# 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:** 297
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2023, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5926 "2023-04-21T15:35:32Z")
That is a very cool concept! I’d be too nervous to try anything like that since I don’t play with others very often these days. I need to find a way to rectify that. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2023, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5927 "2023-04-21T15:45:41Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I’ve been having a great time keeping my chops up by going to jam nights Jam nights can be a lot of fun and a great way to hook up with other musicians. Unfortunately there don’t seem to be any where I live now (Chester, in the UK). The days of British ‘Pub Rock’ seem to be long gone, alas. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2023, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5928 "2023-04-21T17:42:56Z")
By the way, if anyone from Chester is reading this and would have any interest in getting some sort of jam session organised, drop me an email. ‘xtenkfarpl@yahoo.com’ I did approach the local arts centre (Storyhouse) but they were totally uninterested… ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2023, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5929 "2023-04-21T18:36:20Z")
You’d do fine here. They pride themselves on, “no judgement, safe space,” and all that. The talent that shows up range from “are you sure you know what music is?” to, “why aren’t you touring Europe right now?” I suppose I’m somewhat of a regular by now so I’ve got most of the other regulars clocked. I know who’s got the chops and who’s going through the motions. There are a few posers who talk a lot but really have no idea what they’re doing and few diamonds in the rough who you wouldn’t think would say, “shit,” if they had a mouth full of it and they get up there and tear off the roof. The hang is just as fun. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5930 "2023-04-26T02:35:55Z")
? About A Precision Bass. The split pickup. Are they in phase or out of phase? I suspect if they were out of phase you’d get noise cancellation but you wouldn’t need to reverse the magnets on one half to get the hum canceling (bucking) effect. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5931 "2023-04-26T15:55:57Z")
[Here:](https://stringjoy.com/bass-pickup-types-p-j-humbucker/) > [@](#): > > P pickups are an interesting piece of work. Much like a J pickup, P’s feature two magnetized pole pieces per string, but they have the unique trait of being cut in half and reverse-wound. This was a change made to Precision basses in 1957 to compete in the newly emerging humbucker pickup arena, fighting off the buzz that plagues single-coil designs. Though Fender had a patent pending for a double-coil humbucker at the time, the decision to implement the split-coil allowed for more precisely modding the Precision’s tone. > > In P bass pickup types, you have what is basically a single-coil pickup split in two. Each half has four magnetic slugs, two for each string. These slugs are staggered to get the greatest range and balance of tones, often set to match the radius of the bass neck; so, the E- and G-string slugs are lower than the A- and D-string slugs in order to balance the pickup’s response to each string. > > [One half](https://www.stewmac.com/articles-and-video/online-resources/learn-about-guitar-pickups-and-electronics-and-wiring/parts-kit-for-precision-bass-pickups.html) of the pickup has coils wound in a counter-clockwise direction with its magnetic poles north-end up, while the other half reverses this, using a clockwise winding and south-up magnets. The two halves are separately cased but wired together to function as a single pickup. > > The benefit of this reverse-polarity and reverse-winding is the humbucking effect. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5932 "2023-04-27T05:19:32Z")
Thanks. I wasn’t sure if the magnets on one coil were reversed. I knew the split coils were for humbucking. I still wonder if the magnets need to be reversed on one coil/bobbin. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5933 "2023-04-28T04:28:53Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > I still wonder if the magnets need to be reversed on one coil/bobbin. Yep, from my understanding one set needs to be reversed from the other. Through a friend of my friend not being able to attend a show, I got to see Junior Brown for the first time tonight. No matter what he’s playing - jazz chords, chicken pickin’, crazy jazz inversions on the slide neck, crazy cross bar positions on the slide neck, loony leads on either neck, he was amazing. I wanna be him. If there is one injustice in the man, it’s that a person who’s such a good singer is actually a better guitarist than he is a singer. Tomorrow I’m going to see Dinosaur Jr., so I get to see the king of indie guitar sling (of the 90s) on a subsequent night. It’s shaping up to be a nice week. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5934 "2023-04-28T05:19:14Z")
[quote=“scabpicker, post:5933, topic:527172, full:true”] > [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Tomorrow I’m going to see Dinosaur Jr., … Don’t forget your earplugs. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5935 "2023-04-28T05:33:45Z")
Heheh, I saw them ages ago without hearing protection, and I’ve played for decades without it, as well. My left ear isn’t what it used to be, at all. I dunno why, but the drummer I seem to work with the most wants me to be to the right of his ride cymbal, whether I’ve played guitar or bass. If I turn to see him or the rest of the band, my left ear is going to get it. Either way, an evening of loud in a barn like the Longhorn Ballroom probably isn’t going to make a gigantic amount of difference in the ringing in my ears that I’ve been able to hear for decades if I’m willing to listen for it. However, the Junior Brown show was one of the few shows I’ve left where I didn’t hear them ringing involuntarily afterward. Thankya, Mr. Brown. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5936 "2023-05-16T20:18:24Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Took my \>50 year old Guild acoustic into the luthier to get the neck reset done. Got my Guild back and I LOVE IT!! I’ve had this guitar for over 30 years, and it is my only acoustic 6-string. The last few years I’ve just dealt with the high string action and a buzzy low E. I finally decided it was time to look and I found a highly rated luthier nearby. He did the neck reset and it is clean (Guild finishes the guitar after the neck is set so you have to get through the finish)! He also: - Glued the bridge back down - Cut and installed new bone saddle - Removed the pickguard and flattened out the bulge it was causing, glued the cracks that were forming from shrinking pickguard (not just a Martin problem), re-adhered pickguard with 2-sided tape - lubed and tightened tuners - Built up nut under low E (he would’ve installed new, but decided to wait) Prior to the work, it still sounded great, but was getting to be a pain to play. Now, it still sounds great, but it plays great. No buzzing on any string, any fret. Stays in tune (always did this). This guitar means a lot to me and I’m glad to have it back in great function. If anyone is around Spokane, WA and wants the name of a great luthier, let me know. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5937 "2023-06-02T19:32:35Z")
I’ve got two guitars at a time hanging by my chair. My little amp has one input, so I want an A/B switch. I looked for them online, but they want money. I bought a pickup selector switch and three 1/4" jacks and am going to try to make one myself. Why won’t this work? ---
**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:** [June 2, 2023, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5938 "2023-06-02T19:34:01Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Why won’t this work? Sounds like it will. Just carefully ground everything or you’ll end up in hum hell. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5939 "2023-06-02T21:04:22Z")
Yeah, there’s no reason it shouldn’t work. The voltage a guitar normally carries is tiny, so pretty much any A/B switch will work. But you’ve just reminded me that I’ve been meaning to buy an A/B switch for weeks to be able to switch between my organ and bass in a show and I keep forgetting. Thankya! Off to order one now. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5940 "2023-06-02T21:28:59Z")
I found the prices of the things interesting. I would have thought it would be one of the simplest circuits imaginable, yet some of the pedals were more expensive than effects pedals. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5941 "2023-06-02T22:02:05Z")
Yeah, I did a quick perusal of them on reverb before selecting a very basic one that didn’t even require batteries (a JHS Mini A/B) for about 60$. The ones that were more expensive than that had a bunch of things I don’t think I need, such as buffer circuits or an A+B mode where you get both. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5942 "2023-06-03T13:02:51Z")
You could just get another little amp for not much more than that. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5943 "2023-06-03T15:54:49Z")
Yeah, but I’m feeding both of these instruments into a 300W tube amp and a 2x15 cab. Even if I did want to carry around a second rig, it’d be a lot more than $60. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5944 "2023-06-03T17:03:20Z")
I think he means me getting another little amp, which I could, but I have a bunch of garden variety effects stuff that I would have to duplicate. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/5945 "2023-06-12T14:42:55Z")
Hi, everyone - I’m delighted to see this thread is still going! I’ve been away from the SDMB, but I’ve been back off and on for a couple of months. I’m slowly catching up on all the conversations I’ve missed out on. What’s everyone up to these days? My big news - I’ve got two singles already out, another one coming out in a couple of weeks, another one in a month, and an album coming out in late August. Have a look for me on YouTube at Doug MacNaughton Official… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=296) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=298)