201 Reply by dguyton

(15 replies, posted in Acoustic)

SouthPaw41L wrote:

I can think of many things that could be worse in consuming ones' life. Go with it, let it consume you. I had the same illness 25 years ago you're having now and today, I'm a full-time professional working musican. Follow your heart, put your family first (because they will always be your biggest fans) and stay dedicated and focused.

Peace and Guitars,
SouthPaw41L, Toney

I hear you.  I do have the advantage, if you can call it that, of having no family to speak of (divorced, no kids); and focus and dedication don't seem to be an issue.  I'm at a point where changing careers is going to be a possibility in a few years, and I'm heavily leaning toward getting into luthiery in the meantime, and opening a small shop when my finances hit my own 'magic number.' 

Bootlegger, if you're tuning into this discussion, do you have any advice?

(Sorry about the threadjack, Zurf!)

Go to forum: Acoustic

202 Reply by dguyton

(15 replies, posted in Acoustic)

It's true.  Maybe I've been suckered; I was practicing 45 minutes per day or so, and then started bumping into other stuff that seemed important, so I keep adding onto my practice time.  15 minutes or so on right hand drills, 15 minutes on fretboard memorization, left-hand warmup, 30 minutes on scales, 30 minutes on strumming patterns/chord changes/barre chords, 30 minutes on repertoire...  I'm up to a solid 2 hours a night, with no end in sight.  I need to work on fingerpicking, really hit the barre chords so that my thumb quits cramping up, add some style practice.

It's coming down to organization, and what needs to be worked on daily, and what can safely be done less often.  My problem seems to be that I regard it all as in the 'every day' category.  I don't begrudge the time spent (I'm having a blast), but it's about to consume my life!

How do you choose?

Go to forum: Acoustic

203 Reply by dguyton

(31 replies, posted in Electric)

Just about any song you care to name from the 1930's on that has the word 'Blues' in the title is (or is derived from) a 12-bar blues.  If you heard it, you would recongnize it immediately.  Clapton's 'Before You Accuse Me' (lead track on 'Unplugged') is a classic twelve bar blues.  ZZ Top's 'LaGrange' also fits the 12-bar blues pattern, at a faster tempo.

I don't know what happened there, I had "Tush" playing in my head, but "La Grange" is what spilled out my fingers.  Sorry about that.

Go to forum: Electric

204 Reply by dguyton

(9 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Go to youtube.com and do a search for KT Tunstall.  There are a couple of clips on there that she did for French TV, one for 'Black Horse and Cherry Tree,' and another for 'I Want You Back' in which she demonstrates the looping process quite well.  She also plays tambourine with her foot, plays guitar, and turns the loops on and off simultaneously.  It's pretty cool!

Go to forum: Guitars and accessories

205 Reply by dguyton

(240 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

I have a Gretsch 5120, and a cheap Ibanez Strat.  The Gretsch sees most of the action.

Go to forum: Guitars and accessories

206 Reply by dguyton

(5 replies, posted in Electric)

Lots of folks do custom pickguards, especially on the hollowbodies (Gretsches, typically).  You can either have a guard made of clear plexiglass and do the artwork yourself (I did), or have it professionally done.  If you do get the Bigsby, the floating bridge will likely cover up any holes left over from the old bridge.  If not, you could fill the bridge holes with glue covered toothpicks, but you'd still have to worry about refinishing.

Go to forum: Electric

207 Reply by dguyton

(3 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Thanks for your responses, guys.  I've heard from various other folks that either brand can bind up on the high E and B strings, but I'm hearing overwhelmingly positive reports about both Sperzel and Grover.  Most that have used them seem to like them.

Go to forum: Guitars and accessories

208 Topic by dguyton

(3 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

I am planning on replacing the tuners on my guitar, and I'm trying to decide between Grover and Sperzel locking tuners.

I (and my luthier) are leaning toward the Grovers, but I'd like to know if anyone on this forum has had experience with either brand, positive or negative.

Thanks.

Go to forum: Guitars and accessories

209 Reply by dguyton

(12 replies, posted in Electric)

How long does it take until the string starts to fray?  If you're really going through strings, you might check if there's a burr in the bridge saddle.

Go to forum: Electric

210 Reply by dguyton

(22 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I too currently have a 'selection' of guitars in my home, and the one I'm picking up the most is my hollowbody electric.  But I seldom play it plugged in.  I love the sound of a straight accoustic, but this particular guitar is far and away the easiest to play that I have ever touched.  Plus, it sounds great too. smile

Go to forum: Acoustic

211 Reply by dguyton

(4 replies, posted in Acoustic)

That would depend on who you define as "they."  I don't think the manufacturers push the prices of the vintage instruments, it's rather an effect of supply and demand.  As time passes, the vintage axes are being broken or finding owners who won't part with them, thus supply is decreasing.  At the same time, more guitarists and collectors are wanting them, so demand is increasing.  Price goes up.  In some cases, to truly stupid levels.

What's a genuine Stradivarius going for these days?

Go to forum: Acoustic

212 Reply by dguyton

(5 replies, posted in Acoustic)

The best intro I've found to the CAGED system is presented in Fretboard Logic.  It's available through Amazon.

Go to forum: Acoustic

213 Reply by dguyton

(4 replies, posted in Electric)

Be warned: if you're into the Gretsch twang at all, this will drive all other guitars from your life.  Many Gretsch players (based on the forums at TheGretschPages.com) find the stock pickups too muddy, and recommend the TV Jones Classics; I haven't modded mine to that extent just yet.  I'm also considering locking tuners...

Go to forum: Electric

214 Reply by dguyton

(4 replies, posted in Electric)

Fact is, you probably CAN afford a Gretsch.  The 5120 goes for less than $600, and you can change the bridge pickup for a TV Jones Classic for $120.  A couple of other minor modifications, and you can have an axe that sounds and looks almost identical to a Setzer Signature model for less than $1000.

Go to forum: Electric

215 Reply by dguyton

(30 replies, posted in Acoustic)

trippy wrote:

hi, me and my bar chords again, wink

how high are the strings suppost to be on the bottom of the guitar? on top of the nek they are real close to the frets but past the 11 fret they are 7 mm from the frets, how high is normal? anybody knows?

As someone said above, the string height should be pretty consistent over the entire neck.

7mm is over a quarter of an inch, which is much to high at the body.  Go and visit your local shop, and have the instrument looked at by a decent luthier; there are remedies.

Go to forum: Acoustic