and discovery. Couldn't figure it out for the longest time why I loved a couple guitars more than others.

As for the smaller body size, they're just sweeter sounding for intimate playing at home in a small room. Hard to describe but the tone is just sweet and wonderful.

But the short scale is so awesome. The shorter scale of the neck means that the string tension is significantly reduced. So even with thicker gauge strings you'd use on an acoustic, you end up with really easy-to-play, easy-to-bend strings. It's like butter. Ever since I made that connection, I started shedding my normal scale guitars for short scale. Even with my fat fingers/hands, I don't find the fretboard to be too crowded at all -- in fact, it's a shorter way to travel around, and I'm not playing EVH solos up on the 17th fret anyway.

Check out some short scale acoustics some time when you can. 24.75" scale, 24.9" scale, that sort of thing. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Can't wait...

Dumb question: How do I know what size scale I have?

Look up your guitar on the web is the easy way. Measure it is the hard way.

For example, Fenders typically have a longer scale length than Gibsons. I've always found Gibson guitars more playable because that's what I always played. That's probably one reason why. Though both are still within the range of "standard" scale length.

If you play a short scale guitar, you can bend strings on an acoustic the way you normally would on an electric.

More and more, I see no upside to a standard scale guitar. It's taken me nearly 25 years since I first started playing, but it's dawned on me in a big way. It took a random leap on a $150 used Taylor Baby to help me discover it. I couldn't figure out why I bought this little junky "fake guitar" and yet found it more fun to play than my $3k and $4k Taylors. Then I ended up picking up a $700 parlor guitar with short scale on a whim. That became my new favorite. Then I pieced it together. Now I'm out on a limb with my first "high end" short scale guitar. If what I'm reading is right, it should hit the spot.

We shall see.

Internet message board post is calling my 72 Guild D25 a 25 1/2" scale. Does this seem right?

I can definitely bend the strings fine, but its nowhere near as bendy as my telecaster (which is the most comfortable guitar for me since I've played it the most).

Yup that's standard scale and sounds right. You have to try a beautiful short scale guitar. 24.75 or 24.9 doesn't seem like much shorter, but the difference in playability is astronomical. I'm starting to wonder why anyone bothers having regular scale acoustics.

 

[bigbottom]

Yup that's standard scale and sounds right. You have to try a beautiful short scale guitar. 24.75 or 24.9 doesn't seem like much shorter, but the difference in playability is astronomical. I'm starting to wonder why anyone bothers having regular scale acoustics.

It's not as good of a look when you perform on stage.

 

[bigbottom]

Based on some cursory research, it sounds like short scale instruments are better suited for fingerpicking players, while standard scale is more suited for flatpickers and heavy strummers.

 

[Otis]

Yup that's standard scale and sounds right. You have to try a beautiful short scale guitar. 24.75 or 24.9 doesn't seem like much shorter, but the difference in playability is astronomical. I'm starting to wonder why anyone bothers having regular scale acoustics.

It's not as good of a look when you perform on stage.

I'm actually holding my jumbo in that pic.

 

[Otis]

Based on some cursory research, it sounds like short scale instruments are better suited for fingerpicking players, while standard scale is more suited for flatpickers and heavy strummers.

True-ish. I'm a light flatpicker, and these guitars work great for me too. I'm not strumming big open G chords and belting out folk songs singing along, so for me I don't need the size or volume of a big strummer. I'm playing a bit more "intimate" music in pretty much every setting. If you're a big fat jumbo guitar chord strummer or playing in your church band or something, short scale may not work for you.

You fellas need to try them out.

 

[Otis]

HNGD to me. Bought a beautiful used 00-sized Collings acoustic short-scale, slotted headstock . Pic

Collings and Santa Cruz are the best boutique acoustic guitar makers out there. This could be "the one."

:giddy:

Congrats! Beautiful guitar. But I have to ask, what is the draw of the smaller scale guitars?

It's my new love and discovery. Couldn't figure it out for the longest time why I loved a couple guitars more than others.

As for the smaller body size, they're just sweeter sounding for intimate playing at home in a small room. Hard to describe but the tone is just sweet and wonderful.

But the short scale is so awesome. The shorter scale of the neck means that the string tension is significantly reduced. So even with thicker gauge strings you'd use on an acoustic, you end up with really easy-to-play, easy-to-bend strings. It's like butter. Ever since I made that connection, I started shedding my normal scale guitars for short scale. Even with my fat fingers/hands, I don't find the fretboard to be too crowded at all -- in fact, it's a shorter way to travel around, and I'm not playing EVH solos up on the 17th fret anyway.

Check out some short scale acoustics some time when you can. 24.75" scale, 24.9" scale, that sort of thing. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Can't wait...

Dumb question: How do I know what size scale I have?

Look up your guitar on the web is the easy way. Measure it is the hard way.

For example, Fenders typically have a longer scale length than Gibsons. I've always found Gibson guitars more playable because that's what I always played. That's probably one reason why. Though both are still within the range of "standard" scale length.

If you play a short scale guitar, you can bend strings on an acoustic the way you normally would on an electric.

More and more, I see no upside to a standard scale guitar. It's taken me nearly 25 years since I first started playing, but it's dawned on me in a big way. It took a random leap on a $150 used Taylor Baby to help me discover it. I couldn't figure out why I bought this little junky "fake guitar" and yet found it more fun to play than my $3k and $4k Taylors. Then I ended up picking up a $700 parlor guitar with short scale on a whim. That became my new favorite. Then I pieced it together. Now I'm out on a limb with my first "high end" short scale guitar. If what I'm reading is right, it should hit the spot.

We shall see.

Internet message board post is calling my 72 Guild D25 a 25 1/2" scale. Does this seem right?

I can definitely bend the strings fine, but its nowhere near as bendy as my telecaster (which is the most comfortable guitar for me since I've played it the most).

Yup that's standard scale and sounds right. You have to try a beautiful short scale guitar. 24.75 or 24.9 doesn't seem like much shorter, but the difference in playability is astronomical. I'm starting to wonder why anyone bothers having regular scale acoustics.

Otis, when I think "short scale" I was thinking somewhere around 22". I didn't realize 24.75 or 24.9 was considered short scale.

Yes, on an acoustic, as little as 24.9 is usually considered short scale; that and 24.75 seem to be the most common. It's amazing what a difference that scale makes in terms of playability. Night and day.

 

[Otis]

This is exactly how I aspire to play. Great lesson, this guy is so awesome. Now to just start hunkering down and spending the time...

 

[Otis]

HNGD to me!

Got this Froggy Bottom P-14 Deluxe used from someone over at Acoustic Guitar Forum ($4500 price tag, so you can imagine what they cost new...)

Man, what a beautiful, deep, big sound from such a tiny guitar. Resonates and sustains for miles. Sounds as big as my old HD28 dreadnaught. Absolutely in love with this thing. I've been through about 10 guitars on the hunt for the right one as my daily couch player, and I think I finally hit the jackpot.

 

[bigbottom]

HNGD!!!

 

[wazoo11]

Those cheap knock off guitars you see at wal mart or best buy aren't worth the investment,right?

 

[jdoggydogg]

Those cheap knock off guitars you see at wal mart or best buy aren't worth the investment,right?

If you're a parent and you want to give your kid a starter axe, they're ok. Otherwise, no.

 

[Apple Jack]

Lots of great luthiers, Otis. Declaring collings and sc the best is kind of silly. Either way, congrats on the purchase. I'm a big fan of collings' stuff.

 

[Otis]

Lots of great luthiers, Otis. Declaring collings and sc the best is kind of silly. Either way, congrats on the purchase. I'm a big fan of collings' stuff.

Thanks. Sold off all my Taylors -- decided I'm just not a Taylor guy -- and I'm now sitting with the Collings and Froggy, as well as a great little Pono parlor that I like quite a bit. I'll one day add a Santa Cruz.

 

[Reaper]

Those cheap knock off guitars you see at wal mart or best buy aren't worth the investment,right?

If you're going super cheap / Wallmart route - I'd rather go online to musicans friend or guitar center and find a cheapo with decent reviews,,,,

I'm buying my daughter a $49.00 "Rogue" guitar that has 3000 mostly 4 star + Reviews... She's only 5 and like's to strum my guitar but it's too big to wrap around....

Better than that is if you know someone who plays to go to a Music store and try to cherry pick the best of the cheapos - PPl luck into good Cheap stuff all the time - I have a Mexican Fender Bass that's as sweet as many more expensive models.

 

[Otis]

Better to go used if you're going cheap -- lots more bang for your buck. My two cents anyway.

 

[glock]

Thought you guitar geeks might dig this if you haven't seen it already-:

Electrified- The Guitar Revolution

 

[wazoo11]

Better to go used if you're going cheap -- lots more bang for your buck. My two cents anyway.

Yeah, this wasn't for me but my aunt knows next to nothing about guitars. Just trying to help her son out.*I prefer playing drums and bass.

 

[bigbottom]

Better to go used if you're going cheap -- lots more bang for your buck. My two cents anyway.

 

[bigbottom]

Better to go used if you're going cheap -- lots more bang for your buck. My two cents anyway.

Depends on the definition of "cheap". Cheap guitars are a lot better than they were 20 years ago.

You can pick up a full-size Squier Strat for $100 on CL, often with some stuff thrown in. That is likely to be better than what you can get at Walmart.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

www.rondomusic.com Best bang for the buck. No doubt.

 

[Britney Spears]

Had my first gig yesterday. It went well, I didn't even mess up, so I'm assuming ill be signed to a record deal shortly.

So thanks friends for the inspiration, I probably won't be around much once things take off.

PS, it was my sisters wedding.