A guitar that makes little noise acoustically, employs electromagnetic pickups, and requires electric amplification
8
votes
2answers
3k views
Guitar produces hum due to poor soldering
Is it possible that a guitar could produce a low hum after replacing a pickup? I own a guitar that I (poorly) replaced a pickup on when I first started playing, and I was wondering if there was some ...
6
votes
3answers
399 views
What is the technique Adrian Belew utilizes through-out : “Elephant Talk” by King Crimson?
Adrian Belew has some incredible sounds coming out of his Strat - one of them is the quasi-Elephant sound on Elephant Talk - King Crimson - "Discipline". I've watched him do it live but apart from ...
10
votes
9answers
255 views
Should I worry about painful fingertips?
I just started to learn playing the (electric only for now) guitar, and I love it! I've read on a few pages that it was normal for my fingertips (those that I use on the fret board) to hurt in the ...
20
votes
3answers
12k views
What Does a Compressor Pedal Do?
Quite often, when I see a pedalboard of guitarists I admire, there is a compressor pedal in the chain. How exactly does this pedal affect the sound?
3
votes
3answers
303 views
17
votes
4answers
8k views
How does scale length affect my playing?
This one's a bit rudimentary, but scale length is a bit of a mystery to me. I understand what it is, but I don't understand what it does. I own guitars with different scale lengths (Telecaster vs ...
11
votes
5answers
3k views
How can I minimize going out of tune when using the whammy bar?
Perhaps my selection of musicians is biased, but usually when I see a whammy bar used, it's usually with a locking tremolo bridge like a Floyd Rose. Everybody else seems to take the whammy bar out and ...
6
votes
2answers
724 views
Kahler tremolo bridge problems - how to test and fix?
My Peavey Falcon -- a Strat clone -- has tuning problems. The instrument has a Kahler tremolo that I suspect is contributing to my tuning problems. (The roller nut and tuning machines are other ...
5
votes
2answers
978 views
The Danelectro DC-59 12 : Any good?
I am looking into buying a twelve string electric to help me improve and further my style and sound. The best option for me, at the moment, seems to be the Danelectro DC-59 12. From reviews, I have ...
8
votes
2answers
559 views
Does a covering on a humbucker pickup make a difference?
I have seen a number of different pickup designs, like the ones in the image:
Notice how some humbuckers have a covering, and what look like screw heads.
Is this just style or do these different ...
5
votes
4answers
402 views
Why does my guitar sound more natural when plugged directly into a tube amp vs through a pedal board?
Why does my guitar sound better when plugged straight in to my amplifier as opposed to running it through a pedalboard without a true bypass strip?
11
votes
5answers
2k views
How to accurately intonate a 3 saddle telecaster?
I have a traditional 3 saddle telecaster bridge. With two strings on each saddle my intonation is always a slight compromise. This is OK on the first four strings, but the bass strings are noticeably ...
16
votes
13answers
3k views
How can I practice in an apartment without annoying the neighbours?
I live in an apartment and I find my current amp (a 15W solid-state) to be poorly suited to that. I can't turn it up without upsetting the neighbours, but at low volume it sounds horrible with any ...
19
votes
3answers
2k views
Why is the bridge pickup on a Stratocaster angled?
I've always wondered why the bridge pickup of a Stratocaster was angled. Is it cosmetic, or does it make a difference in the sound?
5
votes
4answers
643 views
Playing clean arpeggios on a lapsteel guitar
Please check out this live performance of "Your Latest Trick", by Dire Straits, as it is a perfect example of the question theme:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKiVttFnqkY&t=4m12s
Notice the ...
4
votes
1answer
188 views
how to do the Dimebag Squeal?
I heard it can be done only on Floyd Rose, haven't tryed on regular though.
10
votes
8answers
3k views
Cleaning the fretboard of an electric guitar
I have had my electric guitar for several years and I noticed that there is some "sweat dirt" on the fretboard of the guitar, so the inlay is less shiny.
I'd like to clean that without taking the ...
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?
4
votes
3answers
386 views
What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Floyd Rose SpeedLoader tremolo system?
I have seen some guitars that have a Floyd Rose SpeedLoader tremolo system.
The idea is that it uses special strings and a modified Floyd Rose tremolo. The strings have bullets at each end, rather ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
What changes in the amp when I adjust its presence?
The tone controls on a guitar amp are pretty obvious, but what does the presence knob affect?
It's a subtle effect but can sure make or break a sound. It doesn't seem to be treble or midrange boost, ...
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?
5
votes
4answers
2k views
Do I need to have my guitar re-set up if I change the weight of my strings
I'm a newbie transitioning to intermediate and I have a rather nice strat with 11 gauge strings. I'd like to try lighter strings but someone told me changing gauge will require the guitar to be re-set ...
7
votes
2answers
169 views
Is anyone able to outline the purpose of these controls?
I have an Aria MAC57/7 (7 string).
Excuse the dust (the flash on the camera shows it up...)
It has a dual humbucker setup and a set of controls that I never fully got to grips with.
I assume the ...
7
votes
5answers
513 views
We got together with another guitarist. What can we play together?
Recently I met a great guy who also plays guitar. We became friends and decided to get together once in a while to jam. When the time came, we realized that we do not know what to do musically at our ...
6
votes
8answers
177 views
Can I wind my own pickups?
I want to know this to see if I can do some modifications to my guitar tone but I don't want to screw the pickups...
is there any guide arround?
4
votes
2answers
522 views
What are the benefits and drawbacks of active pickups?
I have two guitars, one with "passive" pickups and one with "active" pickups.
Although I looked on the web, I'm not really sure to understand what is the difference in terms of sound.
Yes my guitars ...
2
votes
1answer
295 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
10
votes
5answers
544 views
How do I improve my picking and fretting speed?
I've seen people like John Petrucci playing incredibly fast with their right and left hands, but I can't seem to get any faster than I am now (which is speedy, but not near as fast as John).
Is there ...
5
votes
2answers
611 views
How to Calibrate / Setup an Electric Guitar?
Even with new strings, my guitar makes some sort of buzzing noise on higher strings. I was told it needs to be set up. What are the steps or where can I find a good guide to do this?
9
votes
5answers
178 views
What electric guitar string set should I use to go down to B?
me and my band are planing to play some slipknot and maybe korn (A) but we don't want to get 7-s guitars so what string should we use?
9
votes
2answers
1k views
How should I tune a guitar with a Floyd Rose tremolo?
A number of my guitars have a Floyd Rose tremolo system with the locking nuts near the headstock.
How can I effectively tune a guitar that has a Floyd Rose locking tremolo?
12
votes
3answers
597 views
How do I set up an electric guitar?
How do I set up the pickups, neck, etc. in an electric guitar? I'm not concerned with producing a particular sound as I am with keeping the neck from warping, prevent string buzz, improving ...
14
votes
4answers
3k views
In phase, out of phase pickups
What is the purpose of having guitar pickups out of phase with each other?
