Instrument Talk

[Einherjer]

My guitar came today! After trying many out, I decided on a gloss white Schecter C-1 with a floyd rose for my first guitar. I love it, though I'm trying to figure it all out...since I first started playing it like a bass by accident. ^^;

Tomorrow I'm going to book some lessons~

you made an excellent choice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[boi de memoire]

yeah, I don't know about Schecter guitars, but the basses are very good

 

[Susan]

I was planning on buying my first guitar last year but wasn't able to with going back to school and all. But I'm hoping to finally be able to in the next few weeks (if I can ever find a shop near here... there's one and they had like SIX guitars and they were all SQUIER. wtf.)

Anyways, this thread has helped me a lot too. Thanks guys!

Damn that Schecter is sexy.

 

[Monophobia]

Damn that Schecter is sexy.

It is! *o* Sounds it, too.

I wanted to ask a few questions here in this topic, because there are so many varieties of guitars and pickups and such, that it's hard to get a handle on it all to someone first starting out. Mind you, I realize it shouldn't be -that- important when first starting, but it is to some, I suppose.

I was wondering what everybody thinks of the bolt-on necks vs set-neck vs neck-thru. I know this is such an old and tiresome debate probably, but I wasn't sure at first if I should go with bolt-on, but I did because I noticed some of my favorite guitarists use bolt-ons so why should it matter? Anyway, I was just wondering who prefers what and why, and if one really is "better" than the other.

Another question is about pickups. I could have spent a little more for the Schecter Hellraiser C-1 because it has EMG pickups, but I wasn't sure if I should bother because I don't really know if they're just overrated because they're commonly used. I don't know much about pickups, but anyway I figured I could upgrade them to EMGs later if I choose to, so that's why I settled without them. Right now the main goal is learning it, obviously. I just wanted to know if the pickups matter much anyway, because I hear others say "it's all in the pedal and amp, not the pickups" so maybe to get a desired sound that I can't get for some reason, I should look into that instead of the pickups?

 

[Susan]

I thought of the same question about guitar necks and was wondering if they made any significant difference in sound, or if it's just a structural/comfort kind of thing.

Something I also know nothing about is wood. I keep hearing that the kind of wood the guitar is made out of has a huge effect on the sound it creates, so you have to watch out for the materials its made out of to get the most for your money... but what kind of wood is "good" and what's bad? I see something like "alder" or "maple" and I just blank. It'd be cool if there's a website explaining the differences in the kinds of wood usually used in guitar making.

 

[flowersofnight]

Something I also know nothing about is wood. I keep hearing that the kind of wood the guitar is made out of has a huge effect on the sound it creates

For an acoustic, probably. For an electric I doubt it makes much difference.

 

[boi de memoire]

neckthrough are supposed to give more sustain

 

[Monophobia]

Do set-neck and neck-thru give more sustain (which is the length of time the note lasts when you hit the strings, which I didn't know at first and am stating this for others that don't know) though?, and also is it really necessary/make a big improvement in playability/sound?

I hear that bolt-ons are more common because it's cheaper to make, not that there's any huge difference in sustain or sound, and that a good bolt-on can give a great amount of sustain, as well. There are some $4,000+ Fenders with bolt-on necks so my thought was that it can't possibly be that bad. So, if neck-thru does give more sustain, is it even worth it? Maybe these are all personal preference questions that are hard to answer...

 

[boi de memoire]

they are not more expensive just cuz they are more expensive to make, but because of the sustain plus too


it's true they have more sustain, the playability is the same though..........


but it's not really a big deal, unless you really care about it.... it's not a necesary thing to play most stuff xP

 

[Susan]

Something I also know nothing about is wood. I keep hearing that the kind of wood the guitar is made out of has a huge effect on the sound it creates

For an acoustic, probably. For an electric I doubt it makes much difference.

Well that was my thought initially too, but price varies with the type of wood used in construction. So maybe if it doesn't effect sound much, then perhaps it does in the sturdiness and longevity of the instrument?

I guess in the end it will boil down to what feels right in my hands and what sounds good to my ears, but this wood thing kind of bugs me.

 

[DixSerina]

Something I also know nothing about is wood. I keep hearing that the kind of wood the guitar is made out of has a huge effect on the sound it creates

For an acoustic, probably. For an electric I doubt it makes much difference.

That's everyones first thought I think. Wood does effect the tone of an electric instrument a lot. Also, to a trained ear it will be noticed a lot. Take for a simple example, Mana Sama. He plays an Alder bodied guitar (kind of brighter sounding wood) with an EMG 81 in the bridge (a brighter sounding pickup) and hence he gets that very bright sound. A Mahogany guitar will sound deeper, etc.

That chart pretty much sums up woods and their sound etc. Very good chart.

As for the neck-thru vs. set-neck vs. bolt-on argument, that one has gone on for eternity. Most people have agreed though, when you get into high end instruments (hand made stuff) it makes very little difference. set-neck vs. neck-thru vs. bolt-on really boils down to preference personally. I have two higher end basses, a Gibson SG-reissue and a Warwick Corvette Ash (hand made) and neck construction doesn't really make the difference in them.

 

[Priss]

Has anyone tried the Korg M3 yet? I want it, but I'm not sure if it'd be worth upgrading from the Triton. :\

 

[boi de memoire]

about the woods and electronics


wood affects a lot the sound, but not much in the case of Active pick ups, but passive pick ups' sound depends a lot of the wood xP

 

[Monophobia]

My last guitar lesson is this coming Thursday. I've been practising daily, but there's still so much I need to learn. I can't play very fast yet, and I don't want to rush myself and cut corners that i'll regret.

I was wondering what anybody can recommend to continue learning on my own until I can find some place near my college for lessons.

I've randomly tried learning tabs for songs I like, but I wind up getting frustrated because I play them far too slow for me to really recognize the song. I'll still continue to practice them, though. I understand how to read it, but my fingers just move too slow for my brain right now.

 

[Aishiteru]

How long have you been playing? Instruments take time to become fluent in... like language, I suppose. Haha, more effort + time equals more results!

Did you know how to read music before you began to learn? If you didn't than it may just take longer to casually tie the two together in your mind while you're playing.

 

[Monophobia]

How long have you been playing? Instruments take time to become fluent in... like language, I suppose. Haha, more effort + time equals more results!

Did you know how to read music before you began to learn? If you didn't than it may just take longer to casually tie the two together in your mind while you're playing.

I've only stated taking lessons a couple of weeks ago. This upcoming lesson will be my third. I know it isn't much, but I've also been practicing a lot in my spare time. Of course, it will take some time, I just want to take steps in the right direction in regards to learning.

As for reading music, no. I did know how to when I was in elementary school and played clarinet, but then I moved and forgot all of it. I've started to learn to read music again, however.

 

[Aishiteru]

My goodness you totally aren't giving yourself enough time to say such things. You shouldn't get frusterated until your fourth week.

It's admirable that you are already concerned about the manner you are learning to play in. I wish your advancement well!

 

[Susan]

Bought my first guitar today.

A Schecter Omen EXT. @_@

This exact guitar, bought at this exact store, for that exact price (CDN):
http://classifieds.castanet.net/showpro ... uct/203450

Also a gig bag, stand, and cord (and some free picks)... and I'm currently sharing an amp but I'll soon have my own. Forgot to pick up a tuner, but will SOON. Probably Monday. Also, should get a strap...