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

Haha true dat

I don't think I'd have bought the L20H and cab normally, but I saw the pair together on gumtree for £400 :eek: (yes, you read that right)

It sounds like I don't have quite so much of a problem (yet!) A lot of my pedals used to be primarily to get a more dynamic valve-sounding tone from a crappier old Laney digital amp I used to use, but since getting the Lionheart I don't use them much anymore (primarily the EHX English Muff'n and the EHX Holy Grail original)...

So presently my board pretty much consists of a BOSS DD-6 for delay, very nice sounding analog Ibanez CS-9 chorus, an EHX Big-muff pi, BOSS DS-2 and a Crybaby... Even still a lot of the time I don't bother plugging into the board at all and just go straight into the amp
 
uncle_rufus said:
So presently my board pretty much consists of a BOSS DD-6 for delay, very nice sounding analog Ibanez CS-9 chorus, an EHX Big-muff pi, BOSS DS-2 and a Crybaby... Even still a lot of the time I don't bother plugging into the board at all and just go straight into the amp
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I find it really interesting seeing how others setup their kit. I go for the more layered approach. I would always have a level of overdrive (keeley modded TS9) when I'm playing in one band with the second overdrive (Jekyll & Hyde) for choruses or instrumentals, just so I can pop out of the mix a bit more. Same with delays, I always have the nova delay ready with each song tempo preset and the DD5 and DD7 would be more on the fly when lead singer throws in a random song not on the set list. I tend to have the TS9 on all the time as the combination with the amp just works incredibly well.

Must stop searching for a POG.
 
easyrider said:
One thing to keep in mind is I have seen so many mediocre guitar players with racks of FX...

Get good first :p

I insecure guitar player hides behind his FX rack :D
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That's exactly when I bought the Yamaha, it does all the sounds without any pedals, with USB to the computer to edit new sounds that you want. I can do chorus, reverb, delay etc as standard. Changing from Acoustic amp setting to "Brit Hi" (an imitation of Marshall JCM 2000) makes the amp's knobs behaves like a Marshall.

That doesn't mean I am not tempted by all the gear though, I've been looking at PRS and Les Paul lately, window shopping :) Hmmm new Les Paul 2014 Studio………


I've actually even holding off trying to learn songs at the moment, doing lessons in Rocksmith and Justin's lessons, past week I've done nothing but chord changes. I just sit there watching TV with a guitar in my lap changing chords over and over. I want to do it right every time without looking by touch, that's the target.

The other down side is because of the calluses, I can't sense the strings as well….catch 22.
 
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boxman2000 said:
I find it really interesting seeing how others setup their kit. I go for the more layered approach. I would always have a level of overdrive (keeley modded TS9) when I'm playing in one band with the second overdrive (Jekyll & Hyde) for choruses or instrumentals, just so I can pop out of the mix a bit more. Same with delays, I always have the nova delay ready with each song tempo preset and the DD5 and DD7 would be more on the fly when lead singer throws in a random song not on the set list. I tend to have the TS9 on all the time as the combination with the amp just works incredibly well.
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Sounds pretty awesome - have you seen the Strymon time machine or whatever it's called that has the double-layering delay and such, pretty epic pedals (too £££ for me though!)... I'd really like to pickup a TS9, as the guy I bought the amp from had one which I tried with it and it was definitely a good match

Raymond Lin said:
That doesn't mean I am not tempted by all the gear though, I've been looking at PRS and Les Paul lately, window shopping :) Hmmm new Les Paul 2014 Studio………
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Last year I picked up an Korean Epiphone LP on ebay - birdseye figured top which was apparently accidentally finished in honeyburst (not one of the standard finishes for that top)... Plays great and looks amazing, cost about £300 - bargain :D
 
I would like a US made PRS Custom 22…..but the price is OMG. Or one of their tree of life inlays or the birds. /me like pretty inlays.
 
I bought my USA Fender Stratocaster Deluxe Amber for 350 quid...Nagged husband getting his own back on his wife. :D

He delivered it in a SUV filled with kids and a nagging wife!
 
uncle_rufus said:
Haha true dat

and a Crybaby... Even still a lot of the time I don't bother plugging into the board at all and just go straight into the amp
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I use the FX on the fender XD champ amp an old BOSS Chorus pedal I bought when I was 16 for £88 (never sell it) worked my butt off to get it and my crybaby.

I think if you keep things simple you can focus on playing....

I just recently auditioned a drummer for my new studio project...He actually commented on my lack of FX compared to the guitarist in his last band.

At the end of the jam he complimented on my playing and said he enjoyed the jam and the lack of BS going on.

I asked him to do a fill from Ogdens Nut gone flake...

we are married now :D
 
Similar to photography I guess.

As a beginner it is so easy to sucked into buying all sorts of things, start with the kit lens, then you want a telephoto (not because you want to take photos of birds, you just want a big zoom), then you want a wide angle, then you get all sorts of filters, flash, tripod. Basically buying all these things to try it out but the skills is not up to par to take advantage of any of it to its full potential.

I see people often travel on holiday with a rucksack full of camera stuff, I mean it’s a holiday not a job. On holiday I just take 1 lens, 1 camera, and a tiny tripod and nothing else. No filters, no flash, not even a zoom lens. In the end hopefully what will comes through is the skill, not the fancy gear.

Right now I want work on the guitar playing, get the foundation down, get good at that, which should compensate and exceed what any pedals can do, after that the effects will follow if needs be. Granted, I'd love a really nice big all solid Taylor Acoustic (or Martin, or Gibson, or Collings, or Santa Cruz etc) but I promise myself I won't until I can at least play a few songs compentently.

Still, window shopping is fun /off to look at some pretty PRS :p
 
Definitely sound thinking there I'd say - I'm a firm believer that you don't *need* the best gear to be a good player, although I think there is arguably a minimum level of quality the gear you do have needs to be at the same time (i.e. there is only so far you can go on a super-cheap £100 strat copy before the workmanship of the instrument begins to work against you)...

I think the difference between a ~£300 - 500 guitar and a £1,000+ guitar are far less important however
 
I learnt on a crappy Hohner Strat copy...Man I loved that thing....Upgraded to a Gibson SG standard in cherry...hated it

Traded it in for a USA Tele standard 1992 I was 18....

I have a few guitars but I have finally found " the ultimate guitar"

1998 collectors edition telecaster...Limited Run, American Built, Gold hardware and based on the 1958 Telecaster





 
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Yeah, I hear a lot of people say buy a cheap (some even say cheapest) guitar you can and learn on that or someone in a famous band learned on some crappy no name guitar too or so and so learned on a guitar given to them free from uncle bob etc.

All good and well but I think a nice guitar that feels great encourages you to pick it up and play. If one night I don't pick up my guitar at practice for a bit I actually feel guilty. I certainly wouldn't have if I was given one.

I mean look at it, I just want to pick it up now ! :)

wVxSOGwl.jpg
 
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uncle_rufus said:
have you seen the Strymon time machine or whatever it's called that has the double-layering delay and such, pretty epic pedals (too £££ for me though!)... I'd really like to pickup a TS9, as the guy I bought the amp from had one which I tried with it and it was definitely a good match
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Yes, Strymon make some pretty awesome kit, it's the timeline I think you were talking about. I was going to get an El Capistan a few years ago but settled on the TC Electronics Nova Delay and glad I saved the £300+. That's why I have the DD5/7 combo as you can get some lovely layered delay sounds going, add a bit of reverb and it sounds soooo nice.

My TS9 I got it on an ebay punt and turns out it's an original TS9 with some 808 parts and has been modded by Keeley Electronics in the US. Only cost me £70 and was already modded so that was a bargain as must be close to £200 worth of pedal. If you can buy an older TS9 or even an 808 I think you’ll be happier than with the new ones.


Best bit of advice I can give with buying any kit is don't ignore the amp!

A cr@p amp can make the best guitar money can buy still sound cr@p.
A good amp (not talking megabucks) can make a cr@p guitar sound good.
A great amp can make a great guitar (or most things) sound AMAZING!

I ended up going for a Vox AC15 H1TV (handwired anniversary re-issue) and just sounds lush with anything you plug into it. Best £700 I've ever spent (ebay again)!

Raymond, if you're looking along the PRS and Les Paul route may I suggest also looking into a couple more brands (at least): Gretch and Duesenberg.

I bought a Duesenberg CC on ebay (again!) a few years ago as a punt as I was after the Starplayer TV model but this was 1/4 of RRP and only a few years old - WHAT a guitar for £450! I'm now in love with hollowbody electrics and have hardly picked up my other guitars since.


Not to everyone's taste I know (especially scratch plate which will be replaced one day) but looks much less orange in the flesh!

Gretsch are also lovely guitars and a really solid reliable make. I bought a Les Paul because I knew what it was before I knew what it did, don't get me wrong, I love it, but it didn't suit the sort of music I played, I wish I’d spent that money on a Gretsch as they look/feel/sound great (to me).

As for pedals, yes it can overcomplicate things but it can also give you that sound you never knew you were looking for. I watched The Edge in a documentary years ago talking about pedals and he said almost every pedal does one thing really well, if that one thing can be used really well then it is worth it! Not that I'm any great shakes on the guitar but I have been playing for 20 years so hopefully know enough to justify the spend, in my mind :)

I think there are a fair few into metal here so of course fundamentally you’re not going to need much in the way of FX. Same for jazz and blues as well. I’m more into soundscape/shoegaze stuff, swells and the like.

Nice Taylor there Raymond. Nearly bought myself a 410e last week but couldn't justify it with the work we’re doing on the house at the moment. Will stick with my old faithful Yamaha for now!
 
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boxman2000 said:
Best bit of advice I can give with buying any kit is don't ignore the amp!

A cr@p amp can make the best guitar money can buy still sound cr@p.
A good amp (not talking megabucks) can make a cr@p guitar sound good.
A great amp can make a great guitar (or most things) sound AMAZING!

I ended up going for a Vox AC15 H1TV (handwired anniversary re-issue) and just sounds lush with anything you plug into it. Best £700 I've ever spent (ebay again)!
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As I mentioned I'm sorted for an amp ;) Laney L20H + matching cab
 
boxman2000 said:
Gretch and Duesenberg.


Gretsch are also lovely guitars and a really solid reliable make. I bought a Les Paul because I knew what it was before I knew what it did, don't get me wrong, I love it, but it didn't suit the sort of music I played, I wish I’d spent that money on a Gretsch as they look/feel/sound great (to me).

!
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I don't rate the Korean Electromatic series...They are not worth their £600+ price tag....

My Mate has one...http://www.soundsliveshop.com/p/Gre...&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CIvU4c-Q2LwCFXGWtAodpysASg

And the build quality and finish is far from the money he paid.

Either get an Real American one used...Or get a Real Re-issue Japanese one

These are built to vintage spec...But cost £1600 +
 
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uncle_rufus said:
As I mentioned I'm sorted for an amp ;) Laney L20H + matching cab
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Was more on topic for Raymond ;)

easyrider said:
I don't rate the Korean Electromatic series...They are not worth their £600+ price tag....
Either get an Real American one used...Or get a Real Re-issue Japanese one

These are built to vintage spec...But cost £1600 +
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Agree, but Raymond was talking about PRS and Les Paul money so clearly £1k+ which is US territory or re-issue. I should have said to avoid the electromatics (although they play OK, I’m not a fan on the feel etc).
 
boxman2000 said:
Agree, but Raymond was talking about PRS and Les Paul money so clearly £1k+ which is US territory or re-issue. I should have said to avoid the electromatics (although they play OK, I’m not a fan on the feel etc).
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Thats alright then :p;)

At the top end its always best to buy used.

I don't think I have ever bought a Brand new Guitar apart from my Gibson Les Paul Zebrawood.

Top end guitars used are the way to go.

In fact a used Martin thats been played in is more desirable than a new one :p

Taylors too :D

I would love a Gibson 335 but I wouldn't ever dream of buying one new! ewe!:eek:

I would always try and look out for a used Japan Strat or Tele over a new Guitar like a Pacifica any day of the week.

They are out there hundreds of em.... No one should be afrid to buy used guitars!
 
+1 For buying used...

There's also a certain magic about getting a used instrument especially if it's a decade or two old, like it has character and history to it :) Like my LP - I love the story that it's effectively a one-of-a-kind due to the mistake they made on the finish

I think if I could get hold of anything right now it would be one of the Clapton signature strats in the candy-green finish, lace-sensors etc... They seem pretty hard to come by though! And everytime I think I've decided on a Strat I suddenly see a Tele that I like :p
 
Right now I have an urge to get a 2014 Les Paul Studio Pro, its their 120th anniversary edition. My research susggest that it is basically a les paul standard without any of the bling (mostly binding). It has the new tapered 60's neck, it has the modern weight relief body (actually people say this is better than the previous weight relief version) , it has the same hardware, even comes in that classic pink poodle interior brown leather case !

As for PRS, I nipped that idea in the bud, my research suggests that (if I want a USA made one), even the S2 are not truly USA made, they are manufactured in Korea, and then assembled in the US, so not a true US copy (semantics, but still). The real USA made ones are around £2k which is way way way expensive for me to even contemplate. I have found a PRS CE22 for £900 in Cardiff secondhand, but these are like $700 in the US and we are getting shafted here with PRS secondhand prices.

Anyway, it's just GAS and just an urge, as long as I stay away from GuitarGuitar and PMT I am safe. :D

I put all these under the heading of research :D, I find it facinating about reading it all. There are just so much to learn.

p.s. I've never tried a Gibson 335 but I've read it on a few different boards that past 335 owners who has tried a T5 has commented on the T5 can made to sound just like the 335.
 
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