Dad3353

26 minutes ago, Graham50 said:

There’s a Big Baby with internal pickup for sale over on the sister site Basschat for £400, bargain as it’s brand new.

... and here's a link to the ad ...

Taylor - Big Baby Taylor acoustic/electric guitar ...

11 minutes ago, Nycowboy said:

Hey guys and dolls, I have this 1929 KeyKord 21 push button guitar. I can’t find another one anywhere. Does anyone know about it and more, about what it’s worth?

See here, an old Reverb listing from ten years ago ...

Reverb sale (long ended...) Kay KeyKord ...

A novelty instrument of its day. Hope this helps. 

1 hour ago, fourth said:

... I'd love to know your thoughts

I'm not sure that I understand the question. I'm a drummer; I don't count 'notes', I count the tempo. If I need to play something fast, when I'm learning it, I play it slowly. Once I've mastered it slowly, I'll increase the tempo, little by little (over a couple of weeks, for instance...) until I can play it at, or slightly faster, than the target tempo. By that time, there's no 'counting' involved, as it's ingrained. The secret to playing anything fast is to play it slowly. Does this help..? 

I agree with EZ, above ^^; it sounds like a guitar being played rapidly with a pick. Just about the opposite of how I play (badly, slowly, with fingers...), so the sound I get, myself, is very different. I don't think I can help much, if at all, but I don't think you really have a problem, either. Play with whatever sounds you're getting, rather than analysing what's going on. In other words, if you have lemons, make lemonade. 

Don't trust me on this as I have cloth ears. I hear no 'whistling', nor harmonics, on that last (third...) recording. You say it's without gain; it sounds distorted to me, not at all like a guitar simply plugged into an amp. Are you using pedals at all with all of this..? Can you record just the guitar, with no Fx at all (downstrokes is fine, or just play a tune...)..? 

2 hours ago, Tunni79 said:

Where is everyone sourcing their tone woods from in UK? My supplier, who I've used for years has just retired so I'm on the lookout for a new vendor.

A quick search for 'luthier tone wood supplier uk' brings up several suppliers. We're in France, so the suppliers in Portugal or Spain are our main source, but that won't interest you in the UK, I suppose. Still, half a dozen came up, to get you started.

What use do you have..? Guitar/bass..? Classical, folk, electric, other..? Just askin'; hope this helps. 

17 minutes ago, Andico said:

... best affordable guitars without the whammy bar that is the best for both learners and metal genre? ...

I'm not sure that there are any guitars that are excluded from playing 'metal', but if I take that to mean roughly Strat-shape, with a pointy headstock, I'd start by looking at the Thomann B-stock offers. 'B-stock' means that someone ordered one, then sent it back, normally, but they are perfectly sound, and carry the same guarantee as others. It's a way of getting a bit off the price. Here's a link to some I'd suggest fall into your criteria (between £200-£300...)...

Thomann 'Bargain' ST-type guitars, with no vibrato, UK prices ...

Feel free to play around with the filters on the left, to see what else is on offer. There's nothing wrong with Tele-style, Les Paul-style, SG-style etc guitars either for metal (maybe avoid archtop though, as a beginner...).

All of these guitars hold their tuning, and can be used in any style, including metal, of course. There are many other suppliers than Thomann, but this is an easy way to see and compare what's on the market, from the comfort of one's own home. Nothing beats trying out various instruments at a music shop, once one has an initial idea of what to try out.

My personal choice would be a Squire Affinity Tele Deluxe (I prefer humbuckers...), like this one ...

Thomann Squire Affinity Deluxe ...

... or this one ...

Thomann Harley Benton Fusion T-HH ...

Spoilt for choice, now, eh..? 

1 hour ago, Andico said:

... I’m in the market for my first electric guitar ...

Good afternoon, Andico...

Unless it's going to be a feature of your playing, I don't think I'd advise any guitar in this price range with a vibrato ('whammy bar'...). The good guitars get away with it, once up in the 'pro' league, and with a tame technician to match, but, in my opinion, they're an unnecessary source of trouble, especially when learning, in almost any style. If you really need it, go ahead, but I'd advise looking at other models without this accessory that have the features you want. No guitar in this range will have an inherent 'staying in tune' problem, whatever the make; Ibanez have an excellent reputation, but so have many others. Your call, naturally, but holding its tune should never be an issue, especially for one's first guitar.

Disclaimer : I've never had a use for a vibrato of any kind, as 'dive-bombing' is not an effect I affection in my playing. If I had to have that effect, I'd do as our son, Our Eldest, does, and use a detune pedal (think the dying notes of 'Karma Police'...).
Hope this helps. 

Good afternoon, @suzukisan, and ...

... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share. 

'Misty'. Still learning it, over half a century later, and still striving to overcome its difficulties, exacerbated by increasing memory issues. 

29 minutes ago, k.chernyavska said:

Which guitarist completely changed the way you think about music, and what did they teach you?

Mickey Baker, with his 'Complete Course in Jazz Guitar'. First bought back in the mid '60s, I've worn it out and bought it again several times, and still use it today. It costs less than peanuts from a well-known purveyor of books and other sundries, and will serve for a lifetime. What did it teach me..? That there are many ways to skin a cat, and persistence pays dividends when going through the exercises. Eternal thanks to The Master. 

4 hours ago, Bende23 said:

Hi everyone, I’m looking for a secondary guitar to use for live performances and I’m torn between the Taylor Big Baby and the Martin LX1E. Which one would you recommend for gigging in terms of sound, build quality, and playability? 

If you'll be needing an electro-acoustic, it'll be the Martin, as the Taylor has no built-in mic. Otherwise, they are very similar for their price point, so reputation, aesthetic and personal feeling would be he only factors, really. Can you not try each..? None in stock at your nearest guitar outlet..? The Taylor is currently in stock from Thomann; the Martin needs a couple of weeks at least before delivery. Maybe just as important would be the choice of hard case, or solid gig bag, for toting either around, depending on what transport you'll be using. 

1 hour ago, Frenzybee3 said:

My R3 fell over and broke the plastic machine head tuners.

Tried other plastic tuners but didn't fit. Are these universal as I can't tune my guitar up.

Black plastic

New guitarist 

Can you take a close-up photo of the tuners, and the method of attaching them..? There are several different ways; a good photo would help to give appropriate advice. Over to you..? 

48 minutes ago, Crusoe said:

As has been suggested, if you are wanting to play folk style music, like Bob Dylan or Joan Baez, you would probably want to play a steel strung acoustic guitar. Just be aware that this can be harder on your fingers than an electric guitar. Good luck.

My usual words of encouragement for this 'harder on the fingers' issue...

'It's the first forty years that are the worst, after which things sometimes have a tendency to get slightly better.' 

...
 

49 minutes ago, Crusoe said:

*cough*Dylan went electric*cough* 

What..? Dylan, electric..? Heresy..! 

...

1 hour ago, Subhojeet Majumdar said:

I am not somebody who likes rock mysic. I am an Indian. I like bollywood style music. Or may be some Bob Dylan songs, some Joan Baez songs.

9 minutes ago, ezbass said:

These would make me a suggest a dreadnought or maybe a folk sized acoustic.

I agree ^^. 

This ^^. More information needed as to your goal in order to give pertinent advice. Over to you... 

30 minutes ago, James Davies 1155 said:

... my Chord changes are, well let's say not quick enough...

They will be amply quick enough if you play at a much slower tempo (about half-speed..?). Preferably with a metronome, and slowly (very slowly...) increase the tempo by a small notch every week or so. That way it'll come up to speed all on its own. The fastest way to play fast is to play slowly, trust me.
It sounds as if you're doing well (or, indeed, very well..!). Hope this helps.

Douglas

7 minutes ago, Devilsrefugee said:

Cheers guys I wasn’t sure if that meant it would be a full step as it’s one whole fret but thanks for confirming 

Each fret is a half-tone higher, so, for the 'E' string...

E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E octave.

On 05/10/2024 at 18:28, kal3b.j0hns0n said:

Hey, I have been wanting to learn to play guitar for a while. I have been looking to find a good electric guitar kit, but I keep seeing mixed opinions about them. I have looked at the squire affinity series and sonic series, some donner guitars, and some other guitar starter kits on Gear4Music. When I see some reviews on the guitar they either say it's absolutely fantastic, or it's absolutely terrible. If you suggest one, please could you tell me the pros/cons about that guitar and why you think it's good. Would be much appreciated

I'd suggest that any reasonably-popular guitar, made by any reasonably-popular maker, from any reasonably-popular supplier will be fine for any beginner. There can always be a flaw in any manufactured item; guitars are no exception, but they are rare. If any guitar purchased could be vetted (played by...) a decently competent guitar-playing buddy, to check that it's all working (and it will be...), there's little chance of anything seriously wrong happening. What some reviewers might describe as 'absolutely terrible' could be really insignificant details, that don't affect playing, and wouldn't be noticed by most folk. Any described as 'absolutely fantastic' could, by the same token, have been written by someone paid to give a glowing review. Ideally, you should try out any instrument yourself, or with a competent chum, in a reputable store, and decide what's good for you and your budget. If you must order through the web, there is ample protection against bitter disappointment, and, of course, the normal legal guarantees for any faults.

In short, trust yourself more, and go for whatever you like the look of, that will inspire you to learn and play, and is in your budget, from any reputable source, the closer to you the better. If we all gave a list of what's 'great' and what's 'rubbish', you'll not be more advanced. It's all good, as long as it inspires you to learn and play it.

Hope this helps. 

Douglas

25 minutes ago, Devilsrefugee said:

Hi all

 

if I tuned down half step… where would a capo go if I wanted to get back to standard tuning? The first fret?

Yes. 

12 minutes ago, James Davies 1155 said:

... but I need help, HELP!!

Some slight confusion here, methinks..? Learning, and playing, the guitar (other musical instruments are available, I'm told...) has to be, first and foremost, FUN..! No, it's not easy-peasy, and doesn't come instantly, but the FUN is as much, if not more, in the journey, and is never-ending. That being said, I'm not sure that the term 'study' is really appropriate in your case, for what you're doing. One important aspect of learning is to get the fingers working mechanically, and use the exercises to reinforce, at the same time, the 'muscle memory' that comes with repetition of movements. To this end, the playing of solo notes, and naming them aloud, is really just a 'warm-up' exercise, done systematically at the start of one's practice session, and needs no more 'study' than that. You will not be expected, nor will need, to pass an exam on note-naming, but the knowledge that these little exercises instils is insidiously locked away in your brain, and will serve for decades to come, with no further effort on your part. It's like wielding cutlery to eat a meal; there's no (or little...) conscious effort, but the food gets to the mouth without any furrowing of the brow. This, because, as a child, these gestures were repeated for long enough.
Relax, James, and take the time to just enjoy what you can do already, in the firm and certain knowledge that, shortly, you will be able to do yet more. It's not a race, and we all do this at different paces; do this at your pace and that's fine. There is no way of swallowing all aspects of guitar playing, music theory, chord structure, picking techniques etc at once, so choose your areas of interest wisely, work on them slowly, and ignore the rest until you're ready for 'em. What can you play, currently, and what would you like to be able to play..? We can give concrete advice on specifics if we know where you are, and where you'd like to head. Any help..?

(Don't forget that very important element, to ensure success : always have a very big bucket of Patience to hand...) 

3 hours ago, repoman said:

... any thoughts about them? ...

I'm rather a fan of hollow-body guitars, but the Gretsch range has never really appealed to me. I can't speak for any modern, current, models, but 'back then' ('70s...), the ones I came across didn't inspire me much at all, with a rather limited tonal range, electrified, and not much tone at all as an acoustic. I found them to be extraordinarily heavy and clumsy, too, compared to other arch-tops or acoustic guitars. I suppose if one just has to have that particular sound, they don't have much competition, I certainly won't be scouring the small ads to find one. What is it that draws you to them, and what models are your present guitars that you're willing to sacrifice..? 

At the risk (nay, certainty...) of sounding like an old frump, I'm not a fan of tremolos on any guitar, and definitely not the Bigsby version. Heavy, clumsy, detrimental to the tone and robustness of any arch-top guitar sound-board, it's a deal-breaker for me. Do they mess much with tuning..? They certainly don't if they're not fitted..! Again, it's a matter of what one wants to play, and I've never wanted to play in any style that uses such an effect, soooooo... Not for me, thanks. 

1 hour ago, MartinWright said:

... help value my guitar...

Good evening, Martin...

A very nice guitar; it's a shame to not play it, but Life... It's a Gibson, a little more modest than the original full-fat Hummingbird, but a fine Gibson nevertheless. Having looked around at some ads on other sites, I would suggest that one should be able to buy a pretty fine ring with £1500-1800, depending on your patience, waiting for the right Buyer to come along. Have you considered selling it on a commission basis, from any of the outlets offering this service..? They may be able to help with evaluation, too, and would have a wide client base. Just a thought.

Hope this helps, and good luck with your projects; meanwhile...

Have a splendid day.

Douglas

3 minutes ago, fourth said:

...Thank you in advance for your help...

What you're hearing there is a harmonic, which is pretty much inevitable when playing at high gain, and is often even desirable in many styles. Try playing at different spots with the pick; that will probably change the note (the 'squeaking'...); choose the position that sounds best to you. It can be eliminated by playing without such high gain, but then you'd have no need of a pointy guitar..! 
Hope this helps.