Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with guitars

Tremolo arm for my seven string?

pocketfluff — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:09:42 -0800

Help me find a tremolo arm for an Ibanez 7 string guitar! I recently bought an Ibanez Gio GRX720 seven string guitar from ebay, but annoyingly it didn't come with a tremolo arm. As it was made in 2002, and as I'm a complete newbie to tremolos, I have no idea what I should buy or where to find it. I've done some searching on google, but my skills are obviously not up to it... The bridge is a Standard 7, if that helps. Does anyone have any advice? Ta!

Looking for a Hagstrom Super Swede

bigspoon — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:19:58 -0800

Where can I get a hagstrom super swede electric guitar in vintage sunburst? I've checked all the local/online vendors and no one seems to have this in stock. Musician's Friend has it backordered until july, but does anyone know an online distributor or somewhere on the east coast from northern virginia to new jersey that has it now?

Can I or someone else repair my Godin Multiac?

Grangousier — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:33:21 -0800

Problem with Godin Multiac Nylon String Synth-access guitar - specifically the RMC pickup. A mishap (falling off a guitar stand) resulted in the bottom two strings on my Godin Multiac (this guitar) giving severely attenuated signals. I'd like to be able to check whether it's a loose wire or something I can remedy myself, but the access plates on the back don't let me get to the pickup wiring and I can't work out how I might check it. Is there a trick to getting at the pickup electronics on this guitar? Does the bridge come off in a replaceable way at all?

If even that much is beyond me (which is probably the case) does anyone know of someone in the London UK area who has experience with and can repair these guitars? (I got in contact with someone in Manchester a while ago, but nothing came of it. I'd rather it was someone local).

An email to Godin didn't garner a reply, but I didn't think it would.

Kid rock!

cedar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:31:10 -0800

My teenage son (fifteen) has decided he wants to play the guitar. What guitar? He is a smart and determined kid and I want to give him a decent start, but I'm not about to run out and buy a Strat.

It is my understanding that he is better off learning the fundamentals on an acoustic, so I need a lead on a sub-1k guitar -- one rugged enough to survive the idiocy it will undoubtedly be subjected to and one that is easy to make loud.

Acoustic/electric vs. acoustic

xmutex — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 15:38:04 -0800

Dear home recorders - in your experience(s), can an acoustic/electric hybrid guitar ever sound as good as a properly mic'ed acoustic guitar, given guitars of comparable quality/price?

Rusty frets, no obvious damp?

chrissyboy — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:10:56 -0800

I recently got one of my guitars out of its case to find the frets covered in green stuff, and small patches of rust on a few of them.... ... No other patches of rust appear to have worsened on the bridge etc (it's a '78 tele). I plugged it in and it was very crackly, which it wasn't before.

I checked my other guitar that I don't play regularly and found it to be in a similar condition. Both guitars have been kept in their cases - the tele in a hard fur lined hiscox case, and the strat in a gig bag.

The room they're stored in isn't apparently damp - I don't have central heating in my house, however the room the guitars are stored in does have a storage heater, and is the only room in the house kept at a decent temperature. The only thing I can think is the room is next to the bathroom.

My question is this: How can i prevent this from happening - would a de-humidifier help?

And does the rust on my guitars frets indicate the end of it's life? if not, how can i treat the frets? And am I better leaving the guitar out of its case?

any suggestions appreciated, really panicking about it.

Good places for me to sell my used cds, books, guitars and old computer/computer parts in London, that would offer me reasonable/good money?

Ira.metafilter — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 01:31:53 -0800

Good places for me to sell my used cds, books, guitars and old computer/computer parts in London, that would offer me reasonable/good money? (You'll be helping me pay my bills - any help much appreciated!)

Oh sing me a song 'bout a Dobro

snsranch — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:27:46 -0800

Should I dump my dreadnought for a resonator guitar? I'm thinking that a resonator would give me more of a banjo voice as opposed to the bigness of the dreadnought. I'll be doing mostly finger picking and much less stumming/flat picking.

Does anyone have any experience with resonators?

Is there anything special that I should look for in it's appearance or construction?

Of course, I will be trying many guitars, but I will feel much more comfortable in the field after reading your comments and advice. Thanks in advance.

Music like the Silversun Pickups' Lazy Eye

frogan — Sat, 05 May 2007 15:15:10 -0800

Need music suggestions for a specific style -- minimalist, guitar-heavy, dense, layered, trance-like. Recent example: Silversun Pickups' "Lazy Eye." There's a specific style of music I really like, and it's best exemplified, most recently, by the Silversun Pickups' "Lazy Eye."

It's minimalist, with repeated chords. It's dense and layered, making heavy use of guitars for rhythms. It's all very trance-like without being electronica. It has emotive highs and lows, but it's not angry. There's distortion, but it's not dissonant. The whole song sounds like it's rolling, if that makes sense.

What the hell do you call this style? Who else makes music like this?

What is the best guitar/amp setup for a Kid (and me)?

snsranch — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 19:07:04 -0800

So I'm thinking about getting this for my kid on his birthday. Wondering if we can do better and also..... He's just turning 8 years old. The guitar fits him-he's played it at the shop. My questions are:
1. Is this the best "small" guitar for the money (under $200)?
2. What is the best amp that I can get for him for under or around $200.

We'll be sharing the amp because mine sucks. (It's a Marshall G100R CD sitting on top of a beautiful vintage sunn 4x12 cabinet.) Any small (inexpensive) amp that can be crystal clear and drive hard occasionally, would be awesome. Also, a headphone jack is a must. My favorite amp of all time is a Fender twin reverb, and also FWIW, I have about $800 in credit at guitar center.

Thanks in advance, this is really exciting.

I feel like a guitard

Mach3avelli — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 23:15:38 -0800

I'm left-handed, but I'm torn as to whether I should invest in left or right-handed instruments. Any musicians care to provide some direction? I'm basically talking guitars here.

On one hand (pun intended), it would feel more natural to play left-handed. On the other, I could very much cut down on costs and play anytime, anywhere with any odd right-handed guitar sitting around.

I met an incredible musician who advised I go righty because he felt he could have been even better with his dominant hand on the frets. Billy Corgan's dad raised his son to play that way. Hendrix played a righty guitar upside-down. Paul McCartney looks odd playing his lefty.

Anyway, this is something I hope to extend into playing bass as well.

Help my confused little soul before I plunge an investment down on the lesser of two good choices.

How much for that tele-deluxe in the window?

bardic — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 20:57:56 -0800

How do guitars and other musical gear get priced on the retail end? I'm a (very) amateur guitarist looking to purchase a mid-range electric. I'm pretty sure I know what I want, and my friendly local (and reputable) music store has it at $620, as opposed to $700 recommended from the manufacturer. All well and good, but why is the pricing on instruments so arbitrary, apparently? Why doesn't my FLMS put a price on each guitar hanging in the shop? Why do some manufacturers not even list a recommended price? Am I mistaken in thinking guitar pricing is a lot more opaque than other things, or is my FLMS not so friendly?

'65 Mustang

snsranch — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 17:48:37 -0800

Electric Guitar Filter: 1965 Fender Mustang. Suck or not? I've looked it up and as it is considered a "student" guitar it's not supposed to be worth much however; I don't want to sell mine, it's an awesome little guitar, but people have offered thousands for it. I only gave up $150 for it.
Is there something going on with this guitar that I don't know about? I haven't learned anything by googling it.

You look like you've been losing sleep said a stranger on a train.

signal — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 08:33:57 -0800

I have developed an unhealthy obsession with Juno, Swervedriver, The Appleseed Cast, Compound Red and Art of Fighting. What other bands would you suggest in the same vein?

What kind of guitar should I buy?

reynir — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 08:36:33 -0800

I want to treat myself to a guitar. It's for fun, to play for my own benefit and to do a bit of home recording on my iBook. I don't have any grand plans to play live or join a band. But I'm racked with indecision about what kind of guitar to buy - should I go for an acoustic, a semi-acoustic, or an electro-acoustic? [MI] I've played before, in a band at university, but that was some time ago, the memories are rather cloudy, and I didn't even own the (cheap) electric guitar I played (badly). I'm not sure whether I'm best going for an acoustic, and miking it up when I want to record, or maybe an electro-acoustic, so I don't have to use a mic. Just to complicate matters I've always coveted semi-acoustics like the Gibson ES-355 too, simply because they look so shiny and lovely. I'll grudgingly admit thoughthat this might not be the best reason to choose that kind of guitar. I've forgotten almost everything I know about playing, so while I do intend to go to shops and try stuff out, I don't want to be fooled by my limitations, hence this question.

What do I like the sound of? Below are some songs that I am enjoying at the moment, with a guitar sound I really like. I'd like to be able to make my guitar make sounds a little like these. It would be nice though to also to be able to turn everything up now and again to make a fat, messed-up feedbacky noise.

Bonus points for advice also on amps and effects. Penalty points for any reference to a guitar with a pointy headstock. Total budget (to include anything other than the guitar too) about 1200 pounds, 2000 dollars. Less could be good. Thank you.

Gillian Welch - The Revelator
M. Ward - most of his stuff. Good examples are Carolina, HiFi, So Much Water
Decemberists - Oceanside, The Engine Driver, Red Right Ankle
Love - The whole of Forever Changes
The Shins - lots of things

Can you take a guitar on a plane these days ?

y2karl — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 21:54:48 -0800

I am flying to another city soon and would like take my guitar with me. On the plane--not as baggage. I would like to read about the experiences of anyone here who has tried to do the same. My research thus far yields no fixed answer.

What £300-£500 guitar to buy?

pollystark — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 05:46:06 -0800

What electric guitar should I buy? I currently have a dreadful Encore (£60 second hand) and need advice on a second guitar. Budget: £300 - £500. Music style: tech/math rock. Skill level: been playing for two months, practice two hours a day. I need advice on: makes and models, where to buy from, whether to buy new or used. I don't care about name-brands - I just want something good.

Houston Guitar Lessons

Sangermaine — Sun, 29 May 2005 13:07:00 -0800

I am looking to take guitar lessons this summer, and am wondering if anyone here knows any good places to for them in Houston?

Differences among guitars

xmutex — Mon, 09 May 2005 10:25:50 -0800

What, technically speaking, is generally the difference between, say, a $700 Gibson SG and a $2200 Gibson SG? "You just gotta feel it man" wouldn't really help!

Gutar Man

rtimmel — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 08:48:29 -0800

My 13 yr. old son has been taking electric guitar lessons for about a year and is getting ready to spend his hard earned money on a new guitar. (more inside) In doing some preliminary research, the electric guitar world seems to be broken down into two broad categories (please correct me if I'm wrong): the stratocaster single pickup world; and the les paul double pickup (humbucker) world. Fender also has an HSS line that seems to straddle the two. While I realize that he really needs to go in and play a few, I would like to be a bit forearmed. Can anyone explain the difference between the two and give me a sense of which would be better for a fairly new player to buy? He seem to concentrate on the classic rock of my youth in his playing -- Zeppelin, Skynard, Hendrix, with some Blink 182 and The Killers thrown in. Bonus points for suggestions of good deals for around $400-$500.

GuitarTechFilter

substrate — Sun, 20 Feb 2005 16:42:35 -0800

I want to build a guitar from parts, I've figured out most things but I can't find a reference on placing the pickups. To further complicate things I'm putting a 24 fret neck on a body that was routed for 22 frets. This will blow away the neck position single coil pickup. My investment in the neck and body is minimal so if I destroy it that's not a problem but I'd eventually like to be able build one out of better parts.

So how do you place the middle and bridge pickups? Why are some bridge pickups angled? (This one was originally)

Question number 13834

jackofsaxons — Mon, 10 Jan 2005 12:54:17 -0800

Guitar Filter: Can you ID this Gibson guitar?

Question number 12208

Cryptical Envelopment — Fri, 26 Nov 2004 14:59:05 -0800

What are the best sites for a beginning guitarist? Really basic stuff and where to go from there. More inside if I can figure it out... I'm a teacher and I have some links to offer...

Question number 12149

Tommy Gnosis — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 16:16:54 -0800

Does anyone have a recommendation for a cheap, but great sounding electric guitar, say in the $300-600 range? [more inside]

Question number 12050

baphomet — Mon, 22 Nov 2004 12:23:48 -0800

Guitarists: What are some of your favorite scales and chords? How about guitar-related web resources? Finally, are there any other lefty guitarists in Metaland, or am I the only one?