https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 01:53:23 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/paged/2/#post-263815 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 08:57:20 +0000
One thing I immediately noticed playing a higher quality amp.. it's a lot more sensitive to what you're doing. That one extra string you didn't intend to have ring out sounds a lot louder/clearer and clearly more out of place. Whereas with my little practice amp, you can get by making a mistake here or there because the sound was so muddy to begin with. But when you hit something perfectly, there's nothing like it. I love the tube-sound, that hollow sound. Of course, I will have to chew on that sound for sometime, because I currently can't afford to eat. It was worth it, though.

Can't wait for it to come in the mail, hopefully it gets here in one piece. Thanks for all the advice, folks.]]> Opinions and Polls clockworked https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/paged/2/#post-263815 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/paged/2/#post-247269 Sun, 10 Jun 2007 17:05:25 +0000 Opinions and Polls Ricochet https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/paged/2/#post-247269 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/paged/2/#post-247232 Sun, 10 Jun 2007 10:13:48 +0000
On the acoustic -- got to agree that you can do better for the price than Taylor or Martin. And I'm picky about sound. Play a lot of guitars in and above your price ranges. Figure out what you enjoy playing, then get someone to play the finalists for you. Compare those in your budget to allegedly better guitars. You will find great variations in timbre, and sometimes a relatively inexpensive acoustic really will stand out even next to a Martin HD-28 (a fave, but I'm too cheap to buy one) or better Taylor (try the GS series -- they have less of the characteristic Taylor tinny edge). To save money forget the exotic woods on the rims and back. Also go straight acoustic (not AE) to get more guitar for your $$. Electronic technology in acoustic guitars never ages as well as the woods -- the electronics can quickly become yesterday's news.

Have fun with your search.]]> Opinions and Polls gnease https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/paged/2/#post-247232 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/paged/2/#post-247213 Sun, 10 Jun 2007 06:16:41 +0000
(I like those Artcore semihollows.) Ya'know, that's pretty presumptuous of you. ;)

In all actually, this is what I might be leaning towards now.. just going out and getting a quality amp. I've spent a lot of money on the Artcore as it is. I'll just keep tweaking myself to find what I can get out of it. It does make some sense to get the best amp I can afford right now (and the Fender amps seems pretty good). Otherwise, If I went with an electric I'd be stuck with another guitar, an even more expensive guitar, into the same little Frontman Fender amp. A quality tube amp should keep me occupied for another 5 years.]]> Opinions and Polls clockworked https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/paged/2/#post-247213 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/paged/2/#post-247203 Sun, 10 Jun 2007 05:47:55 +0000
Yeah, it'll take some practice to get that hand style down on the high frets.

It helps to hold out your whole hand (thumb and fingers) like someones gunna give you 5....
and put it with the meaty part of your thumb (the part connected to your palm) under the neck/body joint.

Keep your thumb out front with the fingers.
It will keep your finger joints from locking and you'll be able to push your hand out furthur and twist your wrist as need be to reach the highest frets.

As to the positives of the Blues - It looks cool in tweed. J/K

Well, I think that it has a slightly different tone than the HR.
The fact that the Drive channel doesn't do much and that it starts to break up on the clean channel as you turn up the volume,
to me makes it more like a real tube amp.

They're both nice amps - it just boils down to what sound you like best I guess.

I've never heard of Fender briefcase amps....?
I know they make actual briefcases that are modeled after tweed or blackface Fender amps.

I can understand that you come here for info.
I didn't mean to sound short.
If you have any questions about anything that you think I can help you with, feel free to PM me.
I'll be glad to help.

And yeah, that's really a good idea - just noodle around with EVERY piece of equipment you can get your hands on. :D

And try out the Epiphone Blues Custom 30 (amp) and let me know how it is.
I have yet to try it.

Ken]]> Opinions and Polls CitiZenNoir https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/paged/2/#post-247203 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/#post-247199 Sun, 10 Jun 2007 05:06:11 +0000 Well,
A pretty complicated conundrum....

And, I was thinking along the lines of Eirraca - I wasn't too sure of your motives.
At times it seemed that you wanted good equipment....
Other times, you had me thinking you just want equipment that looks cool and has a brand name on it. The line seems to blur, sometimes. My fascination with the Martin acoustic I suppose is the bit of the child in me.
As far as reaching the higher frets on your artcore - you should be able to do that with the proper technique.
Think more in the way of slide playing.
You'll probably have to bring your thumb out to the front with your fingers. (and so press more with your arm as you'll
lose the anchoring of your thumb behind the neck).
Also - don't think that you have to keep your hand straight up and down.
You may have to angle your fingers/wrist more toward the bridge to get it done on the highest frets.
It is doable though. I typed that up without the guitar handy. I can get to the 19th. Anything beyond that takes effort. I'll keep working on it.
As far as amps go - I like the RI Blues Deluxe, and although I'm a tube amp purist and it has a printed circuit board....
I was myself considering getting one. (and still might)

A PCB lends itself to more reliability than a point to point, hand wired tube amp.

And they (along with the HR Deluxe amps) have a wonderfully warm tone that most vintage Fender RI amps do not.

The Blues is covered in tweed, though NON lacquered, so it will not last as long.

Also, I understand that the drive channel is 'worthless' on the Blues.
And that it breaks up rather quickly on the CLEAN channel.
So most players have complained of lack of headroom - sounds great to me though. :D

If those things bother you - check into the Hot Rod Deluxe.
It has a More Drive channel that works pretty well, more headroom on the clean channel, and has a black plastic-like
finish that seems pretty durable.
And I think that the HR's cost less than the Blues as well. I've been looking at the Hot Rod, too. I've been thinking/debating about the Fender briefcase-style amps pretty much every minute of every day. Twice a minute on weekends.

I would like an amp that is versatile, but I don't want to compromise too much on the creamy blues sound. You covered a lot of the negatives of the Blues Reissue, what are some of the positives in comparison to the Hot Rod? The Hot Rod is about $50 dollars cheaper on MF.
As for Mexican Strats - I personally have no love for them.
There's a post in Guitar players discussion I belive about the differences between MIM and MIA Fenders you might wanna
check out.

At any rate - if you really are interested in quality pieces, I say information is key.
I think you need to do a bit more research before making a decision. Thanks. I'll be sure to check that thread out, I definitely have more research to do. Information is key, but I really have nothing to compare it to. Partially why I come to GuitarNoise.

Thanks to everyone, by the way. Really helpful. I'll definitely take Eirraca's advice and just go fiddle around in a guitar shop.]]> Opinions and Polls clockworked https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/#post-247199 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/#post-247196 Sun, 10 Jun 2007 04:56:09 +0000 Because, in the end, it's the happy hours of practice that build the sound, in a more lasting and useful way than the name on the gear does. At least that's how it seems to me.

The TRUTH!]]> Opinions and Polls Riff Raff https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/#post-247196 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/#post-247178 Sun, 10 Jun 2007 03:26:07 +0000
Yeah, I don't know why I included that American bit. I think I equate American stuff has having a longer shelf life/gaining value as opposed to other gear depreciating in value. Not that it makes a difference, a lot of it is just assembled in America, anyway, not necessarily made in. And my assumption about longer shelf life/gaining value might very well be wrong, too. CitiZenNoir had a little about that.

I'm not entirely satisfied with what I've got, and I've got money burning a hole in my pocket. I'd like to sound better, as well. It's all of the above. And anyway, I'm a little past coolness, hollow-body guitars undoubtedly look the coolest, and I've already satisfied that urge. ;)]]> Opinions and Polls clockworked https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/#post-247178 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/#post-247175 Sun, 10 Jun 2007 03:05:05 +0000
Firstly, I'm deeply impressed that you've come this far with only one guitar. I've been going through this sort of puzzle every few months ever since I started. And my solution (which I can hardly recommend) has been to keep blowing my savings at regular intervals on relatively 'cheap-n-cheerful' guitars, instead of saving up for one or two of higher quality. :? (I did eventually end up with a decent acoustic and some reasonable electric gear).

This experience only confirmed what we probably all suspect from the start anyway - that the quality of the amp and the guitar (especially a decent pickup) can and do make a difference, but the most important part of the tone is in the player's fingers.

There are plenty of good combinations of gear out there, and mostly it boils down to practising enough with it until you can bring out the best from it. I.e. work out how to blend your style with the instrument's capability. As long as you avoid buying the real low end rubbish (which you clearly are intending to do) then it mostly seems to come down to a question of owning whatever gear that you will love and cherish enough to be motivated to put the hours in. Because, in the end, it's the happy hours of practice that build the sound, in a more lasting and useful way than the name on the gear does. At least that's how it seems to me. :)

Good luck. I'd love to come shopping with you, I've still got a few cents left, after blowing the last lot... :roll:

Cheers,

Chris]]> Opinions and Polls Chris C https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/#post-247175 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/#post-247140 Sat, 09 Jun 2007 22:37:40 +0000
I also have to agree with Dave in that EVERY guitar player should have an acoustic.

They just get you in touch with your soul, or the Earth or something along those lines of depth :roll:
Very relaxing and so versatile.
And if you need to work on your singing/playing - nothing better than using an acoustic. Agree - I think this is why I'm jonesin' for an acoustic now.]]> Opinions and Polls Eirraca https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-me-5/#post-247140