A guitar that makes little noise acoustically, employs electromagnetic pickups, and requires electric amplification
3
votes
1answer
206 views
How can I prevent loss of tuning when changing strings set from 0.11 to 0.12?
I have an Epiphone Les Paul Custom and it's tuned in standard C and my playing style is mostly Desert Rock. I'm using a set of 0.12 strings and considering changing to a 0.11 set to have less tension ...
3
votes
4answers
317 views
What should I practice to develop the skills needed to play rock solos?
I know music theory, basic guitar chords and basic scales. What should I be focusing on practicing in order to compose or improvise rock guitar solos, and just play famous solos by ear? I am talking ...
3
votes
3answers
112 views
What techniques and styles do I use when I play electric guitar behind an acoustic guitar?
I play in my church, and for the Wednesday service, it can be variable. Sometimes it's a full band, with guitar, bass, drums and singer on guitar or keys, but sometimes it's just a singer and me.
I ...
3
votes
2answers
166 views
Playing The Strokes - Heart in a Cage intro - what's the best technique?
I'm trying to play the intro to The Strokes - Heart in a Cage. Valensi uses quite a bit of drive in it so it's very difficult to get clean notes at that speed. I use two fingers of my left hand to ...
3
votes
2answers
944 views
Is it safe to use guitar polish everywhere on the guitar?
I have owned my first electric guitar for half a year and have only been cleaning it with a damp cloth (without any cleaning agent). Since I'm going to change strings, I think it might be a good time ...
3
votes
2answers
669 views
What pickups should I install on my telecaster?
I have some texas specials on a telecaster right now. The were fine when I was back in the army but now I'm playing a wider combination of music that needs solid rhythm (even acoustic sounding would ...
3
votes
1answer
240 views
Do veneered tops on electric guitars really matter?
Flamed, figured wood, or quilted maple AAA top, etc, do they do anything for the sound on an electric guitar, or are they simply an expensive aesthetic feature?
3
votes
3answers
603 views
Right hand position for electric guitar
I used to practice on my acoustic guitar and had a habit of resting my right hand on the bridge while playing individual notes. Now I have switched over to electric guitar in I find it difficult to ...
3
votes
2answers
207 views
Is there a way to test pickups or to determine which pickup to buy
I don't like the sound of the stock active pickups on my Ibanez (ART-320 - Les Paul like body), so I'd like to change them.
I really love the sound of the passive pickups I have on my other guitar ...
3
votes
2answers
61 views
What do I need to know about drums as an electric metal guitar player
My questions are as follows ...
As A guitarist (Mostly electric with heavy distortion) what minimum knowledge of drums do I need to be able to create or chose drums beats that suits the song I am ...
3
votes
1answer
42 views
Humbucker pickup wrapping wire role (The one that wraps the four wires together)
I was wondering if this wrapping can be removed as it is very hard to stack all the wires so that the pickguard will be easily placed inside the guitar. Does it shield noises for the four wires coming ...
3
votes
1answer
93 views
Guitar Action for practicing and learning
I know for certain that a lower action on a guitar makes playing easier, but does having a high action makes you more skilled by overcoming the extra difficulty or is it just an inconvenience?
3
votes
1answer
207 views
How often should electric guitars be serviced?
I have an electric guitar that I play from time to time. Should I be giving it 'maintenance services' or only if something goes wrong?
3
votes
1answer
259 views
Tube screamer 808 with an ENGL Screamer 50W amp
As an Andy Timmon's huge fan I try to get my guitar tone to sound similar to his. In one of his videos I saw that he uses the Ibanez ts808 tube screamer pedal.
I own an ENGL 50W screamer amp which ...
3
votes
3answers
303 views
2
votes
3answers
1k views
Why do unofficial Stratocaster clones have a differently shaped headstock?
I've done a fair bit of shopping for affordable Stratocaster clones. One thing I've noticed is that almost all of the clones I found had a nearly perfect copy of the body, yet the headstock was ...
2
votes
4answers
65 views
What to look for in a budget guitar for home recording?
I'm a home musician. I don't have a band and I don't do live gigs. I'm looking for a cheap electric guitar I could use for home recording. Since I won't be playing live or on a real amp, I want to ...
2
votes
1answer
70 views
How do I fix a stripped pickguard screw?
I have a Gibson Faded Flying V (Mahogany) and recently the guitar cable was yanked, pulling and stripping a screw from the pickguard. Is there a good way for me to fix this?
2
votes
3answers
102 views
Plateau in speed increases
a while ago I posted this question about my ideas for guitar practise: Guitar practice - general techniques
Since then I've been using the little app I put together, ranked up about 40 hours or so in ...
2
votes
1answer
65 views
Leaving guitar body without the neck
I have a guitar with a tremolo bridge (Ibanez GRG140 to be exact) and my question is if I remove the strings and neck leaving only the body will it degrade the state of the guitar (I intend to install ...
2
votes
3answers
438 views
How to effectively of use a lower tuned guitar
I'm experimenting with the Open C tuning (CGCGCE) in my guitar and I'm facing some problems, namely that the strings don't stay in tune for too long and the sound is "weird". I then realized that ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Changed string gauge on Strat - told need to adjust tremolo claw - how?
I recently restrung my Squier stratocaster with 11 gauge strings (Rotosound Reds) instead of 9s. Since then it won't intonate properly - no matter how far back I move the bridge saddles the 12th fret ...
2
votes
2answers
983 views
Troubleshooting a broken electric guitar
I have a B.C. Rich Beast. I believe it's an NJ series, with a Floyd Rose Speedloader Tremolo.
It's been in storage for around a year or so in a padded guitar case, stood vertically in a cupboard. ...
2
votes
2answers
375 views
How do you play guitar dead notes quickly switching?
I'm trying to play part of a song that looks like this:
0 x x 0 x x 7 x x x
9 x x 5 x x 5 x x x
I find it very difficult to play this. I have trouble playing open strings and letting them ring ...
2
votes
2answers
175 views
What are the effects of mounting a full size neck on a 3/4 body?
I have a 3/4 size electric guitar.
I've decided to make a custom guitar by creating horns out of additional pieces of wood and mounting them to the body with custom made steel pickguards on the front ...
2
votes
2answers
97 views
The difference between DN500K and DN520K?
I'm looking into buying my first real "metal" guitar(yay), and thought the Ibanez Darkstone series would fit the perfect description.
I'm having troubles finding the difference between the 2010 and ...
2
votes
4answers
157 views
Guitar practice - general techniques
I was delighted to come across this site. I'm a self-taught guitarist (largely electric guitar) and am continually looking to improve my playing and practice techniques. The change of running my ...
2
votes
4answers
651 views
Recording electric guitar with pc - suggestions to get a great metal sound
I'm trying to connect my electric guitar to the pc and record some great distortion sound, what I have in mind is something that sounds really really good in fast metal solos
I've been struggling to ...
2
votes
3answers
244 views
Annoying hot humbucker pick harmonics
I have a weird "problem" I recently bought an ESP ltd les paul style guitar with a Duncan JB pickup on bridge. Yesterday while i was practising with my headphones and with full hi gain distortion i ...
2
votes
1answer
133 views
F-Spaced pickups
I want to buy a Dimarzio DP224 pickup which comes in two types : F-Spaced and regular.
I heard that the difference is in the distance between the poles in the pickup.
I have an Ibanez GRG140 guitar ...
2
votes
2answers
212 views
What to look for in a single 9v power supply for various brands of foot pedal
I have the following foot pedals:
MXR Dynacomp
Pro-co RAT II
BOSS CE-5 (Chorus Ensemble)
Korg AX30G
... and of course would like to add more. :)
I'd like a single power supply to rule power them ...
2
votes
2answers
84 views
Good exercise for precision in picking (with pick)?
Can you suggest me exercises for precision in picking? My goal is to pick and sing at the same time and it is hard for me for now because since I'm pretty used to strumming while singing where not ...
2
votes
1answer
89 views
Andy Timmons Carpe Diem fast vibration
This is a tough one :)
When I listen to this amazing track (track 14 from "That was then, This is now" album) I notice at 0:36 and 0:42 a very fast vibration on the G string (5th fret) which I doubt ...
2
votes
1answer
411 views
Where can I buy knife-edges for a guitar tremolo bridge?
I recently discovered that I need to replace the edge-knives on my chrome black EDGE III tremolo but I cannot find them on the Ibanez website nor on Ebay. Could anyone tell me where to buy them ...
2
votes
5answers
995 views
Electric Guitar | Right hand position
I find it difficult to decide on where to position/rest my right hand (picking hand) when playing electric guitar. I started with acoustic and i have a habit of resting my pinky finger on the guitar ...
2
votes
1answer
327 views
Correct direction of block inserts of floyd rose tremolo?
Recently I want to change the string of my guitar.
This is the first time I change a guitar with floyd rose tremolo.
After I loose the screw in the saddle, I found that the original
set up is weird. ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
What is “vintage” wiring on a Les Paul?
What does "vintage" wiring on a Les Paul look like? How is it different from "modern" wiring? What are its advantages? Drawbacks?
2
votes
3answers
221 views
Damaged tremolo arm hole in Edge 3 bridge…
just got a new Ibanez that has an Edge 3 trem in it.
The difficulty I'm having is that there appears to be a piece of plastic that goes around the circumference of the hole where the arm is inserted ...
2
votes
1answer
863 views
What is a piezo pickup and how does it differ to a common pickup?
I have heard of a piezo pickup used in some guitars, like John Petrucci's signature Music Man.
What is a piezo pickup and how does it differ to a common pickup?
2
votes
1answer
294 views
what effect(s) did Dimebag used to make Cowboys from hell Intro?
I've been thinking this for a while now, does it sounds like an engine? is it tremolo + dist + pitch??
any Ideas
2
votes
1answer
181 views
Bolt 100 watt amp making a phaser noise
My Bolt amp is making this wierd noise. Sounds like a flanger or phaser when pushed hard with my OD pedals. I have never heard this noise before in any amp.
Could it be the Phase Inverter tube? The ...
1
vote
2answers
528 views
Powering 5 high-current draw effects pedals
I've got the entire collection of Empress effects pedals now but my dream of an all-Empress pedalboard is being stymied by their power-hunger nature. 3 of the 5 run PICs for parameter changes and what ...
1
vote
2answers
172 views
What are the differences between these tuning machines?
I just got a used Fender Starcaster S1 to compliment my existing Behringer strat.
Upon inspecting it, I noticed that it has different backs on it's tuning machines.
What are the differences between ...
1
vote
3answers
124 views
Lead Guitar : How much chords should I learn?
I've learnt some basic chords : A,D,E,C,G,Am,Em as well as most popular rhythm patterns (which have 4 beats in a bar) and have been using them in covering some easy acoustic songs.
My basic aim is ...
1
vote
2answers
121 views
Should i buy guitar effects even If I'm a beginner?
I've been learning the (electric) guitar for 2 months now, and I am able to play open chords, a couple of barre and power chords. And I'm able play a couple of simple songs.
I'm curious to try guitar ...
1
vote
3answers
232 views
18-note groupings across 4 beats in this Yngwie Malmsteen inspired lick
I have a few questions regarding the following lick:
...
1
vote
1answer
196 views
Will changing the colour of my Stratocaster reduce its value?
I have a Highway One Fender Strat (American), which I'm told has a poor quality satin finish. This has started to "melt" on the bottom of the guitar.
I paid about £800 for it in 2005/2006. It has a ...
1
vote
1answer
2k views
What's the difference between a junior guitar and a normal guitar?
I was planning to buy an electric guitar and amazon.com is offering Epiphone Les Paul Junior Guitars at a seemingly reasonable deals. The related question that I have is: what's a junior guitar?
...
1
vote
1answer
214 views
Comparing aspects of the Boss GT-10 and the POD HD500
Both of them are pretty stellar for an amateur like me. I don't intend on playing in large venues and probably will not record much. Both of them have pretty good effects; although, the HD500, I've ...
1
vote
4answers
125 views
Validating pickup wiring
I want to replace the pickups on my guitar with another set.
Is there a way of knowing if I wired the pickups correctly before putting on the strings ?
