Guitarists of Singletrack…

Ooo, shiny!

Got a slide, Simon?

No, I should probably get one 🙂

Tempted by a baritone – tall me why I should /shouldn’t

I have resisted hte urge to play with alternate tunings etc for years, but have bee learning some Blackstone Cherry recently which is in drop c#. My Gibson SG will just about go that low, but am tempted by some decent bargains on a coupe of baritone guitars, that would be more suited to this level of drop tuning.

On my list so far is a Chapman ML1 pro, and a PRS SE 277 Baritone. What else should I be looking at at a similar price (under £700) for metal / hard rock stuff? Or will I get bored of a larger more unwieldy guitar and go back to my standard tunings (one SG special and one Jackson Soloist)?

Tempted by a baritone – tall me why I should /shouldn’t

Same here, even more so when my wife looked up as I was watching a YT review of the guild and said she loved the sound of it. (I can’t – I’ve only recently bought a Furch, which I’m still in love with.)

And to be even more niche, I want an 8 string baritone.

And to be even more niche, I want an 8 string baritone.

Yeah I looked at 7/8 strings, and played a few, but decided that I prefer the neck width of a 6.

Totally new to playing , hd a few lessons but they are on hold while I move house and my guitars are in storage .

Bought a nice Alvarez BG with pickup to learn on but was in a vintage guitar dealer near me and took home a 2007 Fender TB62

Japanese telecaster in sunburst. Absolutely beautiful thing . Unplayed as well.

“Tempted by a baritone – tell me why I should /shouldn’t”

They are really fun – far more like a guitar than a bass, but bigger sounding. Like playing a piano slightly to the left. You don’t need a baritone to tune down though – most people use standard scale guitars, even short ones like Gibsons.

Save your money and stick some FAT strings on that SG rather than get a baritone

I had a PRS SE Baritone for a while. It was fun, but you kind of need to approach it with some purpose, otherwise you’ll just be playing Chris Isaak all the time 🙂

In other news, how about this for some inspiration. I have no idea how he plays all the parts in this AND sings…

Recently bought an Epiphone Century Olympic archtop. Was on offer at Guitar Guitar. I always hankered for an archtop. Really good guitar for little money.  I’m a hobbyist luthier so really enjoy fettling guitars to play as good as possible. This one needed a light fret level, recrown and polish. Plays great now with flat wound strings, 2/64ths action at the twelfth fret.

Got a slide, Simon?
No, I should probably get one 🙂

Slides are freally fun, especially with drop D tuning…you can just noodle about and it sounds awesome without even really trying.

In fact, also double drop D if that’s the right word, where you tune both your E strings to D you can play whole songs just using one finger as a barr, almost, try it, it’s a blast!   🙂

I still haven’t bought a slide yet (keep forgetting when I’m in town) but am still trying to learn stuff in open tunings. Getting frustrated by this one though!

What “solutions” for glasses do wearers use?

I have been leaning for just over a month now, and it is taking me too long to focus on my fretting position. I can barely see the thinner strings even after focusing for a second or 2. I kind of hope that down the line my hands will start to find the correct position without looking, although I suspect that there will always be a little bit of confirmation with peripheral vision happening subconsciously . But certainly at the stage I think it would be helpful if I could bring my visual focus more quickly.

I had cataract surgery a couple of years ago, and now I have fixed length (medium) lenses on both eyes (for this I wish I had one shorter focal length and one medium, although for mountain biking both medium is probably best, and for driving  1 medium and 1 long would be best).

I need a fairly weak reading glasses, and they kind of help a little, but I think it might help if I had some specific glasses for playing guitar, maybe something that corrects the focal length on my left eye to around 24 inches, then maybe nothing for the right eye wich would be good for following lessons or music on the computer.

Just looking for experience with needing glasses for guitar, any points I should consider and raise with the optician.

Learn to play blind. You really shouldn’t need to look to see what strings you’re on. I still need to look to see where I am on the neck sometimes especially when making big moves up the neck but moving up or down a couple of frets is fairly automatic. When soloing the head is one reference pint and bumping into the body drops me onto fret 12 at the other end. Yeah I still look sometimes but when singing with a microphone it’s just to get to the right fret which doesn’t require glasses.

Nip to a shop that sells ready readers.  Buy 2 identical pairs, one with a lens that suits you for looking at the neck, one that suits you for reading the lesson.  Pop the right lens out of each and swap them over.  A cheap way of emulating mono vision contact lenses like I use.

Take them off before going down stairs or driving.

Boots used to sell “computer readers” which were a sort of varifocal for near work. I don’t know if they still do.  Above advice still applies.

I have been a longtime looker at the fretboard, until fairly recently (well, a couple of years ago) when someone said an offhand “why on earth would you need to look at your guitar while playing?”

That really made me think and I completely changed how I play. The transition was not hard and now I rarely look (except as Edukator says for large slides up/down the fretboard). I think it’s also improved my ear training as I now have to listen more to what I’m playing. It also lets me feel the music better and I can more easily lock into a groove (and timing).

There’s no real downside. I wish someone had blindfolded me as a beginner for the first few months of playing.

Follow that_blind_guitar_guy on tiktok 🙂

Play in front of a mirror

I would recommend that to all people when they practice

This has taken so long to learn! Think I might finally be there, just need to learn the rest of the song now and find somebody to sing it 🙂

@ji I’m just getting rid of my baritone for a 7 string Strandberg.

It’s a Chapman ML3 Bea Baritone Standard. Advantage over some is that it is a 28″ scale rather than a 27″.

I tend to play in B but occasionally do tune to Drop A, all possible with a .060 low B.

Its mint and I’m looking for £350, postage to be arranged (I don’t know where you are) drop me a PM if you’re interested. It’ll be on Reverb soon.

John

After 14 months of being out of bands ( I announced my wife was pregnant and everyone quit!) I’ve had two possible offers of possible bands in 2 days. Quite a surprise.

One is the drummer from my last band with an offer of playing guitar.

Ones my guitarist from my previous band with an offer of playing bass.

Both bands are originals both capable singer songwriters.

Exciting to see what happens and have a reason to pick up the guitar and/ or bass guitar again. I love music and playing but generally won’t play much unless there is something like a band practice or gig to work towards.

I’m tempted to see if I can make both work at the same time. I haven’t managed being in two groups since school  27 years ago. At school I didn’t to practice as I was playing 3 orchestras, a Strathspey orchestra, ceilidh band, pop covers, getting lessons and playing with mates at least once a week. Possibly 16h a week. I’m managing an hour or two a week sometimes now.

Exciting to see what happens next

@eddiebaby if ji isn’t interested I definitely am! I have been baritone curious for a while and one of these was on the short list. What colour is it and where are you?

@mutley No problem. The guitar is in the red ‘paleblood’ colour over a flamed top. As I said it is mint.

I’m based in the Aldershot area but am more than happy to leap on a train a bit rather than the hassle of packing it.

Im thinking about upgrading my amp and guitar. Only looking at Gibson LPs, as im playing an Epiphone LP just now.

The choice of 2.

LP 60s Standard

or

LP Classic

Also looking at a new amp. Positive Grid Spark 2, ot Boss Kanata Gen 3 50.

So, the question is. Which ones would you have out of the both the Guitar and Amp choices, and why……

I just ordered myself a mooer prime 2 and bluetooth footswitch from ebay for 100, and I will be looking for a clean amp or FRFR amp to go with it. Might be worth considering a similar setup, you can use the P2 as a modelling headphone amp, or put it before a clean/frfr speaker for some cab modelling and effects, basically a setup that would kind of do the job of both the Positive Grid Spark 2 and the Boss Kanata Gen 3 50.

Im thinking about upgrading my amp and guitar. Only looking at Gibson LPs, as im playing an Epiphone LP just now.

I really wanted a Gibson or ephiphone so went up to richtone music and tried a ton of ephiphones and a couple of cheaper Gibson’s LP

I wasn’t that keen on any. At £1000 the imperfections in the Les Paul studio seemed unforgivable. Fine if it was second hand and had been bashed about a bit, but it was brand new.

The salesman tried to get me to try some of the ( wayyyy out of my budget) Gibsons. He said that if I wasn’t lusting after the fancy stuff there was no point in trying the cheaper one or ephiphone copies.

I stuck with my PRS guitars instead, then bought a vintage v100 which for £250 I was much happier to set up and fret dress myself. I wasn’t  prepared to fret dress a brand new Gibson or pay out to have it done when I feel at that price it should arrive awesome.

So out of those two I’d suggest trying them in person. Then trying loads of other brands in budget and walking out the shop with the guitar that’s right for you.

They both look awesome and if it’s a Gibson LP, I think you would be very happy with either. I’d go for a weight relieved one as my shoulder is not happy with bases or guitars over 4kg ISH after 45 min set or practice.

As per tallmartin, there’s much better value than Gibson.

I ended up with a PRS SE McCarty 594 Singlecut, love the pick ups (the coil split is just a bonus). You could even get a US S2 for less than a Gibson, take you pick!: https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/search/?Query=Prs+McCarty+594+singlecut+

For me the SE is so good I can’t see how a US would be worth the ‘upgrade’ now (I’d have considered a S2 for <£1500 though)

I remember having a 2009 LP Standard on loan for a couple months (and it was considered a ‘good’ one!). I also have a Tokai MIJ Loverock (albeit with BKP Mules and oil paper caps) which cost half the price the Gibson… wouldn’t have swapped them as the Tokai was much better (IMHO).

Gibson are trading on history, not quality…

Im thinking about upgrading my amp and guitar. Only looking at Gibson LPs, as im playing an Epiphone LP just now

Keep the Epiphone. I’ve played a very good Epi Les Paul and a really annoying Gibson (about 2012) which went out of tune on every G-string bend. The Epi pickups were nicer to my ears too but if you don’t like them try some Gibson pickups in the Epi.

Amps, don’t know the Spark, I prefer the Fender Mustang range to the Katana. And I’d spend the money saved by keeping the Epiphone on a valve amp and pedals.

I had a Gibson LPJ (a sort of stripped down Les Paul) and a cherry Les Paul Studio. Never really gelled with either, and the LPJ weighed a ton. I got into PRS instead – for lighter weight and better fret access – and still have a US McCarty, which I got ten years ago for under a grand and love it. I also have a satin finish Vela, which is great, but not as Les Paul vibey. I did have an SE Singlecut that felt every bit as good to play as my US PRS, and I’m tempted by the recent SE Swamp Ash models and satin finish CEs too…

I’d go for a nice MIJ LP over a Gibson any day. Tokai, Greco, Burny, FGN, Navigator etc. Just do your research into model numbers as vintage ones can be a bit of a rabbit hole. They’re not quite the bargain they once were but every one I’ve played has been a great guitar. With Gibson it’s just luck of the draw. Still kick myself for selling my old MIJ.

The Amp question is settled. Ive ordered the Positive Grid Spark 2 on preorder direct with a bit of a discount.

I went into GuitarGuitar – Edinburgh store – specifically to look at the LP Classic. So while in the store tried other guitars etc, got advice, tried guitars on the Positive Spark 1 and Katana 50.

The LP Standard in that colour isnt available in store, but tried Standards and Customs.

As to reason for the Gibson LP, well ive always wanted one and the heart wants what the heart wants. Even though i know they arent what they once were, and quality issues. Its an itch i need to scratch……

Obviously I have the Epi and a few others already. The Epi plays really well, it was set up by a guitar tech, and actually to be fair, i felt my Epi played better than the shop instruments. But that could be down to setup. Hence the reason i didnt walk out of the shop with a guitar, especially the one i went in to specifically see (LP Classic).

However this is now a few weeks later, and im still swithering, do I, dont I, which one etc etc. Been watching guitar vs guitar videos too to add to the indecision.

Re the weight relief, I only ever play sitting down. I also only play for my pleasure (no gigging or get together/jam sessions etc). So in my eyes not a particular issue.

I have resisted hte urge to play with alternate tunings etc for years, but have bee learning some Blackstone Cherry recently which is in drop c#. My Gibson SG will just about go that low, but am tempted by some decent bargains on a coupe of baritone guitars, that would be more suited to this level of drop tuning.

I missed this, but just in case it’s still relevant — IME you can play drop C# on a Gibson scale-length guitar with no real issues. I’ve got an Epiphone LP which is tuned to drop Bb, currently with 12-54 strings.

There are some considerations and limitations. I did get it set up to that tuning by a guitar tech as it was necessary to widen the string slots in the nut (the guitar came with normal E-standard string gauges). The saddle adjustment for intonation is pretty much up against the stops for the low Bb, so I wouldn’t want to go too much lower on this guitar. Also, even with 12-54 strings the Bb is quite slack, so you can’t really whallop the open string without it bending up slightly: that “bloom” is a sound for sure, but if you don’t want it you need to train yourself to play more lightly.

Other than that totally doable.

@SSS with regards to the Gibson… I get what you are saying. I’ve had several Epi’s and always have an itch for the Gibson equivalent. The Epi’s were never 100% correct – had a high fret or a rattle from the bridge, or a sticky neck, or cheap feeling tuners etc.

I’ve got a Gibson LP Special, and its an absolute keeper for me. Its really light, and the neck and action are superb. Several guitars have come and gone since. I keep trying Epi ES-335’s but I know I would always hanker for a Gibson – so I need to keep saving or wait for some inheritance!

On the other hand, I’ve been disappointed with every Gibson acoustic I’ve played. Went into Guitarguitar a couple of months back with the intention of getting a Martin or a J45 – and left with a Yamaha.

Yeah no issue with Drop C# on a Gibson scale length! I like my strings a bit slinky so a set of 10.5s works for me on my SG, others may prefer 11s with a heavier bottom but I don’t like the way thick strings feel.

It’s his guitars that interest me more.

I’ll be(e) keeping my eyes peeled:)

@greatbeardedone

Jack White Triplecaster™ Telecaster®

£4000 and delivery in 2025, ouch. On the Warmoth site you can spec your own neck shape, radius, frets, pickup holes, body shape and anything else you fancy. That Jack White with a V-shaped neck and 12″ radius isn’t for me, that belongs on an 80s acoustic.

Does anyone here subscribe to the Ultimate Guitar Pro Chord app?   They keep bugging me with bigger and bigger discounts – currently at £19.99 for a year. I wondered if people had found it useful as a play along tool to practice songs with(I’m a beginner btw)

Does anyone here subscribe to the Ultimate Guitar Pro Chord app?

Yeah, I do (it’s the only app I’ve ever paid for) and find it useful. I like that you can slow it down and also get it to loop short sections of songs when you’re learning them.

@simondbarnes  If I pay for it through my phone app (IOS) can I also use it on my windows PC or is it restricted to 1 device or 1 operating system, it doesn’t seem to be clear in the info…..