Calling all guitarists.

If you are serious about giving it a go, if you have a good local guitar shop (not a general music shop with Saturday staff), then take the guitar in and ask the oldest guy there to look at the setup and action. This basically whether the strings are parallel to the neck.

If they aren't then it can be very hard on your fingers.
But it is quite easy for a guitar technician to adjust for you.
If a guitar has not been p,aged for a long time and hasn't been stored well, then this can happen.

It also happens when people buy guitars off the shelf . The first thing anyone should do with a new guitar or a new secondhand one, is give it to a good guitar tech and get them to set it up properly for you. The playing is much easier and you will stick with it for longer as a result.

Also, download a guitar tuner for your ipad/iPhone etc - being able to tune it makes it sound a lot better.

Good luck - enjoy
 
sev112 said:
If you are serious about giving it a go, if you have a good local guitar shop (not a general music shop with Saturday staff), then take the guitar in and ask the oldest guy there to look at the setup and action. This basically whether the strings are parallel to the neck.

If they aren't then it can be very hard on your fingers.
But it is quite easy for a guitar technician to adjust for you.
If a guitar has not been p,aged for a long time and hasn't been stored well, then this can happen.

It also happens when people buy guitars off the shelf . The first thing anyone should do with a new guitar or a new secondhand one, is give it to a good guitar tech and get them to set it up properly for you. The playing is much easier and you will stick with it for longer as a result.

Also, download a guitar tuner for your ipad/iPhone etc - being able to tune it makes it sound a lot better.

Good luck - enjoy
Click to expand...

I fully agree with getting the action checked and adjusted if necessary but guitar strings will never be parallel to the neck, clearly at the lower frets the strings have just passed over the nut and are therefore closer to the frets, as opposed to t'other end where they will be rising to cross the saddles on the bridge.
 
Slime said:
Thanks everyone.
Tell me, wouldn't I be better off changing the strings one at a time rather than taking all six off before putting any back on?

Oh, and fast fret?


Slime.
Click to expand...

All off together and all on together. If one breaks get it replaced ASAP as prolonged imbalance can twist the neck. Wind all to some tension before tuning and then tune slowly. When tuned give each string a good pull to stretch and then tune again. You'll probably find tuning slips quite quickly as the new strings settle and stretch.

Fast fret cleans the board it's a stick you rub up and down the fret board. Over strings it helps reduce friction and makes it easier to slide around the fret board.

Definitely worth cleaning the fretboard but you don't need to use fast fret. Normal furniture polish and a soft cloth will do.
 
sev112 said:
If you are serious about giving it a go, if you have a good local guitar shop (not a general music shop with Saturday staff), then take the guitar in and ask the oldest guy there to look at the setup and action. This basically whether the strings are parallel to the neck.

If they aren't then it can be very hard on your fingers.
But it is quite easy for a guitar technician to adjust for you.
If a guitar has not been p,aged for a long time and hasn't been stored well, then this can happen.

It also happens when people buy guitars off the shelf . The first thing anyone should do with a new guitar or a new secondhand one, is give it to a good guitar tech and get them to set it up properly for you. The playing is much easier and you will stick with it for longer as a result.

Also, download a guitar tuner for your ipad/iPhone etc - being able to tune it makes it sound a lot better.

Good luck - enjoy
Click to expand...

I thought someone would suggest this, it was my first thought.
I've ordered one of these because the reviews are mostly very positive;

71hwCwgsaML._SL1500_.jpg

It's the SN-2 model.

Slime.

P,S. Currently, whilst typing, listening to Alan Nimmo of King King .................. fabulous noise.
 
Ah! the guitar. I remember when I got my first real six string, I bought it at the 5 and dime. I played that sucker till my fingers bled, I'm sure it was around 69. Those were the days.
 
stevie_r said:
I fully agree with getting the action checked and adjusted if necessary but guitar strings will never be parallel to the neck, clearly at the lower frets the strings have just passed over the nut and are therefore closer to the frets, as opposed to t'other end where they will be rising to cross the saddles on the bridge.
Click to expand...

You're probably right, but I've just looked at my electric, steel string acoustic and 2 classicals, and they are all closer to being parallel than not, and none of them buzz. My conversion to getting setup was when my brother took 2 of them and gave them to his guitar tech and then gave them back to me and they had come alive. So I'm a bit of an evangelist there. Having said that, I really need to get some new strings - tomorrow's job.

Good thread this

Anyone perform ?
 
Slime said:
I thought someone would suggest this, it was my first thought.
I've ordered one of these because the reviews are mostly very positive;


It's the SN-2 model.

Slime.

P,S. Currently, whilst typing, listening to Alan Nimmo of King King .................. fabulous noise.
Click to expand...

Excellent wee device those. Great if playing live as well, they add a little light show to the end of your guitar!
 
My current favourite players are the late great Chet Atkins, Tommy Emanuel and Mark Knopfler.

The attached is a nice little video with Mark talking about how he started out:

[video=youtube;i_7feGF9TA8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_7feGF9TA8[/video]
 
looks the sort of thing youve made yourself.

My latest purshase is an Eppiphone casino and swapping the metal P90 for the Black dog ear version... works out cheaper than a Gibson 330 by about £2K ;)
 
patricks148 said:
looks the sort of thing youve made yourself.

My latest purshase is an Eppiphone casino and swapping the metal P90 for the Black dog ear version... works out cheaper than a Gibson 330 by about £2K ;)
Click to expand...

It was marketed as the pawn shop special, made to have a bit of a 60's look. The coil splitters make it really versatile.

I do like the casino - a classic
 
I hold the guitar left handed so never bothered and bought a clarinet instead; which reminds me I must get it out and play.
Good luck Slime, lots of useful advice given.
Sorry but do get custom fitted for the plectrums.
 
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