The Guitar Pron Thread

[Goredho 17247]

I like my straps like my women — leathery and wide.

[tigol 2381]

49 minutes ago, tbone_ said:

Team plain ass black Ernie ball nylon strap. It disappears so all you see is the guitar.

That is what is on the Gibson.  $5.  No complaints.  Thank you for pointing that out.

[jimmyjazz 45324]

Come on, guys.

Edited June 21, 2021 by jimmyjazz

[Chad Fuck 17429]

Come on, guys.

I have one of those for my R6. Period correct and all that. Not the most comfortable.

[hullabelew 3698]

Some things I have a hard time getting past.

"The Dog Tired Premium guitar strap is hand-made in Oklahoma......."

[topochico 1048]

20 minutes ago, hullabelew said:

Some things I have a hard time getting past.

"The Dog Tired Premium guitar strap is hand-made in Oklahoma......."

Does it help to envision it as an un-air conditioned sweatshop with meth addicted workers toiling furiously away for their next fix?

[hullabelew 3698]

Actually, those Dog Tired straps kind of use the same theory I had years ago as far as the material they use.  My dad made a lot of his own tack and he made me a guitar strap that started with a saddle girth sort of like below (without the hardware in the middle).   Our problem was we used hardware that was too big. This was heavy and too wide to be practical.   This cotton part was over my shoulder and he tooled two leather straps to hook from the hardware to the guitar.  He made a narrower girth with smaller hardware but I don't know whatever happened to either of them. 

 

[hullabelew 3698]

3 minutes ago, topochico said:

Does it help to envision it as an un-air conditioned sweatshop with meth addicted workers toiling furiously away for their next fix?

Oh, that was a given. 

[Chad Fuck 17429]

2 hours ago, hullabelew said:

Actually, those Dog Tired straps kind of use the same theory I had years ago as far as the material they use.  My dad made a lot of his own tack and he made me a guitar strap that started with a saddle girth sort of like below (without the hardware in the middle).   Our problem was we used hardware that was too big. This was heavy and too wide to be practical.   This cotton part was over my shoulder and he tooled two leather straps to hook from the hardware to the guitar.  He made a narrower girth with smaller hardware but I don't know whatever happened to either of them. 

 

My dad had one just like this in the 70s, except the string was this mustardy yellow color that probably originated in that decade and would do well to just stay there.  It's still around somewhere.  If I find it some day I'll post pics.  I tried to use it as a skinny young jr. high kid and it just slid right off me.  My shoulders just weren't broad enough.  

[Buzzrock 14790]

My favorite is kinda wide and kinda stretchy. I don’t see it in my Amazon history so I’ll have to try and figure out where I got it. I’ve been meaning to pick up a couple more.

[JSB 677]

well, I've come to terms that I don't play electric. I have a 2012 American Tele Standard that is brand new (still has the stickers on it) with a fender amp. I'm not certain on the amp, but I think it is a maverick with all kinds of feaux pedal effects if memory serves. I want to sell them both and get a new acoustic. Today, my player is a 2000 Tak G series that is great, and I'll never sell it, but I can do better. What say you? do I keep the fender because I should never sell a guitar, or do I sell it to bump my budget for a new acoustic up a grand? pickup is not important because I only play in my office/back porch... I want something special, but don't think I can justify spending $4 or $5K. 6 year old daughter will likely inherit my collection, but she is currently very early in learning on a 3 string guitar. 

[JSB 677]

Just now, JSB said:

well, I've come to terms that I don't play electric. I have a 2012 American Tele Standard that is brand new (still has the stickers on it) with a fender amp. I'm not certain on the amp, but I think it is a maverick with all kinds of feaux pedal effects if memory serves. I want to sell them both and get a new acoustic. Today, my player is a 2000 Tak G series that is great, and I'll never sell it, but I can do better. What say you? do I keep the fender because I should never sell a guitar, or do I sell it to bump my budget for a new acoustic up a grand? pickup is not important because I only play in my office/back porch... I want something special, but don't think I can justify spending $4 or $5K. 6 year old daughter will likely inherit my collection, but she is currently very early in learning on a 3 string guitar. 

Help me spend my money

[hullabelew 3698]

Post pics of tele....     I found out I wasn't a Les Paul player and fretted over selling that beauty for a LONG time.   I ended up trading it for a really old guitar and in 6 months, I played my 'new' one more than the 4 years I had the Les Paul.    Then, go spend a shit ton on a great acoustic.  And don't put your faith in your kids ever picking it up.  I tried and neither kid showed any long-term interest in music. 

[Chad Fuck 17429]

7 minutes ago, hullabelew said:

Post pics of tele....     I found out I wasn't a Les Paul player and fretted over selling that beauty for a LONG time.   I ended up trading it for a really old guitar and in 6 months, I played my 'new' one more than the 4 years I had the Les Paul.    Then, go spend a shit ton on a great acoustic.  And don't put your faith in your kids ever picking it up.  I tried and neither kid showed any long-term interest in music. 

All of this is great advice.  Especially the bit about the pics. 

[DougO 5238]

1 hour ago, JSB said:

well, I've come to terms that I don't play electric. I have a 2012 American Tele Standard that is brand new (still has the stickers on it) with a fender amp. I'm not certain on the amp, but I think it is a maverick with all kinds of feaux pedal effects if memory serves. I want to sell them both and get a new acoustic. Today, my player is a 2000 Tak G series that is great, and I'll never sell it, but I can do better. What say you? do I keep the fender because I should never sell a guitar, or do I sell it to bump my budget for a new acoustic up a grand? pickup is not important because I only play in my office/back porch... I want something special, but don't think I can justify spending $4 or $5K. 6 year old daughter will likely inherit my collection, but she is currently very early in learning on a 3 string guitar. 

Your Maverick amp sounds like a Fender Mustang, possibly. I bought a small one a while back because it was a minty and dirt cheap pawn shop find. It sounded really good for a small practice amp, but I turned it around for profit since I already had too many small amps I don't play with.

[noharleyyet 2826]

20 hours ago, Goredho said:

I like my straps like my women — leathery and wide.

...with a straplock?

[tbone_ 14016]

My daughter tells me she can’t wait to sell my guitars when I die.

Here’s how I buy acoustics: go to the best store in your area, make sure you have some time to spend, find a good sales person, and have them start bringing you guitars in your budget and slightly above. If one speaks to you, you will know it. That’s the one to buy.

[DougO 5238]

I've been trying to crawl out of a depressed state where I'm not playing guitar at all. I picked it up a few times lately, but not for long, better than nothing. I think I need some backing tracks to play to or something. I have a drum machine but never felt like fecking with it, bad on me.

Do y'all have anything like that you play along with just to try to get in a groove?

[DougO 5238]

20 hours ago, Goredho said:

I like my straps like my women — leathery and wide.

Cheap and low-hanging?

[Chad Fuck 17429]

...with a straplock?

Is NowThis up in this joint now?

[Goredho 17247]

18 minutes ago, DougO said:

I've been trying to crawl out of a depressed state where I'm not playing guitar at all. I picked it up a few times lately, but not for long, better than nothing. I think I need some backing tracks to play to or something. I have a drum machine but never felt like fecking with it, bad on me.

Do y'all have anything like that you play along with just to try to get in a groove?

Slumps are no joke.  For backing tracks, I would love to recommend guitarbackingtracks.com, but it recently died.  You can find a ton on both YouTube and Spotify, though.  Shit like "Slow Blues in A" or whatever.

If you are open to lessons and can afford it, get some.  This guy is who I take lessons from every other week over Zoom.  Beyond being a badass guitarist, he's a really gifted teacher who will get you out of your comfort zone and thinking about guitar differently.  He's in England at the moment, though, so arranging timing can be a challenge.  There's no shortage of qualified guitar instructors willing to teach over zoom.

If lessons aren't an option, try picking a song to learn completely outside of your comfort zone.  Like if you normally gravitate to 70s classic rock, pick a bluegrass tune and focus on learning to play it.  I often find the exercise of learning something completely outside of my wheelhouse gives me a creative spark or some inspiration to do something new and interesting (at least to me) with the guitar.

Now that shit's opening up, you can probably find people to just jam around with for no reason in particular.  Playing with others always led to some musical growth for me.

[JSB 677]

55 minutes ago, DougO said:

Your Maverick amp sounds like a Fender Mustang, possibly. I bought a small one a while back because it was a minty and dirt cheap pawn shop find. It sounded really good for a small practice amp, but I turned it around for profit since I already had too many small amps I don't play with.

It is a Fender Mustang 1 now that I'm home.

[topochico 1048]

2 hours ago, JSB said:

well, I've come to terms that I don't play electric. I have a 2012 American Tele Standard that is brand new (still has the stickers on it) with a fender amp. I'm not certain on the amp, but I think it is a maverick with all kinds of feaux pedal effects if memory serves. I want to sell them both and get a new acoustic. Today, my player is a 2000 Tak G series that is great, and I'll never sell it, but I can do better. What say you? do I keep the fender because I should never sell a guitar, or do I sell it to bump my budget for a new acoustic up a grand? pickup is not important because I only play in my office/back porch... I want something special, but don't think I can justify spending $4 or $5K. 6 year old daughter will likely inherit my collection, but she is currently very early in learning on a 3 string guitar. 

Sell it. Get something bad ass. Post pics.

 

[tbone_ 14016]

Dougo - lessons or find someone to play with.

Or randomly go to Marty Schwartz YouTube channel and learn some new songs.

[Celery Man 20814]

Functionally the Ernie Ball stairs are perfect for me. That said, I like woven straps that have some personality. And post a picture of you get something interesting because as I mentioned I’m still looking for the right strap for my sunburst strat. I have some “Ace” straps that I think are by Dunlap or something - there are a few of those that I like. The one on my ooo15m is probably permanent.

 

i have a strap that I got at some guitar shop within walking distance of Washington Square Park that I think is some lady who makes straps. It’s nicer than the ace ones and is comparable to the couch and souldier ones. I have it on my Les Paul.  I have a couch strap and a souldier strap, I’ll probably look more at souldier straps because I find it to be less slippery than the couch one. Souldier one is on my tele from the earlier pictures.

 

 It’s like socks for guitars. Interesting socks are probably kinda fucked out and lame not that doesn’t stop me from buying socks with animals on them.

 

[Gil Bang 25821]

So, I just had a bit of a windfall.  I'm not as serious as all you other cats (I'm the guy with the mint-condition 1st Gen Peavey) but fuck it, I'm buying a new acoustic.   I bought my first guitar at the "Folk Music Shop" in Claremont CA, so  I think I'm going back.  BTW, Ben Folds owns that shop...it's been in his family for years. 

$2500 budget for an acoustic; what do you assholes recommend?

 

 

[JSB 677]

My set in question

[Celery Man 20814]

30 minutes ago, Gil Bang said:

So, I just had a bit of a windfall.  I'm not as serious as all you other cats (I'm the guy with the mint-condition 1st Gen Peavey) but fuck it, I'm buying a new acoustic.   I bought my first guitar at the "Folk Music Shop" in Claremont CA, so  I think I'm going back.  BTW, Ben Folds owns that shop...it's been in his family for years. 

$2500 budget for an acoustic; what do you assholes recommend?

 

 

Can you play well enough to know what you want? I’d play a bunch and settle on a size and shape. But say you’re looking at a dreadnought, I’d be sure to include a Gibson J45 and a Martin HD-28 in the list. Try a mahogany backed Martin as well - D-18. For a smaller buddy, I’d try a Martin OOO-18 or something else OOO. Maybe check out a Gibson Jumbo but dang the SJ-200s are pricey. Should probably look at Taylor too.

 But for me, classic American steel string acoustic, unless the J45 calls you you want the D-18 or the HD-28.

[Gil Bang 25821]

Thank you.  Too many drinks.  

 

Will respond tomorrow

[Chad Fuck 17429]

Functionally the Ernie Ball stairs are perfect for me. That said, I like woven straps that have some personality. And post a picture of you get something interesting because as I mentioned I’m still looking for the right strap for my sunburst strat. I have some “Ace” straps that I think are by Dunlap or something - there are a few of those that I like. The one on my ooo15m is probably permanent.

 
i have a strap that I got at some guitar shop within walking distance of Washington Square Park that I think is some lady who makes straps. It’s nicer than the ace ones and is comparable to the couch and souldier ones. I have it on my Les Paul.  I have a couch strap and a souldier strap, I’ll probably look more at souldier straps because I find it to be less slippery than the couch one. Souldier one is on my tele from the earlier pictures.
 
 It’s like socks for guitars. Interesting socks are probably kinda fucked out and lame not that doesn’t stop me from buying socks with animals on them.
 

I will never get tired of you posting pics of these guitars. Especially that LP. Hhhhnnnnggg.

[Chad Fuck 17429]

So, I just had a bit of a windfall.  I'm not as serious as all you other cats (I'm the guy with the mint-condition 1st Gen Peavey) but fuck it, I'm buying a new acoustic.   I bought my first guitar at the "Folk Music Shop" in Claremont CA, so  I think I'm going back.  BTW, Ben Folds owns that shop...it's been in his family for years. 
$2500 budget for an acoustic; what do you assholes recommend?
 
 

Go play as many as you can stand. Lots of Martins, Taylors, Gibsons and the like. When you find one that fits your hands right and tickles your ears just so, buy it. Don’t be in a hurry. Nothing worse than getting home and discovering you have almost what you wanted. Don’t shy away from used. They may already be broken in. Or just more guitar for the buck.

[hullabelew 3698]

11 hours ago, Celery Man said:

Functionally the Ernie Ball stairs are perfect for me. That said, I like woven straps that have some personality. And post a picture of you get something interesting because as I mentioned I’m still looking for the right strap for my sunburst strat. I have some “Ace” straps that I think are by Dunlap or something - there are a few of those that I like. The one on my ooo15m is probably permanent.

 

i have a strap that I got at some guitar shop within walking distance of Washington Square Park that I think is some lady who makes straps. It’s nicer than the ace ones and is comparable to the couch and souldier ones. I have it on my Les Paul.  I have a couch strap and a souldier strap, I’ll probably look more at souldier straps because I find it to be less slippery than the couch one. Souldier one is on my tele from the earlier pictures.

 

 It’s like socks for guitars. Interesting socks are probably kinda fucked out and lame not that doesn’t stop me from buying socks with animals on them.

 

I LOVE the way that Martin has aged with playing.  And that strap is perfect on the LP.  What a beauty.  

[Ollie Slatt 289]

11 hours ago, Gil Bang said:

So, I just had a bit of a windfall.  I'm not as serious as all you other cats (I'm the guy with the mint-condition 1st Gen Peavey) but fuck it, I'm buying a new acoustic.   I bought my first guitar at the "Folk Music Shop" in Claremont CA, so  I think I'm going back.  BTW, Ben Folds owns that shop...it's been in his family for years. 

$2500 budget for an acoustic; what do you assholes recommend?

 

 

Guessing you mean Ben Harper rather than Folds. 

I would probably start with a Martin D-18 as your benchmark and then try a bunch of other stuff and see how it compares.  

[jimmyjazz 45324]

8 minutes ago, Ollie Slatt said:

Guessing you mean Ben Harper rather than Folds. 

Eh, they all look alike.

[Celery Man 20814]

if you average out my martins, I basically have a d-18. But I should have a d-18. I also need to play a d-35 one of these days.

 

man i could have sworn Ben Harper was in "The Bens", but that just harkens back to a simpler time when you'd download a song from kazaa and believe what your buddy told you without thinking too much about it

 

[Buzzrock 14790]

Go play as many as you can stand. Lots of Martins, Taylors, Gibsons and the like. When you find one that fits your hands right and tickles your ears just so, buy it. Don’t be in a hurry. Nothing worse than getting home and discovering you have almost what you wanted. Don’t shy away from used. They may already be broken in. Or just more guitar for the buck.

Good lord this is good advice. Letting a guitar get away because you were hung up on getting a certain brand or whatever will haunt you for a long time. Go to a store that knows what they are doing. There are a lot of lesser known makers of fantastic guitars.

[Goredho 17247]

Yep, find a shop with a wide variety of brands, play a lot and don't forget to ask if the owner/salespeople feel like there are any special acoustics there in whatever body style you are after (dreadnought, orchestra, whatever).  If you are in the Austin area or can make the trip, I've found Steve Fulton, the owner at Austin Vintage Guitars, is particularly good at pointing me towards a couple of instruments that will be a cut above the rest when I play them.  AVG has a decent selection of mid-high end acoustics from the brands being kicked around here.

[hullabelew 3698]

Some GREAT advice above.  I think several us on here have stories of setting out to buy one specific guitar and walking away with something completely different.   

[Celery Man 20814]

38 minutes ago, hullabelew said:

Some GREAT advice above.  I think several us on here have stories of setting out to buy a pack of strings and walking away with something completely different.   

fifm

[tbone_ 14016]

I walked in to buy a music stand once and walked out with a $1,900 Taylor.

[Celery Man 20814]

Gretsch 6120N - Clear Lake Guitar Center, went to buy either tubes or strings during a recording session

Gretsch Duo Jet - South Austin Music - helping a friend guitar shop and he bought the wrong guitar

Les Paul - South Austin Music - strings

Martin D41 - Hill Country Music (“downtown” location) - I had bought an HD28 (on purpose) and went back in to have my old DM fixed and they knew I was a mark with an office nearby so they brought it out for me to look at. A week later I returned.

Gibson J45 - Anderson guitar center, string shopping but it was near my birthday

 Ooh, Mike Dirnt P Bass - I honestly don’t remember but that was an accident

[tbone_ 14016]

Ok mr 5-upper

[Superhero 8688]

17 hours ago, Chad Fuck said:

Go play as many as you can stand. Lots of Martins, Taylors, Gibsons and the like. When you find one that fits your hands right and tickles your ears just so, buy it. Don’t be in a hurry. Nothing worse than getting home and discovering you have almost what you wanted. Don’t shy away from used. They may already be broken in. Or just more guitar for the buck.

Don't limit yourself to those brands either. Just play until you find one that sings to you.

I regret the day I walked away from a $600 Takamine. It played and sounded so sweet. My Eastman is a great guitar, but 10 years later I'm still thinking of that Takamine.

[JSB 677]

Well damn it. I now have my eyes on a Gibson custom shop. They are asking $3K it has a crappy electric system but I’m not really going to plug it in. It’s an Everly Brothers edition. I want to know if you guys think it is a decent deal or not.

[JSB 677]

Or a used custom hummingbird Koa which has been repaired for a crack on the body for $2,500

[JSB 677]

On 6/21/2021 at 7:45 PM, topochico said:

Sell it. Get something bad ass. Post pics.

 

[Chad Fuck 17429]

28 minutes ago, JSB said:

Or a used custom hummingbird Koa which has been repaired for a crack on the body for $2,500

Man, I try and stay away from repaired guitars.  Too many out there for a decent price that don't have that baggage.  YMMV.

That Everly brothers is pretty cool.  I find the bigger the pick guard, the more muffled the tone though.  Once again, you may not care.  

What do you want to do?

[JSB 677]

1 minute ago, Chad Fuck said:

Man, I try and stay away from repaired guitars.  Too many out there for a decent price that don't have that baggage.  YMMV.

That Everly brothers is pretty cool.  I find the bigger the pick guard, the more muffled the tone though.  Once again, you may not care.  

What do you want to do?

really just sit on the back porch and play. I'm not going to gig, but I want something with a great tone, low action, and great looking. I struggle because Taylors sound amazing, but they are so boring looking. Thats why I kind of like Gibson, Alverez, Dean

[Chad Fuck 17429]

1 minute ago, JSB said:

really just sit on the back porch and play. I'm not going to gig, but I want something with a great tone, low action, and great looking. I struggle because Taylors sound amazing, but they are so boring looking. Thats why I kind of like Gibson, Alverez, Dean

Low action is something you can get with $60 and a good luthier.  Don't make your choice on that and just assume you're going to have to get a set up done whatever you pick.  

What does "great looking" mean?  You like exotic woods?  Inlays?  

[jimmyjazz 45324]

45 minutes ago, JSB said:

but I want something with a great tone, low action, and great looking. 

As Mr. Fuck pointed out, low action should not be an issue.

I'm the opposite of you, I don't really care what it looks like, I want tone and value.  But, it's your guitar.  Dig through the different brands on big box sites, find some examples of what you like, and then hit up the mom & pop shops.  

The single most important thing is for YOU to be in love with YOUR guitar, because then you will play it, obsessively.