Show off your musical instruments!

Discussion in 'Musicians and Instruments' started by The Alchemist, Oct 9, 2015.

  1. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

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    It has been a while since I thought about posting on here. But I've been lazy to take pics. I played piano since I was 6, and been off an on the past few years. For now I have a Casio PX-5S digital piano that I bought a few months ago, a G&L L-2000 Tribute bass, a G&L Tribute Invader (fat strat) guitar, and an 1990's Ovation acoustic. I normally record straight to the DAW in the computer. I did the band thing a long time ago, and participated a couple of jams when I was a member in a non music based forum. No lessons on the bass or guitar. All self taught. Though I'm not a big guitar player.
     
  2. Mrip

    Mrip Friend

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    My dad made this back in the 70s. It's a dulcimer, and also a person.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. wikxzen

    wikxzen New

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    My only "beauty" US G&L Comanche Custom (2015) with hardtail in cherry burst ... (pics originally taken by UpFrontGuitars shop, where I bought the guitar last year)
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2016
  4. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

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    Here's one more... My japanese Tokai 335 (with Phat Cat & BluesBucker pickups). This one has a raunchy P90 sort of tone.

    [​IMG]

    Overall quality is on par with my Gibsons, imo. I also have a Tele and a P-bass from the same company. They know how to make nice instruments in Japan.
     
  5. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

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  6. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    Although I was taught from a guitar teacher since I was 4 (I was lucky enough to have my teacher be the backup guitarist for Fleetwood Mac, a stand-in when they needed extra guitars when playing live) , I think a guitar teacher is only necessary for a guitarist first starting out, just to learn the proper fingering of the fret board. Once you have a good concept of how to actually play the instrument, I believe it is more important to learn music theory rather than just have a guitar teacher teach you chords, scales, modes, etc. You can always just learn those from a book or video. I think once you have even just a decent concept of how to play the instrument, and do much practice, the rest is up to the individual's creativity. But I highly suggest learning how to read and write music, as well as having a good understanding of music composition and theory.
     
  7. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    @MoatsArt - All a guitar teacher really needs to teach you is how to properly use your fingers on the fret board, and perhaps some picking techniques. Also, just starting out, a guitar teacher should teach you how to read music and how to apply that to the guitar. AS far as acquiring a good technique, that is up to the individual guitarists. Each guitarist, whether or not they are famous gradually develops their own, unique technique. For example, think of some famous guitarists that you know and like. You'll probably notice that their techniques are different. For example, some of my favorite guitarists (I'll just name 3) - John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani all have their own unique techniques (and Joe Satriani was Steve Vai's guitar teacher!) You could give me a blind test listen to any one of those 3 for example, and I could tell you within seconds which guitarist is playing - they all have their own style and technique.

    I believe developing your own technique is essential for developing your own style.
     
  8. Azteca

    Azteca Friend

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    I keep forgetting about this thread as soon as I step Into my practice space. Soon!
     
  9. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    looking forward to some pics @Azteca !
     
  10. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

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    Yeah, a teacher is good to have when getting started with guitar. But, I've never taken lessons and have succeeded in NOT learning too many bad playing habits. My alternate picking is still somewhat awkward though (I started playing pretty much every single-note with a dowstroke), my fingers move around a lot when it would be better to do it all with the wrist - I'm holding the pick "the wrong way", some might say.
     
  11. porkfriedpork

    porkfriedpork Friend

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    Youtube (http://www.justinguitar.com/) and Rocksmith are awesome, but I learn much faster with a teacher,
    probably because I feel like a dunce if I can't do what they showed me the last lesson.

    Bad teachers ask you what you want play, figure out some hacky version in 2 minutes, and teach you that.
    The good teachers I've had give me hell if my tone is bad or I'm not picking efficiently
    and have some kind of long term plan, usually including lots of theory and practice drills.

    My favorite teacher told me 'You play really well, it just sounds bad'. I found that motivating.
     
  12. Azteca

    Azteca Friend

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    A teacher is super helpful. Like others said, lots you can learn online these days. But a teacher can pick out the problem for you, show you a correction or even adjust your hand or arm, then have you do it again to see if you've fixed the problem. The same way Khan Academy is cool but is totally different from having a tutor.
     
  13. bumrush101

    bumrush101 Acquaintance

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    Yup, teachers are a great resource and should be used as such, but practice/read/watch/observe or just try to jam enough to be able to ask them questions useful for you. Put in the work, so you can one day too help someone out. Being able to communicate your needs and wants will be much more helpful in the long run. "We'd love to help you learn to help yourself." is the M.O. of most good teachers and giving people I've met...they won't hold your hand too much, unless they want to...but that's another story.
     
  14. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

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    Here's two more (lefties)...

    Gibson Les Paul Traditional (Bare Knuckle pickups: The Mule & Stormy Monday):
    [​IMG]

    It's basically an old school Les Paul (it's from about '09), without the weight relief of cavities like a recent Standard. It's quite heavy, but it sounds very good. Those BKP pickups are actually pretty close to the Classic '57 ones that were in the guitar, just a bit sweeter. These are my favorite humbuckers right now - great with low gain & cleans, but work ok with metal too. (There are better options for that, though... Duncan Distortion and Dimarzio's Super Distrtion are great for metal riffing.) The neck is pretty fat, this is what a 50's neck is all about.

    Tokai Breezysound MIJ Tele (Tom Anderson & Dimarzio Twang King pups):
    [​IMG]

    It's a Japanese telly, that's very well made - with vintage specs. The neck is fatter than Fenders American/Mexican Standards, it's a rounder C-shape vs their "modern-C". I bought it with the lot of mods made, which was cool. It has that old-timey radius (7,5) that I don't much like, but as a lefty I cannot complain too much. That Baja-Tele has very nice pickups and specs - you righties should try one.
     
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2016
  15. porkfriedpork

    porkfriedpork Friend

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    Has anyone here built DIY guitar pedals? Any favorites?
     
  16. nephilim

    nephilim Acquaintance

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    For the Dream Theater fans...
    [​IMG]

    Ibanez JPM100 P1 - I used to play this via a Marshall JCM900 50W + 2x12 micro stack. Unfortunately, it has been sitting in the case for the past years as I turned more towards piano again and have no time for a band.
     
  17. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    About to pick up this bass and case for $125. With this one ill actualy learn bass, unlike my other that I bassicaly made into a electric cello thats an octave lower.
    [​IMG]

    My current bass ive tuned in 5ths like my cello and im putting a fretless neck on
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  18. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    Now I have it. Great condition, sounds good, now I can actually read bass tabs. (wow this half of my room looks very 70's....)
    [​IMG]
     
  19. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    My fretless bass is finished now!
    More work than I thought
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  20. colorsquid

    colorsquid Friend

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    I only wish I could give these girls the time and attention they deserve.

    IMG_0695.JPG
     

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