NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm a pretty decent guitarist and I've had quite a few guitars in my time, but the most consistant high quality brand (and quite cheap) I've ever used is Ibanez. Every product I've ever purchased from Ibanez has served me well and lasted a long time. Everything from guitars to effects pedals. What about your brand? What type of guitar do you play and what kind of effects do you use?

I'm a Fender man myself. Though I did take out the country pick-up and put in a different one. Ibanez used to be awsome untill the company started making their guitars in korea, they used to make them in Japan and those were a much better quality. I use a GNX effects processor, simply cause i didnt want to buy 50 plus pedals. I use GHS boomers .10-.46. But Ibanez will get the job done dont get me wrong. And if your going to be play Fenders at a loud volume be prepared to handle feedback (due to the pick ups).

Like Fender also. Will have to agree with the Korean made guitars.

I prefer accoustic. My main guitar, Juanita, is a 1964 Gibson Dove. I use a Dean Markley pick-up and prefer Fender amps. For effects, I will sometimes go with a wide open flange and a Crybaby (you've not lived until you've heard wa-wa accoustic).

I'm a pretty decent guitarist and I've had quite a few guitars in my time, but the most consistant high quality brand (and quite cheap) I've ever used is Ibanez. Every product I've ever purchased from Ibanez has served me well and lasted a long time. Everything from guitars to effects pedals. What about your brand? What type of guitar do you play and what kind of effects do you use?

i've got an old pre-gibson epiphone. it needs some new pickups, but it has a beautiful neck...

right now, i'm just plugging right into my computer when i need some fancy effects and actually using a wide assortment of plugins to handle the sound. i find that this gives me many more options than any kind of conventinal setup ever could.....i mean i now have everything from granulators to vocoders to play with....

for a live situation, i'm using a zoom multi and a creamy dreamer. it's noisy as hell but it's ok for now. i plan on picking up something with a synth pickup in it and guitar synth sometime soon...

i suppose this gives me an opportunity to plug:
http://chat.carleton.ca/~jparent2/
http://www.myspace.com/thetrivialgroup

in general, i prefer gibson guitars. the sg is beautiful in both sound and aesthetics. however, the guitar that i play most and enjoy playing most is my gretsch b-2000.

in terms of effects, i usually only use overdrive. the overdrive built into marshall amps (which i use) is quite good, i think. with other amps i usually use rat pedals.

I've only played an old Johnson acoustic... it's nice, although I have no clue if that's considered a good brand.. is it? Sounds fine to me.. my dad's got a Gibson he's played since he was a kid (late 1950's?), which sounds different of course, but I wouldn't say "better" or "worse.."

Never played electric.. I doubt my neighbors would be too happy, and I keep to Classical and Spanish style, which an electric wouldn't help me with, would it? Not sure.. :)

I play a left-handed Cort X2 guitar through a Laney LC-30-II valve amp. The overdrive on it is decent, but when I really want to make some awesome noise, I also use an Electro Harmonix Big Muff Pi distortion pedal. I also have a Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble.

The guitar is decent enough for what it cost, but it's only a mid-range one at best - the rest of the gear compensates, but naturally I want to improve on it. I have my sights set on a Maton MS2000 (http://www.maton.com.au/electrics/images/thumb_ms2000std.jpg).

I also have a 30 year old classical acoustic, and a similarly aged steel-string.

BC Rich :D (http://www.edromanguitars.com/guitar/bcrich/bcrmodel/grpbcwar1.jpg)

though if i could afford to i'd play Jacksons

but amp-wize i'm a Marshall man, all the way :)

I'm a Gibson fan myself.

However, for a "budget" guitar you really can't go wrong with a Fender Squier - incredibly good action/ sound for a small price.

I have a Japanese made Fender Strat. Always liked the strat. Have tried Telecaster as well, and I definately didn't like it. Have tried Gibson Les Paul, but got a sore neck, because it's so heavy.

My "go-to" guitar the last 27 years has been a Telecaster. Can't beat it. I've tried many many others in the time between but I always come back to ol' twangy!

mm

What tuning does everyone normally play in?

I used to like it half a step down, but i've found the sweet spot by tuning it two steps down to C-F-A#-D#-G-C.

Any lower than that and it starts sounding shitty. The good ol' standard E is what i'll play on acoustic, though...I just like something special for my electric. :D


However, for a "budget" guitar you really can't go wrong with a Fender Squier - incredibly good action/ sound for a small price.

Too generic sounding, I think.

I prefer a crunchier sound so i'd go for a guitar with humbucking pickups.

I prefer a crunchier sound so i'd go for a guitar with humbucking pickups.
indeedy

as for tunings i stump for good ol' E or dropped D sometimes
i don't like detuning that much... somehow it reeks of cheating :P

This kind (http://artguitars.com/);)

Actually I don't play guitar, I just saw a doc on this guy and thought he was cool.

indeedy

as for tunings i stump for good ol' E or dropped D sometimes
i don't like detuning that much... somehow it reeks of cheating :P

Nah, it's not cheating, no way. Tuning down is the only way I can get that really sludgy, murky sound. It adds a bit of colour and variety into your playing. It doesn't make it any easier to play. Okay, bends and the like are easier, but then again, the strings are more sensitive to even minor accidental bends that you wouldn't notice while playing in standard. So it balances out :)

(Of course, it's lame if you detune to A# just because it's sooooooo heavy, but done right it can be a valuable asset to your playing style)

I'm a pretty decent guitarist and I've had quite a few guitars in my time, but the most consistant high quality brand (and quite cheap) I've ever used is Ibanez. Every product I've ever purchased from Ibanez has served me well and lasted a long time. Everything from guitars to effects pedals. What about your brand? What type of guitar do you play and what kind of effects do you use?


I have an Ibanez, as well.

Ex series.

Its the next best thing to a Stratocaster, as far as Im concerned.
It just cost me 500 dollars less than a good Strat.

Although, the next electric I buy, will be an SG.
Oh yeah.
And an Orange half stack, if I wanna cough up at least a couple thousand.
Too much cash for now, that is.

I also have a Washburn Acoustic.
Its got a great tone.
Ive always liked Washburn, and mine is getting old, and warped, so I'll be looking at a new one soon.

What tuning does everyone normally play in?

Depends on what I'm playing.

Normally, the standard is what I use, but when playing Irish traditional, I open end it to E-B-E-E-E-E. Surprising what you can do with that tuning.

I do change tunings from time to time, so I always have a 2nd guitar with me when I'm in front of an audience. I found this amazing, no brand, guitar at a pawnshop that has the most amazing sound. It almost sounds like I've put my guitar in a large tunnel. I have no idea how it makes that sound.

Depends on what I'm playing.

Normally, the standard is what I use, but when playing Irish traditional, I open end it to E-B-E-E-E-E. Surprising what you can do with that tuning.

Wow, that's a different one. I'll have to give that a whirl some day- I assume you use a capo to avoid putting too much stress on the 4th and 5th strings?

I do change tunings from time to time, so I always have a 2nd guitar with me when I'm in front of an audience. I found this amazing, no brand, guitar at a pawnshop that has the most amazing sound. It almost sounds like I've put my guitar in a large tunnel. I have no idea how it makes that sound.

Nice. :)

I can only strum a few power chords on guitar.

But my bass is Ibanez. And a Laney amp.

And I've had it tuned down to drop B once, for playing Deftones :D

I can only strum a few power chords on guitar.

But my bass is Ibanez. And a Laney amp.

And I've had it tuned down to drop B once, for playing Deftones :D

I don't meet too many bass players. My brother is the only one I know, and we always get into this argument about who's better: Marcus Miller or Victor Wooten? Who do you think is better in skill and in their particular sound?

I don't meet too many bass players. My brother is the only one I know, and we always get into this argument about who's better: Marcus Miller or Victor Wooten? Who do you think is better in skill and in their particular sound?
I have to go with Victor Wooten.

I have to go with Victor Wooten.

You son of a bitch...

:p I'm a Marcus fan myself, I mean come on he did BRUCE LEE! BRUCE LEE!

Also don't forget Power, that's a damn good one.

And I've had it tuned down to drop B once, for playing Deftones :D

Drop B is a decent tuning. :D

Drop B is a decent tuning. :D
and the deftones rule, so its all good :)

and the deftones rule, so its all good :)

That they do. "SHOVE IT! SHOVE IT! SHOVE IT!" :cool:

What tuning does everyone normally play in?

I used to like it half a step down, but i've found the sweet spot by tuning it two steps down to C-F-A#-D#-G-C.

Any lower than that and it starts sounding shitty. The good ol' standard E is what i'll play on acoustic, though...I just like something special for my electric. :D

I'm an open G man myself, primarily on the acoustic these days - D-G-D-G-B-D. I got into this tuning when noodling about with a slide and trying to play really early blues, and it just started to make sense. Sometimes mess about in open D - D-F#-D-F#-A-D as well, but I guess my open Bm tuning is my most unusual one - D-F#-D-F#-B-D.

The funny thing is that after a year or so of playing this tuning I ended up getting myself a 5-string banjo which is standardly tuned in much the same way as I normally play guitar (ie. open G) - g-D-G-B-d - and so that made transfering over a lot easier. Of course with the banjo I'll play whatever tuning makes things easiest:

a-D-F#-A-d
g-D-G-C-d
g-C-G-B-d
g-C-G-c-d
g-C-G-c-e

...those are the main ones though.

I am a big fan of the gibson Les paul (although I use a Epiphone LP Special II because it has a thinner body). They have a more earthy quality to their tone and the sustain is twice that of a Fender.

Nah, it's not cheating, no way. Tuning down is the only way I can get that really sludgy, murky sound. It adds a bit of colour and variety into your playing. It doesn't make it any easier to play. Okay, bends and the like are easier, but then again, the strings are more sensitive to even minor accidental bends that you wouldn't notice while playing in standard. So it balances out :)

(Of course, it's lame if you detune to A# just because it's sooooooo heavy, but done right it can be a valuable asset to your playing style)

i agree with that....i tend to keep remarkably heavy strings such that when i pick up a guitar with skinny strings tuned down to c# it takes me a good twenty minutes to get used to how buttery it is......it's at times hard to even play a simple chuggy riff without accidentally bending everything way out of town....

i like to stay in Eb usually, and drop to d from time to time but it doesn't make my life any easier with the exception of now having two extra notes on the guitar.....

That they do. "SHOVE IT! SHOVE IT! SHOVE IT!" :cool:
ah those were the days...

Am I the only one here that really doesn't like the sound of Marshalls? Their high end always seems too broken up to me and they just generaly sound too fragile to my ears (especially when matched up with those fucking vile digital zoom pedals).

The best guitar sounds I've heard over the last year or so have come from Orange heads or bizarrely enough a really beaten up Yamaha head.

I'm an open G man myself, primarily on the acoustic these days - D-G-D-G-B-D. I got into this tuning when noodling about with a slide and trying to play really early blues, and it just started to make sense. Sometimes mess about in open D - D-F#-D-F#-A-D as well, but I guess my open Bm tuning is my most unusual one - D-F#-D-F#-B-D.

I've tried open G before, actually. I might give it another shot, it's pretty easy to do.

EDIT- Hey, that's nice! :D

But my bass is Ibanez. And a Laney amp.

As far as I'm concerned, Ampeg is the way to go as far as mainstream bass heads go.

tanglewood

Unfortunately, mines a Chinese Squier Strat with a Squier Sidekick (shudder) amp. The one piece in my gear that I actually like (not counting picks) is my Marshall Guv'nor Plus pedal.

I currently have my eye on getting a Jackson, but I need a new amp first. Problem is that I'm broke.

As for tunings, I generally play in either standard or Drop D.

Wow, that's a different one. I'll have to give that a whirl some day- I assume you use a capo to avoid putting too much stress on the 4th and 5th strings?


Newp ....

Going up from D to E isn't a problem for the 4th as it's a sturdy string and the 5th is dropped from A to E, so no stress there at all.

Newp ....

Going up from D to E isn't a problem for the 4th as it's a sturdy string and the 5th is dropped from A to E, so no stress there at all.

E-B-E-E-E-E? The 5th gets raised a notch. :p


i agree with that....i tend to keep remarkably heavy strings such that when i pick up a guitar with skinny strings tuned down to c# it takes me a good twenty minutes to get used to how buttery it is......it's at times hard to even play a simple chuggy riff without accidentally bending everything way out of town....

i like to stay in Eb usually, and drop to d from time to time but it doesn't make my life any easier with the exception of now having two extra notes on the guitar.....

I use heavier 1st, 2nd, and 3rd strings to balance it out. I don't worry about changing the others. They're still a little loose, but it works fine.

The only thing I find useful with drop-d is rapid hammer-ons and pull-offs on power chords. Otherwise, meh. It sounds a little generic to me anyway. Everyone seems to love drop-d nowadays.

I have an Ibanez bass that I recently started playing. I still don't know what the fuck people are on about when they start discussing their guitars though.


For the record I'm tuned EADG low-high, although I hear that I'll become much cooler if I drop the E to a D. Or something.

Gibson all the way! Fuggetaboutit!

I have an Ibanez bass that I recently started playing. I still don't know what the fuck people are on about when they start discussing their guitars though.

Hey, we've all been there :D

For the record I'm tuned EADG low-high, although I hear that I'll become much cooler if I drop the E to a D. Or something.

Nah, don't bother at this stage unless you're actually learning a song that is in that tuning.