Musical Instrument/Guitar Thread?

[Octopus]

I was surprised to see quite a few people say they played musical instruments in the "what are your other hobbies" thread, specifically guitar, so I figured why not make a general. Share your instruments, how long you've been playing, gear, if you want to be brave and share some stuff you've recorded, etc. or maybe if you're looking for some advice or something on one, maybe someone will know. It can also just be 'talking shop' so to speak, whatever.

I've been playing guitar probably for around 18 years or so, I technically got my first Yamaha acoustic (the forever classic starter guitar) when I was 13 but didn't really play it seriously until a year or so after maybe. Taught myself how to play using tabs online for Black Sabbath songs- ultimate-guitar.com was my most visited site back in the day. Largely self taught, I did see a guitar teacher back in high school for a bit but only for about a year or so after I already knew how to play more or less.

Gear wise, I got a few guitars but my main three; an Epiphone SG, a used LTD Explorer I managed to find for an insanely good price somehow, and my first 'real' electric guitar that I saved up my high school Wendy's job money for, my Jackson Rhodes.

Amp wise I'm an Orange man; I've got a Micro Dark (amazing amp btw) and a Crush 120 head.

And finally my pedalboard. Nothing too fancy, just the usual overdrive and Wah pedal really.

 

[Teone]

I just discovered your thread now!!!

It's a shame no one followed it. I have a theory that it's a bit less common for musicians to be also non-casual gamers... both activities take so much time and effort, then I bet people who prefere to level up in an instrument probably can't find much space for the amount of work that is grinding in a game and stuff like that. In the same way, if the person wants just to have some fun, learning an instrument is hard as hell, so maybe just to play some games must be more inviting??? Of course I don't believe this is a rule or anything, you are the perfect exception, for example. xD

Aaaaand in my case I barely know how to play acoustic guitars. I'm able to play Breezy from FFVIII easily.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Yeah. Completely missed it as well.

I play Spanish guitar, but I haven't touched one in years and it's safe to say that the only sounds I will now be able to produce would be akin to a cat being trapped in a washing machine XD

 

[Cu-Neo]

In school I used to play an acoustic guitar in the "music class" but that was more of a obligation than passion. But it was fun nonetheless

 

[Octopus]

I just discovered your thread now!!!

Yeah. Completely missed it as well.

I guess it was in the wrong section before and jus got moved here this morning, so thank you mods ?.

I play Spanish guitar

The genre I've always wanted to get into the most is flamenco, so I'm actually a little jealous. Some of those strumming patterns and chord change speeds would put any shredder to shame.

Post automatically merged: Dec 12, 2024

I just discovered your thread now!!!

It's a shame no one followed it. I have a theory that it's a bit less common for musicians to be also non-casual gamers... both activities take so much time and effort, then I bet people who prefere to level up in an instrument probably can't find much space for the amount of work that is grinding in a game and stuff like that. In the same way, if the person wants just to have some fun, learning an instrument is hard as hell, so maybe just to play some games must be more inviting??? Of course I don't believe this is a rule or anything, you are the perfect exception, for example. xD

Aaaaand in my case I barely know how to play acoustic guitars. I'm able to play Breezy from FFVIII easily.

Very true for all of that. I think a big part of the instrument beginner hurdle is your expectation level- I've know a lot of people who expected results of them playing solos and shit in like maybe a month which is just not reasonable obviously, even if you are some virtuoso prodigy. It's a marathon run, not a sprint.
And yeah, finding time to play guitar and game was hard but I was also a preteen when I first started so I had way more time. There was a point where I'd be playing Modern Warfare (the OG) with a guitar in my hand, and I'd play whatever I could while I was waiting in the lobby.

 

[Takumi]

I play Guitar though not very seriously, I mostly focus on Piano/synths. I've been playing guitar for about 16 years. I was really into guitar when I was younger, but I lost interest at a point and stopped improving XD That said I do still play a bit every week. I have a 7 string Ibanez that I can't remember the model, a 6 string Ibanez RG model, and the Signature Fernandez of the guitarist of L'arc en ciel.

I've started playing Piano a year or 2 after guitar. I didn't really focus on it until 3 or 4 years ago. I was inspired by YMO to start creating music using it. Since then I've been making what I would consider video game-ish music/Soundtrack and even done the music for some indie visual novels.

This is my favorite track I have made:

It is heavily 80's inspired.

This is a sad song I made for the visual novel "the 4th":

This is a track I made for the visual novel "Chance It!":

Here's a SMT battle theme inspired track:

And here's a SNES final fantasy inspired track:

 

[stealthRUSH]

Guardian War had a shredding soundtrack

 

[Octopus]

Oops, I had forgotten all about this thread that I myself had started until just now; so, I figured why not give it a shameless self-resurrection.

I finally got around to restringing my guitars today and decided to have a little jam session, as I haven't seriously played in quite awhile. I also figured why not shittily record myself on my phone, propped up on top of my amp. Behold; some sloppy slightly out of practise playing in some atrocious quality. I'll give a fire emoji to anyone who can guess the songs I'm playing.
Also, no idea how loud these are going to be after being uploaded so I advise some volume caution.

 

[jiyuuboyetsvi]

I don't play any instruments but I've always loved singing my whole life. I finally decided to start getting more serious about it recently and hope to be able to bring my ideas to life one day

 

[dr grim]

Hey ! another musician here.

I mainly do Metal or Electronic Music.
My main guitar :
Ibanez Apex ( 7 string Korn signature )

Also have a Cort evl.

I use Ableton to make any form of music.

If you want to have a go :

https://eolmetal.bandcamp.com/album/xerul-iii-the-last-stand ( Metal - solo work )

And for Electro - Red glow.

https://soundcloud.com/red-glow

( Electro - DnB )

here you go !

 

[Octopus]

I don't play any instruments but I've always loved singing my whole life. I finally decided to start getting more serious about it recently and hope to be able to bring my ideas to life one day

Godspeed. I've been blessed with negative singing talent personally.

Ibanez Apex ( 7 string Korn signature )

Hell yeah man, I was actually looking into that guitar a couple of years ago when I was shopping around for a 7 string. Didn't get it, but it was close competition for what I did get (which I regret getting). That's always what Ibanez has been for me; I'm interested in them, then never end up getting one.

 

[Nidstang]

I played clarinet and bass clarinet from 4th grade through high school. I have my clarinet somewhere, but haven't played it in close to 10 years.

I started playing guitar in 2007. I accumulated two acoustic guitars, three electric guitars, one bass, and a mandolin.
I sold the mandolin last year.
I sold my first electric guitar (Dean Dimebag Razorback) last week.
My bass (Ibanez Soundgear) is currently up for sale.
I plan to sell the rest of my instruments by the end of the year. I have a Fireball Whiskey branded acoustic, a Godin Seagull acoustic, a PRS SE Singlecut electric, and a PRS SE SVN electric I plan to be listing soon.

I was a Line 6 Helix guy. I preferred the ease of amp emulator pedals to carrying around amps. I plan to sell that soon too.

I quit playing a year and a half ago. I want to get fully out of music by the end of the year if I can.
Here's my most recent band though, all music produced/recorded/engineered by me, performed by me (rhythm guitar and vocals) and my other ex-bandmates.

From Those Ashes

2018-2023 Fin.

fromthoseashes.bandcamp.com

 

[Octopus]

I played clarinet and bass clarinet from 4th grade through high school. I have my clarinet somewhere, but haven't played it in close to 10 years.

I started playing guitar in 2007. I accumulated two acoustic guitars, three electric guitars, one bass, and a mandolin.
I sold the mandolin last year.
I sold my first electric guitar (Dean Dimebag Razorback) last week.
My bass (Ibanez Soundgear) is currently up for sale.
I plan to sell the rest of my instruments by the end of the year. I have a Fireball Whiskey branded acoustic, a Godin Seagull acoustic, a PRS SE Singlecut electric, and a PRS SE SVN electric I plan to be listing soon.

I was a Line 6 Helix guy. I preferred the ease of amp emulator pedals to carrying around amps. I plan to sell that soon too.

I quit playing a year and a half ago. I want to get fully out of music by the end of the year if I can.
Here's my most recent band though, all music produced/recorded/engineered by me, performed by me (rhythm guitar and vocals) and my other ex-bandmates.

From Those Ashes

2018-2023 Fin.

fromthoseashes.bandcamp.com

I'm just curious, what made you want to get out of the music world?

The recent rise of amp pedals is interesting, I know Orange has been putting pedal after pedal out. I'm a simple guy and I have no use for that stuff personally, but they're interesting.

 

[gundamnut14]

Wish I was able to get a picture right now but you'll just have to trust me that I rock a Squier Jazzmaster and Jaguar. Probably not as nice as using a proper fender but they're all I've ever played so I don't know any better. I also own a Fender Jazz which has recently suffered some fucked up electronics so I've been relegated to a crappy Ibanez bass that is woeful to play.

 

[Octopus]

Wish I was able to get a picture right now but you'll just have to trust me that I rock a Squier Jazzmaster and Jaguar. Probably not as nice as using a proper fender but they're all I've ever played so I don't know any better.

Nothing wrong with that, it's not about the price of the guitar. I only have Epiphones and a pretty old second hand Jackson.

I also own a Fender Jazz which has recently suffered some fucked up electronics so I've been relegated to a crappy Ibanez bass that is woeful to play.

I hate when the wiring starts giving out, it's the one thing I can't fix myself. I always have problems with input jacks for some reason.

 

[Nidstang]

I'm just curious, what made you want to get out of the music world?

The recent rise of amp pedals is interesting, I know Orange has been putting pedal after pedal out. I'm a simple guy and I have no use for that stuff personally, but they're interesting.

There's a lot to it. Basically I've spent the majority of my life pursuing music and have nothing to show for it.

I got a music business degree, worked at a rehearsal studio for 10 years, played in bands for over 18 years, worked as an audio engineer, backline/stagehand guy, live sound engineer, etc. - And I just don't really have a career. It was my entire life. My passion for the majority of my life. I loved music more than life itself. But I just couldn't make it work.

I'm sick of the gig life style. Sick of the night shift and weekend shift work schedule. I'm 31 now. I want a regular 9-5. I want to have my weekends available. I want a career that I can grow with and move up in. I want to be able to spend more time with friends and family. I want to get married and have kids. And it's just not really possible in the music industry, working a music industry schedule, with a music industry salary.

As for playing, I just stopped enjoying it and realized I really wasn't any good. I devoted my life to my last band. I was the rhythm guitarist, lead vocalist, manager, producer, engineer, and band leader. I got burnt out. I was spending all my free time, my extra money, all my energy on trying to make the band work and at the end of the day, it didn't go anywhere. Our last year we struggled to get booked because venues didn't want us. The few shows we did play turned out like 5 people. Our streaming dipped to nothing. Our sales dipped to nothing. We were a band for 5 years and we had less people interested in us than we did when we first publicly revealed ourselves.

Unfortunately, that wears on you. Its discouraging. Its humiliating. It sucks all the fun out of making and playing music, knowing nobody remotely cares about what your doing. I can't even enjoy it just for myself at this point, because I no longer feel pride in my work. Music is a intrasocial thing to me. Musicians make music to share with other people, or at least I did. To connect with others. And nobody was connecting with it. Nobody cared. I got frustrated, my passion died, and when the band broke up, because my ex-lead-guitarist joined another band, I decided to quit entirely. I haven't touched my guitars since our last show, November of 2023. They became painful for me to look at. Like an ex-girlfriend you keep seeing everywhere you go.

I still listen to music all the time. Still work at a studio (for a few more weeks at least, got a new job in insurance starting). I still go to shows here and there. But playing music became a source of negativity. A constant reminder of wasted time, broken dreams, and utter failure.

 

[J0_]

These is my setup right now. Player II PJ Mustang Bass, acoustic mini cab with matching 100w head, Korg Toneworks AX-3000B. It's good enough for the small gigs I do. The Korg is a finnicky piece of shit though and I'm looking to replace it. The only thing I bought new was the bass itself, I try to buy as much secondhand gear as possible. I just got a decent recording setup so I hope to start recording some video game bass covers for YouTube.

 

[Octopus]

There's a lot to it. Basically I've spent the majority of my life pursuing music and have nothing to show for it.

I got a music business degree, worked at a rehearsal studio for 10 years, played in bands for over 18 years, worked as an audio engineer, backline/stagehand guy, live sound engineer, etc. - And I just don't really have a career. It was my entire life. My passion for the majority of my life. I loved music more than life itself. But I just couldn't make it work.

I'm sick of the gig life style. Sick of the night shift and weekend shift work schedule. I'm 31 now. I want a regular 9-5. I want to have my weekends available. I want a career that I can grow with and move up in. I want to be able to spend more time with friends and family. I want to get married and have kids. And it's just not really possible in the music industry, working a music industry schedule, with a music industry salary.

As for playing, I just stopped enjoying it and realized I really wasn't any good. I devoted my life to my last band. I was the rhythm guitarist, lead vocalist, manager, producer, engineer, and band leader. I got burnt out. I was spending all my free time, my extra money, all my energy on trying to make the band work and at the end of the day, it didn't go anywhere. Our last year we struggled to get booked because venues didn't want us. The few shows we did play turned out like 5 people. Our streaming dipped to nothing. Our sales dipped to nothing. We were a band for 5 years and we had less people interested in us than we did when we first publicly revealed ourselves.

Unfortunately, that wears on you. Its discouraging. Its humiliating. It sucks all the fun out of making and playing music, knowing nobody remotely cares about what your doing. I can't even enjoy it just for myself at this point, because I no longer feel pride in my work. Music is a intrasocial thing to me. Musicians make music to share with other people, or at least I did. To connect with others. And nobody was connecting with it. Nobody cared. I got frustrated, my passion died, and when the band broke up, because my ex-lead-guitarist joined another band, I decided to quit entirely. I haven't touched my guitars since our last show, November of 2023. They became painful for me to look at. Like an ex-girlfriend you keep seeing everywhere you go.

I still listen to music all the time. Still work at a studio (for a few more weeks at least, got a new job in insurance starting). I still go to shows here and there. But playing music became a source of negativity. A constant reminder of wasted time, broken dreams, and utter failure.

I'm really sorry to hear that man, but at least you were finally able to break off from something that wasn't making you happy anymore instead of sticking it out longer. If you're not into anymore, you're not into it anymore.

These is my setup right now. Player II PJ Mustang Bass, acoustic mini cab with matching 100w head, Korg Toneworks AX-3000B. It's good enough for the small gigs I do. The Korg is a finnicky piece of shit though and I'm looking to replace it. The only thing I bought new was the bass itself, I try to buy as much secondhand gear as possible. I just got a decent recording setup so I hope to start recording some video game bass covers for YouTube.

Hell yeah man. I toyed with the idea for while of recording myself for YouTube or something just for fun, but I don't think I'd be motivated enough at it to keep doing it.

 

[AI_Apex_Predator]

@Octopus - That looks like a 90s/00s Jackson

Post automatically merged: Feb 24, 2025

I have a lot of guitars. I was pissed off at a local luthier and vowed not to give him another cent. I analyzed his work, and started working on guitars in a spare room. I was buying broken guitars, and cheap guitars from China, and fixing them before I started experimenting on more expensive ones. I do my own work, and I'll do work for my friends, but I am not really in business.

My favorite brands are Schecter, BC Rich, and I love my Ibanez Jem7v. I grew up playing American Fender Strats. I like Gibsons as well, I like the scale length for jazz chords, but I like Fender style for leads.

I love a lot of the newer brands that come from Asia these days - AIO/Wolf, Agile, FGN, to name a few.

I grew up studying classical piano, I later learned classical guitar and electric. I can play violin, bass, and drums, and I own a saxophone and a tsugaru shamisen. I'm currently helping my friend compose some pieces to get into college, and I own a shit ton of music from Japan.

I'm not afraid of Ai ruining music, I fully embrace using it.

 

[Octopus]

That looks like a 90s/00s Jackson

Ye it is. It's a RR3 model, not sure exactly when this particular one was made but the series was sold in the late 90/early 2000s so sometime in there. It's fantastic, has I think a Seymour JB in the bridge and I think perhaps a jazz in the neck, licensed Floyd. It's since fallen on some hard times since the photo unfortunately; I was changing the strings on it about two weeks or so ago, and the pin holding the bridge block on place on the low e has become so stripped that it can't tighten enough to hold the string in place anymore. Not sure what I'm going to do about that honestly, finding the exact floyd bridge screw is going to be a bitch.

Schecter

Ibanez Jem7v

Hell yeah man. I've always wanted to try out something from either of those but never have. I'm more of a Gibson style guy, I prefer the feel of the shorter scale length even if it does make it harder to set them up for downtuning (the Jackson is in D, the SG is in C and the explorer I did have in B but is now in drop c).

 

[AI_Apex_Predator]

I was changing the strings on it about two weeks or so ago, and the pin holding the bridge block on place on the low e has become so stripped that it can't tighten enough to hold the string in place anymore. Not sure what I'm going to do about that honestly, finding the exact floyd bridge screw is going to be a bitch.

The screws on the licensed Floyds can be tricky, but even moreso the further in decades you go back. I feel like the Jackson ones from your era would be similar to a FR these days, no? they do sell screws in a set.

Gotoh bridges are really nice replacements if the licensed FR is SOL, but contrary to what the internet says about them, they aren't always 1:1 replacements. Always check the route, and make sure your posts are somewhat standard.

Take a picture of your screw so I can examine it better, I have a Japanese RR that Im pulling the trem off and replacing with a Schaller, so you might be in luck!

Hell yeah man. I've always wanted to try out something from either of those but never have. I'm more of a Gibson style guy, I prefer the feel of the shorter scale length even if it does make it harder to set them up for downtuning (the Jackson is in D, the SG is in C and the explorer I did have in B but is now in drop c).

I had an Epiphone Les Paul that was my experiment for a bit. I never had an issue with downtuning when I was doing it on 10s. However, I switched to 11s once because I like the thicker strings in general. I see why people prefer the thicker strings for downtuning. It feels less like a washboard that way.

 

[Octopus]

I never had an issue with downtuning when I was doing it on 10s. However, I switched to 11s once because I like the thicker strings in general. I see why people prefer the thicker strings for downtuning. It feels less like a washboard that way.

Yeah I use .11s on the SG and explorer; you have to go up a gauge if you're downtuning otherwise the tension is just wack. The only issue is going too thick on the strings can give them other issues. I used to use a custom Ernie Ball set on the explorer when it was in b (.13s bottom, .12s top) and it made adjusting the intonation impossible. It sounded great on anything below the 12th fret or so but anything above that was always ever so slightly out of tune and I couldn't take it after awhile. Even the SG has slight intonation problems from the .11s, but I've gotten it to be good enough, even if I am out of room on the bottom strings to adjust it any more.

Gotoh bridges

I forgot that they're sometime compatible, I'll have to look into that. The licensed Floyd it has is a low profile 90s style, it's the low profile bit that's been hard to find. I'll take a photo when I can later today, they're very small bridge screws compared to a regular Floyd model.

Epiphone Les Paul

I have a very beautiful Les Paul custom (Epiphone obviously, I don't have 2 grand unfortunately) that was apparently a horribly cursed guitar evidently. It played fine in the store, didn't notice any issues so I bought it. Then the electronics stated acting up, ended up having to get the wiring replaced 3 times; after the first time it could have been the guy who did it's fault maybe. The tune-o-matic somehow had a slight sharp edge of flash where the low e rested on it, so it started cutting the string. No problem, I did that one myself. The nut somehow popped off one day while I was playing it, no idea how that happened but okay I glued it down again. Then the final curse struck; I started getting dead notes up and down the neck, usually around the 7th fret but also almost everything passed the 12th. Checked the frets, they were level. I had been changing its string gauge around so I figured it was probably just the truss rod needing some adjustments, so I very delicately started doing that when I noticed it; the neck was warping. It's currently unplayably warped, and unfortunately has been relegated to looking nice on my wall. It's a shame, it was an amazing guitar.

Thank you for coming to my guitar QA Ted talk.

 

[Antilocal123]

I just used a Rogue guitar but I really wanted a Yamaha SG1000 guitar as a kid because they look fucking rad, friend of my pop’s as a kid also had a Yamaha that I should’ve stolen.

Cool ass fucking room though, totally not jealous or anything.

 

[Octopus]

I just used a Rogue guitar but I really wanted a Yamaha SG1000 guitar as a kid because they look fucking rad, friend of my pop’s as a kid also had a Yamaha that I should’ve stolen.

Cool ass fucking room though, totally not jealous or anything.

I always say it's not entirely the gear that matters, to a certain extent; it's not entirely optimal to try and seriously play on a First Act guitar. My gear looks impressive, but it was also a lot of second hand stuff I've acquired over like 15 years and with a good amount of help here and there. Rogue I hear is actually a decent brand, but I've never played one myself.

Yamaha's are actually really nice guitars for their price point. I used to have a Yamaha RGX series I borrowed from a friend for awhile, it was a mid point super Strat type deal; was a really nice guitar honestly, I was sad to have to give it back eventually.

 

[AI_Apex_Predator]

I really wanted a Yamaha SG1000 guitar as a kid because they look fucking rad, friend of my pop’s as a kid also had a Yamaha that I should’ve stolen.

The Yamaha Revstar is the closest one to the SG1000. Yamaha makes decent instruments all the way around.

Post automatically merged: Feb 24, 2025

The licensed Floyd it has is a low profile 90s style, it's the low profile bit that's been hard to find. I'll take a photo when I can later today, they're very small bridge screws compared to a regular Floyd model.

I think youre in luck!

Floyd Rose LOW PROFILE STRING LOCK SCREWS Tremolo Lo Pro Edge TRS-II JT580LP NEW | eBay

Jackson Charvel JT580LP,Ibanez Lo-Pro Edge, Edge III, LoTRS-II. Black String Lock Screws. Screws have the correct tip for original Jackson Low Profile Tremolos. Conical tip universally fits Both cup-style & conical-style block inserts.

www.ebay.com

Epiphone - what a mess! Some of those Korean ones from the 90s are fantastic if you ever run into one.

As far as the "Chibson class" goes, I like the Agile AL-3200MCC. Its really damn close to a Gibson for $600 (used to be $500 before inflation) and they usually have a lot of different colors. I liked mine so much that I bought a 2nd one used in a different color for $300 on Reverb. I heard the AIO/Wolf Les Pauls were good too, but I never tried one yet.

I have the AIO SG knock off and its absolutely amazing. Their setups are perfect.

You can definitely find good deals on their guitars used.

Post automatically merged: Feb 24, 2025

I always say it's not entirely the gear that matters, to a certain extent