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

JbizzleMan said:
I'm buying an acoustic guitar to use this quarantine time for something useful. Never really played. Do I need an acoustic-electric guitar, or just acoustic?

What do you think of this guy? 

Martin LX1E Little Martin Acoustic-Electric Guitar
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That's a really nice guitar.  It's smaller than a full-scale (full-size) guitar, so it should be easier to learn on unless you have really big hands.

 
E Street Brat said:
I'd rank my myself as a pretty good rhythm player, but never had the patience to practice speed, and scales. So my lead, riff, and fill skilz are less than zero. Besides I hardly play with anyone else so just strumming, and muting chords has served me well over the years.  

Well I've decided to put my "work from home" time to good use. Three or fours years ago on a drunken saturday night when all the best online purchasing decisions are made.  I bought the Charlie Wallace "Master the Fretboard" 10 week course. 

On Monday my journey began. Week one seems to be learning the C G D pentatonic patterns of the "CAGED systems. I've seen and read about this system many times over the years, but it always looked complicated to me. So wish me well as use several of my 10/15 minute brakes on my "Series 10" by Bentley Tele instead of hanging at the coffee pot talking about the "Tiger King" with people I don't even really like.  
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UPDATE

Week 2 of the 10 week course is running longer then expected.  The new material was easy enough to understand, The A and E "patterns" of the CAGED system   but the 1 finger per fret  exercises really exposed the weakness in my finger strength and dexterity on those patterns,  So I've slowed down on the 10 weeks plan and started playing chromatic scales, 1 finger per fret, using a metronome as well as practicing the scale patterns and memorizing the root notes and their relative minors notes per pattern. Without jumping ahead in the lessons, I can see that is going to lead into using these patterns to play in different keys, based on the root notes. 

Now I need some advice from you guys, or actually some confirmation.... 

I’ve been using my Stagg acoustic for learning the CAGED system and to strength and build speed. It’s just so easy to pick up whenever I have 5 or 10 minutes to just exercise. And it’s been my go to axe for the last 10 years or so.

Now that I’m getting ready to put my new skills to the test, I pulled out and dusted off my old Tele copy. It’s a Series 10 by Bently that I bought 30 maybe 35 years ago for somewhere between $225.00 and $175.00 and it needs work. I loved this cheap guitar back in my 20’s when that’s all I could afford. But this old soldier has never seen the inside of a case. Needless to say the pots and switch are scratchy as hell plus the action and intonation are off.

I’ve sprayed the pots with contact cleaner and that’s helped but is haven’t fixed it. I think the switch is just shot, If I bump it by mistake I just lose everything. I’ve also changed the saddles and got the string height and intonation better, but it needs a pro tech to make it right.

So I dropped it last Monday at a local music store that had good reviews.

Here’s the Damage Complete Setup. Change both pots, and the switch with a 4 position mod. For $167.00 usd plus tax

PROS

1 A guitar I used to love to play will be like new again, if not better then new.

2 If I upgrade to a true Fender Tele, the upgraded electronic could be used in the new guitar if needed. But I’d rather use one of them as a 5 string Keef guitar.

3 $170.00 is still less than even a Mexican Tele.

Cons,

1 The repair and upgrade is damn near as much I paid for the guitar.

2 I have the money to buy a new or used Mexican or even a US Tele. But I’m just not positive on my current job situation. I think I’m safe, but I don’t wanna bet the price difference on it,

So has anyone here taken a cheaper made guitar and sunk money it and ending up being happy with the results? Or am I just throwing good money at a bad project/product?

Can't wait to hear your opinions. TIA

 
E Street Brat said:
1 A guitar I used to love to play will be like new again, if not better then new.

So has anyone here taken a cheaper made guitar and sunk money it and ending up being happy with the results? Or am I just throwing good money at a bad project/product?

Can't wait to hear your opinions. TIA
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I bought my daughter a $99 Chinese strat clone. The body and neck are cnc built straight from Fender blueprints just like Squires. The hardware is crap. For less than $200 I changed the bridge, tuners and pickups to original Fender parts, polished and leveled the frets, and used Youtube for instructions to change the sad nut it came with. She is a music major and prefers this guitar to an SG.

For $170 I would let the guy get your old "Tele" right again. 170 shouldn't stop you from getting the Mexican if you are unhappy with the results, or even if you are.

 
Chaos Commish said:
I bought my daughter a $99 Chinese strat clone. The body and neck are cnc built straight from Fender blueprints just like Squires. The hardware is crap. For less than $200 I changed the bridge, tuners and pickups to original Fender parts, polished and leveled the frets, and used Youtube for instructions to change the sad nut it came with. She is a music major and prefers this guitar to an SG.

For $170 I would let the guy get your old "Tele" right again. 170 shouldn't stop you from getting the Mexican if you are unhappy with the results, or even if you are.
Click to expand...
This. 

 
E Street Brat said:
So has anyone here taken a cheaper made guitar and sunk money it and ending up being happy with the results? Or am I just throwing good money at a bad project/product?

Can't wait to hear your opinions. TIA
Click to expand...
You could watch a few Youtube videos, buy a cheap soldering iron and the pots and switch and do the upgrade yourself for less than $100 I'm sure.  If you're still not happy with the guitar, you are out less than $100 and now know how to solder.  Soldering is not hard and can be a handy skill to have.

I've put way too much money into cheap guitars  :lmao:   but did the work myself.  I do love those guitars now, but it's not like the upgrades added any value to those guitars to anyone but me (and my daughter).  It was a hobby I enjoyed for a while, but I was spending more time doing it than playing.  I've kind of grown out of it and now prefer to just buy something I'm happy with and play.

 
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E Street Brat said:
Here’s the Damage Complete Setup. Change both pots, and the switch with a 4 position mod. For $167.00 usd plus tax
Click to expand...
ETA:  I see the $167 is for a complete setup and electronics.  Not a bad deal depending on what the "complete setup" includes.  

Here ya go.  The hard work is done for you.  Buy a $15 soldering iron and some solder and you are good to go.  Only issue would be if this plate is not a direct drop in for your guitar.

 
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E Street Brat said:
UPDATE

Week 2 of the 10 week course is running longer then expected.  The new material was easy enough to understand, The A and E "patterns" of the CAGED system   but the 1 finger per fret  exercises really exposed the weakness in my finger strength and dexterity on those patterns,  So I've slowed down on the 10 weeks plan and started playing chromatic scales, 1 finger per fret, using a metronome as well as practicing the scale patterns and memorizing the root notes and their relative minors notes per pattern. Without jumping ahead in the lessons, I can see that is going to lead into using these patterns to play in different keys, based on the root notes. 

Now I need some advice from you guys, or actually some confirmation.... 

I’ve been using my Stagg acoustic for learning the CAGED system and to strength and build speed. It’s just so easy to pick up whenever I have 5 or 10 minutes to just exercise. And it’s been my go to axe for the last 10 years or so.

Now that I’m getting ready to put my new skills to the test, I pulled out and dusted off my old Tele copy. It’s a Series 10 by Bently that I bought 30 maybe 35 years ago for somewhere between $225.00 and $175.00 and it needs work. I loved this cheap guitar back in my 20’s when that’s all I could afford. But this old soldier has never seen the inside of a case. Needless to say the pots and switch are scratchy as hell plus the action and intonation are off.

I’ve sprayed the pots with contact cleaner and that’s helped but is haven’t fixed it. I think the switch is just shot, If I bump it by mistake I just lose everything. I’ve also changed the saddles and got the string height and intonation better, but it needs a pro tech to make it right.

So I dropped it last Monday at a local music store that had good reviews.

Here’s the Damage Complete Setup. Change both pots, and the switch with a 4 position mod. For $167.00 usd plus tax

PROS

1 A guitar I used to love to play will be like new again, if not better then new.

2 If I upgrade to a true Fender Tele, the upgraded electronic could be used in the new guitar if needed. But I’d rather use one of them as a 5 string Keef guitar.

3 $170.00 is still less than even a Mexican Tele.

Cons,

1 The repair and upgrade is damn near as much I paid for the guitar.

2 I have the money to buy a new or used Mexican or even a US Tele. But I’m just not positive on my current job situation. I think I’m safe, but I don’t wanna bet the price difference on it,

So has anyone here taken a cheaper made guitar and sunk money it and ending up being happy with the results? Or am I just throwing good money at a bad project/product?

Can't wait to hear your opinions. TIA
Click to expand...
Id spend the $170- you spent that much 30 years ago and it got you here, I’d do it just to keep the old girl around and make it playable. My first acoustic broke in 1997, at the top of the neck- it fell and the end hit a table, splitting the wood where the machine heads/nut are. It sat around for a bit and then I decided to try to fix it, I mean what was I going to do, break it more? I drilled a hole and slid a bolt through, dumped in some glue, and somehow found a big washer that was cut into about 2/3, so the flat side sat perfectly on the nut and the round part just sat under the machines. I still have it, it plays perfect, holds tune, and is just some ####ty alverez. Granted it didn’t cost me any money but the moral is I’m really glad I still have that guitar. 
 

I also have a friend that bought a broken old strat, removed everything and carved out a bigger cavity for the pickups he wanted, stuck in a different neck, new hardware, basically built his own guitar that looks like a strat but sounds more like a prs- it really throws you off because you expect the normal strat sound, and then the neck was off a mustang or something, is felt small in your hands. It played well though, and sounded great.

 
Completely ignorant here.  My son has expressed interest in learning to play acoustic guitar.  His birthday is coming up and I was thinking of surprising him with a guitar.  Any recommendations on a decent acoustic that won't break the bank?  I see tons advertised out there online at all different price points.  Many are marketed as "beginner".  I don't mind spending up to a couple hundred, but I don't want to go nuts if it just ends up as a clothes rack in the corner of his room.  What should I be looking for when comparing these guitars?  What accessories are a must...looks like some of these bundles come with a few pick, books and such.   He is not a great musician by any stretch, but he has some experience with trumpet and currently plays tuba/sousaphone in the school band, so he has been around music.  If it matters, he is a big dude.  Does that factor into the length I should be getting?  I see several lengths out there.  Better to fit him rather than surprise him?  He has big, thick fingers too, so I am not sure how nimble they will be.   Thoughts? Advice? Recommendations?  

TIA

 
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FWIW, I bought a Recording King parlor size acoustic a few years ago and love it. I keep it by my bed and don't care if it gets dinged up (unlike my Martin). I think I got it for less than $200 from Musician's Friend. The parlor size would be easier for your kid to play, too.

 
dickey moe said:
FWIW, I bought a Recording King parlor size acoustic a few years ago and love it. I keep it by my bed and don't care if it gets dinged up (unlike my Martin). I think I got it for less than $200 from Musician's Friend. The parlor size would be easier for your kid to play, too.
Click to expand...
Parlor size is a smaller guitar as I understand it.  What makes it "easier" to play?  Is it just the fact that where you need to put your fingers for the chord positions are closer to your body?  Would that be more difficult for longer arms?  My son is pushing 6'3", so he has a fair wingspan.

 
Galileo said:
Parlor size is a smaller guitar as I understand it.  What makes it "easier" to play?  Is it just the fact that where you need to put your fingers for the chord positions are closer to your body?  Would that be more difficult for longer arms?  My son is pushing 6'3", so he has a fair wingspan.
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The thought process is that shorter scale guitars have less string tension (and thus are easier to fret) and you don’t have to stretch your fingers as far when playing chords since the neck and frets are generally narrower. That makes them easier to learn on  But I think a full size guitar would work as well.  Unfortunately, I don’t have much experience with acoustics in that price range and thus can’t make a recommendation with any confidence.  But for a beginner I would be looking for a guitar with low action (easier to play while you build finger strength) and good intonation (stays in tune as you play up the neck). For a beginner guitar, those factors would be more important to me than tone, to be honest.

 
bigbottom said:
The thought process is that shorter scale guitars have less string tension (and thus are easier to fret) and you don’t have to stretch your fingers as far when playing chords since the neck and frets are generally narrower. That makes them easier to learn on  But I think a full size guitar would work as well.  Unfortunately, I don’t have much experience with acoustics in that price range and thus can’t make a recommendation with any confidence.  But for a beginner I would be looking for a guitar with low action (easier to play while you build finger strength) and good intonation (stays in tune as you play up the neck). For a beginner guitar, those factors would be more important to me than tone, to be honest.
Click to expand...
The best bang for your buck is to find a used guitar.   Since your son is full sized, I would snag a full sized guitar.  I know that isn’t easy these days since the stores are closed.  Do you have someone that plays guitar can help you?   Finding a guitar that has low action is really helpful with playability.    

 
bigbottom said:
The thought process is that shorter scale guitars have less string tension (and thus are easier to fret) and you don’t have to stretch your fingers as far when playing chords since the neck and frets are generally narrower. That makes them easier to learn on  But I think a full size guitar would work as well.  Unfortunately, I don’t have much experience with acoustics in that price range and thus can’t make a recommendation with any confidence.  But for a beginner I would be looking for a guitar with low action (easier to play while you build finger strength) and good intonation (stays in tune as you play up the neck). For a beginner guitar, those factors would be more important to me than tone, to be honest.
Click to expand...
The physicist in me can see this logic.  A shorter string should naturally have a higher pitch than a longer one (with other factor being equal) and thus it wouldn't need to be at quite the same level of tension to achieve a particular frequency.

And yes, I had to look up what low action referred to.   :bag:   https://guitar.lovetoknow.com/Acoustic_Guitars_with_Low_Action

 
My daughter was quite a bit different than your son when I got her first little acoustic. For one she was more than a foot shorter    :D  has tiny hands and had been playing a full size electric for a little while.

I put electric guitar strings on it. For sure didn't have the projection it would have with some standard acoustic strings but it didn't sound half bad and it kept her playing. 

Maybe a full size acoustic for his size with light strings?  :shrug: Need to learn to change strings anyway.

Would help quite a bit if you knew someone that played that could check one out.  $200 is kind of a tough spot for acoustics.  Some Yamahas get good reviews as beginner acoustic guitars.

 
WDIK2 said:
My daughter was quite a bit different than your son when I got her first little acoustic. For one she was more than a foot shorter    :D  has tiny hands and had been playing a full size electric for a little while.

I put electric guitar strings on it. For sure didn't have the projection it would have with some standard acoustic strings but it didn't sound half bad and it kept her playing. 

Maybe a full size acoustic for his size with light strings?  :shrug: Need to learn to change strings anyway.

Would help quite a bit if you knew someone that played that could check one out.  $200 is kind of a tough spot for acoustics.  Some Yamahas get good reviews as beginner acoustic guitars.
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Been looking into it and reading up...think one of these may be the end result. 

Yamaha FG800

Fender CD-60s

Epiphone DR-100

 
Galileo said:
Been looking into it and reading up...think one of these may be the end result. 

Yamaha FG800

Fender CD-60s

Epiphone DR-100
Click to expand...
What's your price range?   The best route is get a good all solid wood USED guitar.  Look on Reverb.com which is like an ebay for guitars.  I can help you find a good model.  A Blueridge BR-160 sounds like a $2,500 Martin. They used to run $800 brand new but I'm not sure what the current used market is for those.

 
Rhythmdoctor said:
What's your price range?   The best route is get a good all solid wood USED guitar.  Look on Reverb.com which is like an ebay for guitars.  I can help you find a good model.  A Blueridge BR-160 sounds like a $2,500 Martin. They used to run $800 brand new but I'm not sure what the current used market is for those.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, the cheapest BR-160 right now on Reverb is $749.  There’s a BR-40 for $395.

 
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Galileo said:
The physicist in me can see this logic.  A shorter string should naturally have a higher pitch than a longer one (with other factor being equal) and thus it wouldn't need to be at quite the same level of tension to achieve a particular frequency.

And yes, I had to look up what low action referred to.   :bag:   https://guitar.lovetoknow.com/Acoustic_Guitars_with_Low_Action
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Has any guitarist ever asked for higher action? 

I just had my tele worked on, and asked to have it as low as possible without fret buzz.

 
E Street Brat said:
Has any guitarist ever asked for higher action? 

I just had my tele worked on, and asked to have it as low as possible without fret buzz.
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Yeah, you're asking the wrong guy.  This is why I had to look it up.  And this is also why I am in here seeking advice from those in the know.

 
Rhythmdoctor said:
What's your price range?   The best route is get a good all solid wood USED guitar.  Look on Reverb.com which is like an ebay for guitars.  I can help you find a good model.  A Blueridge BR-160 sounds like a $2,500 Martin. They used to run $800 brand new but I'm not sure what the current used market is for those.
Click to expand...
I'm looking to get in for just a couple hundred.  Again, I don't want to drop a grand only to see his interest last for a month.  Are those that I posted not solid wood?  I know they are combinations of different woods for different parts, but they don't seem to be laminates or anything like that.  Does solid wood refer to a single type throughout?

 
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Galileo said:
I'm looking to get in for just a couple hundred.  Again, I don't want to drop a grand only to see his interest last for a month.  Are those that I posted not solid wood?  I know they are combinations of different woods for different parts, but they don't seem to be laminates or anything like that.  Does solid wood refer to a single type throughout?
Click to expand...
I bought a Stagg about 10 years ago. I immediately had the action lowered, and It played like an electric. 

It obviously doesn't have the tone as a $1500.00 axe, but it's a great guitar for a couple hundred bucks. 

  Stagg Guitars

 
Galileo said:
I'm looking to get in for just a couple hundred.  Again, I don't want to drop a grand only to see his interest last for a month.  Are those that I posted not solid wood?  I know they are combinations of different woods for different parts, but they don't seem to be laminates or anything like that.  Does solid wood refer to a single type throughout?
Click to expand...
Those three are probably fine. My first guitar was a Fender dreadnought.

 
bigbottom said:
Unfortunately, the cheapest BR-160 right now on Reverb is $749.  There’s a BR-40 for $395.
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The BR-40 (mahogany) and the BR-60 (rosewood) are fine sounding guitars as well. They are cheaper because they are laminate vs solid wood but they sound very good and a laminate isn’t bad for a starter guitar. 

 
Galileo said:
I'm looking to get in for just a couple hundred.  Again, I don't want to drop a grand only to see his interest last for a month.  Are those that I posted not solid wood?  I know they are combinations of different woods for different parts, but they don't seem to be laminates or anything like that.  Does solid wood refer to a single type throughout?
Click to expand...
I know many people like those Epiphones. I tried them and didn’t love the tone. I’d look for a Blueridge BR-60 which is a rosewood laminate. Still sounds great. Nothing wrong with laminate for a beginner guitar. 

 
E Street Brat said:
I bought a Stagg about 10 years ago. I immediately had the action lowered, and It played like an electric. 

It obviously doesn't have the tone as a $1500.00 axe, but it's a great guitar for a couple hundred bucks. 

  Stagg Guitars
Click to expand...
How much did you pay to get the action lowered?  For an acoustic guitar, I’d never try to tackle that myself, and I’m guessing that kind of work would run $75 at a minimum, which unfortunately eats into the $200 budget. 

 
bigbottom said:
How much did you pay to get the action lowered?  For an acoustic guitar, I’d never try to tackle that myself, and I’m guessing that kind of work would run $75 at a minimum, which unfortunately eats into the $200 budget. 
Click to expand...
Geez it's been so long ago I'm not sure. I'm thinking 50. 00 maybe 60.00.

But yeah they had to take the neck off and reset it. Definitely not a job just anyone can do.

 
E Street Brat said:
Geez it's been so long ago I'm not sure. I'm thinking 50. 00 maybe 60.00.

But yeah they had to take the neck off and reset it. Definitely not a job just anyone can do.
Click to expand...
Better off finding a used guitar that had the action lowered by the previous owner.   $200 Is a tight budget

 
Galileo said:
I'm looking to get in for just a couple hundred.  Again, I don't want to drop a grand only to see his interest last for a month.  Are those that I posted not solid wood?  I know they are combinations of different woods for different parts, but they don't seem to be laminates or anything like that.  Does solid wood refer to a single type throughout?
Click to expand...
Get the Yamaha FG-800. It's a good starter guitar for the money. 

 
E Street Brat said:
Any Katana owners around here?   I'm thinking about getting one.
Click to expand...
Have the Katana 50.  It's pretty good if you're willing to dial it in with software.  Wasn't impressed out of the box, but was able to dial in some nice tones.  It gets a lot of love online.  :shrug:  

 
Yesterday got a Boss RC-10R loop pedal delivered.  Thing is a blast.  It has drum tracks on one side that you can stop on or off -- all different styles and it sounds great.  Then on the other side you loop in yourself playing some rhythm guitar, some layers on top of that, and then solo.  Lots of fun, unlimited possibilities. 

 
Really tempted to pick up one of those Fender Acoustasonic Strats.  They look fun as all heck in the Youtube vids.  Not cheap though.  I wouldn't hesitate at half the price, hesitating some based on where they are now.

 
Otis said:
Really tempted to pick up one of those Fender Acoustasonic Strats.  They look fun as all heck in the Youtube vids.  Not cheap though.  I wouldn't hesitate at half the price, hesitating some based on where they are now.
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I’ve heard the Acoustasonics sound and play incredibly well. But they look ugly as hell to me. I much prefer the Tom Anderson Crowdster Plus (own two of them). Absolutely incredible tone. 

 
Otis said:
Really tempted to pick up one of those Fender Acoustasonic Strats.  They look fun as all heck in the Youtube vids.  Not cheap though.  I wouldn't hesitate at half the price, hesitating some based on where they are now.
Click to expand...
I played one last year at summer Namm. They feel and play great. Fun to mess around with but personally I think they are probably best used by someone that needs amplified acoustic sounds for live performance with a full band. Not something I would use very often, so price is too much. Like you, if they were half that I'd be all over one.

Most of my live acoustic stuff is quieter acoustic duo stuff so my regular acoustic with a K&K mini, works just fine.

 
jdoggydogg said:
Thanks bro!. Yeah the Blackstar FLY3 amp. Cool little design for $100. Although all those sounds are from the Boss pedal. The amp was just used for recording in this case. 
Click to expand...


jdoggydogg said:
Many hours of practicing, a few choice mistakes, but here's my new composition...
Click to expand...
Whoa, not sure how I missed this. That was super cool!  Reminds of something that Buckethead would do. 

p.s.  I have a Fly 3 on my nightstand. Fun  little practice amp. 

 
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bigbottom said:
Whoa, not sure how I missed this. That was super cool!  Reminds of something that Buckethead would do. 

p.s.  I have a Fly 3 on my nightstand. Fun  little practice amp. 
Click to expand...
Thanks BB. I'll never shred like Buckethead, but I appreciate the kind words. I am a big fan of the Blackstar mini amp. Pretty good sound. 

 
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