Leaderboard

I don't think I've posted here before - I'm a member of basschat.co.uk, but after playing bass for decades, lately I've been singing and playing mandolin and octave mandolin. I don't actually play guitar, though I have a couple of guitar-shaped objects in my collection - an acoustic guitar bodied octave mandolin, and earlier this year a local guitar builder converted a copy of a Gibson SG to mandolin for me. I'm currently working towards a Rock School grade 2 acoustic guitar exam... with a mandolin!

When singing a melody through, in your head or out loud, try to pick out the highest and lowest notes, when you get to them. That's when to pick up the guitar and find those notes, and only those notes. That'll determine where on the fingerboard the rest of the melody lies, so, having established the extremes, now find the initial, starting note, keeping in mind these extremities. Does this help..?

Ordered a pair of matched JJ EL34 tubes and swopped out the Marshall stock EL34 ( will keep as spares ) Replaced V1 and V2 with JJ ECC83S Pleasing results as it sounds warmer, fuller and less harsh at high gain which the better JJ tubes seem to be helping A nice easy upgrade

For me it has to be Ritchie Blackmore and his stratocasters. As far as I can tell he has at least two - one which is a pale natural wood finish, and another which is painted an ivory colour.

The DSL20 is EL34 paired and I would say it’s more 80’s to modern day rock I have the DSL20HR and it’s a great amp and can run at home at 10w It will sound much better cranked of course when it really shines The Origin 20 head is better for 60’s 70’s rock and with a drive pedal in front would cover most ground. I had the Origin 50 head in my old band and it was a lovely sound. For home I think the DSL20 is a good choice as it can still gig or jam or play at home Boss Katana is a good choice too but I still prefer valves I briefly tried the Laney Lionheart Foundry 60 but it was poorly built and sounded boxy and average The current production DSL20 is a great small amp. Can be bright sounding but back off the presence and treble and it sounds great. I use a Standard Strat with single coils and play clean and rock

Hi there! I just joined a new band called Sons of steel. This is one of our singles: Let me know your opinion about it. Thanks!!

I totally agree with this; my Takamine is fitted with these ... ... I have 'etching fingers', which rapidly turn steel or nickel-steel strings to red rust; these 80/20 bronze strings suit the guitar perfectly, with the added advantage of being the same gauge as my electrics and semi-acoustics, all fitted with nano-web sets. They last, for me, much longer than any other make of strings; I previously had to change in less than a year, but these were fitted over a year ago now, and are as good as when fitted, although I admit that I don't play my acoustic every day. It's a joy when one finds the right set for any guitar or bass; I'd even extend this to establishing the best heads for an acoustic drum set..! I used Remo Ambassador heads for decades, but the later choice of Evans Genera and G2 heads made a world of difference..!

Ah. For this, I'd refer you to my usual words of encouragement that I often dish out, when subjects such as this arise... 'It's the first forty years that are the worst, after which things sometimes tend to get slightly better.'

I always associate him with the white/ivory one.

Useful for plugging into my Tascam interface, and would also be good for sending to FOH if I played 'live'. I don't know why more don't do things this way.

It's a year later, but I do like the idea of a balanced XLR connector...

There are posting settings saying you need 5 posts to be able to post in general. Seems a bit high, but otherwise, you probably have enough post count to now do it!

Hi, I was looking at expanding my guitar collection and found this on sale -I've always had an attraction/repulsion relationship with PRS but this one... I don't know, it has something. What do you think? https://shorturl.at/RL6Gk

I've got an FG-420E - had it for years, it's a very nice instrument. Just waiting for new strings from Strings Direct (and waiting, and waiting...). Can't comment on the other two.

Me neither, but something about gold top guitars just works for me.

Both mentioned June 6th, 2023. Has anyone mentioned Marc Bolan and his natural Les Paul?

Welcome Rosie

Good evening... I'd wonder why you specifically want a valve amp in this range. This amp has two EL84 valves, which do not have the same tones as the classic Marshalls. Not that that's a Bad Thing, but it means that you can't refer to the 'Marshall Sound' with it; it's more like a 'Vox AC30' style. If you have played one, and like it, that's fine, of course, but it wouldn't do for me. For half of that money, I'd recommend a BlackStar or a Boss Catana, both solid state, with 50 and 100 watt models with far more tone choices, all of them good, at all volume levels. I've a healthy respect for the 'Marshall Sound' in its historic context, and they do some good combos, but this model is not voiced like these. Your choice, naturally, but, unless you've chosen it for its own sound, I'd suggest looking wider. Disclaimer : I'm old, and a drummer, to boot, soooooo...

That mando SG is as cool as! I love the arch top too, but for different reasons.

Sorry had to leave. Didnt know where to sign out. Great scenery out there. Only seen it on film. Best friend's grandfather got shot on one of Normady beaches, with U.S. Marines. Back to your road, we dont have alot of sand in TN unless you go up into the mountains nearby. Not sureWhy theres sand there though.

It’s look like no one mentioned Hank B. Marvin and the red Stratocaster or Buddy Holly and his Strat.

"Maa on niin kaunis", "Schönster Herr Jesu", is one of the most popular hymns in Finland that has often been sung at Christmas time. The melody comes from a collection of Silesian folk songs published in 1842. I made two versions of it. First one is kind of a practice for conterpoint and second one is the basic melody+harmony. I will show the later one in close on the video. If you are interested, PDF & Guitar Pro files for both arrangements from https://www.patreon.com/landscapeguitar Video: https://youtu.be/iLwNqVeI77k Have nice waiting of Christmas! Cheers, Mikko

Now we’re talking !

Yep it was so heavy and I didn’t like the channel switching on it The two channel DSL20 is a great head and the better SC112 cab, plywood construction and V type Celestion speaker make a neat lightweight rig Sounds lovely

Is that road sand? Even with the fog the countryside looks like something my dad would want to paint. Nice

Just replace the brass fat block with a steel fat cat from Feline Guitars, I have to say that this (In my opinion) sounds better in tone than the brass block. I'm finally happy with my tone. (For now at least !)

Marshall DSL40CR incoming ! Had a DSL100HR and 2x12 cab before and a DSL20 head and wanted a combo for home and jamming It can be switched to 20w and has two master volumes so I can play quietly at home A great amp

With the master volume and set on 20w you can play this quietly ( tv volume ) so perfect for home and jams etc if required

Classic design, with a signature overdrive sound. That said, a clean Marshall is a wondrous thing. Enjoy.

Update .. it’s going back The box is small so it has a boxy sound and lack of bass tone Drive is very fizzy so I decided I would return

I totally get it. Obviously there are chord inversions but totally understand how playing the Low E could take away the glory from the A in Am. Many thanks.

Welcome!

Hi all, I'm a terrible guitar player and worse bassist. After years of troubling local wildlife with my bedroom exertions on skinny strings, I bought a few basses and realised that thicker strings make no difference, I'm still very bad. I was a member of that site named after a part of a guitar, but I made the mistake of getting too involved in off topic discussion and left. So I originally joined basschat when I thought I had switched to bass, but then after I realised that I can be useless on both guitar AND bass, I decided to join here as well.

Welcome from another crap guitarist/bassist

Parfitt and Rossi seemed to eventually go for a green Tele for Rossi and a white one for Parfitt. Jan Akkerman - black 3 pickup Les Paul Rory Gallagher - the devarnished Strat

I’d forgotten how rewarding it can be to fit the right strings (for me at least) to an acoustic guitar. New strings on an electric are fine, but fitting a new set on an acoustic just makes it sing or, at least, can do. I bought my Inspired By Gibson, Hummingbird a fair while back. The strings it came with (12s) were fine, but a bit heavy for me. When I bought it, I picked up a set of D’Addario 10s and fitted them straight away. Nice guitar that it is, it didn’t have that Goldilocks thing of being just right with those strings. I refitted the original 12s and it was better, but still heavy for me and I’ve stuck with them for a fair while. Whilst buying something completely unrelated on Amazon, the other day, I remembered that the strings on my other, steel strung acoustic are really nice and that I bought them from Mr Bezos’ online empire. I checked my order history, to check what they were again, and I bought another set of them for the Hummingbird, DR Rare 11s. Just finished fitting them (complete with the inevitable puncture wound in a fingertip ) and what a difference! Yes, it sings because of the newness of the strings, but there’s something else, full bottom end (ooh, er, Mrs!), singing highs, supportive mids, properly loud and the tension is just right, I have achieved that Goldilocks balance of tone and playability. Therefore, if you have an acoustic that’s not delivering what you want, just try changing the strings for something you know works on other guitars, or take a punt on a previously untried brand/type of string, it might just be the thing you’ve been looking for and is cheaper than buying a new guitar (not that buying new guitars is bad, but needs must and all that).

Thanks! I have this as well which i use for gigging

Brand new Big Baby Taylor acoustic electric guitar for sale - came to me as a prize in a competition but I'm a bassist and apparently my daughter has enough guitars (so says SWMBO...) Stock image used - plenty of info available online about these things if you want to look up the details, but here's the headlines: Travel-size guitar (15/16 dreadnought size, apparently) Built in tuner, and looks like it does EQ onboard too Comes with a nice gig bag Has too many strings for me - I lost count after 4.... and I'm sure there were a couple more. Brand new - played for 5 mins by me until I got bored. Still has all the packaging it came in and the protective cellophane on the pickguard. Collection only (between Leatherhead & Guildford in Surrey), cash on collection (OR... I might be tempted if you have a bass that you're willing to trade... it would need to be interesting though, I've got plenty of Fenders already). These things are about £510 in the shops. I'm selling this one cheap in the hope that someone will buy it before my missus next ventures into the spare bedroom...

Welcome Matt. That's a quare snazzy setup.

Good evening, @Matt_gtr76, and ... ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share.

i dont mean fancy impressive solos just very basic simple tunes. like albatross or even better for my example ode to joy from beethoven 9th symphony? lets imagine i try and play the tune. its in my head and im trying to play the next note and im guessing where it is on the fretboard. im not looking at tabs or sheet music or playing from memory. i can usually do that tune ok cos its simple but half way through it goes to the lowest note and its quite a way from the previous note and i sometimes only get it right after 2 failed placements. so my question is how are you able to always select the right note when converting a tune in your head onto the fretboard? is it something you either can or cant do? i can sing in tune quite well and can hear the notes in my head perfectly. but i cannot visualise the fretboard in sounds. i just watched a youtube video about intervals thinking it might be something to do with that. even though i can hear the tune in my head perfectly and sing it, i cant say oh yes that note is an A which would make it easier to pick the right fret. so do i need to be able to put names to the notes in my head? or what do i need to be doing/learning. im not trying to be a goodsolo player, its just inbetween chords in some songs you get the odd couple of infill notes and playing them correctly at first is hard. then its just down to memory

I don't, it's often wrong . That said, interval training helps, but multiple octave jumps are always going to be a challenge. That said, memorise some intervals in tunes that mean something to you and that you can recognise (for instance the minor third of the Jaws theme or the octave jump in Over The Rainbow). Also knowing whether the key being used is major or minor flavoured can get you there quicker.

There isn't an easy way, it is mostly just muscle memory. I don't think about what notes are which, I just know which note I start from, the rest is purely muscle memory and experience from playing various licks and melodies. If I am learning a new melody that needs to be precise rather than just improvised then I would do as I would suggest and start SLOW. Half speed usually until I can play that and just then speed it up gradually. I would normally dedicate a practice session to just play the same lick or melody over and over again until fingers do it automatically. Finding the start point is usually the hardest for me. Don't worry about getting it wrong at full speed, just slow it down again until you can play each section over and over one after the other then begin to speed it back up.

dad ive always been a tight git. i just go on ultimate guitar its free. plus ive just started learning to use fl studio which was given to me for nowt so i can make my own drum beats and backing stuff. dunno if you need to have a face book account to wacth this but here is a very short clip of my doing my best Ian mcCulloch impersonation. i was only going to put the chorus bit in and was virtually mouthing the lead up lines but decided to leave them in. ive watched youtube clips of echo and the bunnymen live and i can safely say i "p1ss" all over what he can do nowadays on the high notes. he needs to go on ultimate guitar and transpose it down a bit lol. https://www.facebook.com/alan.jackson.7731/videos/2532299470293234

It’s been a progression really, so I’ll list them as they came into my consciousness. Les Paul - I was raised with Les in the house, the sound of guitar, front and centre was different from everything else. Hank Marvin - The Shadows were on my turntable a lot with records that I’d inherited, guitar front and centre again. Crosby Stills Nash & Young - The live album, 4 Way Street, made want to learn to play. Eric Clapton - Hearing Layla for the first time was a ‘wow’ moment, I wanted to play like that. I became the biggest fanboy, but can’t stand him now Paul Kossoff & Santana - I didn’t have fast chops and these guys showed that note choice and feel were just as important and I could actually play their lines (at least I thought I could). Eric Johnson - The master of electric tone IMO, I can’t play or sound like him, but still my favourite player. Carl Verheyen - Introduced me to playing bigger intervals for solo breaks, pulled me out of the typical, pentatonic rut. Brian Setzer - I was asked to join a rockabilly band, so started to listen to Brian, completely changed my style. These days, I’m more into rhythm playing and guys like Cory Wong and John Mayer for their rhythm chops are more my thing. As I play mainly acoustic now, I’m also developing a better appreciation for Jimmy Page’s acoustic playing (I think he plays electric like he’s falling downstairs, too messy).

A present for myself : a piezo_pre-amp kit to install into my acoustic (holes to be cut into the sides, and the capteur to be fitted under the bridge...). I'll then be able to record without recourse to a mic.

Hi, I'm Richard (Chud) I've been playing the guitar on and off since I was 13, I'm now 50 and forever looking for better sounds and tones. My biggest music influence over the years has been Metallica, I first heard Orion back in '87 and I had to know who was playing it and have been a massive fan of them since. Rig Rundown: Amp - Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier. Cabinet - Marshall MX212R 2x12" Celestion Seventy 80's. Guitar - ESP KH-2 (Customised EMG Solderless System running EMG Bone Breaker Pick-ups with a 24v Mod). Pedals: Acoustic Simulator - Boss AC-2 Amp Modeler - Joyo California Chorus - MXR Analog Chorus Compressor - MXR Dyna Comp Delay - VOX Satriani Time Machine Looper - TC Electronic Ditto Noise Gate - MXR Noise Clamp Tube Screamer - Ibanez TS Mini Tuner - Korg Pitch Black Pedal order from the effects loop on my amp: Amp Loop Send - Tuner - Noise Gate - Compressor - Tube Screamer - Amp Modeler - Acoustic Simulator - Chorus - Delay - Looper - Amp Loop Return Guitar plugs direct in to the amp.

That is bang on my friend, i could never get the delay right..