For those shopping for a guitar

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Hehe its pink, like a barbie doll box :D If I remember correctly, my strings come in a more manly orange colored packaging :cool:
 
I'm more of a .10s guy myself, probably why I also carry a .45 :cool:

GregGry-
Do you know how had it is to play that on the guitar? I have been praticing it for 6 months, and can only do about half of it reasonably well .

I studied classical guitar formally for 5 years so I finally have it down pat; good luck buddy! :evil: Oh and when you get done with that, Turkish March is calling! :D
 
I respect and love classical guitarists and music (ex. Andres Segovia), I sway more towards the post-Malmsteen neoclassical stuff but I can't do that either. :neener:

I can barely make all the fingers on my fretting hand work let alone all five fingers on the picking hand. I tried to do classical for about half a year and I realized I couldn't dedicate enough time to make it work given my situation.

Plus growing my pickin' nails out seemed kinda weird :p Everytime I hear recordings of Recuerdos De La Alhambra or Asturias (leyenda), it freaks me out someone can do that.

*sticks with guitars that plug into the wall like a wimp*
 
Good point. I prefer .012's on ACOUSTIC guitars. I don't like the sound of light strings on an acoustic. Sounds thin.
For us old-schoolers, .012 is light-gauge for an acoustic. Medium is .013, and it seems like nobody even MAKES a heavy-gauge anymore. But I have to admit that I've gone to extra-lights in my old age: .009 on the electric and .011 on the acoustic.

Of course, even on electric guitars, I tend to agree with Dicky Betts, who said you should play the fattest strings you can handle. I like fat sounds. You know how thick Stevie Ray Vaughn played, dontcha?
It's all relative to playing style and hand strength. Stevie Ray had meat-hooks for hands--could probably choke a horse with one hand. On electric you don't need a fat string for volume, so it all comes down to what you feel comfortable with.

How many of y'all actually play gis? I was paying mandolin for some friends' band, but not every piece: the down time allowed enough stage fright that I COMPLETELY botched a piece. Is it easier if you're playing for every song?
I used to play gigs, but not so much anymore. But it's DEFINITELY easier if you play every song. Like anything else, you have to warm up, both physically and emotionally, to be at your best.

To bring this all back gun-related, the only guy I ever played with who carried on the gig was a steel guitar player. He had a sticker on the front of his steel that said "I'm the NRA and I Vote."
 
i play .11s on my white strat and .10s on everything else

I have guitars like some people on here have guns ;)



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Fender 1998 MIM standard stratocaster
Fender 2001 MIM ltd edition flame top stratocaster
Fender 1997 MIM standard Jazz Bass
Fender 2001 MIM standard telecaster

Squier 1983 MIJ standard stratocaster
Squier MIM standard Pbass special

Ovation Celebrity Acoustic

Gibson 1978 Les Paul Standard

Epiphone ES 335 Dot Guitar (MIA)
Epiphone Les Paul Custom Plus Guitar (MIA)

It's all relative to playing style and hand strength. Stevie Ray had meat-hooks for hands--could probably choke a horse with one hand. On electric you don't need a fat string for volume, so it all comes down to what you feel comfortable with.

thicker strings aren't all about volume. small strings can sound stickly and brittle compared to thick ones. In addition, small strings (.08s and .09s) can tend to snap quicker and go dead faster than .10s and .11s. I play .11s on my white strat because they feel like .10s on it and I get much better tone than if I were playing actual .10s.
 
www.ccgs.org

I studied classical many a year (That was my Major, I have a degree in guitar which, along with $1.50, will get you a cup of coffee) Nowadays I agree with whoever said it takes MUCH more practice than I can devote. So I've become an avid listener and work with the people at the link above. If you're anywhere near Hartford CT come and see our shows. We've had people like Paco Pena, Pepe Romero, John Williams, the "Wonder of it all" guy John Pizzarelli, I could go on and on. We have "You and your guitar seminars" etc etc. PLUS if you hang around after the shows you can go have a late dinner with them usually. Most are pretty cool regular people to hang out with. Knowing French or Spanish can help. :p (I know very little of either, so it is not required)

I have in the past also played bluegrass, C&W, rock and my favorite "The Blues"

We recently had a big Jazz guy (Joe Beck) who invented a new way of stringing and tuning a 6 string electric that gives you absolutely AMAZING full sound from your guitar. Search on his name and the method is described at his website.

We even had the guy (Lawrence Juber) that played that well know "Tool Time" riff several million times live for the "Tool Time" show tapings. Unfortunately, that was the only good thing he played :barf:

:evil:
 
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Just to throw in my $.02, I like 10's on my 'lectrics and 12's on my Martins (is there any other acoustic? ;)).
 
Martins (is there any other acoustic?)

I have this sweet little 1960 Gibson FG300...

:D

Then...

The Guitar Society once held a "Wine and Guitar Tasting" where we had wine (naturally) and Beverly Maher from NYC brought an artist (Virginia Luque) and about 5 very expensive guitars from her "Guitar Salon" with a little discussion and pieces played on each guitar. Very nice 20 floors up at the top of the Hartford Building overlooking the city at night. Anyhoo, at the end of the evening I do what I do best with guitars, carry them for other people :rolleyes: and I find myself carrying two acoustic guitars, a guitar in one hand worth $75,000 and in the other hand $100,000.

No pressure... :eek:

:D
 
My son wants to buy a guitar. I'll have to show him the picture.

Don't spend any big dollars until you know he's going to actually continue to play it. That's a trap most music stores like to catch you in. Most of their money is made on those who buy an expensive guitar that ends up sitting in a closet. Kind of like gyms who make the most off of people that join and then never show up. When he practices on his own and starts to get better at it after a few years THEN it's time to step him up. Don't fall for the Guitar Center spiel.
 
Don't spend any big dollars until you know he's going to actually continue to play it. That's a trap most music stores like to catch you in. Most of their money is made on those who buy an expensive guitar that ends up sitting in a closet. Kind of like gyms who make the most off of people that join and then never show up. When he practices on his own and starts to get better at it after a few years THEN it's time to step him up. Don't fall for the Guitar Center spiel.

I agree. I don't know much about guitars, and I'd much rather put lead downrange, but I've tried to steer him from 'needing' a Gibson/Fender like his buddies to start. I saw a Yamaha electric guitar at Sam's club that comes with a stand, case, and a small amp for $185. I don't know if that would be good for him or not.

I wonder if he bought one that looked like a firearm if he's even be allowed to take it to high school!
 
I wonder if he bought one that looked like a firearm if he's even be allowed to take it to high school!
Sad but true...

$185 for a guitar and amp sounds farily reasonable and not too much money to throw away if it turns out that way. You may want to invest in earplugs, oh, you probably have those already...LMAO

After I think, the third episode of spending too much $ on the whims of my kids I learned to make them prove to me they were going to stick with it before I made any serious commitments in cash. Well, The oldest did manage to sneak a semester or so of college past me BUT THAT"S THE LAST TIME! :cuss:

:D
 
I'm actually not sure of the model anymore,

I thought it was stamped somewhere but I can't find it. But here's some pics maybe somebody knows. I included a closeup of a pic I came across of Dylan playing the exact same model :cool:

Them Martins may be louder but this one sounds prettier :D
 

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I was in a band until last year, when I knocked up my groupie. :eek: :evil: :D

Actually, I've had over 150 guitars go through my hands in the last seven years and once peaked out owning 43 at one time. Most of them were US-made/assembled Kramer guitars with some ESP and San Dimas Jacksons thrown in for good mix. I started the first Kramer guitar website in 1997 and co-wrote and article in Vintage Guitar Magazine on Kramers in 1998. After getting laid off, I sold most of my collection and then concentrated on "stage" guitars when I got another, better-paying job. I now only have about 10-13 guitars and basses with my favorites being a 1985 Kramer Baretta, 1985 Kramer Vanguard, 1992 ESP Lynch Sunburst Tiger, 1988 ESP Lynch Kamakazi II, 1990 ESP Lynch Snakes and Skulls, and a 1990 Ibanez Universe 7-string. Main influences are EVH and George Lynch. I dab with classical on a really nice Takamine.
 
Here I am supposed to be working and Im yakkin' about guitars and doin' some pickin' now too. :cuss: Skunkabilly,,,

:D
 
You guys and your skinny little strings. My smallest is a .40 and my biggest is .100. :eek:

:D

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brad cook
 
straightShot: if your son DOES really get into playing, the absolute best thing you can get him is a Steinberger Spirit. THey're very small, fairly affordable (if you do a bit of searching on EvilBay, you can usually find one for $150-200). And it can literally go anywhere with him. Meaning he can practice anywhere...
 
Bumper stickers I've thought about making:

"Guitarists do it faster"
"Bassists do it deeper"
"Fingerpickers use every finger" :D
 
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