TCgypsy

I can get a great jazz tone on my Gibson Les Paul. I think it is just a matter of preference. Fenders sound good too in the hands of a good player. I have heard dudes play what I would consider less than stellar guitars and sound pretty darn good. Whatever makes you happy! I like Gibson because of the neck (never been as comfy with Tele/Strat neck) but that is just a personal preference. I will play anything with strings that makes noise... Have fun. Peace, TC

I have an Ibanez 4 string I use now that's ok. ​I would love to own an Alembic Signature Deluxe 5 string bass: Now I just need a sugar-momma so I can afford one! Peace, TC

Just get fluent with your ii-V-I progressions in a few positions and you will do fine. Have fun and don't forget the shark repellent! Peace, TC

Free vintage guitars for us regular posters! Sign me up for a '68 Gibson SG please ... :-p -TC

$35 EACH?!?!? I will have to take your word on the review cuz I am not spending that kinda money on a pick even to check it out. Peace, TC

Moving day has finally arrived. I won't have internet at my new house til the 6th so if I don't answer critiques or PMs it's cuz I can't! Seeyas on the flip side ... TC

Just saw this cruising through old posts. I bend strings in both directions pushing or pulling the string - I don't think pulling the string is wrong. For instance on the low E you are going to have to pull it anyway cuz if you push it far it's coming off the neck! Sometimes pulling even on higher strings feels or sounds better to me so I do it this way. It's good to be able to consistently do it either way. Back to the original topic, sanding the back of your neck down to gain speed is a total myth. If you feel like you need to do it by all means the placebo effect is proven :-p If you are playing live under lights you are going to be leaving a puddle (unless you never sweat) so I don't know how a sanded neck is gonna be any faster than a varnished one when you are soaked in sweat even if you believe that removing the varnish makes you faster. Also, if you are holding onto the neck that tightly then you need to revisit your technique not visit Home Depot for sand paper! Peace, TC

For $5K those Peter Frampton LP models BETTER sound killer! I haven't had the pleasure to play one but I would never lay out those kinda bucks for a guitar unless I was making good steady money playing it. I paid about a grand for my LP Custom which was a lot of money back in the dinosaur days, but I could justify it because I was making regular money playing. It has paid for itself many many many times over. That being said, it would certainly be nice to have the disposable income to buy the guitars I want... Peace, TC

Now that looks like a fun guitar to play around with! I have a GK pickup but to be honest I haven't been especially crazy about the Roland systems (yeah, I know they are popular). Since I can play keys, I don't really play MIDI guitar very often although I have always had the hankering to use one. I absolutely hate the Fishman system. Yeah, they track ok but their computer interface stuff blows imo. I might have to look into getting one of those babies you pictured! Peace, TC

Lol, I don't think I CAN pick lightly. I have to be careful not to dig in like Stephen Stills when I fingerpick. I tend to like the tone from medium to heavy more than light but maybe that is a function of the guitars I have, too. Or maybe it's just the rocker coming out even on classical. I do love Renaissance era classical tunes which are more rockish than most other classical except for more modern stuff like some Leo Brower, etc. I use classical guitar on practically every tune I write on guitar for at least one part. If it's a keyboard based tune, not so much. My nails are a pain in the ass, too, I would win no awards for nice nails, lol. I had a friend that wore a glove on his right hand all the time to protect his nails - he looked rediculous so that is NOT an option. @Mike: I just learn the guitar parts and sometimes the bass on Steely Dan, and I learned the keys on a couple songs, too. Sax is out because I haven't the slightest clue how to play one! I don't really spend much time on covers these days because I have been busy working on my own tunes. The main reason I learn stuff now is because a student wants to learn how to play a specific song. It's funny that the kids nowadays want to learn many of the same songs I did as a young guitar player. A great song is always a great song! Peace, TC

Elliott Randall - very few of the population at large know who this guy is but EVERY guitarist I know does! A truly gifted player, and, yeah, he has had an interesting and diverse career with recognition, money, and getting to do what he wants to without the trappings of fame - a pretty rare thing. I have gotten a bit rusty with those solos but every now and then I revisit them and get them close just to keep myself honest There are a few iconic solos I do this on for inspiration and to keep my chops up. It's interesting that I haven't heard any really killer ones I care to learn for a few years now. Maybe I am just getting old and jaded, lol. I have never tried those aLaska picks or the Freedom ones. I use nail/finger 50/50 so I am not sure how easy it would be to adapt my right hand to those picks. I use pick + fingers (90% nail) too, especially on the electric so they could work great for that, I don't know. It might be fun to check them out, I am always up for something new. I have been using a capo a bit more lately which is something I never got into much to try for some different colors, and I am always screwing around with different tunings (intonation can be a b!tch on some of those, lol). I especially like odd tunings on 12-string like tuning the upper E pair to E and D, etc. With the right chord voicings utilizing open strings against fretted ones it can sound really really cool. Strings are meant to be messed with! Synths are fun but I really enjoy getting the sound right off the steel/nylon - it is more intimate to me than playing keys. Peace, TC

I used to tap a ton, too. I haven't done much of it since I stopped playing professionally so my tapping kinda sucks now, lol. Also, I keep a good set of nails on my right hand because I play classical guitar a lot more these days which makes tapping tricky. I love my Ramirez, it's a great guitar (got it cherry off eBAY for a steal from a guy who REALLY took care of it). That and my Les Paul are my two best axes, imo. I would like to get a nice Fender at some point like your Tele or a nice strat. They just sound so different than a Gibson, and I can't really come close to that sound with either one of my electrics. The Schecter gets a little closer but it doesn't really cut it either. My Les Paul is just one of those guitars you NEVER sell. Even for an 83 LP (which was a very good year) it is a cut above other similiar era LPs I have played. I got lucky I guess ... If I was rich I would own SO many guitars it would be ridiculous. I have a guitar in my hand half of all my waking hours! Peace, TC PS: a big bump on the Steely Dan influence. Solos in Reelin' in the Years are epic!

Lots of interesting guitars on here! My collection: 1983 Les Paul Custom Schecter Diamond XXX Ramirez 2CWE classical Ibanez Balladeer 12-string Ibanez SR300 bass Sigma (Martin) DR-41 PS: the piano in the background is a 1948 Wurlitzer

Vocal control takes awhile to achieve, just keep working at it! I am a songwriter who constantly struggles with vocal control so I feel you. You have a nice voice quality which is just as important as pitch imho. Do you write originals, too, or just do covers? Peace, TC

It's the End of the World As We Know It - R.E.M.

I am wondering why you are analyzing this song. Are you learning this as a cover tune, or looking for inspiration to write a tune of your own? Just curious is all... Your profile doesn't give any info on what type of music you like or your influences.

Yeah, I will never sell it. It held up for 15+ years of gigging more or less full time including some of the worst conditions imaginable. It's completely original and the only thing I've ever had to do was get the frets ironed once. One thing you gotta say about Gibsons; they can take a licking and keep on ticking! I don't play it as much now, it's just too freakin' heavy to wear around my neck while I wrestle with my DAW.

I've never been a fan of unpotted pickups. I used to swap out pickups (and other hardware) on my guitars more often than Gene Simmons changed girlfriends. As a young pup I thought the right 'sound' was everything; now, hand me anything with strings and I am happy. Those old pickups were just way to "squealy" and I never really liked the tone. That is not to say that it's not possible to make a great sounding unpotted pickup. I haven't checked out the Bare Knuckles pickups so I don't have an opinion on those. BTW, proud Gibson owner now for 30 years (I do agree that the big heel on the neck of my Les Paul can be a PITA at times!).

I listen to music all the time when I am not working on my own. I listen to CDs and vinyl records (Yes, I still have one!) but I do most of my listening on Soundcloud, etc. There is some really amazing music out there from artists and songwriters most people have never heard of; beats the hell out of most music on the radio nowadays.