Hey.

This is a general thread where people can discuss guitars, guitarists, amps and other gear, their favourite guitars, and so on.

I know that a few people around here play, and thought a thread devoted to guitars might be fun.

I have no idea if anyone else but me wants to discuss these topics...but you don't know until you try, right?

After an extensive trawl through the Fender site (I'm Fendercentric), I'm considering getting a Fender Esquire. I was going to get a Special Edition Lite Ash Stratocaster - had been planning to for quite a while - but my recent acquisition of a decent quality strat copy made this idea redundant.



The Esquire sounds like an interesting option. The 7.25" fingerboard radius makes it very appealing to me. The only other (affordable) Fender guitars with a radius that small are the Mustang, Jazzmaster and Jaguar - all of which I like a lot, but the location of those various switches they all have puts me right off. They look like they'd get in the way of your hands while playing, even though I like the idea of all that gadgetry.

Anyway...here's a link to the Esquire page at Fender's site (and yes, I do want a black one!).

http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0131502306

I don't own a decent electric guitar and I'm sort of considering getting one. Last week I found myself with an unexpected couple hours to kill and in the neighborhood of the local guitar shop. I played about eight guitars in various price ranges, just hoping to get away with a deal, but the quality in the more expensive axes really showed. The Eric Johnson Strat was a dream, smooth and clean. If I could only justify buying an $1800 guitar!

I actually make a little money playing my acoustic (a Larivee) here and there and over the years its paid for itself many times over. But I haven't been in a group in a few years and we never made much more than sandwich money when I did, so an electric guitar is more of a hobby than anything else.

It's the same for me, Pip - it's a hobby. I'm just not a "being in a band" kind of guy, really. I like playing with other musicians, in an informal, 'just for fun' way, but actually being in a band just isn't for me.

It is hard to justify the expense of something like a Fender guitar, though. It's not just the guitar itself, either - you have to get an amp, leads, tuner, etc - and the lure of effects pedals is like the song of the sirens. It's totally frivolous, and you feel almost decadent spending the money. However, hobby or not, it makes me happy to play a really good quality guitar. So I'm going to save up for this one. That way, I won't feel like I've blown a stack of money all at once. Which is nonsensical, as I'll be spending the same amount, regardless...but I'll feel better about spending it if I save up gradually, and then buy it....

I haven't played an Eric Johnson strat...because I just know I'd want one. It sounds like you had fun in the guitar shop, Pip. When there are no customers, all those guys do is play the guitars all day, anyhow...you might as well have a go, too!

The Esquire will be a real indulgence. All I'll do with it is sit around the house of an evening, sometimes playing along with music, trying to get those Jeff Beck licks right, etc, like an overgrown teenager. It's lucky I have an understanding wife!

I know what you mean about the quality and the prices, though. I had a Squier for awhile, but sold it. It was like a hunk of driftwood, and everything from the machine heads to the selector switch felt cheap and nasty. Also, the volume knob kept coming off, which just shouldn't happen.

The J&D Luthiers one I have (in the picture, above) is really, really good, but the neck is too wide/flat for my hands. I need something with a thinner neck to make playing chords easier, and the Esquire fits the bill. I've always been a lounge-room hack guitarist, but I'd like to be a hack with style.

Admittedly, I'd own several dozen Fenders if I could afford to, although I think many of their guitars these days seem to be expensive, albeit functional, collectibles. I guess the Esquire fits into the 'collectible' category as well, seeing as it's a "vintage reissue" ( )...but so what? If I get to sit in my living room and pretend I'm in the Yardbirds or whatever, where's the harm?

You guys sound like me talking about bicycle parts. Change "Fender" to "Campagnolo" and "being in a band" to "racing."

In the latest installment of this wildly popular thread...I have changed me mind. I decided I wanted a good quality acoustic, but I hate the necks on them.

So I'm going to get one of these things...

http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0139700343

Before that, though, I'm going to get a cheap Squier strat (one of the California series ones), and put some hotted up DiMarzio's in it. Just for fun.

I played a nice slightly less expensive Strat the other day. I've decided I really like the buffed neck, the kind that looks like it's been lacquered. If I could justify buying an electric guitar, I'd have picked that up.

I have a Gibson Les Paul acoustic that my folks got me for Christmas about fifteen years ago. Beautiful harmonics on this thing. I strum along to chords I know (thanks, Mel Bay, for a great chord encyclopedia) and write pseudo-Beatle tunes and that's all right for me.

My brother, on the other hand, is a noted session bassist and guitarist in Austin -- insomuch as he's always in demand when people are trying to put bands together and they need a bassist, regardless of musical style. So what does he do for a living? Faux finishing.

It's always the way, Unc. So many talented people wind up unnoticed, while people like the Backstreet Boys and Limp Bizkit wind up with hit singles and fame.

My younger brother is an amazing guitarist, but chose a career in the military. What can you do?

That Gibson sounds like fun, too. Any pictures?

Those necks are comfy, Pip. Was it a "lite ash" strat? Those are excellent. Many new Fenders are cheaper than they once were, as they're made in Korea and Mexico. The American made ones cost a fortune, but the quality of the overseas strats is improving all the time. I decided on the 'stratacoustic' since it's essentially an acoustic guitar with an electric guitar neck.

The Squier models are made in Indonesia, and are really inexpensive. The quality isn't the same as the actual Fender-branded guitars, but is improving.

My guitar is a piece of junk. Some beat up old Epiphone I got about 12 years ago or so after I smashed my first guitar. I couldn't tell you much about it other than it was fairly cheap and it gets the job done. I have a spare, but I've no idea what kind it is. Something Japanese, I think. Horrible feel, horrible sound. If I ever again get on stage, I'll be bringing it with me to smash.

I'd love to get a Les Paul, but I couldn't justify the purchase.

Gibson all the way

Don't get a Les Paul, whatever you do! As a LP owner, it would pain me to find out someday that it had been smashed to bits in an on-stage fit of exuberance of Taftian proportions.

The gibson s.g. is a brilliant guitar, they make a nice bass too. Nice and light, with a skinnier neck than most guitars.

I've got a deep red Gibson Les Paul standard that I picked up in a pawn shop about 12 years ago.

I've also got a Yamaha classical acoustic that my parents gave me for Christmas 20 years ago when I asked for "A guitar that looks like Eddie Van Halen's"

...

Every guitar in the house. A beat up acoustic, a Wiggles special, and two Guitar Hero controllers. Yes, I gave the baby her guitar back. Sheesh.

A small sample of our collection. We have 2 more electrics and a bass at jam.

That's a pretty Art & Lutherie dreadnaught. How does it sound?

Clear and loud, good for the campfire, or for playing on the street. The action is starting to get a little high for my liking, still no dead notes though. The intonation is right on too. A good buy overall.

I just noticed that I need new wallpaper in that room......

Excellent pics, Rae. I like that acoustic.