I need some stuff to go with my new Guitar, recommendations for amp, cable, strap all sorts

Raymond Lin

Raymond Lin

Raymond Lin

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Could someone recommend an amp or 2? Nothing too expensive or big, just something to play at home in the bedroom, preferably with a 1/4 inch jack for headphones.

I've placed an order for a Qwik Tune Snark, £10, it looks like it should do the job and a friend has recommended Roland Cube?

Anything else I should look at? and what other things do I need/or useful to have? I am looking for essential, rather than buying all kinds of stuff on day 1.

picks, cable, strap, pedal?

Thanks!
 
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well the rocksmith/rocksmith 2014 are very good to have as it a fun game to play with your guitar. I've recently bought the rocksmith 2014 ps3 bundle so I am learning to play guitar while I play it as a game.
 
^^ I was going to ask about that, and yes you are right, think I'll go trade in Rockband/Guitar Hero for it. Who needs a fake guitar when you have a real one ? :D
 
I've also just recently started playing the guitar, I've had it for about 10 years had a couple of lessons in school but never got into it.

Rocksmith 2014 is a lot of fun and I'm sure it can help you get better at playing, I only got it last week and for the majority of the time I'm just sitting on the menus playing songs I've learnt from youtube

Learning the guitar isn't easy but it's never been easier, there are a few guitar tuning apps, youtube tutorials and tabs at your disposal
 
well just quick a bit info if you do decide to go for rocksmith I suggest paying the extra and getting 2014 edition as it as session mode which basely you pick various backing instrument, start playing and backing instrument will match what you doing so you can have a virtual band session. it will also after a short while give you ideas of chore, rifts etc to try that it think you might like and because you got a guitar you only need to buy the version of the game that has the game/tone cable.

as for audio hook up to avoid audio lag you can connect your console to headphone via a R/L phoneo connector or if you have an a/v receiver then connect it to that. currently I connect via opical cable to my a/v receiver even though it can cause audio lag I haven't notice any yet but I can hook it to a/v via phoneo cable if need as I but the a/v hook kit for my ps3.

after the a while you can unlock various amp effects in rocksmith.
 
I have recently bought an orange tiny terror combo, its amazing. Doesn't have the headphone jack though and it does play LOUD!
 
Was coming here to recommend Rocksmith 2014 but it looks like I've been beaten too it.

I picked up a guitar recently after a few years off and have been using Rocksmith as an amp and effects solution rather than buying an amp etc. Really impressed so far. I'm playing on the PC and there is 0 lag at all, couldn't say this about the earlier version.
It may be worth buying Rocksmith 1 as you can get the cable included at a decent price on the bay, for a small fee you can import most of the songs from the 1st one in to 2014.
 
I too tried last night when I posted to mention this but with rocksmith 2014, their is video clips that show how to do rifts, chore generally everything. for example if you do the rift lesson it show you finger placement for up and down rifts then once video finish a practise track come up to practice the rift on, the way the practice go is it show where on the brigde you need to rift from if you miss the rift it will slow it down. once you got it will speed it up, then to full speed plus throw in a few other chores so you can practise going from a rift to a chore. if you miss it or get too much it slow it down for you then once you got it again it speed it up so that you learn as you practice.
 
Ok, Rocksmith 2014 ordered !

I'll play for game first before deciding on an amp (otherwise I think I am just going to annoy the neighbours!). Watched loads of videos tonight and some of the progress of these people after 60 days is impressive.

Question - I also read there is lag if used via HDMI, how are you guys plugged in the game? I have a 360.
 
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Raymond Lin said:
picks, cable, strap, pedal?
Click to expand...

What guitar did you get Raymond? TTIUWP


Picks - 1mm jim dunlop nylons are what I use on my acoustic. If you have an electric guitar, you might want to go for something thicker so you can get the riffige going.

Cables - don't be cheap with your leads, man. Nuff said.

Strap - try one with your guitar in the shop; if it's comfy and doesn't slip around (leather straps with suede underneath to grip, are good) that's two out of the three criteria for choosing a strap. The third is how cool it looks ;)

Pedal - you don't say what you want it to do. There are so many pedals you have to narrow it down a bit. You can have individual pedals or pedals which have several effects types programmed in. Most all of them will be expensive for decent quality. Some years back I bought a boss bass equaliser pedal, iirc it was ~70-80quid. Things like loopers will be 100+

Amp - depends on what type of guitar electric/acoustic etc. For home practise 10 -50w power should be enough as a very rough guide. You won't need much more beans than that. I think my current practise amp (bass) is about 15w and it serves me fine at home. Play through some at the shop.

Ha! My old H&H bass amp combo was waaay too loud to play at home - one winter tuning up made all the snow fall off the roof of our house :o. It was either 150 or 200w. Damn thing had castors to move it about.
 
I'll take some proper pictures this weekend :D

As for cable...

http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/cables_detail.asp?stock=11121513165158

This one with an angled end? The guitar I have has the plug at the bottom. I have found it for £10 on Amazon.

As for strap, Leather and suede so it doesn't slip, 2.5" wide.

http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/guitarstraps_detail.asp?stock=08100110371919

I ordered a box of picks in various sizes, only like £3, will get to know them that way.

I think i'll leave the pedals on hold for now, will buy one if and when i need it. As for amp, will need to audition them and see which one I like. My friend up the road has a Fender, my brother in law has an Orange, could test them out too as well.

As for Guitar Pro, that's Plan B :)
 
Raymond Lin said:
Ok, Rocksmith 2014 ordered !

I'll play for game first before deciding on an amp (otherwise I think I am just going to annoy the neighbours!). Watched loads of videos tonight and some of the progress of these people after 60 days is impressive.

Question - I also read there is lag if used via HDMI, how are you guys plugged in the game? I have a 360.
Click to expand...

follow link below and scroll down to the xbox360 selection it show you their. their an a/v cable that has phono connector on it to connect to a a/v receiver or headphone.

http://rocksmith.ubi.com/rocksmith/en-gb/setup/index.aspx
 
Guitar Pro is indeed fantastic. THE best tab learning tool out there.

For Rocksmith on the Xbox, for best results hook it up to an amp via optical.

In terms of a practice amp, you can't really go wrong (for the cash) with the Roland Cube, Line 6 Spider IV 15w, or Peavey Vyper.
 
Dimple said:
When both my bands learn a new song I put the MP3 and the Guitar Pro file into Dropbox for them to download and come the weekend we just play it with no rehearsal. Even one of my drummers reads the Guitar Pro drum part.
Amazing software.
Click to expand...

Does Guitar Pro disect the song into tab/notes onto a page for you to read?

Any song?
 
Got myself my 1st 2nd hand electric guitar and rocksmith 2014 for xmas as well :D

Guitar: Dark Green Yamaha Pacifica 112J
Amp: Marshall MG15DFX amp
Tuner: Korg GA-1
Picks: Jim Dunlop Tortex Yellow Medium Picks 0.73mm.

I have read on a lot of sites saying that beginners should be using light pics, something like the Jim Dunlop Grey Nylon Standard Medium Picks 0.60mm or maybe even the Jim Dunlop White Nylon Standard Light Picks 0.46mm. The tortex yellow ones seem to be doing me fine though.

First thing I did xmas day was to replace the strings with some Ernie Ball Super Slinky, a lot easier than I thought...until I snapped the D string by overtightening the string whilst tuning it up lol. Had to wait a couple of days for my local music shop to open up after xmas to buy some new strings...wasn't best pleased to say the least. Once I got some new strings it was all good, have also adjusted the action and intonation as best I can. But will get my local music shop to do a proper setup for me at some point, just in case I've messed things up.

If you are going to change the strings yourself, make sure you pick yourself up a pegwinder. They are a godsend!

Loving Rocksmith 2014 so far, although it can get abit frustrating when you think your in the groove with a song and it suddenly throws up a new chord or technique that you haven't seen before. Certainly throws you off your flow at times that's for sure!

What I have found that helps, is the offically guide which explains all of the different symbols and techniques present in Rocksmith 2014. It can be found here: http://static2.cdn.ubi.com/ncsa/rocksmith/website/guides/Notehead-tail%20guide.pdf

There are 400+ custom songs available for Rocksmith 2014 on this site as well, but you have to register (free) to access them: http://forums.smithyanvil.com/index.php

Another site that I've been using for lessons to learn chords etc is this one: http://www.justinguitar.com/
 
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Raymond Lin said:
Does Guitar Pro disect the song into tab/notes onto a page for you to read?

Any song?
Click to expand...

It isn't quite that advanced, unfortunately. :D

You need the already tabbed Guitar Pro file for the song, which you load in. Guitar Pro will then play it for you with a MIDI output so you can get a grasp of the tempo etc. I'm not certain, but I think you can also load the .mp3 of the song to play along with the tab.

Loads of Guitar Pro tabs (of varying quality and correctness, natch) available online at sites like Ultimate Guitar.
 
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