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@16Stonepig - mine (the AC30) had reverb. Still sounded rubbish though - but now I'm taking learning a bit more seriously I kinda wish I hadn't as it will be good for practising, if not enjoyment.
@twinw4ll - Fantastic, enjoy! I'd recommend the Justinguitar series of lessons - all you'll need is free online and also on YouTube.
Oh, and lessons would be a great idea. After a year or so of faffing around just enjoying learning and playing, not taking it seriously I've just had my first three lessons and the difference it's made is outstanding. I'm becoming less rubbish at a much faster rate than before (still in the "Rubbish" camp though!). I wish I'd had some sooner.
The VOX headphone amps are great
Here's one of the originals plugged into my home stereo. I've also plugged it into the car stereo on a campsite to entertain.
Any top tips welcome or beginner mistakes to avoid.
Moar practice 🤪🤷♂️
Online lessons are pretty cool, as long as the teacher is any good that is.
Pick an artist you really like, then go on YouTube and search for some guitar chords of your fave guitarist songs.. you’ll be inundated with the sheer amount of folks who are willing to show you how to play “stairway” 🥰🤦♂️
Did I mention some practice?
And yeah, enjoy learning and being frustrated at the same time.
twinw4ll
Member
Reading this thread has proved very costly, I’m now gazing at a Fender Stratocaster in my lounge. I can bust out a three note tune after an hour of practice, Sultans of Swing could be days away 😂🤣😂🤣😂
Any top tips welcome or beginner mistakes to avoid.
I wrote this short article on learning to play an instrument, for our harmonica business earlier this year, but the principles apply equally to any instrument:
https://theharmonicacompany.com/difficult-harmonica-part-2/
JP
Cheers guys, thanks for the tips, I'm retired so have a few hours to spare. I did play saxophone in the 80s (poorly), so the musical notation is familiarish.
Not fussed how fast I progress, practicing has gotta beat watching Tipping Point and The Chase on an afternoon.
Now trying to persuade the wife to get a banjo.😁
Top tips.
Work as much on your right hand as your left if not more (assuming you're right handed). Most of the feel is in your right hand and nearly all of the timing. Work with a metronone (just in four time initially) and make sure everything you do with your right hand fits.
Here's the "drums metronome" I used to back basket case above.
New toy alert
Hand made in Scotland - hand wound neck and mid pickups with a Seymour Duncan humbucker in the bridge. I've always liked naked wood guitars - not convinced by the wooden scratch plate on this one though - maybe that will be swapped out for a black one ?
I hope it plays as well as it looks !
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[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49047197111_19f5675901_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49047197111_19f5675901_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2hJ8GVv ]s-l1600 (8)[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85556236@N06/ ]markwsf[/url], on Flickr
I hope it plays as well as it looks
You've bought it without playing it? 😳
You’ve bought it without playing it? 😳
Yes - it's second hand so won't lose value, so I'll keep it for a while and if I get on with it, keep it, and if not sell it on.
Satin gold pickguard would look great on that 🤩
Wositsoundlike?
I think either a Yamaha Revstar or PRS SE would be top of my list... although I am Gretsch Streamliner curious too! If you want to stick with the Tele style then a Jim Roots could be kinda interesting, the Squire one comes in about the right price 🙂
I'd centre the neck if that were mine, Mark. If you want to then slacken the screws that hold the neck on get an equal space between the e strings and the edge of the neck and retighten. You might need a bit of packing to keep it in place.
@Edukator - good spot!
I think it might be deliberate - to help vibrato on the e string. Looking at several other GJ guitars a lot are the same (so either deliberate or he’s got a wonky ruler).
Once I’ve got it I’ll take a look and probably ask Graeme (the builder) if that’s true or not.
Slight thread derail... I spent my £500 or rather £440 on a MIM Fender Telecaster. The guitar plays great but I'm unsure of this mark on the neck. Is it just a natural occurance in the wood or has some repair been made in the factory.. queue "is it a sticker?" remarks 🙂
Any thoughts folks?
I think it might be deliberate
Could be. Vintage trem bridges are 52mm E-e which gives scope for leaving a bigger gap one side. The bridge on that silver blacktop in my vid is 54mm and neck centering has to be perfect.
Any thoughts folks?
It looks like just the finish to me. The neck had an elastic band around it before finishing or something like that that sealed the wood a bit and meant the varnish didn't penetrate as well as eleswhere.
Has it been on a stand and the neck holders left a mark? Got something similar on my squire strat but I've never got round to getting a better stand
Any thoughts folks?
Looks like a bit of birds eye maple grain to me... from here sitting at a laptop screen..
Unusual to have just one grain line. One of my Mex necks:

@jb - I think it’s just the way that maple tree grew. Wood is not uniform or perfect, part of its charm.
Luthiers often use this to their advantage, burl, flame and quilt were once not as desirable as they are now.
It’s not a repair - on a guitar at that price level it would be cheaper to buy a new neck (and it doesn’t look like a repair, and is a very unusual place for a neck to need repairing).
If it feels great, sounds great and inspires you, That’s all that really matters.
Does anyone have or has had a Fender Tel FMT HH?
I played on a few years back and liked it (only quickly) and I am looking for a fixed bridge guitar and its high up my list.
Will obviously go and play one again before I decide but wondered if anyone here had any experience.
Also any recommendation of fixed bridge twin humbucker guitars at around that price point, what should I try.
@bazzer I got an Ibanez Iron Label off of Fleabay for 300 quid. Twin humbuckers, fixed bridge, Wizard 3 piece neck and flamed maple top. Plays beautifully and if you don't always need the higher output from the PUs it cleans up nicely with the coil tap.
Thats interesting as I currently play an Japanese build J class Ibanez RG1570, I just want something with a fixed bridge I can quickly play with other tunings.
So that would fit with the sort of guitar I like, however I am not sure if I want something different or more of what I know I like 🙂
I now what you mean, I have been consistently unadventurous having two other twin humbucker fixed bridge guitars. The Ibanez is the most flexible because of the coil tap, I can get a nice Fender-y twang, on those rare occasions I am not stomping away in drop C 🙂
Also any recommendation of fixed bridge twin humbucker guitars at around that price point, what should I try.
Something from Chapman?
Yeah the ML1 Pro Modern looks like its worth a play I was looking at them earlier today.
I think a drive upto Andertons in Guildford is on the cards as they have the Fender and the Chapman.
I have a Chapman Ghost Fret Standard. Its very nice to play. Wanted an ML1 Pro but got the Ibanez instead.
Is the Chapman Ghost Fret Standard in Unicorn Fade colour 🙂
Cool looking guitar 🙂
I was in Andertons yesterday, they've got pretty much all the Chapman range in store, spread all over the place... massive Ibanez and Charvel stock, big ESP and MusicMan/Stingray (you must try out the stingray, it's a very very good guitar and very cheap IMO, black or white one)
Tried G&L? theres loads of them too.... and Reverand (which are excellent too)
SO much choice... enjoy choosing..
ESP MH-400FR in blue quilted maple.

Just got my Son one of these from Facebook market place. £400 2nd hand. 24 fret, EMG’s Thru neck solid maghogany (it weighs a ton!) ESP licensed Floyd isn’t too bad either.
Nice ^
I like this one..

Heres a pic for markwsf, as an example of a gold pick guard on a plain lacquer finished Strat.. (I mentioned earlier)

I like that Reverend 🙂
Best thread in ages 🙂
yeah I like that reverend - I have a hankering for putting a P90 in the neck of my tele, will have to check if the cavity really is already routed as I've been led to believe..
So are youse actually doing anything with these shiney new bits, or are they just ornaments!
Lets be hearing youse!
trust me you don't want to hear any of my playing (either on bass or guitar). i am terrible lol
racefaceec90
Member
trust me you don’t want to hear any of my playing (either on bass or guitar). i am terrible lol
So's everyone, apparently! 😆
ps, I do, kinda why I asked, don't care if you're terrible!
Lets be hearing youse!
Three vids on the previous page, Seosamh, now you. 😉 People are far too polite to comment usually. I did get a "singing out of tune" comment on here once but I can live with that.
You did a pretty good guitar cover of Rush, Raceface90, bass next.
I'm seriously impressed with Edukator's vids.
Takes some balls to do that.
I genuinely am rubbish.
I have better days, but it's just chords.
Simple ones mostly.
I can bashout a bit of Ramones and play along to simple stuff. 10 months back in after a 20 year layoff. I'm getting better.
Edukator my apologies that you had to see that lol. thank you for the kind words though 😁
as rusty spanner said above it takes guts to film yourself and you can definitely play/sing for sure 👍
edit i will try and record myself playing bass at some point,it's just that i only have a fire tablet and my mobile phone atm tricky to film myself with them (to get myself in frame properly).
Ta Rusty and Raceface. My mobile phone is held by three cartons of orange juice on a chair.
Hmmm... I doubt I'll ever post any vids of me playing..
I only do it for myself, I'm not that interested in what others think of my playing since most of the time I'm only playing along to some tracks and trying to work out what latest Jazz chord or appegio I can fit in while the tracks playing..
We all do it for our own reasons...
We’ll I’ve sprung for the Digitech Trio plus. Should arrive tommorow. Bring on the band!
Awesome...
Plenty of time to figure it out, theres some pretty cool presets in it innit...


