Guitarists' discussion thread

[DaveW]

Since this is the music folder, I would like to start a thread on guitars - playing styles, the instruments themselves, etc.

I want to start off by saying I bought a pair of small Rogue® guitars from Musicians' Friend on their "Stupid Deal" last week for $35 each and free shipping. I thought they might be good for students.  They came last night and they sound amazingly good.  Since they are 7/8 scale on the string length and similarly smaller body size, they do not have the bottom end of my Dreadnaughts but still, they are very crisp on the high end and fairly sweet in the middle. I am sure that the high end will mellow somewhat with use. 


h**p://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/rogue-starter-acoustic-guitar/519266000115000

[larry2]

I just bought a new Fender Telecaster which I am well pleased with so far. I have been able to match most of the sounds, and tones of anyone I attempt to match in playing it. Though it is a solid body, and my amplifier is a 60 amp loudbox-mini by Fishman made for acoustic guitars, it puts out good sound, though I'm afraid to really crank it up as the speakers might blow. Guitar City had them $200 off and included a soft case.

I have an Ovation acustic, and traded in an Ibanez which they could not get rid of a buzz of the strings, and I have found the action so pleasurable in the Fender I no longer play the Ovation. I now sit at my computer, answer a post or whatever, and then switch to some smooth jazz to play along with. I have never tried the dreadnaughts yet.

Update: I just traded my Fishman Amplifier for an upgrade to a new Fender "Hot Rod Deluxe III" 40 Watt single 12 combo that uses vacuum tubes. I actually can crank out much better sound at higher amplification; even my wife is pleased with the results.

 

[DaveW]

Yeah - gotta love the sound of a Fender tube amp!

I am more a Gibson man on the axe itself - back several years ago DW surprised me with a 70's vintage Les Paul Deluxe.  Love the sound that bad boy cranks out.

I have a Telly knock-off (false label) that needs a new neck.  I am also thinking of getting a new wired pick guard that gives an acoustic sound. It should make a good alternate to my Paul. (totally different sounds)

I also have 2 dreadnaught acoustics, my first one is a Greeta I bought circa 1983.  It has a good Martin type sound but was less than $100. My newest is a Rogue from Musicians friend that has a built in transducer so when I play for the congregation I use that one. It was also less than $100.

But my main axes are 2 short scale basses. One is a Rogue Beatle bass and the other is a custom design with a parallelogram body shape. It looks kinda like a Steinberg.   The Rogue is fairly bright and the other is quite dark in its sound. I usually play one of those at congregation.

[DaveW]

I recently picked up a Rogue (Musician's Friend house brand) guitar amp - 80 watt twin 10" speakers.  IT sounds so good I can tell just how dirty the pots on my Paul are.

My son gave me another dreadnaught acoustic - a Montana. I am thinking of converting it to an acoustic bass guitar.

Anyone ever done that?

[JohnDB70X7]

Just drove to big city to find a new saddle for my 30 year old Lincoln acoustic... 120 miles round trip for nothing. The two stores (one the Guitar Center) don't carry saddles.

Any tips on how to make one ay home?

[larry2]

Just drove to big city to find a new saddle for my 30 year old Lincoln acoustic... 120 miles round trip for nothing. The two stores (one the Guitar Center) don't carry saddles.

Any tips on how to make one ay home?

Googling "Guitar saddles" will produce a list and methods to purchase or make saddles.

Gooling "Luthiers" will give you addresses such as the link below. Select "United States of America." and then the state you live in. I hope it works out for you.

http://www.cybozone.com/fg/luthiers.html

[JohnDB70X7]

Thank you.

I found a plastic one (a shop that sells them) the folks where I went yesterday just didn't want to fool with it.

I narrowed my focus to acoustic guitars and sold off my electrics and back up acoustics to a 30 year old Lincoln. The  saddle was 30 years old too. What a difference a new saddle and new strings make! I changed them about 4 - 5 years ago...

Some of the old guitar men didn't like new strings and didn't feel they were "seasoned" until they were about as dead as the ones I had were...

Robert Johnson, for one. Can't remember the rest, but I heard it before from others of his era.

[larry2]

Thank you.

I found a plastic one (a shop that sells them) the folks where I went yesterday just didn't want to fool with it.

I narrowed my focus to acoustic guitars and sold off my electrics and back up acoustics to a 30 year old Lincoln. The  saddle was 30 years old too. What a difference a new saddle and new strings make! I changed them about 4 - 5 years ago...

Some of the old guitar men didn't like new strings and didn't feel they were "seasoned" until they were about as dead as the ones I had were...

Robert Johnson, for one. Can't remember the rest, but I heard it before from others of his era.

  Sounds like Willy Nelson and his guitar named "Trigger." The more holes, and the more beat up it appears seems to drive the tone.

[DaveW]

Now that you are playable again, you might want to consider a saddle of another material.  Plastic is ok but bone or fossil ivory will give a better tone. Use the old saddle as a template and duplicate it for thickness and top arc, and adjust the height as needed.

I would suggest Elderly Instruments in Lansing MI for the material   www.elderly.com

[JohnDB70X7]

Thanks.