# The Great Ongoing Guitar Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 31, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172 "2010-01-31T23:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 140
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2783 "2013-02-11T21:07:00Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > I also wanted to add that I have chosen to play the B7 by barring at the 4th fret and putting one finger on the 1st string at the 5th fret. Sure is a lot easier that way, and makes me want to ask you, is it possible to just bar _everything_? > > Thanks > > Q With all the various ways to voice and finger chords, I am sure the answer is yes. I play a B your way when I am bulling through Hey Hey by Big Bill Broonzy, a fun E shuffle. **Nars** , **squeegee** is right. Let us know if you have any questions… 😉 As for me, I remain focused on acoustic. Small-bodied Martins like Model 0 and 00 have extra-wide necks - between normal and classical - to provide better string spread for finger-picky stuff. I don’t fingerpick patterns - well, except **Dust in the Wind** 😉 - but I have wanted to expand my technique to include _fingerstyle_- where I put the pick down and use my fingers, but not in a set way - just kinda throw them out there. Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler both play this way, but obviously very, very differently. So I have one of those wide-necked Martins and am hacking away - and starting to actually sound fluid. It’s fun - and these little guitars are typically only 12 frets clear of the body - vs 14 normally on acoustics - so the bridge is on a different spot on the top and provides a different tone. It’s really rich - having fun. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2784 "2013-02-12T02:56:24Z")
OMFG, Guitar Fetish [has](http://www.guitarfetish.com/XV-840-Solid-Alder-DOUBLE-Bound_c_435.html) _double bound_ “Telecasters” now. Damn, I’ve always liked the look of a double-b Tele, but they’re really hard to come by from what I’ve read. Must. Resist. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2785 "2013-02-12T12:07:31Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > OMFG, Guitar Fetish [has](http://www.guitarfetish.com/XV-840-Solid-Alder-DOUBLE-Bound_c_435.html) _double bound_ “Telecasters” now. Damn, I’ve always liked the look of a double-b Tele, but they’re really hard to come by from what I’ve read. Must. Resist. Don’t you have a Tele - a nice Deluxe or something with a burst finish and the top is bound? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2786 "2013-02-12T15:15:24Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Don’t you have a Tele - a nice Deluxe or something with a burst finish and the top is bound? Yeah, [here she is](http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/squeegee64/guitar/IMG_2070-Edit.jpg). Love that guitar. But we have an open relationship. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2787 "2013-02-12T15:19:38Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Yeah, [here she is](http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/squeegee64/guitar/IMG_2070-Edit.jpg). Love that guitar. But we have an open relationship. If you don’t mind my asking, what were you doing to her in the first set of pics? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2788 "2013-02-12T15:27:25Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > If you don’t mind my asking, what were you doing to her in the first set of pics? [This](http://s301.beta.photobucket.com/user/squeegee64/media/guitar/IMG_2063.jpg.html?sort=3&o=3)? New pickups; I replaced the stock Fender SCN’s with a Duncan Jerry Donahue in the bridge and a GFS “Fatbody” (the not-overwound version) in the neck, and changed the pickguard from pearloid to off-white. I was also asking up-thread what the extra hole in the body might be (note the arrow), and the consensus was that that’s where they attached the body to an NC jig when it was made. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2789 "2013-02-12T15:51:51Z")
So there’s just an empty hole under the pick guard? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2790 "2013-02-12T16:30:34Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > So there’s just an empty hole under the pick guard? Pretty much. It’s shallow, maybe 3/8" deep. You can also see that Fender left room for a neck humbucker and a middle pickup, nice of them. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2791 "2013-02-12T17:07:51Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Pretty much. It’s shallow, maybe 3/8" deep. You can also see that Fender left room for a neck humbucker and a middle pickup, nice of them. I guess I never thought about it before but since there’s enough room for a humbucker, then the only thing that the pickup attaches to is the pick guard? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2792 "2013-02-12T17:34:02Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I guess I never thought about it before but since there’s enough room for a humbucker, then the only thing that the pickup attaches to is the pick guard? Yup. A Tele neck or middle pickup (where applicable) attach to the pickguard. On a Strat, all pickups are on the pickguard. It certainly makes them easier to work on than, say, [this semi-hollow guitar](http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/tonefreaks/40089-335-electronics-installation-k-how-take-years-off-your-life.html) (which came up earlier in the thread). Sadly you have to remove all the bridge saddles and pop off that big bridge plate to get to a Tele bridge pickup, which isn’t nearly as convenient. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2793 "2013-02-12T21:40:53Z")
Well crap. Now I want a Telecaster too. Is it Christmas yet? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2794 "2013-02-12T21:50:44Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Well crap. Now I want a Telecaster too. Is it Christmas yet? Go get one of the [GFS ones](http://www.guitarfetish.com/XV-840-Solid-Alder-DOUBLE-Bound_c_435.html). I can’t vouch for their “Tele”, but I have one of their LP Special knock-offs, and like it quite a lot. Decent instrument. Or go get a MIM Tele, $500ish, some are quite good. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2795 "2013-02-12T21:58:18Z")
Thanks. I’ll bookmark that page for future reference. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2796 "2013-02-13T17:25:48Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > **Nars** , **squeegee** is right. Let us know if you have any questions… 😉 Thanks **WordMan** , I definetly will. In fact, I’ll start with something pretty lame. Do you long time guitarists have any feeling in the fingertips of your fretting hands? ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2797 "2013-02-13T17:29:10Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Go get one of the [GFS ones](http://www.guitarfetish.com/XV-840-Solid-Alder-DOUBLE-Bound_c_435.html). I can’t vouch for their “Tele”, but I have one of their LP Special knock-offs, and like it quite a lot. Decent instrument. Or go get a MIM Tele, $500ish, some are quite good. I picked up one of their [XV-820’s](http://www.guitarfetish.com/XV-820-Single-Cutaway-Solid-Body_c_157.html) a year or so ago… great instrument for the price. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2798 "2013-02-13T17:30:38Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Thanks **WordMan** , I definetly will. In fact, I’ll start with something pretty lame. Do you long time guitarists have any feeling in the fingertips of your fretting hands? I’ve been playing guitar since about 1980, and [del]boy are my hands tired[/del] my fingertips have plenty of touch sensitivity. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2799 "2013-02-13T18:25:16Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Thanks **WordMan** , I definetly will. In fact, I’ll start with something pretty lame. Do you long time guitarists have any feeling in the fingertips of your fretting hands? Per **Shakester** , yes, plenty. There was a while - over a decade - where I had thick, peelly calluses - eesh. After this long, they just feel a bit…harder vs. my other hand, but no less sensitive. I can play a few hours at a go before I can tell they’ll be sore the next day. Now, on my picking hand, I’m breaking a new set of calluses in - playing fingerstyle. I play 30 minutes and feel it the next day. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2800 "2013-02-13T22:31:23Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I had no idea that GAS was so contagious. I’ve only had my Strat for 3 weeks and I’ve already added an Fender acoustic. This will not end well. I feel for you, I’m still trying to finish our kitchen remodel and have just found a guitar that I really-really-really-really-need-I-promise-to-walk-and-feed-it-everyday-please…we can live without floor tile, right? Mrs G will understand, right? Guys? ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2801 "2013-02-19T00:21:11Z")
Heh. **Mrs. G** (if she’s anything like Mrs. Q) _may_ go along with it, but if she does, you’d better let her see you using it with a lot of “Thank you, Honey(s)! I’m really enjoying playing my new guitar!” and stuff. I find this gets me my next piece of equipment a lot easier the next time. 🙂 ======================= Question guys: I have a Fender G-DEC amp which I really like, but it sure does take a long time to set up the sound I want. I find myself having to make notes. [This](http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/www.pinkfloyd-co.com/band/tab/obc/chd_obc-free.txt) song for instance: I have to select the drums, tempo, key, amp and fx, so I am wondering if I shouldn’t just get some pedals? Which do you guys like, pedals or an amp with all kinds of settings? This is a fun Floyd song to play by the way. Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2802 "2013-02-19T00:32:07Z")
**Quasi** : as far as the G-DEC, I think you can dump/load all those settings via MIDI to another device, like a laptop, and reload it all whenever. And you can save whatever custom sound you make as a preset on the G-DEC itself and call that back up any time, though I think minus the drums and etc. I also understand you can load drum patterns and bass lines via MIDI as well, but I admit I’m a little vague on this. As far as what I like? I do all the drums and bass and some effects on a computer with Ableton + plug-ins, and I either mic my amp + pedals + add sweetening in Ableton to that, or I’ll play direct into the computer into some amp modeling (Guitar Rig 4 mostly) inside Ableton. Great fun. I have my son’s old G-DEC, but I don’t really have a use for it or much patience with it’s menu system. It does have some damned fun sounds in it, although all the factory presets have way, way too much going on to be very useful. Once you dial those back it’s not half bad at all, but it depends what you’re going for. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=139) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=141)