Guitar Megathread II: Unleash the picking fury!!!

[Bando]

He must file them

Fair enough, but there would be some kind of pad left where he wants it, those fingers just look like soft sausages.

[z4v4]

Mine are the same as his and I use 15's on my archtops, and I had used 12's on my strats in standard for years and the same thing - thick smooth pads. I doubt he files because people who need to file usually look like they filed them.

Some reasons:

- not playing daily consistently, or weekend warrior
- recent increase in playing time
- recent increase in tension (e.g., lots more bending or switching to heavier strings)
- regular use of hand lotion
- keeping hands moist too often (e.g., swimmers)
- using harder wound strings (e.g., phosphor bronze vs nickel)
- pressing harder than necessary to produce sound
- age

[Dominik]

Mine are the same as his and I use 15's on my archtops, and I had used 12's on my strats in standard for years and the same thing - thick smooth pads. I doubt he files because people who need to file usually look like they filed them.

That's ultimately what you want but I've found doing a lot of sliding and heavy bending they can develop an edge and start catching the string. I occasionally hit them with sandpaper when it becomes a problem and that quickly resolves it. I play 12-54, I've gone as heavy as 14-62 in standard on 25.5" scale, and occasionally they become a problem. Usually it's after an increase in playing time like you said.

[Bando]

Mine are the same as his and I use 15's on my archtops, and I had used 12's on my strats in standard for years and the same thing - thick smooth pads. I doubt he files because people who need to file usually look like they filed them.

Some reasons:

- not playing daily consistently, or weekend warrior
- recent increase in playing time
- recent increase in tension (e.g., lots more bending or switching to heavier strings)
- regular use of hand lotion
- keeping hands moist too often (e.g., swimmers)
- using harder wound strings (e.g., phosphor bronze vs nickel)
- pressing harder than necessary to produce sound
- age

I would add switching from electric to acoustic. If I've been tooling around on the electric for months then drag the acoustic out for a 3 day camping trip my fingertips look different.

[Dominik]

Ibanez it is.



Edit:



Tweaking a 70 year old design means not everyone will be a fan of the control plate even if it makes ergonomic sense. I think it's great to see how accommodating they were with everything he wanted. Ash body with no contours and he drew the pickguard shape for them. Worked with Duncan on signature pickups. Vintage tuners.

[rollerball]

Ibanez it is.



Edit:



Tweaking a 70 year old design means not everyone will be a fan of the control plate even if it makes ergonomic sense. I think it's great to see how accommodating they were with everything he wanted. Ash body with no contours and he drew the pickguard shape for them. Worked with Duncan on signature pickups. Vintage tuners.

That guitar looks hideous to me. You can tell by the expression on the guy's face who's holding it that he too is similarly disappointed by the ugly, failed retro design that makes it look like a chitty Squier tele merged with a Danelectro reject from the 50s topped off with the weirdly inappropriate Ibanez headstock shape.

I want to throw that guitar in the fire and put the designer in stocks in the town square where people can throw rotten eggs and vegetables at him.

[rollerball]

Can someone tell me what I need to do to play guitar like this?

Increase the number of fast twitch fibers in your wrists and fingers.

[Dominik]

That guitar looks hideous to me. You can tell by the expression on the guy's face who's holding it that he too is similarly disappointed by the ugly, failed retro design that makes it look like a chitty Squier tele merged with a Danelectro reject from the 50s topped off with the weirdly inappropriate Ibanez headstock shape.

I want to throw that guitar in the fire and put the designer in stocks in the town square where people can throw rotten eggs and vegetables at him.

I figured it wouldn't be your cup of tea. It looks like the Ibanez Talman was a starting point but according to him they ran with all his ideas. The control plate is going to turn people off. Here's what it looks like minus the hot dog control layout.



Personally it's not my thing and if I were going to buy someone's signature model Tele it'd be Richie Kotzen's especially since I like a beefy neck however I'm genuinely happy for the guy getting an opportunity like this.

The main issue with Teles is there was no "supertele" phase like Strats in the 80s with EVH and Vai so for me the Tele is a 70 year old design that to my eye can't really be improved. Strats aren't like that for me. I like two humbuckers. I don't want a $10 pickguard slapped on the body — guitars to me are wood and metal, not plastic and I have metal pickup rings, knobs, and toggle switch. I don't like how close the volume knob is on a Strat and again I would prefer metal knobs. Leo Fender was famous for being a tight ass so of course he loved plastic. And I like roasted maple, ebony, stainless frets, locking tuners... you get the idea.

But with a Tele other than maybe a neck humbucker and comfort cuts I really don't want to see any changes to a classic design.

/2 cents

[CherryPopinski]

Increase the number of fast twitch fibers in your wrists and fingers.

How do I do that? Lol

[Dominik]

I want to throw that guitar in the fire and put the designer in stocks in the town square where people can throw rotten eggs and vegetables at him.

How would you rate these based on the same shape. Fugly firewood or an improvement?

[rollerball]

I figured it wouldn't be your cup of tea. It looks like the Ibanez Talman was a starting point but according to him they ran with all his ideas. The control plate is going to turn people off. Here's what it looks like minus the hot dog control layout.

Personally it's not my thing and if I were going to buy someone's signature model Tele it'd be Richie Kotzen's especially since I like a beefy neck however I'm genuinely happy for the guy getting an opportunity like this.

The main issue with Teles is there was no "supertele" phase like Strats in the 80s with EVH and Vai so for me the Tele is a 70 year old design that to my eye can't really be improved. Strats aren't like that for me. I like two humbuckers. I don't want a $10 pickguard slapped on the body — guitars to me are wood and metal, not plastic and I have metal pickup rings, knobs, and toggle switch. I don't like how close the volume knob is on a Strat and again I would prefer metal knobs. Leo Fender was famous for being a tight ass so of course he loved plastic. And I like roasted maple, ebony, stainless frets, locking tuners... you get the idea.

But with a Tele other than maybe a neck humbucker and comfort cuts I really don't want to see any changes to a classic design.

/2 cents

Yeah that's the thing about the Tele, it's like a reptile that hasn't evolved in a million years because the design has reached it's full potential. Any tweaks to the design is either superfluous or inappropriate, imo. I loathe those monstrosities that evolve out of people trying to make the tele "their" own thing. Like John5 can suck a D. His playing and his design of his signature tele with a humbucker in the bridge and its disgusting headstock can fukk right off.
You might be able to tolerate the humbucker in the bridge but imo why the fukk is someone playing a telecaster if theyneed a humbucker in the bridge.

[rollerball]

How do I do that? Lol

you can't.

[rollerball]

How would you rate these based on the same shape. Fugly firewood or an improvement?

Perfect examples of what I was talking about. Like, why do these exist? The bottom guitar is more of a strat with a tele-esque body.

If anything it exposed the Talman design for being more of a ripoff of the tele body.

[Dominik]

You might be able to tolerate the humbucker in the bridge but imo why the fukk is someone playing a telecaster if theyneed a humbucker in the bridge.

I meant in the neck like the '51 Nocaster Bonamassa has. 1:25

[rollerball]

I meant in the neck like the '51 Nocaster Bonamassa has. 1:25

I'll allow it.

[Auburn RSX-S]

Any of you brahs using the HX stomp?

Going to de-clutter my pedal board with this unit. Will also save me from having to lug along a second 100w amplifier as a backup for our shows or let me just leave the amp in the car and just run this into the PA and floor monitor.

Another option I'm considering is to run one output with cab simulation turned off into the FX return of my amp and then a second output with cab sim on into the PA so I don't have to mic my cab anymore.

[TBO1313]

I would add switching from electric to acoustic. If I've been tooling around on the electric for months then drag the acoustic out for a 3 day camping trip my fingertips look different.

I play acoustic pretty much exclusively and the only thing that looks different about my fingertips is you can't see the fingerprints on them as good. I use .11-.52s. Do you use a high action set up?

[CherryPopinski]

I play acoustic pretty much exclusively and the only thing that looks different about my fingertips is you can't see the fingerprints on them as good. I use .11-.52s. Do you use a high action set up?

Christ Richie Faulkner plays 11-50 in E Flat

I use 9-42 lol

[TBO1313]

Christ Richie Faulkner plays 11-50 in E Flat

I use 9-42 lol

I don't think they make acoustic strings that gauge lol. I will say that I use .10-.47s on my 12 string and after an hour or so those octave strings on the A,D and G eat my fingers up cause they are thicker, not wound and hit in a different place that my fingers aren't used to

[CherryPopinski]

I don't think they make acoustic strings that gauge lol. I will say that I use .10-.47s on my 12 string and after an hour or so those octave strings on the A,D and G eat my fingers up cause they are thicker, not wound and hit in a different place that my fingers aren't used to

Lol I thought you were talking about electrics. I have my old acoustic from when I was 10. But I'm thinking of buying another cause it's not as resonant as I would like. It also has fretting out issues around the 13th.

[TBO1313]

Lol I thought you were talking about electrics. I have my old acoustic from when I was 10. But I'm thinking of buying another cause it's not as resonant as I would like. It also has fretting out issues around the 13th.

What kind is your old acoustic?

I spent an a good bit of time noodling around with every acoustic in guitar center this weekend. If you want entry to mid tier check out Breedlove. I played about 10 different ones and the only ones I didn't like were mahogany topped (I don't like mahogany or koa topped acoustics in general with very, very few exceptions) and the ones who use Mytlewood b/s (sounds like maple to my ears which I'm not a fan of on acoustics). Their organic series with the European Spruce tops and mahogany b/s were excellent and I liked them even more than the Oregon series they have which are high dollar guitars. Also most Breedlove's come with a 1 11/16 nut width and fast playing necks which will make for an easier transition if you play mostly electric since that is as narrow as acoustic nuts come and the same as a Les Paul. They come in between $500 and $750 depending

The epiphone masterbuilt they had sounded better than the J45 and was $800 instead of $2800.

The ugliest guitar in the whole room was a Seagull S6 but my God did that thing sound good but it was only $500 for a completely solid body guitar. It did have the widest nut of any non classical guitar I played so great for fingerpicking but would make a harder transition coming from an electric.

All of the ones I mentioned resonated more than the Martin D16 I played especially the Seagull and Epiphone. Also look into Alvarez. My main guitar is an Alvarez professional series (they call them masterworks now I believe) and I love it

[CherryPopinski]

What kind is your old acoustic?

I spent an a good bit of time noodling around with every acoustic in guitar center this weekend. If you want entry to mid tier check out Breedlove. I played about 10 different ones and the only ones I didn't like were mahogany topped (I don't like mahogany or koa topped acoustics in general with very, very few exceptions) and the ones who use Mytlewood b/s (sounds like maple to my ears which I'm not a fan of on acoustics). Their organic series with the European Spruce tops and mahogany b/s were excellent and I liked them even more than the Oregon series they have which are high dollar guitars. Also most Breedlove's come with a 1 11/16 nut width and fast playing necks which will make for an easier transition if you play mostly electric since that is as narrow as acoustic nuts come and the same as a Les Paul. They come in between $500 and $750 depending

The epiphone masterbuilt they had sounded better than the J45 and was $800 instead of $2800.

The ugliest guitar in the whole room was a Seagull S6 but my God did that thing sound good but it was only $500 for a completely solid body guitar. It did have the widest nut of any non classical guitar I played so great for fingerpicking but would make a harder transition coming from an electric.

All of the ones I mentioned resonated more than the Martin D16 I played especially the Seagull and Epiphone. Also look into Alvarez. My main guitar is an Alvarez professional series (they call them masterworks now I believe) and I love it

It’s a Fender DG-8S, I’ll take a look at some of those

EDIT: I have been interested in Epiphone’s Masterbilt series particularly the Zenith

[TBO1313]

It’s a Fender DG-8S, I’ll take a look at some of those

EDIT: I have been interested in Epiphone’s Masterbilt series particularly the Zenith

The Zenith is a damn cool guitar and if it is of the same quality as the Masterbilt Excellente played its a steal for the money. The only problem with the Zenith is that it isn't solid b/s so it won't resonate as well as the solid ones and the b/s are maple. You might love the sound of maple but I'd make sure I tried it first. If you only get one acoustic I'd go with a dreadnought sized one like an orchestra or grand auditorium. Breedlove's concert size is the smallest I'd go

[rollerball]

Any of you brahs using the HX stomp?

Going to de-clutter my pedal board with this unit. Will also save me from having to lug along a second 100w amplifier as a backup for our shows or let me just leave the amp in the car and just run this into the PA and floor monitor.

Another option I'm considering is to run one output with cab simulation turned off into the FX return of my amp and then a second output with cab sim on into the PA so I don't have to mic my cab anymore.

I have the HX Stomp, an impressive piece of kit. I pair it with a SD Powerstage 170.

[cjmadscientist]

I'd rather be stuck listening to Kirk Hammett for a day that Satriani.

What in the f**k is going on in here?

[Bando]

That guitar looks hideous to me. You can tell by the expression on the guy's face who's holding it that he too is similarly disappointed by the ugly, failed retro design that makes it look like a chitty Squier tele merged with a Danelectro reject from the 50s topped off with the weirdly inappropriate Ibanez headstock shape.

I want to throw that guitar in the fire and put the designer in stocks in the town square where people can throw rotten eggs and vegetables at him.

That's kinda harsh. The fretboard is pretty sexy TBH.

I play acoustic pretty much exclusively and the only thing that looks different about my fingertips is you can't see the fingerprints on them as good. I use .11-.52s. Do you use a high action set up?

NO. Had a couple Ovations with a high setup and sold them as soon as I could get rid of them. Play with a medium setup, Ibanez lately, Takamine before that.

Only acoustic I've ever played with a perfect setup was a 1976 Fender DelMar, that would be similar to what Glenn Frey played for "Take it Easy." I've been looking for one of those for 20 years.

[cjmadscientist]

That guitar looks hideous to me. You can tell by the expression on the guy's face who's holding it that he too is similarly disappointed by the ugly, failed retro design that makes it look like a chitty Squier tele merged with a Danelectro reject from the 50s topped off with the weirdly inappropriate Ibanez headstock shape.

.

his previous signatures were tele styles from Chapin guitars

not really the guy who is gonna rock the boat design wise

[TBO1313]

That's kinda harsh. The fretboard is pretty sexy TBH.



NO. Had a couple Ovations with a high setup and sold them as soon as I could get rid of them. Play with a medium setup, Ibanez lately, Takamine before that.

Only acoustic I've ever played with a perfect setup was a 1976 Fender DelMar, that would be similar to what Glenn Frey played for "Take it Easy." I've been looking for one of those for 20 years.

Learn to set them up yourself man. Not hard at all. All you need is an allen wrench, some files/sandpaper, access to youtube and patience

[Dominik]

What in the f**k is going on in here?

Twilight Zone.

his previous signatures were tele styles from Chapin guitars

not really the guy who is gonna rock the boat design wise

He seems pretty happy. Personally I'm not a fan of that cawk shaped control plate but otherwise it's not really offensive. Ibanez has zero interest in cloning Fenders so the new line was always going to have a few polarizing tweaks. More importantly I can't hear any difference between the Chapin and the Ibanez when he's playing them. I'll bet that roasted neck feels great and build quality is superior to a $2500 Fender.

[TBO1313]

Twilight Zone.

He seems pretty happy. Personally I'm not a fan of that cawk shaped control plate but otherwise it's not really offensive. Ibanez has zero interest in cloning Fenders so the new line was always going to have a few polarizing tweaks. More importantly I can't hear any difference between the Chapin and the Ibanez when he's playing them. I'll bet that roasted neck feels great and build quality is superior to a $2500 Fender.

I've never been a huge fan of the way fender's look and feel especially strats. The sound is perfect in the right setting but I don't like the way the necks feel or the string spacing. I prefer the way Les Paul's and 335s feel and play. If I ever feel the need to get another strat it'll be a partscaster Frankenstein that I put together myself