The Pinky

It's getting a little bit serious now as I have bought my first pedal, a Tone City Nobleman overdrive pedal, at £35 I feel its a great little buy. It is just what I want giving the sound a little bit of an edge. The only issue is that I forgot that it needs power, fortunately I have been able to use the 9v psu for the RC30 looper that i obtained from my son. I understand that it is possible to run two pieces of kit from one psu, am i correct in this understanding? If so what do i need to do this? I haven't really used the looper much and need to work out how to use it properly, and my intention is to play a backing track to then be able to play over the top. I assume I can use the overdrive pedal with this and I assume the best way to wire the overdrive pedal in is between the guitar and looper rather than the looper and amp, as if between looper and amp then both the looped played tracks would be affected by the pedal, whereas the other waywould enable one or the other or both to be played in overdrive? Finally any tips for how to use the various controls etc on guitar and amp as i dont feel that i am getting maximum benefit and i doingthi gs verymuch by trial and error. Any thoughts or observations please?

Hi guys, thanks for the advice and guidance. Originally my thought was that I would perhaps have a go myself if it's fairly straightforward to learn more about guitars, however I have given it some thought and decided that I will probably seek further advice and pay somebody else to do any required work. I don't really want to spemd a great deal of time "tinkering" and then possile having to go to an expert after all. I have a local guitar tech who is friendly and highly recommended, he has done some work on my guitar previously and has set up/serviced several of my sons guitars and basses, his rates are also very reasonable. I don't know what I could have done to affect anything as all I have done is change the strings and cleaned it regularly, it is kept in a warm dry house only going out occasionally in a gig bag to jams etc. I notice that will obviously affect the tuning due to temperature change etc, and it is transported in a gig bag. Re playing it was not used very much until recently so wouldn't have thought it would be wear due to the amount of use. I have until recently largely been playing an old nylon acoustic and a 6 month old LagT88ac and have really only started to pick up the electric as my skills have developed, so I am sure that there maybe some credence in the observation that my playing technique may be contributing to the issues. I am taking the occasional lesson every 2 or 3 weeks (with the Lag transported in a hard case for protection), so I may change the routine and take along the electric next time to get an expert opinion. I appreciate any further comments and Will update on my progress. Alan

Hi everybody, I have an Epiphone Gibson Les Paul Studio 2, which in my opinion, is a lovely guitar for the price I paid and l love. The only thing is that as I am becoming more proficient as a guitarist and playing the electric more I am getting some buzzes, which has been suggested to me could be that the action is too low. That got me thinking could this be something I could do myself? I have no knowledge about setting up guitars and only know a little the sort of issues that would make the difference between a good and bad guitar, therefore I"d like to ask what is involved in adjusting the action and is it something I could do myself? I assume it is something fairly straightforward to do and if I do get it wrong could be easily rectified by somebody more proficient than me. Attached is a picture for reference and for me to ask what would I adjust? I assume it would be the screws closest to the pick up? Which was would I turn them? I have some engineering knowledge and make various models so think I have the skills to carry out what appears to me to be a fairly basic adjustment. The guitar is currently fitted with a set of 10/46 strings and I do know a good friendly local Luthier who has done work for me before, that can do this for me should I decide not to attempt it. thanks in advance for your help. Alan

A few tips that I may adopt for my playing/practice I think! It's good to see others progress and to be able to see that I am not alone and am having the same progress and struggles as others. @ShawnE thanks for sharing your progress it is inspiring and encouraging. Alan

I am a year in to learning and this sounds very familiar to my experience, my tips I would suggest: Take it slowly Don't try to learn too many things at once Muscle memory does come and I find it comes in light bulb moments where I suddenly realise that I have made progress without realising. Use the tab when playing, I am now finding that I am having the tab operand referring to it less and less as I practice and muscle memory takes over. Listen frequently to the tracks you are learning and concentrate on hearing rather than listening, count the beat and listen for the chord changes etc. Record yourself on video every so often and watch it back a few weeks later, you will see improvement that are not always noticeable. Finally enjoy it, take a few minutes out to just "doodle and make some noise rather than formal practice, I find this is helping me think about the fretboard and getting my fingers moving.

Can I add my experiences in the hope it may give some inspiration. I originally had an electric guitar some 40 odd years ago, it was best described as cheap and nasty - although I thought it was great. I picked up the guitar again about a year ago after some 30 odd years away and although I have nowhere near the experience and expertise of others on this forum you may find my observations of some use. I purchased my electric guitar via Marketplace on Facebook, it strikes me that there are a lot of second hand guitars and amps for sale (possibly because a lot of people give up very quickly?). My electric is an Epiphone Les Paul Studio for which I paid £100,I bought it mainly because it looks good, however the bonus is that it plays nice too. I got a local guitar tech to give it a once over and he said that I'd made a good a good purchase. What have I learnt from my own experiences? Give a local guitar tech a call, they maybe able to advise or possibly even be able to supply you with a suitable set up, secondly it may be worth finding any local groups of musicians who get together for jam sessions to speak to. I am very lucky in that I have both very local a group and guitar tech near to me, which is very useful as the nearest decent music shop is now more than an hour away from me. Another thing I have been looking at recently is a series of videos released by Andertons music in Guildford (I have no link with them and in fact still want/need to pay a visit), these videos include reviews of starter set ups etc. Hope this helps but be warned guitars can seriously damage your wealth, in the past 12 months I have gone from zero guitars to two acoustics and an electric and am now considering purchasing a fourth guitar and my first pedal, although my wife doesn't know yet. P.S. I was very lucky as the amp was a freebie in exchange for a cable! Good luck

Thank you all good stuff and a handy reference, I do wonder how I would have done had I taken a formal approach to learning the guitar when I was so very much younger. I am not sure I could put myself through the pressure of testing process and I really don't think it would benefit me now, it's not as if I need a certificate to join a local jam session ( at least as far as I am aware)!

Thanks for posting, like I said I think a bit of a lot of that and some bits not there, however still a useful sense check. What would a grade 3 student sound like, I am assuming that everything needs to sound nice and clean? Because I have a particular interest in music with a blues influence ( I know that encompasses a lot) I seem to be more "proficient" ( I use that term lightly) in that sort of playing and can now often work out where I should be playing I.e. which key, and am able to play along and do basic solos over tracks. I am also starting to hear tracks and thinking I might be able to play that, and have on some occasions looked at the tab and proved my thought right. I have done that with Rule the world by Take That! The one area that I really need to improve at present is strumming, but I know that will come with practice and guidance, I have noticed some progress over the past couple of weeks. I have also starting a few finger picking exercises. BTW I am not sure I have half an century and I am not too concerned about being a Master of all things, I will leave that to you guys!

Hi one and all, Wasn't sure where to post this so hopefully in the right place. This question is purely out of interest and i am not wishing to partake in any exams etc, at 61 I am bit old for going back to school but I would like a bit of appreciation as to where my less formal approach would place me in grading systems. Any form of grading for me would be pointless for me as I play because I like to and not because I am good, and I want to play what I want to play. What sort of skills and techniques would be required for each grade and how much practice would be necessary? I have been learning for about a year now with the aid of an on line group supported by occasional assistance from a local teacher which I feel is complimenting the on line course very well. I am cracking on with a few scales etc, can move around the fret board, have an understanding of chords and rhythms etc, although my technique still needs a lot of work/practice, and all this is is based around music that I want to play. I think if I looked at the grading system then I'd probably have bits and pieces from all over the grades. As i said this is out of interest only and I am aware that i am making progress at a pace I am happy with, although sometimes it does seem that sometimes progress can be particularly slow to come with some techniques etc, which I understand is normal. Thanks Alan

I like a bit of sublety so Eddie is not really my cup of tea, although I guess some of his playing was quite clever. I saw VH at a festival once and although as a band they were very tight and the sound was quite good then didn't really float my boat, Gary Moore was on the same bill (before his more bluesy days) and I enjoyed his set far more. As for Randy Rhoads, I never saw him live and whilst at times his playing was quite flashy there were some more subtle things to come from his playing IMO. I am by no means a proficient guitarist, however I was speaking to my neighbour. The other day and he is quite into the finger tapping but is limited in other areas of his playing, I sort of get the feeling that he has learnt to play the guitar but doesn't really feel it if that makes sense. Hats off to him and if he enjoys then that's great, but it's not for me. I'll take Paul Kossoff any day!

I finally got round to changing the strings a couple of weeks ago and I have noticed the difference, I have also changed identified a couple of issues with my technique which I am addressing- basically I am gripping onto the neck too much, I am relaxing my grip a little and am noticing the difference in my playing on both the acoustic and electric guitar.

@Matt P Hi, thanks for the advice much appreciated. I made several enquiries by phone and email with mixed response, I have to say that some places were better than others at responding and will comment no further on that other than I recieved what I consider truly excellent service from Hobgoblin music. They are an outlet largely for anybody looking for instruments used particularly in the folk world, a couple of phone calls to discuss what I wanted and needed and within 24 hours of placing the order I had a case delivered to my ho,e address. Unfortunately my nearest music shop is now about an hour away so I do tend to rely on Internet searches otherwise I could end up driving around the south of England if I can't find what I need in one particular place. That said that is exactly what I did when I bought my guitar as there was no substitute for actually holding a selection of guitars to get the feel before buying. Back to my original point I now have a Viking case for my guitar which is an absolutely perfect fit and should keep it safe, whilst this case is not armoured or expensive, and I wouldn't want to use it I an aircraft hold for example, it will provide more than adequate protection for storage at home and the occasional trip out and about.

Hi everybody, hope you are all having a good Christmas? You may have seen elsewhere that I have recently become the proud owner of Lag T88ACE and I am now considering purchasing a hard case to protect it and to carry it about in when I go out. I have looked on line and I can find no reference as to how I find a case that is suitable - particularly size? How do I find out if my guitar will fit in any particular case, or is it just a case of trying various cases? Alan

I'm no expert but what I do know is that it is a lot better than my older Hohner, and it was the best of all those that were thrust in my hands, both in feel and sound - it also happened to be the most expensive. None of those guitars were dogs by any means, which is a world away from my experiences some 40 years ago. After I parted with my cash the guys claimed that this £400 guitar holds its own up against more expensive guitars, and he was actually going to have this one for himself. I am extremely pleased, I just need to improve my playing!

Gutted, just found out apparently they close thier doors for the last time on Christmas eve, owner retiring.