# 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:** 321
**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:** [May 6, 2024, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6406 "2024-05-06T01:34:13Z")
I’m right on the cusp of a band project or two myself. I’d put myself in the same category as you musical ability-wise, but reverse the guitar/bass ability. I jam three to four nights a week at a pub downtown. I’ve been doing that for over a year now. I’ve made many friends (one of whom is staying with my right now), and several bands have already emerged from the congregation. There’s one band who just lost their bass player and I’d love to play with them, but I don’t know if I have the bass chops; their previous bass player was really good. Another combo who is backing this really talented female singer may be looking for a second guitarist, and I’m pretty good friends with both the singer and the other guitar player. Beyond that I’ve had two different drummers and a bass player ask me if I was playing in any bands lately, which really makes me want to. There’s another guy I play with all the time who’s crazy talented and always brings it during a jam and we always have fun together on stage. We could be a rhythm section way from a band that could turn cat piss in to gasoline\*. Jam night tonight so maybe I’ll get put a few feelers out. \*apologies to Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6407 "2024-05-07T13:58:50Z")
[https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/m97iqr0yv73t4oqw193tc/Reverby.mp4?rlkey=icyqz5i42y9oiwsnui9x0fhqx&st=u79xxqu5&dl=0](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/m97iqr0yv73t4oqw193tc/Reverby.mp4?rlkey=icyqz5i42y9oiwsnui9x0fhqx&st=u79xxqu5&dl=0) My problem is playing clean. It’s rough. ---
**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 7, 2024, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6408 "2024-05-07T14:15:38Z")
I’d give that a solid “not too shabby!” Particularly with your fretting hand difficulties. The guys I am playing with are into a bit louder rock so clean playing isn’t as critical, even though our “lead” player has no problems with that aspect. We have about 20 songs we can play through in our 2 hour sessions now and we are looking for more to tackle and upping the difficulty a bit. Unfortunately, I’m the slow one in the bunch and I’m playing bass. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6409 "2024-05-07T15:10:24Z")
Thanks. I struggle with continuing it even as a hobby sometimes, just selling all my gear and chucking it. But then I think “Well, what if I end up writing a song with it? I might need it for that!”-while I remind myself I have an Axe I/O that’s 4 years old now, collecting dust in my closet shelf. I need to start doing the things I say I am going to do, eg, practice, play more. My day will come. I have one of my sons about to take off for pharmacy school at Butler, so he’ll have to live there a minimum of 2 years (I’m 90 minutes east outside of Cincinnati) and the other, if I can get him straightened out I won’t have to have single parent anxiety anymore and maybe that pedalboard gets put together finally, its in a box next to the Axe. Oy vey. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6410 "2024-05-12T17:39:37Z")
Is it possible to put a capo on the second fret of a bass and tune it down to EADG so as to in effect have a short scale bass? Thanks! ---
**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:** [May 12, 2024, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6411 "2024-05-12T19:09:48Z")
I just tried this and it seemed to work ok. ---
**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 13, 2024, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6412 "2024-05-13T15:31:55Z")
What??? I’ve never tried a short-scale bass but I’ve been wanting to. I had never even considered this as an option to try. I know what I’m doing tonight! ---
**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:** [May 13, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6413 "2024-05-13T15:34:35Z")
Let us know what happens. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6414 "2024-05-13T17:25:35Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > s it possible to put a capo on the second fret of a bass and tune it down to EADG so as to in effect have a short scale bass? Thanks! An interesting thought. I’ve used a capo on guitar frequently but never on bass. I wonder if a guitar capo would work well: bass strings are quite a bit heavier? ---
**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:** [May 13, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6415 "2024-05-13T17:54:42Z")
I have a Kyser capo with tremendous squeezing power that clamps down my twelve string Dano ok. A bass would be a breeze. ---
**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:** [May 13, 2024, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6416 "2024-05-13T21:34:58Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > I wonder if a guitar capo would work well: bass strings are quite a bit heavier? A guitar capo works for me. I am using nylon tapewound strings, don’t know if that makes any difference. ---
**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 15, 2024, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6417 "2024-05-15T00:49:49Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Let us know what happens. I give it a thumbs down. I thought I could tune each string down and then slap on the capo but it wasn’t in tune after doing so, particularly the low-E (it’s always more difficult to tune down for drop-D). The capoed low-E was too sloppy. Overall tone was not nearly as good and things rang out oddly more so I had to make sure to mute more. It did make playing some things a lot easier like the repeating bassline on Silversun Pickups Panic Switch. I’d still like to try a real short-scale bass. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6418 "2024-05-15T03:29:26Z")
What about trying it with a new set of strings? Perhaps the next time you change them. On regular guitar I feel like drop tuning sounds less sloppy when the strings haven’t spent most of their time stretched at a higher tuning. Maybe a short scale is the only way to go. I guess actual open notes will sound better than the equivalent notes with a capo. ---
**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 15, 2024, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6419 "2024-05-15T15:04:42Z")
Good point about drop-D on older strings…I’ve noticed that as well. Also, these were an experimental set of slightly lighter strings which would also contribute to the problem. I have a new set of my normal strings I’ll be putting on soon and can repeat the experiment with new, and heavier, strings. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6420 "2024-05-15T18:08:56Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I thought I could tune each string down and then slap on the capo but it wasn’t in tune after doing so, particularly the low-E I’ve always found you have to retune the instrument with the capo’d strings after you attach one. You probably already know that, but thought I would mention it. As far as bass goes, I simply adjust the pattern to the key, unless it ‘falls off’ the bottom string. Drop-D can get you out of trouble on a lot of songs. One of these days though, I may have to break down and get a 5-string bass… ---
**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 15, 2024, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6421 "2024-05-15T18:12:38Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > I’ve always found you have to retune the instrument with the capo’d strings after you attach one. > You probably already know that, but thought I would mention it. I’ve never capo’d my bass beyond using one for a setup. I’ve done it plenty of times on my electric and acoustic guitars. I’ve never found I needed to retune those guitars attaching a capo. It’s always sounded good to me after attaching the capo but maybe I need to actually run it through a tuner and see what happens? ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6422 "2024-05-15T18:17:26Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I’ve done it plenty of times on my electric and acoustic guitars. I’ve never found I needed to retune those guitars attaching a capo I think it depends very much on the exact type of guitar, and perhaps capo. Personally I like to do a tuning check with an electronic tuner before each take I try on a recording. My ears are not what they used to be in my younger years… ☹ ---
**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:** [May 15, 2024, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6423 "2024-05-15T20:05:08Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > ve done it plenty of times on my electric and acoustic guitars. I’ve never found I needed to retune those guitars attaching a capo It’s going to depend on the frets. Jumbo may mess you up as the height of the frets detunes you a bit. My Telecaster with the big 6105 frets detunes a bit, but you can wiggle the capo and mostly defeat that. Mostly. ---
**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 1, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6424 "2024-06-01T15:12:07Z")
This is bullshit, but I called them on it. [A Gibson ES-339 for $129.95, from $800. It’s a Sam Ash close out sale.]([https://ssproiejks.shop](https://ssproiejks.shop) break link /collections/Hollow-Semi-Hollow-Body/products/gibson-es-339-figured-semi-hollow-electric-guitar-sixties-cherry?variant=153925864) It has to be bullshit, but it was PayPal so I think I’m (relatively) safe. You may say I’m a dreamer… ---
**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:** [June 1, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6425 "2024-06-01T15:18:24Z")
I think that may very well be a scam: > **[Sam Ash scam resolution](https://www.paypal-community.com/t5/Security-and-Fraud/Sam-Ash-scam-resolution/td-p/3153256)** > > My husband found out that the Sam Ash Music stores were closing and saw an ad on Facebook to buy equipment at highly discounted prices.  It took him to a website with the Sam Ash logo and he ordered 2 guitars.  It went through PayPal but... Just looking at that site … everything is the same price, $129.95, and the regurlar retail prices are kind of bullshit too. I don’t think a Gibson ES-339 goes for $800. Closer to two or three grand. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=320) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=322)