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I've not picked up my acoustic guitar for months so when a Ryan Lendt lesson for Name, Goo Goo Dolls popped up I thought I'd give it a go. Turns out it's far more difficult to play than it sounds and my fingers hurt now 😂
Tuning DAEAAE
https://youtube.com/shorts/vnUOYaPbzng?
Here’s a little blues backing track I played over - my Gibson les Paul gold top through a Marshall 1974x combo and a dr z brake lite attenuator on 3.
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Love that 🙂
@chiefgrooveguru - I've got a Marshall JCM800 that needs lending to a good home. I've also got an 18W homebuilt Marshall clone that I'm not using either... Shout if either are of interest.
In other news, I just brought home my new (secondhand) PRS SE Hollowbody. What a lovely guitar! I used to have a proper US one and it was so nice that I never played it (and swapped it for a Swamp Ash Special after a year or so). This SE is great though. Very happy and it's been the only guitar I've played for a week or so...
Hi all.
I've lost touch with 'the Latest thinking' on Amps over the past couple of decades (and guitar playing much TBH as work, family, bikes, dieskiving etc all took my time).
But anyway... I just got my old Marshall 100w Super Lead head and 4x12 cab from my parents house where it's sat unused in a spare room since about 1990. I had it since about 1983 - second hand to me when bought).
I've now managed to graft together a power cable with an old socket via fleabay (couldn't find the original one when doing the house clearance)- its the the V old Bulgin round bakalite plug, not the 1980s onwards 'kettle' socket).
The Amps works 👍.
It's an early 1970s ish for the head (I need to do some more research - don't think it's late 60's) and similar or a tad older maybe for the 4x12 'straight fronted'(not angled) cab. (Has the small older Marshall logo on the cabinet, black with the beige tweed sort of front fabric. Pretty sure they're Celestion speakers, not Electrovoice. (I'll take the back off to see what I find - it was 2/3 of a life since I saw the back of the speakers !).
Not revalved in my 40 years of ownership / unuse.
I do recall it's mightily inappropriate for use in a terraced house !! It defo had to be up at 8 if not more for a decent overdriven sound.on a lead guitar. (I actually used it more with a bass guitar so it could be used at a lower volume and be quite a 'clean' sound.)
I suspect some of the need for large volume can probably be overcome with pedals of the last 30 years.
So... any thoughts of what I've got, whether it's worth getting a bit of TBC done and maybe things like new valves or changing the odd scratchy potentiometer etc ? Or am I spaffing good money after bad ?
Anythings to particularly look at / check or see etc ?
The Strat I had in my yoof is sadly long since gone 😭. I fully accept my 1980s vision of playing in stadiums with it ain't happening any time soon !
I do recall it’s mightily inappropriate for use in a terraced house !! It defo had to be up at 8 if not more for a decent overdriven sound.on a lead guitar. (I actually used it more with a bass guitar so it could be used at a lower volume and be quite a ‘clean’ sound.)
I use a power soak to make my 20 watt Marshall useable at home. You can get the cranked sound at neighbour friendly volumes
Ooh, nice new music up.
I'll try to post some of my slide ramblings later.
Off to Farnborough to check out the wingfoils at the RYA Dinghy Show now.
I think a Bulgin to IEC/kettle plug conversion is an accepted upgrade on a vintage amp in the name of safety, even by collectors. While you're getting that done, get it serviced by a tech, as your capacitors etc may have drifted/perished. And yes, get a power soak so you can run it on 8/10 where it should be 🙂
I’ve not picked up my acoustic guitar for months so when a Ryan Lendt lesson for Name, Goo Goo Dolls popped up I thought I’d give it a go. Turns out it’s far more difficult to play than it sounds and my fingers hurt now 😂
I thought you played that well - I don't know the song but it seems like a good one to learn on acoustic. There are some tuning issues though, if the guitar was tuned OK then perhaps there are intonation issues (a lot of that song is played high up the neck which will exacerbate that).
Likely to be tuning issues, probably a bit of an ask to expect the guitar to go straight from Eb tuning to DAEAAE and stay there without any tweaking 🙂
I thought they tuned it to EEEEEEE or somesuch... It's pretty bonkers though.
Have you seen the Deadwax Youtube channel? They're an amazing pair of musos (and one looks worryingly like Rob Warner) but they did a great piece on Iris with Tim Pierce, who played much of the guitar on it.
Watch!
So my little bands singer is a teacher at our local school and he’s volunteered us to be the cheesy metal band “ no vacancy “ in their production of School of Rock.
Thought a Spinal Tap tee was the perfect final touch………
Anyone got a 3 string Cigar Box Guitar? And if so where did you buy it? I'm looking for recommendations as I think its time I bought an acoustic (with a pickup) and this all I think I'd actually want to play.
Love that Ceepers, up to 11 !
I appears that I still don't have the ability to stick to one song until I can actually play it. I hear something else and try to start learning that instead 🤣
This week I have been giving Under the Bridge a go. It makes my fingers hurt!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GMZ2gqE7bH4
Like that a lot Simon. A favourite of mine.
A favourite of mine too Eddie. I hope that I can stick with it and do it justice!
Gary Rossington has gone, even cats only have nine lives.
Nicely played
Ta, I've since learned the solo further down the neck which makes it easier to play on an acoustic and improves timing as I move positions.
You keep saying that you find it hard to persist and get distracted by something, that's not a bad thing if you keep going back to the old ones. I often find things I was struggling on come easier after a break, some things have become automatic so I can concentrate on the things that aren't automatic. You're videos are getting better and better - try playing one for an hour every week till it's automatic then post another vid.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_memory
I often find things I was struggling on come easier after a break
I read a science paper on this (popular press summary, rather than the paper) - related to sports coaching but same rationale.
It's part of learning. To get the brain synapses to join up you first make connections, that's where doing it slowly <span style="text-decoration: underline;">but accurately</span> is important, over and over again, until the pathway is established.
Once that's in place, it's learned, the next step is laying down insulation so the signals get stronger. But that also happens when you aren't doing it, the brain actually grows the myelin even after practise ends. And so rather than continue to speed up to the point of inaccuracy, better to work on accuracy for a finite length of time and then stop before boredom speeds you up or fatigue adds inaccuracy.
And then come back another day and miraculously you got better 'without trying'
Once that’s in place, it’s learned, the next step is laying down insulation so the signals get stronger. But that also happens when you aren’t doing it, the brain actually grows the myelin even after practise ends. And so rather than continue to speed up to the point of inaccuracy, better to work on accuracy for a finite length of time and then stop before boredom speeds you up or fatigue adds inaccuracy.
+1
I was also told that if you do something wrong half a dozen times, then well done, you've started to learn to do it wrong and it will take a LOT of doing it right to overcome that.
This week I have been giving Under the Bridge a go. It makes my fingers hurt!
@simondbarnes have a go with the thumb over rather than the barre chord. That's how Frusciante plays it.
Worth learning the other parts too as they're quite simple after attempting the finger busting intro !!
It's a great entry into Hendrix style chord embellishments too.
I can't do the thumb over thing I've tried. The problem with learning something and then going back to it at a later date is that I've usually forgotten how to play it 🤣
I've had another attempt today and will keep working on it.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PIT6bxyiW8g
Looks like 50/50 thumb over/barre there 🙂
It's a really tricky part I think - way harder than it sounds. Yours is sounding pretty good.
Yeah that sounds good Simon!
The verse part of that song is where the real magic is, though 😉
The verse part of that song is where the real magic is, though 😉
I'm struggling with that at the moment:-)
It's definitely worth persevering with - the mix of melody and harmony on one instrument is just perfect IMO, it's why the guitar is such a fantastic instrument. Hendrix/Frusciante/Mayer/SRV were all masters of this.
It's also the Axis of Awesome chord progression so you can use those chord transitions in a million other contexts.
Anyway, well done for posting these, I enjoy listening. I should post more actual music.
i may be getting a new guitar very soon (just have to sell my guitars that i have atm and hope it is still there when i have done).
it's not a super expensive guitar i must add but it is a bit more than what i have spent on a guitar for a while so need to find the funds for it.
tbh i would just like one guitar that i can gel with as they say than a few guitars that i don't fully gel with if that makes sense?
Sounds a good idea. I'm selling my Strat as since I got the Tele I don't bother picking it up. I play the baritone more than the Strat.
I'd be happy with just the Tele but I'm keeping the Line6 Variax as I wouldn't get from anyone the value of what it is worth to me.
@simondbarnes Check out Dave Simpson on Youtube, he has some great "Play like Frusciante" videos up.
I’m selling my Strat as since I got the Tele I don’t bother picking it up
I've an LP, a Tele and a Strat. I go through phases of playing one and not the others, then other times when I'll have all 3 on the go - depending on the current project.
I just know if I ever sold one of the 3 I'd live to regret it !!.
I know the feeling but I simply don't have any interest in the Strat anymore.
I can't believe it myself.
I have one in storage as part of a pension pot and I'm tempted to get it out and play it or finally sell that one too, but its been in storage since 2004. Not like I've missed it.
I've just posted my Kemper in the classifieds under the new Musical Instruments category.
Now I know it works I'll be banging my pedals and pickups and bits for sale in there first. Also guitars, basses and stuff. These will be cheaper than I'll be advertising the items elsewhere.
If you want to get rid of gear why not advertise it here to get some sales rolling?
ha the guitar has been sold so bang goes that idea lol
it was the new cort g300 pro in a raw natural finish (and peach guitars had a lovely one with a real nice figured top)
https://www.peachguitars.com/cort-electrics-g-series-g300-raw-natural-satin.htm
oh well as peter green once sang (i still have y eye on one though tbh in future they are meant to be fantastic for the money)
Ouch. That's a shame, it does look rather fine.
Anyone got a 3 string Cigar Box Guitar? And if so where did you buy it? I’m looking for recommendations as I think its time I bought an acoustic (with a pickup) and this all I think I’d actually want to play.
I've got a kit from https://www.chickenbonejohn.com/ on the way but he sells ready-built as well. I can't speak to the quality yet but going by his videos on how to make them it's all good stuff and 'supporting small business' etc.
My Ivison Dakota turned up this weekend
Lovely it is too
https://www.ivisonguitars.com/the-dakota
Mine is in heather mist
Wow that Dakota is a stunner - not cheap but I guess the quality makes it worth the price of entry - how does it sound?
Love that Dakota!
A bit more practice for me on the Under the Bridge intro. I'm going to leave this part alone for a bit now and try and learn some other parts of the song. I didn't even think I'd get to this level without giving up so I'm quite pleased.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KaM8yRPhEm0
Golly @plumber that is stunning. I think i remember you ordering it. How long did it take to be built?
I love the Firebird references...
i will soon be a member of the dentists club https://www.peachguitars.com/prs-se-standard-24-08-tobacco-sunburst.htm?opt=37697 love the fact that it has the mini switches for 8 different tonal options and it comes with a nice gig bag too which is great.
this will be my first prs guitar (both to own or play). i just happened to see it on the peach site reduced from £675 to £499 also so had to buy it (it is a pre order so no idea when it will be delivered) but have heard good things about them.
after the cort being sold before i could buy it, maybe it was fate to go for the prs in the end.
cannot wait to start playing it 🙂
Winner!
cannot wait to start playing it
Hope it arrives quickly!
this will be my first prs guitar (both to own or play). i just happened to see it on the peach site reduced from £675 to £499
I get twitchy every time I see an offer like this! I've never owned an electric guitar and would jump at one of those, but at the moment there are noise constraint problems in my house. (ie a wife who might murder me if I make too much...)
I'm picking up a very cheap guitarlele on the weekend. Don't judge me! 😀
headphone amps are the solution. Something like this is very affordable and works well:
Fender do their mustang version which is much more sophisticated and under £100
Or there's plenty of practice amps with a headphone out / ways to play through garage band on your phone.
Honestly although i have three lovely valve amps, 90% of my at home playing is thourgh one of those little vox amplugs for noise restraint reasons ( wife is averse to loud noise and daughter is revising for a levels!)
Also, finally got around to buying a proper pedal board / case for my “live rig” ( sounds a bit grand for a dadrock covers band ) but we cover a lot of musical ground and I like toys! 🤣
Should be much better than the two bits of old floorboard I was using & much less chance of stuff getting damaged knocking around in the back of the car!
Nice board!
How's the Hungry Beaver? Been following Sound Lad on Instagram and his pedals seem like great value
https://instagram.com/soundladliverpool?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Its really good and his pedals are very underpriced in my opinion.
Its a really versatile fuzz, one of the dials controls the voltage thats going through so it will take you from the full roar of two different muffs on at the same time, through proper scratchy fuzz right on to basically doctor who robot noises!
The scran looks like an amazing drive pedal as well.
TL:DR buy one!
Yay, the Kemper has sold. Time to buy a Cigar Box Guitar.
headphone amps are the solution. Something like this is very affordable and works well:
Thanks ceepers. I always forget that there's tech available for electric guitars that's not there in acoustics. 😀
Nice looking board @ceepers. I have just built a board out of.... well, not quite old bits of floorboard but not far off 😂
How is the Tourtech case?
And while I'm here.
We do occasional recordings of rehearsals for reference later, and we currently use a smartphone propped up on a cab to do this.
That works, to an extent, but I'm wondering whether there's a better approach that could get more fidelity without spending the earth. Something like one of the Zoom H-series recorders maybe?
Anyone have any suggestions?
Decent USB microphone, laptop.
That's a good shout. I guess USB mic plus phone might even be a good step up without having to source and cart around a laptop.
Used to use a Zoom but lost it. It was really good. Currently use a phone as far from the drummer as possible, it's shit because the recording level responds to volume.
Using a laptop has the advantage you can set the recording level manually. Any microphone that can handle the volume you're playing at will do.
@tomparkin tour tech case seems perfect for my needs so far and good value for £50. Feels pretty sturdy.
I think if I went for a laptop I might just use my audio interface and a couple of dynamic mics I could place accordingly.
The low-faff nature of a Zoom-type device appeals just because it's seemingly about as quick as the phone but should yield better results.
I might be overthinking this of course 😂
If I ever get any better then I may get a mic to plug into my phone, maybe even something to hold the phone too!
Finding learning the verse parts of Under the Bridge quite frustrating. I must persevere though.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4VmyugNXzyY
It's sounding good so far @simondbarnes! Playing it fluently is something I always struggled with, I think I got it good enough for my purposes and that was good enough for me. It's a really nice part though.
Spent an hour trying to get my bass posted in the classifieds.
I'll have another go later when my blood pressure drops.
Here are the basics:
This is a beautiful condition 2008 Fender Standard Precision Bass. It is finished in Lake Placid Blue with NO scratches, wear, chips or belt buckle rash.
Initially supplied with a white pickguard by the time it landed in my hands it had a plastic mirror one. Too bright for me so now it sports a gold anodised guard. The mirror guard is included if you want to swap back.
A Fender ABS hardshell case is included, as is a new TGI Extreme padded backpack bag for those days when you're just gigging at the pub. Spotless and a real head turner.
According to Fender it was built in November 2008 but also according to them it is to the spec listed as 2010 -2012.
Happy to post or you can collect from Ash (Surrey). £590
Lovely looking bass Eddie. Hopefully goes to a good home 🙂
just as an update i have paid off the prs se now and just waiting for peach to let us know when they will be getting it (so they can set it up etc before delivery).
i have to admit that i am really looking forward to getting the guitar as it will be my first prs both to play and own.
now i just need to know how to play properly (have been wishing that for the past 25 odd years lol)
Finding learning the verse parts of Under the Bridge quite frustrating.
Paul Davids did a great video a few years back which really helps understand how the verse is played
@Boardinbob. I'd not seen that, thanks for posting. I normally check out Dave Simpson's guide to JFs playing.
Thanks @boardingbob will check it out.
The thing that annoys me most about my guitar playing is that something I've learned to play to a standard that makes me happy (nowhere near perfect!) turns completely to shit when I turn a camera on to record it. I'm clearly camera shy!
https://youtube.com/shorts/-7VjA7haD4c?feature=share
I know the feeling. Hit record and it goes to pot.
Its bad enough even using a looper, let alone filming.
Wow that Dakota is a stunner – not cheap but I guess the quality makes it worth the price of entry – how does it sound?
Almost strat like - very pleasurable
Golly @plumber that is stunning. I think i remember you ordering it. How long did it take to be built?
I love the Firebird references…
Just over a year from order to delivery - I think hes busier now though
Vey happy with the purchase - It was around £1000 cheaper when I ordered it and actually cheaper that the last 5 guitars I bought........
The only lefty Dakota out there
We got a new guitar at work - it’s really rather good! And amazing for the money!
I've been listening to a band called Russian Circles recently (heavy Neurosis type stuff) and the guitarist uses this tuning..
low to high to B-F#-C-F-G-B
Anyone seen this before? Its a new one on me and im wondering if it has a name and is used by any others or if its something they have made up.
"low to high to B-F#-C-F-G-B"
5 - b5 - 4 - 2 - 3
That's a fairly odd set of intervals!
Yeah that's bonkers tuning: unless that's the whole point to be atonal
I'm not sure how you would play a conventional minor or major chord...
Yep the whole thing is dark, heavy and very very atonal. There is a video where he breaks down one of his other songs and the tuning is B-B-E-A-B-E. Yes thats right, 3 strings tuned to B with the low string a full octave down from the one next to it. Nuts.
I can just about handle drop d and open g for slide and drop A on the baritone.
I use assorted tunings for Zep covers but they aren't as wierd as that Rusdian Circles stuff.
Wooden Shjips had some deep tunings too.
The tunings on Soundgarden - Superunknown are quite varied:
“Let Me Drown: drop D
My Wave : EEBBBB
Fell On Black Days: e standard
Mailman: CGDGBE
Superunknown: DGDGBE
Head Down: CGCGGE
Black Hole Sun: Drop d A455
Spoonman: Drop D 440
Limo Wreck: CGDGBE
The Day I Tried To Live: EEBBBB A455
Kickstand: drop D
Fresh Tendrils: DGDGBE
4th of July: CFCGBE
Half: CGCGGE A455
Like Suicide: DGDGBC“
Not for touring with one guitar!
Not for touring with one guitar!
Ha certainly not.
I keep one in Standard and one that i alternate between Drop D and Drop C (For very heavy stuff like Code Orange)
A long time since I’ve posted anything. Anyway, I’ve been tooling around with my Helix trying to create some looper covers. Thought this one would challenge me, pretty happy with the overall tones. Playing could be better and there are loads of little riffs throughout this song which are all slightly different and it’s hard to remember how they all fit together. I decided to just put it out there rather than spend another few hours getting a perfect recording!
P.S. for those who remember, I was looking for The One. Well, I found my Jazzmaster, and I love it!
well i bought some prs se locking tuners for my ordered se standard 24-08 but still waiting on the guitar (as is peach guitars also-expecting delivery on my order).
am happy to wait though as it was a great price and the tonal options etc will make it worth the wait (also my first prs to either play/own).
hopefully it won't be too much longer till it arrives 🙂