Guitar Gear Thread. Your new, next or future guitars, amps, FX etc.

[Speakeasy]

Makes sense, they all had 95’ then a name which I can’t bloody remember, must’ve been the name of the factory.
Casinos are class guitars like, when they’re not whistling at ya that is


That’s it! Cheers

The prices I see people asking for Peerless era Epiphones in the last couple of years is bonkers. I got one second hand about 5 years ago for £375, then sold it for the same amount 18 months or so later. These days you see people asking north of £700 for them. Silly money IMO.

They're nice, well built guitars for sure, but the electrics are crap and you're gonna want to replace them. You're better off buying a recent Chinese Casino, getting it set up properly, and sticking some less harsh pickups in it.

 

[mackemglastoid]

Thoughts on trying to get an old acoustic guitar in very poor condition back to being playable?

I've got an old made in Japan Red label Yamaha FG180 which from what I can gather was in production between 1966 and 1971. They have been described as the poor man's Martin but still very well made guitars.

This thing has sentimental value and is in a right state and needs a load of work done. It's been more of an ornament than instrument.

It has belly bulge, needs a neck reset, a refret and probably new saddle and nut as well. It also has some cosmetic damage which doesn't really bother me.

I could tackle the nut and saddle myself but this will further make an almost unplayable action even worse without addressing the other bits first.

The tone and resonance from the old wood is really impressive. It's very loud.

The dilemma ive got is that i am assuming to have the work done properly it is likely going to be really expensive.

I like the idea of being able to breathe new life into the old girl and give it to my Son but money is tight.

I would have to do a chunk of the work myself and have always done maintenance on my guitars but just basic stuff and nothing like a neck reset or refret.

What do you reckon? Try and resurrect it or save up and put the money towards somthing newer in perfect condition?

I'm aware that there becomes a point where the cost of the work needed for a luthier to do it properly far outweighs the value of the guitar.

There's a similar one on reverb in really good condition for £562.

Thoughts?

 

[fyl2u]

Thoughts on trying to get an old acoustic guitar in very poor condition back to being playable?

I've got an old made in Japan Red label Yamaha FG180 which from what I can gather was in production between 1966 and 1971. They have been described as the poor man's Martin but still very well made guitars.

This thing has sentimental value and is in a right state and needs a load of work done. It's been more of an ornament than instrument.

It has belly bulge, needs a neck reset, a refret and probably new saddle and nut as well. It also has some cosmetic damage which doesn't really bother me.

I could tackle the nut and saddle myself but this will further make an almost unplayable action even worse without addressing the other bits first.

The tone and resonance from the old wood is really impressive. It's very loud.

The dilemma ive got is that i am assuming to have the work done properly it is likely going to be really expensive.

I like the idea of being able to breathe new life into the old girl and give it to my Son but money is tight.

I would have to do a chunk of the work myself and have always done maintenance on my guitars but just basic stuff and nothing like a neck reset or refret.

What do you reckon? Try and resurrect it or save up and put the money towards somthing newer in perfect condition?

I'm aware that there becomes a point where the cost of the work needed for a luthier to do it properly far outweighs the value of the guitar.

There's a similar one on reverb in really good condition for £562.

Thoughts?

I guess it depends how much "sentimental value" it has for you.

I see a whole bunch of them for sale on Ebay etc. for £500-£600 but not a lot of bidders. I'd be wary of that as a real estimation of the worth of one in good condition.

Unless in sentimental value it is worth to you the cost of being professionally refurbed, I'd probably just keep it as an ornament and save up for something new in mint condition if I were you.

 

[DaveH]

Thoughts on trying to get an old acoustic guitar in very poor condition back to being playable?

I've got an old made in Japan Red label Yamaha FG180 which from what I can gather was in production between 1966 and 1971. They have been described as the poor man's Martin but still very well made guitars.

This thing has sentimental value and is in a right state and needs a load of work done. It's been more of an ornament than instrument.

It has belly bulge, needs a neck reset, a refret and probably new saddle and nut as well. It also has some cosmetic damage which doesn't really bother me.

I could tackle the nut and saddle myself but this will further make an almost unplayable action even worse without addressing the other bits first.

The tone and resonance from the old wood is really impressive. It's very loud.

The dilemma ive got is that i am assuming to have the work done properly it is likely going to be really expensive.

I like the idea of being able to breathe new life into the old girl and give it to my Son but money is tight.

I would have to do a chunk of the work myself and have always done maintenance on my guitars but just basic stuff and nothing like a neck reset or refret.

What do you reckon? Try and resurrect it or save up and put the money towards somthing newer in perfect condition?

I'm aware that there becomes a point where the cost of the work needed for a luthier to do it properly far outweighs the value of the guitar.

There's a similar one on reverb in really good condition for £562.

Thoughts?

Have you tried watching YouTube videos about any of the work that needs doing? I’m guessing a refret is not much different to some of the guitar building videos, providing you can get the old frets out without doing damage.

Might be worth a look and you will learn some new skills along the way.

 

[mackemglastoid]

Have you tried watching YouTube videos about any of the work that needs doing? I’m guessing a refret is not much different to some of the guitar building videos, providing you can get the old frets out without doing damage.

Might be worth a look and you will learn some new skills along the way.

Although I've never done the 2 main jobs that need doing it's something I've always thought I'd be capable of. I've watched a load of YouTube videos on guitar repairs. I'd need to buy a few new tools to attempt it.

I know exactly what needs to be done but watching others do the work is different to doing it yourself.

It's sentimental in the sense that it was given to me by Dad 30 odd years ago and I learned to play on it but quickly moved on to other guitars, bass, drums etc and bought a cheaper acoustic that was just much easier to play.

I'm thinking the cheaper fix might be a bridge doctor to try and correct the belly bulge and then see if that improves the action. They're about £30 I think and that might put me in the right direction without breaking the bank.

The saddle can't be lowered further as things are at the moment and it can't be tuned any higher than D standard without making it unplayable past the 7th fret.

I can't really fuck it up from it's current unplayable state can I?

 

[Big Jeff]

The harsh reality may be, may be that’s its best days are behind it and it could possibly be economically unrecoverable.

It’s hard to get a bad guitar these days and it might be time to retire it permanently and maybe think about investing in a modern instrument to give to your son.

An old guitar carries a million memories. Maybe it’s time to let it go.

 

[conrad]

Thoughts on trying to get an old acoustic guitar in very poor condition back to being playable?

I've got an old made in Japan Red label Yamaha FG180 which from what I can gather was in production between 1966 and 1971. They have been described as the poor man's Martin but still very well made guitars.

This thing has sentimental value and is in a right state and needs a load of work done. It's been more of an ornament than instrument.

It has belly bulge, needs a neck reset, a refret and probably new saddle and nut as well. It also has some cosmetic damage which doesn't really bother me.

I could tackle the nut and saddle myself but this will further make an almost unplayable action even worse without addressing the other bits first.

The tone and resonance from the old wood is really impressive. It's very loud.

The dilemma ive got is that i am assuming to have the work done properly it is likely going to be really expensive.

I like the idea of being able to breathe new life into the old girl and give it to my Son but money is tight.

I would have to do a chunk of the work myself and have always done maintenance on my guitars but just basic stuff and nothing like a neck reset or refret.

What do you reckon? Try and resurrect it or save up and put the money towards somthing newer in perfect condition?

I'm aware that there becomes a point where the cost of the work needed for a luthier to do it properly far outweighs the value of the guitar.

There's a similar one on reverb in really good condition for £562.

Thoughts?

If you’re happy to lose the money it’ll cost to put things right then do it, if not buy another guitar. If you do buy a new guitar for your boy you can always fix that one up later

 

[DaveH]

I guess one of the key things is, is this a gift to your son as a sentimental gift and another guitar in the collection? Or is it for him to learn guitar on? If it fell into neglect because it was a difficult guitar to play, even restored it is going to be a difficult guitar. That might be enough to put him off completely. I know my learning was slowed by having a cheap nasty guitar for the first 20 years.

 

[chriswallace85]

@fyl2u

What's your practice regime? I'm in a deflated mood with me lead playing and I need something to break out of the bluesy pentatonic boxes I've trapped meself in. I'm not overly interested in shredding, but I can't help but think a bit of shredding might tighten up my technique (which comes and goes as I don't play often enough), strength and stamina, and I think I'd like it in me arsenal just to prove it's a case of not wanting to play it rather than being unable to.

I want some exercises/scales/licks to twiddle away with. Nowt too boring - I cannot be on with 1-2-3-4 up and down the fret board.

 

[Blind Joe Death]

Thoughts on trying to get an old acoustic guitar in very poor condition back to being playable?

I've got an old made in Japan Red label Yamaha FG180 which from what I can gather was in production between 1966 and 1971. They have been described as the poor man's Martin but still very well made guitars.

This thing has sentimental value and is in a right state and needs a load of work done. It's been more of an ornament than instrument.

It has belly bulge, needs a neck reset, a refret and probably new saddle and nut as well. It also has some cosmetic damage which doesn't really bother me.

I could tackle the nut and saddle myself but this will further make an almost unplayable action even worse without addressing the other bits first.

The tone and resonance from the old wood is really impressive. It's very loud.

The dilemma ive got is that i am assuming to have the work done properly it is likely going to be really expensive.

I like the idea of being able to breathe new life into the old girl and give it to my Son but money is tight.

I would have to do a chunk of the work myself and have always done maintenance on my guitars but just basic stuff and nothing like a neck reset or refret.

What do you reckon? Try and resurrect it or save up and put the money towards somthing newer in perfect condition?

I'm aware that there becomes a point where the cost of the work needed for a luthier to do it properly far outweighs the value of the guitar.

There's a similar one on reverb in really good condition for £562.

Thoughts?

They are decent guitars. Elliott Smith played that same model I think.

The problem is they’re all now in need of neck resets and most repair people won’t do them - whatever glue they used is almost impossible to steam the neck off.

I’ve seen a lot of them with bridges shaved down to get more saddle height. It’s not an ideal fix but it will get the action lower.

Any loose braces inside causing that belly bulge? If it’s excessive then the bridge dr is a decent shout - nothing to lose there and might get you where you need to be.

 

[mackemglastoid]

I guess one of the key things is, is this a gift to your son as a sentimental gift and another guitar in the collection? Or is it for him to learn guitar on? If it fell into neglect because it was a difficult guitar to play, even restored it is going to be a difficult guitar. That might be enough to put him off completely. I know my learning was slowed by having a cheap nasty guitar for the first 20 years.

It won't be his first or only guitar. I taught him during lockdown and he's approaching the point where he will be teaching me.

There's lots of guitars kicking about in the house but nothing more expensive than a couple of hundred pounds.

He's currently using an old Yamaha FX310 as his main Acoustic but again it's not ideal and has issues with intonation and I had to fit a new pick up which isn't the best.

I/We have never had anything that you could call high end. Even the entry level of something half decent. Think upgraded Squiers, kit builds and Partscasters with budget parts.

He's now beginning to take things more seriously and the low end gear I have is alright for bedroom playing but not really fit for live performance.

I guess the right call is to save up and get him an entry level Martin or a Taylor something that will be fit for purpose live and studio use and will be a friend for life.

Thanks for the replies all. Mind made up. I'll save up and get him something better than I've ever had.
Anyone owned or played one of these?

Martin D-X1E HPL Mahogany Electro-Acoustic

With the Martin D-X1E HPL Mahogany you get an affordable, high-quality Electro Acoustic Guitar that's perfect for aspiring professional players.

www.pmtonline.co.uk

High Pressured Laminate doesn't fill me with confidence but I have zero knowledge of HPL to formulate that possibly misguided opinion.

I'd expect with Martin it will be quality and much better than what he currently has.

Failing that you're looking at not much change from a grand for something made from a solid tonewood. D10?

 

[Big Jeff]

It won't be his first or only guitar. I taught him during lockdown and he's approaching the point where he will be teaching me.

There's lots of guitars kicking about in the house but nothing more expensive than a couple of hundred pounds.

He's currently using an old Yamaha FX310 as his main Acoustic but again it's not ideal and has issues with intonation and I had to fit a new pick up which isn't the best.

I/We have never had anything that you could call high end. Even the entry level of something half decent. Think upgraded Squiers, kit builds and Partscasters with budget parts.

He's now beginning to take things more seriously and the low end gear I have is alright for bedroom playing but not really fit for live performance.

I guess the right call is to save up and get him an entry level Martin or a Taylor something that will be fit for purpose live and studio use and will be a friend for life.

Thanks for the replies all. Mind made up. I'll save up and get him something better than I've ever had.
Anyone owned or played one of these?

Martin D-X1E HPL Mahogany Electro-Acoustic

With the Martin D-X1E HPL Mahogany you get an affordable, high-quality Electro Acoustic Guitar that's perfect for aspiring professional players.

www.pmtonline.co.uk

High Pressured Laminate doesn't fill me with confidence but I have zero knowledge of HPL to formulate that possibly misguided opinion.

I'd expect with Martin it will be quality and much better than what he currently has.

Failing that you're looking at not much change from a grand for something made from a solid tonewood. D10?

You won’t get a bad guitar from Martin or Taylor obviously but have a look at Yamaha. They make some cracking instruments that are great to play live- they have excellent electronics.

Have a look at this one.

Buy the Yamaha AC3M ARE VN Vintage Natural

The Yamaha AC3M ARE VN Vintage Natural is available at guitarguitar. Free next day delivery on orders over £199 or click and collect. You can even trade in your old music gear towards the purchase

www.guitarguitar.co.uk

 

[tooliohelmet]

Thoughts on trying to get an old acoustic guitar in very poor condition back to being playable?

I've got an old made in Japan Red label Yamaha FG180 which from what I can gather was in production between 1966 and 1971. They have been described as the poor man's Martin but still very well made guitars.

This thing has sentimental value and is in a right state and needs a load of work done. It's been more of an ornament than instrument.

It has belly bulge, needs a neck reset, a refret and probably new saddle and nut as well. It also has some cosmetic damage which doesn't really bother me.

I could tackle the nut and saddle myself but this will further make an almost unplayable action even worse without addressing the other bits first.

The tone and resonance from the old wood is really impressive. It's very loud.

The dilemma ive got is that i am assuming to have the work done properly it is likely going to be really expensive.

I like the idea of being able to breathe new life into the old girl and give it to my Son but money is tight.

I would have to do a chunk of the work myself and have always done maintenance on my guitars but just basic stuff and nothing like a neck reset or refret.

What do you reckon? Try and resurrect it or save up and put the money towards somthing newer in perfect condition?

I'm aware that there becomes a point where the cost of the work needed for a luthier to do it properly far outweighs the value of the guitar.

There's a similar one on reverb in really good condition for £562.

Thoughts?

Sounds like triggers broom

 

[ErichZann]

Next buy is a HSS Strat, will be my first strat.

 

[DaveH]

It won't be his first or only guitar. I taught him during lockdown and he's approaching the point where he will be teaching me.

I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but it is a brilliant moment in a parent's life, that I'm busy going through.

Since becoming a dad, I have loved watching the kids learn. It is one aspect of parenting I didn't really expect or think about.

My son has had guitar lessons for a few years and his progress was slow. But in the last year it was just starting to come together for him to be able to play something that actually sounded right. He is 12, so hand size and strength has been a big part of it. We got him an electric (rather than a 3/4 acoustic) at Christmas, and he is flying now. His teacher has him doing classic rock, so many of the things he plays is stuff I know too. But in the last couple of weeks he has started to look at tab online and teach himself new stuff. Listening to tracks has also got him interested in various bands. He never used to listen to music much and now loves Nirvana.

I bought an AC/DC tab book a few weeks ago and have not had much time to learn from it. But what I am finding it is taking me far longer to remember a riff than it used to, and I can't read tab fast enough to just play straight from the page. I have to repeat and repeat every few bars for it to stick. Where as he looks at it and it all just goes in like a sponge, all memorised in minutes. It seems like every day he can play something new and it sounds good.

I'm still ahead on a few things, but at this rate I'll not be able to say that by July.

It leaves me quite proud.

 

[Blind Joe Death]

It won't be his first or only guitar. I taught him during lockdown and he's approaching the point where he will be teaching me.

There's lots of guitars kicking about in the house but nothing more expensive than a couple of hundred pounds.

He's currently using an old Yamaha FX310 as his main Acoustic but again it's not ideal and has issues with intonation and I had to fit a new pick up which isn't the best.

I/We have never had anything that you could call high end. Even the entry level of something half decent. Think upgraded Squiers, kit builds and Partscasters with budget parts.

He's now beginning to take things more seriously and the low end gear I have is alright for bedroom playing but not really fit for live performance.

I guess the right call is to save up and get him an entry level Martin or a Taylor something that will be fit for purpose live and studio use and will be a friend for life.

Thanks for the replies all. Mind made up. I'll save up and get him something better than I've ever had.
Anyone owned or played one of these?

Martin D-X1E HPL Mahogany Electro-Acoustic

With the Martin D-X1E HPL Mahogany you get an affordable, high-quality Electro Acoustic Guitar that's perfect for aspiring professional players.

www.pmtonline.co.uk

High Pressured Laminate doesn't fill me with confidence but I have zero knowledge of HPL to formulate that possibly misguided opinion.

I'd expect with Martin it will be quality and much better than what he currently has.

Failing that you're looking at not much change from a grand for something made from a solid tonewood. D10?

I’d stay away from those laminate or composite guitars.

If it’s a Martin sound he’s after - there’s a company called Blueridge which makes solid wood Martin copies for under a grand. They sound great for the price, and look the part. Hobgoblin sells them in the UK.

Sierra Ferrel has been touring this one for years.

 

[tooliohelmet]

I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but it is a brilliant moment in a parent's life, that I'm busy going through.

Since becoming a dad, I have loved watching the kids learn. It is one aspect of parenting I didn't really expect or think about.

My son has had guitar lessons for a few years and his progress was slow. But in the last year it was just starting to come together for him to be able to play something that actually sounded right. He is 12, so hand size and strength has been a big part of it. We got him an electric (rather than a 3/4 acoustic) at Christmas, and he is flying now. His teacher has him doing classic rock, so many of the things he plays is stuff I know too. But in the last couple of weeks he has started to look at tab online and teach himself new stuff. Listening to tracks has also got him interested in various bands. He never used to listen to music much and now loves Nirvana.

I bought an AC/DC tab book a few weeks ago and have not had much time to learn from it. But what I am finding it is taking me far longer to remember a riff than it used to, and I can't read tab fast enough to just play straight from the page. I have to repeat and repeat every few bars for it to stick. Where as he looks at it and it all just goes in like a sponge, all memorised in minutes. It seems like every day he can play something new and it sounds good.

I'm still ahead on a few things, but at this rate I'll not be able to say that by July.

It leaves me quite proud.

I'm kind of the same, I bought myself a guitar years ago and it just gathered dust. In the last year or so my daughter who's 10 has started to play and it makes me really proud....she's just teaching herself off YouTube but I can hear her practicing and practicing. Mainly arctic monkeys stuff but then some classic rock. I send her Instagram posts with tabs in and she'll play them. She's really progressed in the last month or 2.

 

[taipeisafc]

I’d stay away from those laminate or composite guitars.

If it’s a Martin sound he’s after - there’s a company called Blueridge which makes solid wood Martin copies for under a grand. They sound great for the price, and look the part. Hobgoblin sells them in the UK.

Sierra Ferrel has been touring this one for years.

Blueridge aremade in China and have a very good name. You could also try Auden (one of the auden founders gets on here @Hank Silver iirc) or Eastman who also make belting guitars. I have a Japanese Alvarez Yairi which is excellent but i think they are hard to get in the UK.

 

[Blind Joe Death]

Blueridge aremade in China and have a very good name. You could also try Auden (one of the auden founders gets on here @Hank Silver iirc) or Eastman who also make belting guitars. I have a Japanese Alvarez Yairi which is excellent but i think they are hard to get in the UK.

Yep. I’ve been really impressed any time I’ve played one. Only thing that lets them down a bit is the finish, but that’s the case on most imports. Was also going to suggest Eastman, I’m not familiar with Auden.

 

[fyl2u]

@fyl2u

What's your practice regime? I'm in a deflated mood with me lead playing and I need something to break out of the bluesy pentatonic boxes I've trapped meself in. I'm not overly interested in shredding, but I can't help but think a bit of shredding might tighten up my technique (which comes and goes as I don't play often enough), strength and stamina, and I think I'd like it in me arsenal just to prove it's a case of not wanting to play it rather than being unable to.

I want some exercises/scales/licks to twiddle away with. Nowt too boring - I cannot be on with 1-2-3-4 up and down the fret board.

I'd usually start with some "boring" warmup stuff to build strength and co-ordination, then some scales, then some fun stuff like improvised jamming along to some backing tracks (trying to incorporate different scales and modes in amongst my comfort-zone go-to licks), and then focus on a specific technique or song I'm trying to master.

The warmup exercise I play for strength, I consider to be one of the most important parts of my regime, despite being technically a "boring" 1234-type thing. I learned this one from a John Petrucci video many years ago, and I still swear by it as a great warmup.

I'll start around the 7th fret and play the E-A-D-G strings on frets 7-8-9-10 as a slow-picked arpeggio (this is NOT a speed exercise, it's a strength exercise, so it works better if you leave say a second in between notes), holding down all the notes so that they ring out as a chord, paying close attention to making sure every note sounds "beautiful", rings out properly, and none of the notes get muted by your other fingers.

After a few seconds of it ringing out, swap the two middle fingers around, so that you're playing 7-9-8-10 across the same four strings. Again, make sure every note sounds "beautiful", with no accidental muting, and that all four notes ring out properly.

Next, swap around the outer two fingers, so you're playing 10-9-8-7 across the same four strings, the same way again.

Then swap around the middle fingers again, so you're playing 10-8-9-7.

So, to recap, across the E-A-D-G strings, that's:

7-8-9-10
7-9-8-10
10-9-8-7
10-8-9-7

Now move the whole thing down a string to the A-D-G-B strings and repeat.

Then move the whole thing down a string again to the D-G-B-E strings and repeat.

I'll play this a few times until I can feel my hand muscles starting to warm up, then rub the middle of my palm for a few seconds for relief, then start the whole thing again from the E-A-D-G strings again, but this time with a 1-fret gap introduced:

7-9-10-11
7-10-9-11
11-10-9-7
11-9-10-7

...repeating on the A-D-G-B strings, repeating on the D-G-B-E strings...

And then move the gap:
7-8-10-11
7-10-8-11
11-10-8-7
11-9-10-7

...again repeating on the A-D-G-B and D-G-B-E strings...

And then move the gap again:
7-8-9-11
7-9-8-11
11-9-8-7
11-8-9-7

After a bit more palm-rubbing I'll do the whole thing again but with TWO 1-fret gaps...

7-9-11-12
7-11-9-12
12-11-9-7
12-9-11-7

...repeat on the A-D-G-B and D-G-B-E strings then move the gap...

7-9-10-12
7-10-9-12
12-10-9-7
12-9-10-7

...repeat on the A-D-G-B and D-G-B-E strings then move the gap...

7-8-10-12
7-10-8-12
12-10-8-7
12-8-10-7

More palm rubbing.

Finally, usually with great pain at this point, repeat the pattern one last time, with THREE 1-fret gaps:

7-9-11-13
7-11-9-13
13-11-9-7
13-9-11-7

.....and relax, go make a cup of tea, cradle the aching/burning hand for ten minutes or so before starting on my co-ordination exercises (the also-boring 1234 up the neck and diagonally across the strings exercises that I think I've shown you before). Then onto scales. (I usually do the 7 modes of the major scale as 3-notes-per-string exercises. If I'm feeling brave I might do 4-notes-then-3-notes-per-string so that I cover 3 whole octaves across the 6 strings.)