Topic: The Guitar Topic (Read 1988821 times)

Ballard · « **Reply #3550 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 14:27 »

Don't worry Jens, I still fuck my fingers up the same way when I get into it and strum too aggressively. A damp cloth with water is fine to clean the finish, just make sure it's not leaking drops or they may drip down to something electronic. As for your fingers, learn to hold your pick in a way that is most comfortable for you (chances are you're leaving too little space on the tip which is why you collided with the strings) and be slightly more careful.

valley_parade · « **Reply #3551 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 14:58 »

Quote from: Patrick on 16 Jan 2009, 09:12

27 frets, a locking tremolo, locking nut, single bridge humbucker and a slanted neck pickup.

Who the fuck designed that, Herman Li?

No, this is Herman Li's signature Ibanez.

Ballard · « **Reply #3552 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 15:13 »

You have to give him credit, that could have been a lot worse.

valley_parade · « **Reply #3553 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 15:15 »

It's got scalloped FINGER GRIPS on the upper horn. Why the butt-ass?

Ballard · « **Reply #3554 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 15:47 »

You're only missing the high e? Dude that is fine. I learned lead guitar on a shit Epiphone SG that was missing a high e for six months.

Then I had to readjust my style to include the damn e when I finally restringed the guitar but you get my point.

Spluff · « **Reply #3555 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 17:07 »

How the hell did you cut your hand there?

valley_parade · « **Reply #3556 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 18:01 »

I have the pick at the end of the thumb.

Ballard · « **Reply #3557 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 18:02 »

You're almost right but the pick should be coming out of the soft pad portion of your thumb (the end of your nail should be down the middle of the pick) and not far back like it is now. You'll have much better control.

Spluff, it's easy to cut the top of your index finger. Just strum too hard and repeatedly catch the strings with that piece of skin. It's like a really shitty paper cut over and over and over.

Spluff · « **Reply #3558 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 18:06 »

Weird. I've never done that. You'd have to be strumming pretty wildly to actually miss with your hand and hit that far up.

Also, hold the pick however you feel comfortable. There is no standard way to hold a pick - I personally just hold it between the thumb and the forefinger.

Spluff · « **Reply #3559 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 18:23 »

I suppose I can see how that could happen, if you hold the pick like you have posted.

Harun · « **Reply #3560 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 18:42 »

how the heck do you play holding a pick like that? no wonder you cut your hand

I hold the pick between the middle of the end of the pad of my thumb, and the left side of the end of the pad of my index (haha that's a mouthful).
it kind of looks like that hand gesture where you make a circle with your thumb and index and have your other fingers sticking up in a curly spiral shape (like if you were some italian chef kissing your fingers). I don't know how else to explain it. Anyways, that was the way I've always played. If you're holding right in the way I explain it, you can play pretty much any way from that position. And you won't slice your hand doing it. But if you feel comfortable with the way you're playing, then more power to you.

<- I've been using Dunlop Jazz III's almost the entire time I've been playing. When you play Jazz III's, and then try to play with another pick, it feels like you're playing with a pick made out of soggy cardboard. Eww.

imapiratearg · « **Reply #3561 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 21:56 »

Haha, I use .60 gauge Dunlop Ultex picks. Good for anything.

Tehz · « **Reply #3562 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 21:57 »

Fuck yeah Ultex.

Patrick · « **Reply #3563 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 22:53 »

Quote from: imapiratearg on 16 Jan 2009, 21:56

Haha, I use .60 gauge Dunlop Ultex picks. Good for anything.

Toooooo thin

Christophe · « **Reply #3564 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 23:22 »

That's what she said.

I can't remember what gauge of picks I use, but I just pulled out an old red dunlop from my bedpost. Damn that shit was thin. I prefer mine thick.

Spluff · « **Reply #3565 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 23:25 »

REAL MEN USE 2.0

Ballard · « **Reply #3566 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 00:33 »

Word Matt I prefer .53 picks. All of you fucks with thick picks are clearly trying to compensate for something.

Harun · « **Reply #3567 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 00:50 »

I don't know about you, but I HATEHATEHATEHATEBEAK pick flex. The Jazz III's are not that thick, but because they're so small (that's what she said) and the tip is a lot pointier than a normal pick (that's what she said), they're super stiff (that's what she said), the attack is super clean, and you get more tone out of every single note you play. I've tried playing with different picks, but sometimes what I'm trying to play is faster than the pick can handle (that's what she said), and the flex slows me down/makes me sound sloppy (that's what she said). Try play your favorite scale (major/minor/hungarian minor) at 240bpm with a 0.5mm thick pick. Then try it with a Jazz III or a pick greater than or equal to 1mm. The difference if pretty noticeable. Do you guys just play doom metal or post-rock or something? 'Cuz then I guess the pick thickness doesn't matter (that's what she said).

Spluff · « **Reply #3568 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 00:57 »

I can do that just as easily with a thin pick as a thick pick. The only real difference is tone.

valley_parade · « **Reply #3569 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 05:13 »

Quote from: Ballard on 17 Jan 2009, 00:33

Word Matt I prefer .53 picks. All of you fucks with thick picks are clearly trying to compensate for something.

Christ, why not just use a sheet of paper? (I play Dunlop .73 Tortex)

Der Golem · « **Reply #3570 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 05:31 »

I just recently made the leap from using 1.0 gauge standard shaped picks to 2.0 tiny jazz picks, and fuck. Every note I play is more pronounced, pinch harmonics are much easier to pull off well, and i can play faster. But these things are not going to matter until you are playing things that a regular sized pick can't handle. When your picking is barely keeping up with your fretting hand, then maybe its time to try another type of pick.

doombilly · « **Reply #3571 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 06:24 »

I started using a thinner pick (about like Fender mediums) on the Nitefly because I was going through strings too quickly. Then I got the 1mm nylon jim dunlops and they give a bit more so I am happy happy with them. So it's not just the thickness it is the material the picks are made of. But. If you have to prove your manliness by pick thickness, string gauge or the size of your monster truck you might just want to go ahead and look into those male enhancement spams you've been receiving.

Patrick · « **Reply #3572 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 06:58 »

Quote from: valley_parade on 17 Jan 2009, 05:13

Christ, why not just use a sheet of paper?

...shit, dude, if you took a piece of paper and folded it over a few times, then used the corner, I bet that would actually sound really cool. It'd probably only last as long as, say, Chris in bed (way to not finish me off, asshole), but I bet it'd sound kindof like playing a bass with a felt pick.

http://www.box.net/shared/zkj0ehh6su

I finally got GarageBand the other day, it finished torrenting after like 3-4 days. I recorded that today. The amp modeling software in that program really is a load of shit if you're looking for low noise. But holy shit, my Jag sounds like it's being played over an ancient-ass dusty vinyl record.

My playing/the ending could've been better

valley_parade · « **Reply #3573 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 07:07 »

So guys, the NAMM show is this weekend. Vox came out with a vague reissue of the old '61 AC4, and..I'm getting one. I am definitely FUCKING GETTING AN AC4TV. It's like all those other micro-tube combos out there, though it has a power attenuator to switch between four, one, or one-quarter watts. Plus it's pretty.

link!

Der Golem · « **Reply #3574 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 07:22 »

@Doombilly

The 1mm jim dunlops are what I was using, and they are very good for a lot af things, but the fast paced galloping/chugging I like to do sounds way better with thicker ones. Also, one of the things I used to like about Dunlops, the good grip they had, now kinda bugs me because it is too far from the point of the pick, so I had to adjust the position of my thumb off the grip to do any squeeling. So i guess what I'm saying is while the 1mm may suit you better, it's kinda dismissive to assume everyone who prefers thicker picks is making up for a miniscule penis.

imapiratearg · « **Reply #3575 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 08:34 »

Oh man, I have to get one of those AC4's instead of a Valve Junior. Shit, those are sexy.

Alex C · « **Reply #3576 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 09:27 »

Man, tremolo picking with anything lower than .73 kinda sucks, to be honest. I mean, yeah, I use .48s or .73s most of the time, but when I'm dicking around and butchering Dick Dale songs or something, I grab a 1.14 tortex. If nothing else they're a helluva lot more grippy.

negative creep · « **Reply #3577 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 10:09 »

Quote from: Harun on 17 Jan 2009, 00:50

Do you guys just play doom metal or post-rock or something?

OH GOD YES (that's what she said)

Ballard · « **Reply #3578 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 10:17 »

Quote from: Der Golem on 17 Jan 2009, 07:22

it's kinda dismissive to assume everyone who prefers thicker picks is making up for a miniscule penis.

Nah only those people who are like "HAI GUYS U R NOT TRU PUNX BCUZ UR PICK IS NOE 38 FT. THICK LOL"

There's a startling amount of those people.

imapiratearg · « **Reply #3579 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 11:36 »

If there's anything I hate more than super-thick picks (because I'll be honest, those tiny jazz picks have a sweet tone), it's those super-thin picks. The ones that take a great amount of effort and focus to even pluck a string.

Patrick · « **Reply #3580 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 14:03 »

I'm not saying that everybody should start using those obscenely thick (like, 3mm) Stubby picks or whatever. They sound like shit anyway. I'm just saying, man, how can any of you guys play with that cellophane shit you're talking about?

valley_parade · « **Reply #3581 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 14:53 »

Three notes:

1. I played through an actual (NOT reissue) 1965 Fender Deluxe Reverb today and it was incredible. The cleans were just...wow. And the reverb sounds great.

2. I also played the Squier Classic Vibe Duo-Sonic. The Classic Vibe series seems to be getting a lot of postive reviews on the forums I frequent. The guitar sounded nice, but the neck looked and felt like plastic instead of wood, and it really made me hate the guitar.

3. The new Epiphone Slash signature Les Paul goldtop is really disappointing. The neck's too chunky for me and I just couldn't find a tone I liked. I was playing the same amp I ran the Duo-Sonic through (Fender Blues Deluxe and a EHX USSR Big Muff Pi).

Pee Ess I found a Squier Vista series Jagmaster for $275. If they have it when I come back to Boston in April, I'm buying it.

Pixelante · « **Reply #3582 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 15:44 »

I'm lurking around these forums for awhile now and figured I actually post my gear. Sadly, my digital camera decided to bite the big out and I'm not able to show off any photos of my actually stuff. So with out further adieu, here's some photos of other peoples' stuff that looks similar to my stuff:

Guitar: Billy Corgan Stratocaster

Love the feel and sound of this guitar. Too bad latches of the G&G case that it came in broke after a week. Anyone know if there's a way to replace said latches?

Amp: Music Man 212HD-150 (circa 1982 as far )

Probably paid too much for it but not nearly as much as a similar era fender twin. Oh, and its loud... really, really loud.

Bass: Fender Japan Domestic Aerodyne Jazz Bass

Found this a few year back in a local music store. Not sure if its was a mix up on Fender Japan part or what.

I currently lack a working bass amp (dropped my fender frontman off the front porch of my old apartment when I was moving out). I was told I could run my bass through the Music Man as its a heavy duty but everything I've ever been told concerning basses and guitar amps seems to suggest that it would only end badly.

Patrick · « **Reply #3583 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 17:29 »

Give me that Music Man plz

Bearer · « **Reply #3584 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 20:54 »

All this talk about picks, man, eff that. Finger-picking for the win.

imapiratearg · « **Reply #3585 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 21:09 »

Heh. When I'm playing my acoustic, most of the time I opt to do the John Darnielle thing and play with my fingernail. Which is why the nail on my index finger is flat on one side and rounded on the other.

Nodaisho · « **Reply #3586 on:** 17 Jan 2009, 22:06 »

Man, I can't tremolo-pick period. I'm getting better at playing quicker (I've found it tougher to play fast sitting, because of the angle my arm is at), but I still can't tremolo for shit. I think it has to do with my angle, I usually end up hitting the pick on the broad-side on the upstroke.

I use those ibanez picks with the really fine sandpaper on them, I've worn off a good bit of the sandpaper by now, actually. Starting to have grip issues. I wonder if playing with gloves could sound decent, unless I was fingerpicking.

Lummer · « **Reply #3587 on:** 18 Jan 2009, 06:13 »

One of my dearest possessions, is my flintstone plectrum. It's about the the size of a Jazz III XL, and 3-4 mm thick. It's a bit heavier than a normal pick, obviously, but it rocks. There is so much spank in the attack when I play with it.

valley_parade · « **Reply #3588 on:** 18 Jan 2009, 06:18 »

Does it ever shoot out sparks when you're playing?

Cos it should.

Patrick · « **Reply #3589 on:** 18 Jan 2009, 06:24 »

I would watch the band with sparks flying from their hands.

Cernunnos · « **Reply #3590 on:** 18 Jan 2009, 06:36 »

Quote from: Lummer on 18 Jan 2009, 06:13

flintstone plectrum...

..it rocks.

ha

Lummer · « **Reply #3591 on:** 18 Jan 2009, 09:47 »

That wasn't intentional. I am truly sorry.

Tehz · « **Reply #3592 on:** 18 Jan 2009, 10:58 »

Holy shit guys. HOLY SHIT.

The Orange Dual Terror. Switchable 15/30 watts, from what I've read. Goddammit, NAMM, why do you have to give us so much awesome stuff all at once? I'm not made of money!

Cernunnos · « **Reply #3593 on:** 18 Jan 2009, 11:51 »

Lummer I figured as much. I am the asshole making puns here. Because I love puns.

BlahBlah · « **Reply #3594 on:** 18 Jan 2009, 12:35 »

Quote from: Sam on 18 Jan 2009, 11:19

oh man oh man

soo, my sunn head has been making a squealing noise whenever i unplug my bass but leave the cable in the input jack on the head

i'm thinking this is a cable issue, or there's something wrong with my amp? but i'm in a noise-rock band so all extraneous painful sounds are kind of a nice addition

Wait, you mean you have the amp on, with a cable plugged into it but nothing else attached to the cable? All amps I've tried make horrible noises when I do that.

sean · « **Reply #3595 on:** 18 Jan 2009, 12:59 »

Thats very odd then. My ampeg combo always does that. It makes a squeal-esque noise when unplugged and goes BRRRZZZZZZZZZZZZOHGODTHENOISE when it touches something.

Also I am so excited since I am finally gonna mod up my squier bass with fancy p-bass pickups for the cap'n jazz part 5 band i am starting. shit yes!

Patrick · « **Reply #3596 on:** 18 Jan 2009, 13:34 »

Man every amp I've ever used has done that when I pulled the plug out of my guitar's output jack. So bad for your speakers!

Speaking of which, I think it is bad for my friend's Marshall MG10CD when I plug my guitar directly into my Tonebone (fuck yeah, Christmas rocked this year even though that was basically all I got) and from there it goes directly into the input. I do not care. I simply crank it louder.

valley_parade · « **Reply #3597 on:** 18 Jan 2009, 13:43 »

I just got punked by a guy on OSG who bought a guitar I was really digging on in a store yesterday (Vista series Jagmaster in red). Damn!

atimholt · « **Reply #3598 on:** 19 Jan 2009, 00:18 »

Quote from: Lummer on 18 Jan 2009, 06:13

One of my dearest possessions, is my flintstone plectrum. It's about the the size of a Jazz III XL, and 3-4 mm thick. It's a bit heavier than a normal pick, obviously, but it rocks. There is so much spank in the attack when I play with it.

Is it made of flint, or does it have cartoon characters on it? I'm half joking, I'm going to google it after I post.

EDIT: Well, that didn't turn up anything.

To give this post some real worth, I'm going to throw in my 2 cents.
When I'm feeling particularly silly, I switch my squier strat to the nut pickup and scratch the strings up and down with the ridges on the edge of one of those enormous Eisenhower dollar coins. And when I use it as a pick, the scraping plucking sound is the most dominant result. Moreso than the actual note.

and what do you guys think of those brush picks? Just a gimmick?

Patrick · « **Reply #3599 on:** 19 Jan 2009, 05:29 »

Man, those gorgeous new Epi Wilshires... man, fuck Epiphone so hard for not making them a full production instrument. Epi's ass + grapefruit spoon is what I'd like to see. That or a cheese knife.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: The Guitar Topic (Read 1988821 times)

Pixelante