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.

Apex Music in Earley, Reading https://apexmusicshop.co.uk/

Hello and welcome.

You may have seen elsewhere in other posts that I have been asking all sorts of questions ahead of a potential upgrade, well today I bit the bullet. After much research, asking questions and visiting several guitar emporium today I picked up a rather lovely Lag T88 electro acoustic for a bit more than I was planning to pay, however I am absolutely over the moon with my purchase. I hadn't visited this local music shop previously and I was delighted with the service, right down to the fact that my wife was offered a seat as she struggles to stand for too long due to severe arthritis in her knees. The sales guys listened to my story and then proceeded to thrust a selection of guitars into my hands and being as my abilities are limited took each guitar back and played the same pieces on each guitar so that I could hear the difference. I wasn't sure that I would hear much difference between guitars unless the difference in price varied by thousands rather than just a few pounds. My wife and I quickly discounted the lower price ranges around £200 and in the end plumped for the most expensive, and the clincher was that the difference between the last two was that the cheaper of the two was of natural satin finish and my final choice is gloss finish. I really liked the satin look finish but the gloss finish has a much fuller sound. When I told a guitar playing friend that I was looking to upgrade he said that you really need to hold a guitar before buying and that once in your hands you would know it is the guitar for you, these words are so true in my opinion. Finally back to the sales guys who offered me some advice on my playing and I may even book the odd lesson or two now.

Just watched 3 month progress and there I definitely progress for all to see, I am finding that practicing chord changes and then moving on to playing songs full on is a quantum leap, both in the terms of difficulty and achievement. There is a real sense of achievement when somebody listening in another room say that they recognise what you're playing. Well done and enjoy.

Thought I'd give a quick update. I've not really done much with this since I first got it, I only tinkered with it and didn't really know what I was doing, however watched a couple of videos over the weekend on YouTube and printed a copy of the instruction book and have had a play. It's amazing what a little bit of knowledge and a few weeks of progress in my playing. I linked a couple of 12 bar blues riffs and then played various links etc over the top, it was all very basic but has given an appetite for more it was thoroughly enjoyable.

Thanks that is all very helpful and useful to know. I have my eyes on a couple of local independent outlets, I am a firm believer in supporting local businesses and try not to use the Internet, and of course it means that I can try before I buy. I have not been to chosen outlet yet and am not sure if I can name drop on here for any comments - I don't know if that breaks any rules or is considered an ethical thing to do, and although this is one of three local emporiums at present my main reasons for going there first is based on on-line reviews and thier web-site, that may change depending on my experience on visiting. I had it in my mind that I would take the soft case that I have when buying a guitar, would a new guitar come with a case or is that something I would need to factor in or negotiate for? Great tip about buying spare strings, although local my chosen outlet is not on my doorstep. I have popped into a couple of guitar shops when out and about for work and at present I am erring towards a Tag guitar at present, which feels a world away from my Hohner. I welcome any thoughts comments or observations.

Hi and apologies if this is not posted in the correct place but I assumed this would be the best place to ask. As I have posted elsewhere I am currently looking to upgrade my second hand Hohner which I purchased back at the start of the year and I have made a couple of decisions, the first being that I want an electroacoustic around £300 with a max spend of £400 and I have a couple of models that have caught my eye. The second decision is to buy new as that way, being a newbie myself, it gives me some protection and the benefit of buying from somebody who knows little or nothing about guitars, a bit like myself really hence the question. What can I expect from a dealer/seller on purchase? I have read stories about people who have bought guitars and then having to set them up, I don't really want to spend £3-400 and then have my local luthier have to set it up for me. I have seen a video from one dealer who appears to do a full job including removing strings and polishing frets etc, is this standard practice? I would have thought that as a minimum the action would be checked and adjusted if required, or am I expecting too much and that I would basically hand over cash and walk out with a guitar there and then? When I have bought bicycles in the past it appears to be standard practice to take the bike back in after 6 weeks or so for a quick check and adjustments made if required, this is BTW a non-francised local dealer. Would I expect the same as standard when buying a guitar or is it generally not required? I appreciate that there would be some sort of warranty in the event of faults etc, however I am wondering what if anything is offered over and above this? Thank you. Alan

My quest continues so today, another day, another town and another guitar shop and I like what I saw. Following much consideration and some research I have decided that what I need to do is hold a guitar in my hand to know what it feels like before I buy and that is the main reason for not wanting to buy from classifieds as need to make some comparisons. Added to that buying secondhand in such a way means that I have no guarantees, I don't know the history and at least if use a reputable outlet I know that I it will be set up correctly. Besides which second hand prices do not appear to be appreciable lower than new. My thoughts had been turning to Tanglewood however today I briefly held a Lag in my sweaty little palms and further as a possible result of this my budget maybe stretched a little more to £350 or thereabouts. Can anybody offer any opinion of Lag guitars? I would be grateful of your thoughts. As always I will keep you posted on my progress.

While in the office today I popped out for lunch and just happened to pop into a music shop and there are lots of lovely shines things in there! I am now both really confused and tempted it's all too much. Think I need to do some serious research and seek advice from some experts before any test drives. Watch this space.

Think you will struggle to not find it on a dark night!