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[valley_parade]

Yeah, don't be embarrassed to play a Squier. They're getting really good.

[Patrick]

Definitely swap out the pickups, though. I loved the ones I had, but holy fuckshits I love that Tele neck pickup. Now, if I could figure out what's wrong with the bridge one, I'd be SET.

[Nodaisho]

I don't think I've ever heard anything bad about Agile.

I've also never SEEN one in a store, though, so I've never tested them out for myself.

I heard one bad review on the Septor 7-string, and while that could just be someone that hates them because they paid 800 for a guitar that is as good as a well-set-up agile, I know that lemons happen, and I would prefer to be able to send it back if I get one. Just a careful person that way.

I think that Rondo is pretty much the only place that carries them, which means no testing it out at the store, which I don't really like, and it seems odd to only have one store importing an entire brand. I heard they have great tuners, though, Grovers.

What are the ups and downs of 7-strings? Wider necks, having to buy either specifically 7-string packs of strings or extra strings vs. extended range, but how useful is that range? I am really only considering one because I know Don Anderson uses one in Agalloch, but how important is the fact that it is a 7-string? Would I be able to play their songs on a 6?

[Christophe]

The funniest thing about Rondo Music is the Artist section they used to have.

Like This dude. Or this dude. Or this dude.

[Spluff]

Yes, and I left a message on their answering machine. I have no doubt they'll give me my money back or let me swap, it's just that they had to order this one for me because all they had was the floor model (which sounded AWESOME), so that's another few weeks if I want the same amp (& I do). Sort of an asspain.

I hope you either get it fixed or get another one quickly, because if you're talking about the Crate V18, those amps are fantastic - especially at their price.

[Harun]

What are the ups and downs of 7-strings? Wider necks, having to buy either specifically 7-string packs of strings or extra strings vs. extended range, but how useful is that range? I am really only considering one because I know Don Anderson uses one in Agalloch, but how important is the fact that it is a 7-string? Would I be able to play their songs on a 6?

the downside of 7-strings is that they're not 8-strings:





seriously though, the extended range is useful only if you really need that lower range. And, concerning the scale of the necks - if you play on a 24.75" or 25" neck, you will notice a difference in a 27" baritone scale neck when you are playing. You can play 7-string stuff on a 6-string, but you either have to sacrifice the higher range on the first string, or drop the 6th string and sacrifice standard scale progressions on the fretboard between the 5th and 6th strings.

[Nodaisho]

I play a 25.5 scale guitar right now (haven't measured it, but same length as my friend's strat neck). The difference shouldn't be much bigger than shifting to a les paul scale guitar, right?

I think some of the problem for me is that I'm pretty inconsistent about what I want to play. I want to play blues, I want to play sludge metal, I want to play grey metal, and I know that one guitar can easily play at least the first two, but not sure about the third. Maybe I'll try a 7-string at the store, see if it feels really weird or awkward, and look at how much it would cost me extra for strings.

edit: I think I'll go with something else than the seven-string for now, since they are pretty expensive, and I think I would probably like a mahogany body rather than a basswood, basswood is a cheaper alternative, right?

edit^2: I think I remember lummer disliking EMGs, does anyone know why?

[valley_parade]

What the fuck is the point of an 8-string?

[Chad K.]

So, I went out a week ago searching for a tele in the less than $800 range, and I'll be damned if I didn't settle on a midnight wine MIM for far less than that.  I tried tele after tele and either didn't like the necks, or didn't like the pickups until I found this one.  There's something about the almost total lack of finish on the neck on the Mexi's that just feels instantly broken in.  Plus, they've started making their neck pickups hotter, which is the only pickup I use anyway. 

Here's the bad(ish) part- I bought it at GC, and it had a few nasty gashes in it, though they aren't super noticeable from the front.  On the other hand, I hate pristine guitars, and am often relieved at the first ding, because I can stop babying the damn thing and just swing it around like a piece of wood metal instead of a treasured item.

I bought a mexi tele in '99 and found it to be less than desirable (can you say neck twisting- ugh).  Most of the MIM stuff I've played around on lately though has seemed pretty good.  Luck of the draw maybe?  Anybody else have a MIM?

[doombilly]

Like This dude. Or this dude. Or this dude.

Hahahaha. Holy Shit. Cue the Triumph the insult comic dog at the SciFiCon. That totes made me want to chomp on a cigar saying: "This guy has a Rondo endorsement for eternal virginity."

[Patrick]

edit^2: I think I remember lummer disliking EMGs, does anyone know why?

1. Well, this is just my opinion, but they sound like shit
2. They need batteries. I don't know about you, but batteries are enough of a pain in the ass when they're just for your pedals.

Here's the bad(ish) part- I bought it at GC, and it had a few nasty gashes in it, though they aren't super noticeable from the front.  On the other hand, I hate pristine guitars, and am often relieved at the first ding, because I can stop babying the damn thing and just swing it around like a piece of wood metal instead of a treasured item.

Oh, yay, I am not alone. I think it's more psychological than anything. I still treasure my Jag like a friggin' diamond (fuckers cost the same anyway), but with the dents already there, it's just a signal to say "Well, it's taken a few punches, and it didn't disintegrate. I can feel free to rock out now."

[Spluff]

edit^2: I think I remember lummer disliking EMGs, does anyone know why?

They have a pretty specific tone. Some like, it some don't. I personally quite like mine, though they aren't really great for anything but metal and hard rock.

There is an interesting pro and con list on wikipedia:

Advantages

    * Because of their incredibly high output, active EMGs are ideal choices for heavy metal and hard music in general. They have a warm and rich tone when used without distortion, being good choices for other music styles as well.
    * Their output blends extremely well with alder, maple or mahogany -- three of the most common wood types in guitar building.
    * Because it's fully shielded outside, the EMG pickup prevents dirt, dust, sweat and skin from going inside.
    * More recent models include a "Quick Connect" plug which allows the player to change pickups relatively quickly and without soldering.

Disadvantages

    * Active EMG pickups catch the string vibrations more than passive pickups, sometimes creating excessive oscillation with open notes. This problem is particularly noticeable on guitars equipped with the Floyd Rose tremolo and/or with certain string brands such as Dean Markley Blue Steel. Active EMGs enhance the vibration created by strings, the tremolo springs and/or the metal parts working together on the guitar bridge, sometimes creating a dirtier sound. Active EMGs perform better on guitars with fixed bridges and/or with string brands that have a more linear oscillation such as Ernie Ball and D'addario. The issue is clearly shown on a YouTube video called "Ernie Ball - The Best Strings for EMG Pickups."
    * Active pickups are more expensive than their passive counterparts, and most luthiers will charge extra to install them due to the extra electronics. It's recommended to buy guitars that already come with active EMGs rather than paying for post-factory installation.

    * Because of the extremely high output, it is generally difficult to get a clear, even clean sound when using EMG pickups, because even the slightest amount of breakup in the amp will be pushed. As a result, only the cleanest of amps can get a true clean sound with EMG pickups, and even then, unless a zero-breakup tube like the 6550 is used, the small amount of breakup will lead to a dirty sound. The high output and bass presence also leads to muddiness in the sound when compared to most passive pickups.

If you want to know whether you'll like the tone, go by the bands that use them. Opeth,  Metallica, Slayer, Judas Priest (since 84) all use them, so you should have a good idea of what they sound like.

[StarmanJr]

So I just got a new guitar today. Pretty cool story; turns out I basically traded my old guitar in for a better one without paying a dime.

I sold my 1997 Epiphone SG G-310 today for $150


And two hours later I turned that $150 in for this 1999 SG G-400 Custom



God I love craigslist.

[Nodaisho]

Thanks Spluff, Patrick. How long does a 9-volt usually last powering two EMGs?

[David_Dovey]

The funniest thing about Rondo Music is the Artist section they used to have.

Like This dude. Or this dude. Or this dude.

Oh man how did you miss this dude.

Also from that first artist profile you linked:

This band's music is influenced by Creed, Nickelback, Fuel and even a bit of Alice and Chains (sic)

Oh man. Yes.

[Nodaisho]

Am I a bad person because I like http://www.rondomusic.com/product1819.html and http://www.rondomusic.com/ps970bch.html? I know, gold hardware, but dammit, it looks right.

[Spluff]

Thanks Spluff, Patrick. How long does a 9-volt usually last powering two EMGs?

Ages. I think I've only even replaced mine twice.

[Tehz]

Oh man how did you miss this dude.

Gamma Raye.

[Ballard]

Dude looks like a camp Ted Nugent.

[Nodaisho]

Oh, hey, he took my idea of wearing web gear. Pity he didn't take my idea of wearing something else, too.

[Lummer]

I play a 25.5 scale guitar right now (haven't measured it, but same length as my friend's strat neck). The difference shouldn't be much bigger than shifting to a les paul scale guitar, right?

I think some of the problem for me is that I'm pretty inconsistent about what I want to play. I want to play blues, I want to play sludge metal, I want to play grey metal, and I know that one guitar can easily play at least the first two, but not sure about the third. Maybe I'll try a 7-string at the store, see if it feels really weird or awkward, and look at how much it would cost me extra for strings.

edit: I think I'll go with something else than the seven-string for now, since they are pretty expensive, and I think I would probably like a mahogany body rather than a basswood, basswood is a cheaper alternative, right?

edit^2: I think I remember lummer disliking EMGs, does anyone know why?

First off, it won't be that much more expensive in terms of strings, at all. Nevertheless, do find a decent 7 (*coughIbanezcough*) and check it out. If you want a mahogany body, I can highly recommend the S7320 model. It even has a nifty trem system with a blocking mechanism built in! Remember to change the pickups, though.
Ibanez stock pickups aren't *that* bad nowadays, but they're still not great.

As for Basswood vs. Mahogany, Basswood has a different and brighter sound than Mahogany, but not as bright as Maple. I for one really like the middle ground it offers, even in the more inexpensive guitars.

That said, when you try out a seven, give it a good twenty minutes or longer. If you have no experience with them at all, then it might feel a bit awkward, but you'll get over that quickly. I remember hearing many, many ignorant people talking out their ass about how a seven-string is basically a different instrument, and nothing could be further from the truth. So by all means go for it. It's really easy to get used to, and that goes for the 8-string as well, mind you.

Oh, and EMG's DO sound horrible. At least the 81. The 707 sounds alright, but that's about it for me. I really don't like the slightly cold, harsh sound they have to them. For me the passives just have more of everything, plus they react much more naturally to the dynamics of your playing.

[Nodaisho]

I am looking at mostly performing (if I do perform) sludgy-southern stuff, and I know that Pepper Keenan uses a viper, which I assume has EMGs, and Kirk Windstein uses one as well, a LTD that he found that is apparently a real gem. The EMGs that I was looking at ended up being the passives, didn't notice until I looked closer.

I'm still a beginner when it comes to guitars, good enough to have outgrown my guitar, but I would prefer not to *have* to change pick-ups,
I really like the warm, almost bluesy sound you get with mahogany, which is why I am going for one of those, my current guitar is very bright, I think it could be called sterile.

I think I'm going to have to compromise on what I want to get for now, since this is going to be something I ask my parents for for christmas, the S7320 sounds like it has what I want, but I don't know if they would be willing to spend that much, that was why I was interested in Agile, they give you a lot for your money. The shop will also probably have some guitars on sale for cheaper than musiciansfriend. Should head down there before black friday.

[Lummer]

Well, if that's what you're playing, then by all means buy a Gibson, slap on some heavy-ass strings and take it from there. The Down dudes use passive, as far as I know. Pepper's Vipers use Duncans, that I do know.

[Nodaisho]

Oh, they do? Okay, good to know. I just assumed, and you know what they say about assumptions. They make an ass out of you and your umptions, which are a very old-fashioned device for removal of weasels from flower gardens.

While I say that that is what I am playing, really, I am going to be playing just about everything I learn on it, which will end up likely sticking to metal, classic rock, and blues, but that isn't all that specific when it comes to tone. I am suffering from not-enough-guitars-itis, and trying to make one guitar do everything.

I am thinking I am going to try out the SGs and Les Pauls when I go to the shop, mainly, and if I don't find a gem there I'll probably ask for the highest-end agile AL my parents will spring for (hopefully in cherry sunburst), and if the 12-pound guitar is too heavy for me to play standing up, I'll keep trying and quit being a pussy.

[kent_eh]

In the interest of making everyone else's guitars look better by comparison, I present my stuff:


My mid 70s Les Paul knockoff.  Name on the head is "El Degas"
It plays surprisingly well, but I really should get some better pickups one of these decades.


My cheap-ass no name acoustic that I bought as a fixer-upper.


After a bit of work, it's a perfectly fine beach and camping guitar.


And my grandmother's depression era mandolin.
I don't play it much, but I love having it around.

[Lummer]

Oh, they do? Okay, good to know. I just assumed, and you know what they say about assumptions. They make an ass out of you and your umptions, which are a very old-fashioned device for removal of weasels from flower gardens.

While I say that that is what I am playing, really, I am going to be playing just about everything I learn on it, which will end up likely sticking to metal, classic rock, and blues, but that isn't all that specific when it comes to tone. I am suffering from not-enough-guitars-itis, and trying to make one guitar do everything.

I am thinking I am going to try out the SGs and Les Pauls when I go to the shop, mainly, and if I don't find a gem there I'll probably ask for the highest-end agile AL my parents will spring for (hopefully in cherry sunburst), and if the 12-pound guitar is too heavy for me to play standing up, I'll keep trying and quit being a pussy.

I'll have to say, that as much as I love my 7-strings, my Gibson LP just sounds so FUCKING chunky now. I have it tuned to B with some heavy-ass strings and have just recently put a DiMarzio Evolution and D Activator in it, and I gotta say it sounds incredible. Never, ever underestimate a good Les Paul.

[David_Dovey]

OK so I mentioned in Gabbly that my dream guitar at the moment is a Jag with transparent orange finish and Shane pointed out that he didn't think such a thing existed and I wondered where I got the idea from and I think maybe I got it from this pic from the Good Looking Musicians thread



Sexy guitar.

[tuna ketchup x]

For anyone following my amp saga... I took the defective Crate back to the store, but didn't feel like waiting several more weeks possibly for a new one. Plus I was a bit soured on the brand itself. So I took a store Strat on a mini-tour and zeroed in on a Line 6 Spider 15 watt hybrid. Want! Got! It's loud enough to use at a practice with a drummer (though we have no drummer), has tons of settings, but has a much fuller, richer tone than any solid state. Plus, it is light enough for me to tote around without pulling out my elbow. Oh man I can't WAIT to play around with this thing. And it was only a hundred bucks! I know I had my heart set on tubes but I think this will serve my purpose a lot better than a pure tube amp. Especially since the cheapest non-Crate was $300 and I can't afford that right now.

On Squier/less prestigious guitars in general: you can own a $3000 guitar and still make it sound like shit. Of course, I already sound like shit, but at least I'm not shit with expensive unnecessary equipment. Plus when you trade up components there is no difference between a cheapie and an expensive model. Plus I want to be the girl who wows people with cranking out sonic adventures on a $250 guitar. Yeah, maybe if you're talking a Sears guitar vs. a Fender there's a difference, but Squier/Epiphone have essentially the same guts as their parent brands, and with just a few upgrades can BECOME their parent brands in everything but name. I'd sure love to get a Jag or Jazzmaster someday but I'll wait for that record contract first, haha.

That orange Jag, though, man that is so full of awesome.

[kent_eh]

For anyone following my amp saga... I took the defective Crate back to the store, but didn't feel like waiting several more weeks possibly for a new one. Plus I was a bit soured on the brand itself. So I took a store Strat on a mini-tour and zeroed in on a Line 6 Spider 15 watt hybrid. Want! Got!

Did you try a Cube 30 during your search?

I've heard good things about them, especially for metal/grunge/hardcore.

On Squier/less prestigious guitars in general: you can own a $3000 guitar and still make it sound like shit.

Absolutely. 90% of tone is in the hands, not the hardware.
You could hand my cheap-ass guitars to (Vai/Clapton/Satriani/Wylde/whoever) and it would still sound like them. They'd probably bitch about the feel of the neck, but they'd still be able to make their own sound come out.

[Ballard]

Guys, that isn't orange. Its stained (what I presume is) mahogany and some less than perfect lighting.

[valley_parade]

That's a stretch, Gene. Mahogany bodied Fenders? More likely an amber stain on alder or ash.

[Ballard]

The wood was, admittedly, a bit of a guess. But its certainly no transparent orange.

[greenMonkey]

Speaking of clear orange guitars...



WANT.

[Bearer]

Guys, the Kentucky KM-505 mandolin.


http://themandolinhut.com/kentucky_mandolin_km_505.htm

Radius'd ebony fretboard :drool:  My last mando cracked in half from the humidity, so I'm looking.  However this one is $480 (with case).  Is this a good idea?

[doombilly]

Speaking of Telecasters. Series 62...more like 'SEXXXTY TOO':

[Patrick]

In the interest of making everyone else's guitars look better by comparison, I present my stuff (stuff!)

While appreciated, and at the risk of sounding like a complete and total cuntrag (not like that's something I shy away from often), I totally don't need help appreciating my Jag.

Yeah, maybe if you're talking a Sears guitar vs. a Fender there's a difference, but Squier/Epiphone have essentially the same guts as their parent brands, and with just a few upgrades can BECOME their parent brands in everything but name.

Truth. Again, though, I just like being a cunt and talking about my Jag.

Also,

G&L Telecaster thinline,

[SometimesWhy]

Speaking of G&L guitars, here's a shitty photo of my G&L Comanche.  This image really doesn't do the clear red finish justice and it's hard to tell that the neck/fretboard is birdseye maple.  When I buy a new camera I might try to get a better shot of it. 

[David_Dovey]

Speaking of Telecasters. Series 62...more like 'SEXXXTY TOO':

Bridge Cover,

Gene I don't care what the guitar actually is the point is that I'd totally bone an orange jag. Probably with a black or maybe even tortoiseshell pickguard though.

[valley_parade]

They're so un-useful, bridge covers.

BUT THEY LOOK SO, SO GOOD. =(

[Nodaisho]

Dovey, not sure about tortoiseshell, but black on that guitar would be huaglblagl.

[Patrick]

GUYS

[Christophe]

I would SHOOT SOMEONE for that guitar.

Seriously, with the fact that Fender pretty much renamed there sub-budget line Starcaster by Fender, to see the real thing is just amazing.

I would, however, prefer that Coronado posted a page ago...

[valley_parade]

http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/instruments.asp?prcode=SC-2



I can has? =(

[Christophe]

Not without a pickguard.

Maybe it's just me, but Electric Guitars - Pickguards = Weird.

[valley_parade]

Quick, design me a pickguard for it.

(Also, man take a look at a PRS)

[Christophe]

If you're referring to their Mira and Starla models, those guitars are super pretty. I can't say that it changes my view of PRS as being nothing but a manufacturer of mega-nasty dog shit guitars for rich people, though.

[valley_parade]

The Starla gives me such boners. Though, I was thinking more about the Singlecut models. They look great without a guard.

Plus I played one of the SE Singlecuts and it was great shit.

[imapiratearg]

GUYS

God damnit, Patrick.  I need a new pair of pajamas now.

[doombilly]

re: Starcaster
Wow. I wonder how it plays? Not feeling that headstock shape. It just weirds me out. Also a bit concerned about authenticity.

Neat guitar to see anyhow.

[Tehz]

http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/instruments.asp?prcode=SC-2



I can has? =(

Am I the only other person who thinks that these look gorgeous? From what I've read they play and sound pretty great, also.