randythoades

Very nice. Sorry the Laney didn't work out. Looked like it had lots of potential.

What's up the tree?? The dogs seem to like whatever it is.

I do happen to really like Gold tops, but I also have an 'attraction/repulsion relationship with PRS'. I love to look at them, but I have been disappointed with all the ones I have played (granted they have mainly been SE models). Just something about the way they are doesn't work for me, the neck feels too flat and too wide and I can't get many of the tones I like, they just seem too 'polished, smooth and grown up'. I can't seem to get that fat LP tone, a spiky punky tone, nor the direct Fender type tone. But watching other players use them is often jaw droppingly good!!

That is a great idea. I dabbled with mandolin but struggled with the string and fret spacing due to fat fingers!

I'm with @Dad3353. Even running at 10w, a valve amp is far too loud for home use (I would say that even a 1w valve amp is pushing it volume wise for me). A modelling amp provides much better flexibility and give you all the other options as well. The tones are excellent. Just a slight point though, to me they always sound like a 'recorded guitar tone' and you don't get that visceral, trouser flapping monster tone in your face. But for home and rehearsal levels they are a great option without a lot of the cost and the weight.

That looks really good actually. Not tried one but I would be interested in your thoughts when you have time to test it out.

Great track. Very good job.

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.

I respectively disagree about barre chords. I much prefer them to open chords. As @Dad3353 points out, you don't have to play all the strings. I don't like the way that the open strings sometimes resonate longer than the fretted strings when I change chords, but I can cut off or mute the whole sound whenever I like with a barre chord, especially on acoustic to add a percussive element. And all I am saying about simplifying is that whilst most players do simplify to a degree, you effectively restrict your guitar technique and vocabulary by avoiding chords or techniques you can't yet do and will not improve.

That does sound odd. It is unusual for even cheap tuners to come loose if the string is threaded properly as it's own tension prevents it from moving. You could replace them all relatively cheaply with new ones from Amazon etc. Most of my guitars stay in tune for days at a time, might just need a slight tweak at the start of a session if it has been particularly hot or cold. My ukulele slips out of tune a little over time but they are nylon strings. But maybe try and re-string but wind the string back over itself so it is gripped between the excess winds:

You are very welcome.

Hello and welcome. Plenty here to learn from and chuckle at. Frustration and patience are your biggest hurdles by the sound of it. You Tube is great, but no replacement for a proper teacher and I would heartily recommend visiting one, even just for a few months to even out your technique. I would also counsel against changing the songs to make them easier, if you only play the stuff you can already play you never progress. Changing them to fit your voice is one thing, but trying to avoid chords just because isn't doing you any favours long term. But also, don't get too hung up on playing them exactly as the records, most of us here can't play everything and do simplify songs to a degree. At the end of the day... just enjoy the journey!

Or as he is a little younger and the guitar might be a little large for him at the moment, the ukulele is similar in functionality but much smaller. Although a different instrument in it's own right, it uses the same sort of technique and is easy to transition back and forth. The ukulele is tuned similarly to guitar but in a higher register and would promote the similar way to strum and change chords. It might well get negative comments on here but I play ukulele a lot and the mechanics are almost the same between the two.

Classical guitar is really only recommended for players that want to play classical guitar. Although it seems like a good option initially, they have much wider and flatter fingerboards and aren't really suitable for playing any sort of pop or rock, you need a steel strung acoustic, and some are available at 3/4 size. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-JR1-Acoustic-Guitar-gigbag/dp/B00009J580/ref=asc_df_B00009J580/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697322390111&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=316006959361910813&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045298&hvtargid=pla-347822426860&psc=1&mcid=4e8538b2949537c6a4249d4b35b91cae&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697322390111&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=316006959361910813&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045298&hvtargid=pla-347822426860&psc=1&gad_source=1 I would suggest though getting a smaller acoustic like a parlour size acoustic. It will be much better in the long term and make it easier to transition onto a full size guitar. https://www.rimmersmusic.co.uk/tanglewood-crossroads-parlour-whiskey-barrell-burst-p54910/s55640?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=tanglewood-crossroads-parlour-whiskey-barrell-burst-tanglewood-crossroads-parlour-whiskey-barrell-burst&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shoppingbrandslowpriority&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAudG5BhAREiwAWMlSjIWZSO9rqkdlhd5-z7hBpsaDStvXnKRBwZ8hI_MI0cus9BTR_J9w8xoCgusQAvD_BwE

Morning. Glad to have you onboard. Is your son more interested in acoustic or electric music? At that end of the market I would certainly advise to buy second hand rather than new unless you can up your budget to around £150. There are some good options at that price. Personally I would look for Squier, Yamaha and Epiphone, they are good quality and established brands which will be better for resale if he doesn't stick with it, or wants to upgrade. I would also suggest sticking with the most popular styles - Stratocaster, Telecaster, Les Paul - they cover the most bases, are easier to find used and easier to sell in the future. New options: https://www.gak.co.uk/en/squier-sonic-stratocaster-2-colour-sunburst/961844?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAudG5BhAREiwAWMlSjH9tlImFAnEEmBeeGacT8AH_L-O9bYEWnopbspNCeLk7A4j0I9H2zhoCM2UQAvD_BwE https://www.scan.co.uk/products/open-box-squier-bullet-stratocaster-brown-sunburst-sss-non-locking-tremolo-laurel-fingerboard?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAudG5BhAREiwAWMlSjF098_hyRhgw_XMEn5gicGoyXZyYQILujD6LN3RKme8NCzqlF3L55xoCW6YQAvD_BwE https://www.thomann.co.uk/epiphone_les_paul_special_ve_hcsb.htm?glp=1&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAudG5BhAREiwAWMlSjJxYi77dA8vWfgQT3ulxvM_UQN0JtUM1hreI7L3D4Z07bWqrn03cjBoCyncQAvD_BwE https://www.mannsmusic.co.uk/guitars/electric-guitars/yamaha-pacifica-012-red-metallic-electric-guitar.htm?opt=15172&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAudG5BhAREiwAWMlSjPOMok3yGwyks78Iu27G4jK3QDTmB8tmQV1jzNl9e9C6ggCPLxCLfxoCtoQQAvD_BwE As regards acoustic options, there is more choice at that price range. I would look for Fender, Yamaha and Tanglewood. Again, second hand would be a good starting place. https://www.fairdealmusic.co.uk/products/fender-cd-60-dreadnought-acoustic-guitar-cherry?variant=44092501491937&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAudG5BhAREiwAWMlSjMc6GeJQ4Aq6_EAhRUCY5-_5ovUJm4UWp4J3ItKzxLo9vnwN7Yb-QBoCSJQQAvD_BwE https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-Traditional-Western/dp/B000RVYW7E/ref=asc_df_B000RVYW7E?mcid=f713fbf20e48303e87c76ca5b892c1c5&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697322390111&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9317386785188518165&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045298&hvtargid=pla-309497947402&psc=1&gad_source=1 https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Tanglewood-TWCR-O-Crossroads-Orchestra-Acoustic-Whisky-Burst/1DQY?origin=product-ads&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAudG5BhAREiwAWMlSjHvLBWF_v_nl6HQJMNHl3ekFxkkSEPt8yJgUcVWIakVippJs9ek0hRoCzUkQAvD_BwE There are other brands and options available and others might suggest other options. Depending where you are in the country, you could actually go into a store for your son to play a couple and see what fits. Difficult for a beginner to make a choice, but any of those instruments should be ok to start the journey on and 100 times better than the instruments we used back in the 80s.