What are your musical preferences?

[melissaa]

I play keyboards but been dreaming of learning to play the guitar for a long time now. Wish I had more time for that!

 

[Mark44]

I had piano lessons for two or three years starting when I was about 11. I hated them at the time, but I'm grateful that my mother insisted on them. A bit later I took violin lessons for a short time, but quit shortly after.
When I was about 15, my folks bought me a baritone ukulele, which is really a small 4-string guitar. Since then I've had about 10 guitars, all steel-string acoustic, including two 12-strings.
My current collection of instruments:

• Roland keyboard
• Some kind of piano that my wife brought to our marriage
• Two charangos - Andean string instruments with 10 strings
• Guild 12-string acoustic
• Martin D-35
• Martin OOO-18
• Another guitar that has a Martin logo, nut is likely a Chinese counterfeit.

For as long as I've been playing guitars, I'm not all that good, but I get a lot of enjoyment out of doing it. I play the two real Martins regularly, and the Guild 12-string, which to my ears is every bit as good as a Martin D12-28, and maybe better.

 

[pinball1970]

I had piano lessons for two or three years starting when I was about 11. I hated them at the time, but I'm grateful that my mother insisted on them. A bit later I took violin lessons for a short time, but quit shortly after.
When I was about 15, my folks bought me a baritone ukulele, which is really a small 4-string guitar. Since then I've had about 10 guitars, all steel-string acoustic, including two 12-strings.
My current collection of instruments:

• Roland keyboard
• Some kind of piano that my wife brought to our marriage
• Two charangos - Andean string instruments with 10 strings
• Guild 12-string acoustic
• Martin D-35
• Martin OOO-18
• Another guitar that has a Martin logo, nut is likely a Chinese counterfeit.

For as long as I've been playing guitars, I'm not all that good, but I get a lot of enjoyment out of doing it. I play the two real Martins regularly, and the Guild 12-string, which to my ears is every bit as good as a Martin D12-28, and maybe better.

Nothing sounds like a Martin

 

[Mark44]

Nothing sounds like a Martin

That Guild 12-string sounds as good as or better than the Martin 12-strings I've played. I have the receipt from the original owner, back in 1974, and it sold for $1200 back then.

 

[pinball1970]

That Guild 12-string sounds as good as or better than the Martin 12-strings I've played. I have the receipt from the original owner, back in 1974, and it sold for $1200 back then.

I've never played one, I've played a 12 string a few times but not a top end one.

 

[sysprog]

That Guild 12-string sounds as good as or better than the Martin 12-strings I've played.

When I was a teenage kid (in the '70s) I was allowed to tryout-play guitars at a local shop $-$ I liked a small Martin mahogany and a Guild D-25 M (also mahogany but, despite its characteristic color and the M in the model name, unbeknownst to me at the time to be such) $-$ they were both better than my meager skills could take full advantage of.

 

[Klystron]

That Guild 12-string sounds as good as or better than the Martin 12-strings I've played. {snip}.

Agree: an authentic Guild 12-string makes a glorious smooth sound. Martin acoustic guitars sound superb but in the 12-string world of the 1960-70's, the Guild more than held its own.

 

[DennisN]

My current collection of instruments:

Nice. Here is my list :

• Roland JX8P vintage analog synthesizer. I've had it for 25-30 years and it still works excellent. I will likely sell it to save space.
• M-Audio MIDI keyboard, which I connect to the computer for playing software synths.
• Yamaha CS01, vintage analog mono mini synth. My first synth, and I will never sell it. Still works. I've had it for 30-35 years.
• Fender Stratocaster US 1976. Will sell it, I don't use it and it's worth a bunch of money.
• Epiphone Les Paul. A lovely guitar which I have modified.
• A Harley Benton Stratocaster. Actually very good considering the low price. Will modify it.
• A Harley Benton Jazz Bass. Also quite good. Will modify it.
• Another Harley Benton Strat which I assembled (a strat kit). Will modify this significantly, and also do a custom paint job on it.
• A short scale electric bass, not very good. Will probably sell it. Or rebuild it into an electric guitar.
• A Swedish Bjärton nylon stringed guitar. I've had this a very long time, will keep it. It's very nice to play on.
• A Jasmine steel stringed acoustic guitar (Takamine cheap version). Will sell it. I've always thought it was too big and not very comfortable to play on.
• A Harley Benton CLA-15MCE Custom Line steel stringed acoustic. Very good value for the money, it was quite cheap. Quite nice to play on.

 

[sbrothy]

I used to be pretty good at playing the acoustic guitar. Learning stuff like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Al De Meola et al (flamenco, "Friday Night in San Fransisco"), Dire Straits etc... Unfortunately, I broke my wrist in a meaningless accident and that much pretty ended that. I still dabble a little but sadly it's mostly gone. People are still impressed when I give it a go though (not to toot my own horn too much). Sad story.

These days I play around with programs like Reason, Fruity Loops and Cubase in an attempt to make electronic music. It's for my own ears only though. I'm sure that even though I've amassed a lot of equipment peopoe would still call it noise. It's a lot of fun though. :)

 

[Mondayman]

Nice. Here is my list :

• Roland JX8P vintage analog synthesizer. I've had it for 25-30 years and it still works excellent. I will likely sell it to save space.
• M-Audio MIDI keyboard, which I connect to the computer for playing software synths.
• Yamaha CS01, vintage analog mono mini synth. My first synth, and I will never sell it. Still works. I've had it for 30-35 years.
• Fender Stratocaster US 1976. Will sell it, I don't use it and it's worth a bunch of money.
• Epiphone Les Paul. A lovely guitar which I have modified.
• A Harley Benton Stratocaster. Actually very good considering the low price. Will modify it.
• A Harley Benton Jazz Bass. Also quite good. Will modify it.
• Another Harley Benton Strat which I assembled (a strat kit). Will modify this significantly, and also do a custom paint job on it.
• A short scale electric bass, not very good. Will probably sell it. Or rebuild it into an electric guitar.
• A Swedish Bjärton nylon stringed guitar. I've had this a very long time, will keep it. It's very nice to play on.
• A Jasmine steel stringed acoustic guitar (Takamine cheap version). Will sell it. I've always thought it was too big and not very comfortable to play on.
• A Harley Benton CLA-15MCE Custom Line steel stringed acoustic. Very good value for the money, it was quite cheap. Quite nice to play on.

Just curious, how do you think your modified Epiphone holds up to a Gibson?

I'm wanting an LP, but can't decide if its worth buying a Gibson for $2500 or an Epiphone and some good pickups (Pearly Gates or Whole Lotta Humbuckers).

 

[AndreasC]

Just curious, how do you think your modified Epiphone holds up to a Gibson?

I'm wanting an LP, but can't decide if its worth buying a Gibson for $2500 or an Epiphone and some good pickups (Pearly Gates or Whole Lotta Humbuckers).

Personally I'd say go epiphone, it's cheaper, it sounds fine, and the important thing is learning to play well. The guitar doesn't make a huge difference, especially the body, as long as it is comfortable. So my advice would be, try out the Epiphone and try out the Gibson. Ignore the sound. Focus on the comfort, the evenness of the frets, the feel etc. If you still think the feel of the Gibson is worth 2k more, buy that. Although 2.5k for a guitar sounds like an overkill regardless, there are good Gibsons going for much less. If you don't think the feel is worth the extra price, go for the Epiphone with good pickups.

My cousin has an expensive strat, I think it costed about 1.5k. I've tried it out and while it does feel and sound better than my 250 euro Squire, and it is definitely very comfortable, my bandmate has a Jaguar which he bought for around the same price I bought my strat, and honestly it beats the super pricey strat in terms of comfort, and the sound is pretty damn nice too. Super pricey guitars are overrated.

 

[DennisN]

Just curious, how do you think your modified Epiphone holds up to a Gibson?

Very good. I've put a roller bridge on it (somewhat like this one), and it is extremely easy to play on. String bending feels a bit like you are playing on a fretboard that has been dipped in butter. Very, very little resistance. It's by far the most easily played guitar I've got.

I will also install roller bridges on the other electric guitars I have (except the '76 Strat).

I've recently bought two brand new humbuckers (Alnico 5) with split coils which I will put into the Epiphone. This will result in six pickup combination possibilites:

1. Neck Humbucker
2. Neck + Bridge Humbucker
3. Bridge Humbucker
4. Neck Single Coil
5. Neck + Bridge Single Coil
6. Bridge Single Coil

I'm wanting an LP, but can't decide if its worth buying a Gibson for $2500 or an Epiphone and some good pickups (Pearly Gates or Whole Lotta Humbuckers).

I can only speak for myself: I would not buy an expensive Gibson. I would take an Epiphone or something similar and modify it. And I would spend part of the remaining money on on other things, like pickups/accessories, effects, other guitars, or other instruments.

Super pricey guitars are overrated.

I agree!

 

[DennisN]

Just curious, how do you think your modified Epiphone holds up to a Gibson?

By the way, here are some photos of my modified Epiphone:
(I actually took them yesterday to send to one of my friends who also plays guitar)

Epiphone Les Paul:
(There is a hole where the original pickup switch was.
There I will put a volume/tone pot bypass switch after I have fitted my new humbuckers.
I will also replace the original pickguard with a fully transparent pickguard,)

Rollerbridge:

 

[DennisN]

Just curious, how do you think your modified Epiphone holds up to a Gibson?

@Mondayman, @AndreasC (and others; I know there are others on PF who have built music gear, e.g. @QuantumQuest showed a couple of effects here)

I want to say that there are many good videos on youtube on improving and modifying cheaper guitars
(and also building and painting guitars). Here are some good examples:

• Here is a video about modifying an Epiphone Les Paul:
  Building The ULTIMATE EPIPHONE! - One Les Paul To Rule Them All
• Here is a video about modifying an Squier Stratocaster:
  Building a SUPER SQUIER! - Taking Aim At Fender's Best
• Here is a general video about improving guitars:
  Make Your CHEAP Guitar Play Like a MILLION Bucks
• Here is a great video about building a custom guitar from a Rickenbacker kit.
  It became a very cool and beautiful guitar and a great story about who finally got it.
  I built my DREAM Rickenbacker...then gave it away
• Here is a video about building a completely custom unusual guitar:
  Build your DREAM SUSTAINIAC (ft. @SCAR-MY-GUITAR )
• And regarding building, painting and finishing guitars, there's a guy named Brad Angove who has got a channel about this with many great videos:
  Brad Angove youtube channel

Maybe some may get some inspiration from these videos. I did .
I've been thinking about building a Rickenbacker type guitar either from scratch (except the neck, which I would buy), or try to locate some suitable DIY kit to start from.

Regarding DIY kits there are a couple of sites on the net, here are two:

• Harley Benton Guitar Kits (quite many different kits)
• Harley Benton Guitar Kits on Thomann

 

[Mondayman]

I typed up a long reply and thought I posted it. Wonder where it went.

Anyway, that is a nice guitar, @DennisN. I am pretty sold on the Epiphone. There's so much more to tone then the guitar, and that extra $1250 would be good to buy a new Amp with. I've always been after that Sticky Fingers tone that Mick Taylor had. What a great album.

I'd love to tinker with guitars, maybe even build my own. I love how EVH built one straight to his liking, essentially creating the superstrat.

What kind of music are you folks into?

 

[symbolipoint]

A nice question here:

What kind of music are you folks into?

The kind that does not rely on anything electronic/electrical. Especially of the guitar that use gut or nylon strings; and certain music done on ACOUSTIC piano.

 

[DennisN]

Anyway, that is a nice guitar, @DennisN. I am pretty sold on the Epiphone. There's so much more to tone then the guitar, and that extra $1250 would be good to buy a new Amp with.

Good luck!

What kind of music are you folks into?

I listen to and like quite a lot of different music. I would have to write an essay on it to describe it.
Some examples of what I'm currently into are Nothing But Thieves, Tycho (here's a great live performance*), Churches, Billie Eilish, Sigrid, and various electronic music like psychedelic trance, chillout/ambient, which I find very relaxing.

* The Les Paul played in that live performance is coincidentally very similar to how mine looked before I modified it.