Discuss different types of guitars on Wall of Mouths

Discuss different types of guitars

Personally, I’m an amateurish guitar player and I don’t too much about technical details. I only differ between guitars by how it feels to play them, how they sound and how they look.

For me the Les Paul is the coolest guitar I’ve played so far(though I have no idea what the difference between Standard, Classic, Studio, etc. is). It feels great to play them and the sound is really versatile (jazzy, heavy, bluesy). Unfortunately they’re heavy as fuck.

I’m thinking about getting a SG someday, but I then I’m not sure if it’s “necessary” when you already own a Les Paul. The SG is lighter and the design is arguably cooler, but when it comes to the bass sounds the Les Paul is superior, isn’t it?

I’ve also recently bought a Telecaster and it feels great to pretend to be Springsteen and all, but soundwise I don’t like it as much as my Les Paul. Still, it’s cool that you can do things with it that you can’t do with a Gibson.

If I can ever afford another guitar, I’d probably get a Strat next as I do believe that the difference between Tele and Strat is pretty big. Besides a Strat is a Strat. It’s THE classic e-guitar.

What guitars do you own/have you owned? Which do you prefer?

And another question: is there a big difference in sound between a Flying V and an Explorer?

Posted on Thu, 26 January 2006 at 19:50

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Dermot (The Derm) wrote:

I bought a black Fender Strat in November. Love it. Now all I need is a tab section on this website ;)

Posted on Thu, 26 January 2006 at 23:35

Dennis wrote:

I own three electrics:

Squire Stratocaster (My first electric) - made by Fender on the cheap (Korean built, plywood etc etc) as a budget option to their Fender brand. Actually, when set up correctly with new strings on, it sounds very good. Just a little bit of a thin sound for me, and feeds back like a mofo at high volume cos of the cheap pickups.

Fender Telecaster - My wife bought me this for my 30th. A great sounding guitar, holds its tune well and covers a variety of styles. Doesn’t like high gain though, and does feedback easily.

Gibson Les Paul Studio - My main guitar I use for gigs, cos of it being a Rock covers band I play in. Great, full sound, very old school Rock tones. But, as you say, heavy as hell! I have a bad neck now from having this beast strapped around my neck for two hours at a time!

The Gibson is my fave, but of course the Fender has sentimental attachments too…and being a fan of Keith Richards, at least I get all my fave Brown Sugar/ Honky Tonk Woman tones…

Posted on Fri, 27 January 2006 at 09:38

GreenThing wrote:

I own a Squire Strat and a Standard Fender Tele. I will go along with Dennis, in the main.

However, while both guitars will feedback at high volume, the Tele’s feedback is an uncontrolable squeek which is not musical at all. The Strat, on the other hand has a lovely playable feedback. It has a great way of sustaining a note and as the note fades, the feedback builds up nicely like the intro to Trigger Inside.

The Strat has a more dirty sound good for metal and high gain solo’s. The Tele has a great crunchy sound which works really well for punk, blues and clean sounding stuff.

Both are really light ane nice to play, the Tele is as set up from the shop. I have buggered around with the action and tightened down the trem to make the Strat light and stay in tune better, but it now will stay in tune whilst in its case travelling to and from practice.

The Tele doe buzz a bit which stops when you hold the strings, which is a bugger, but I understand that all the Mexican ones do this.

Oh, by the way, the sounds I get are using a Marshall TSL100 head with a 1960a cab.

Posted on Fri, 27 January 2006 at 14:07

tgE wrote:

nice head/cab combo there greenthing.

bastard :(

Posted on Fri, 27 January 2006 at 14:08

Dennis wrote:

tgE wrote:
nice head/cab combo there greenthing.

bastard :(

Co-bastard :(

Posted on Fri, 27 January 2006 at 14:13

FNYANKEZ wrote:

I’ve got a Jackson Dinky Reverse, Fender American Strat,
Gibson Les Paul Classic, Gibson SG Classic and a Gibson Faded SG, and used to own an American Tele. I guess I can give you a decent rundown.

Strats a great middle of the road guitar. You can play fast leads and fat rhythms. Also just about all types of music sound good.

The teles have a very distinct sound (especially the F). You get that signature twang. Not always appropriate for all types of music.

Les Pauls are a dream, but they’re expensive. Also unless you plan on playing standing up all the time, they’re a pain to practice sitting down. But are super comfortable to play while standing. Great sustain, and you can play them fat. But unless you want to customize they don’t have a tremolo so no bar tricks.

SGs are great workhorses. Lighter than the LPs, great sustain, and play really well fat and stay in tune well tuned down. ALso they ten to be a little cheaper than Les Pauls unless you are going for the tricked out customs with gold hardware etc. The necks on the SGs tend to be wider across the fretboard than the LPs which tend to be narrower but fatter around the bottom. (I personally like the LP necks better, fit my hands better)

With the Gibsons not only does each model have a unique sound, but the hardware makes a big difference. The ceramic pickups tend to have more gain and a brighter tone, where the metal pickups have a much warmer tone.

Jacksons, Ibanezs and the like are good biginner guitars, and great for metal. Tend to have strong mid-tones, and can’t compare to the Fender or Gibsons when playing clean tones. Also because they tend to use cheaper woods (poplar) so the sustain is nowhere near as strong. But you can generally get these cheap (several models under $500), and have enough variety in models that you can go as cheap or high-end as you want.

As for differences between Flying-Vs and Explorers. Of the one’s I’ve tried, Explorers are heavier and have deeper tones (closer to a Les Paul than an SG), where the Flying Vs tend to be lighter and have quiker action and have brighter tones.

Currently I’m playing everything through a tube Marshall 100W TSL122 combo.

Prior to that I played through a solid state Marshall 60w combo (can’t remember the model anymore).

Posted on Sun, 29 January 2006 at 03:45

dano wrote:

Bollocks to all that technical mallarkey, get a flying V, heres the reasons why:

1) you don’t actually have to play it, just swing it about a bit and it’ll look raaaawwwwkkk. Useful tip - If somebody does actually demand a demonstration, just tell them that if you actually learned how to play, it would be against punk rock ethics.

2) It’s the only guitar that lets you get away with wearing spandex! Also, have some pyrotechnics set up in your living room for that authentic rock solo ending.

( Disclaimer- that bit about spandex may not be true, also, I accept no blame for any harm caused to pets or loved ones as a result of front room pyros. )

Posted on Sun, 29 January 2006 at 04:36

viking_pooh wrote:

Superunknown wrote:
I’m thinking about getting a SG someday, but I then I’m not sure if it’s “necessary” when you already own a Les Paul. The SG is lighter and the design is arguably cooler, but when it comes to the bass sounds the Les Paul is superior, isn’t it?

the best compromise between les Pual tone and SG comfort and style is the ESP Viper(wonky SG copy).

i got one of the LTD Deluxe series vipers and it kicks the shit out of my mates les paul studio and its considerably lighter yet the tapered body means you get les paul thickness at the bottom of the body but retain playin easy from the top, and the EMG active pickups (81/85) give such a beautiful tone anyway. and esp do 24 fret neck instead fo the gibson 22 which is almost as stupid as fender stopping at 21.

Posted on Sun, 29 January 2006 at 13:04

GreenThing wrote:

tgE wrote:
nice head/cab combo there greenthing.

bastard :(

Cheers tgE, it’s nice and I am a bastard!

I’ve never got on with Les Pauls. The neck is too narrow for Mr Banana Hands like me. The stings also sit too high from the body, which makes it hard to palm mute the strings.

I have never played and SG, but a friend brought his Westfield SG around and played it through my map. It sounded great!

Posted on Mon, 30 January 2006 at 09:32

#10

Superunknown wrote:

What’s everybody’s favourite western guitar? I heard Taylor and Martin guitars are the best. Guild and Gibson are said to be good, too, but overly expensive. I wish I had known all that before I got my no name (“Baton Rouge”) guitar last summer.

Posted on Sat, 11 March 2006 at 17:02

#11

3ddo-on-the-balcony (eddo) wrote:

If you think a bass is a (kind of) guitar as well, I’d say my favourite is the Musicman Stingray 5-string. If I were a guitarist, I’d choose a Gibson: Les Paul, Flying V, SG, Explorer, whatever.

Posted on Sun, 12 March 2006 at 03:21

#12

Lola* wrote:

maybe ye could discuss pedals next…

Posted on Sun, 12 March 2006 at 11:29

#13

Divers (Simon) wrote:

I have a few Guitars, A jackson Dinky which is more set up for thrash type stuff as it has a longer fret board and thinner neck. A Dot 535 Epiphone hollow body and thick strings so sounds fat.

I also have my new shiny baby, which is a LTD edition Les Paul Standard and it sounds soooooo nice.

@Ci? what pedals do you want to talk about? i only have a few a cry baby wah and big muff and a rat distortion.

Posted on Sun, 12 March 2006 at 11:51

#14

Lola* wrote:

i was being sarcastic

Posted on Sun, 12 March 2006 at 19:41

#15

Divers (Simon) wrote:

Ci? wrote:
i was being sarcastic

No shit:p

Posted on Sun, 12 March 2006 at 19:41

#16

Taunty Dan wrote:

i have a charvel surfcaster. I don’t know anyone else who has one of these. Its a bit light sounding, i could do with summat a bit bassier to be fair. I wanna get an acoustic next though.

Posted on Mon, 13 March 2006 at 11:49

#17

fatboy wrote:

I’ve got a budget make SG. The company is called Vintige and they’re pretty good. I’ve got a good Marshall overdrive pedal which is really good, though the amp I’ve got is shit.

I play a bit, though I have no intentions of playing in a band.

Posted on Tue, 14 March 2006 at 13:21

#18

Dennis wrote:

fatboy wrote:
I play a bit, though I have no intentions of playing in a band.

Why not?

It really makes you a better player to play regularly with other musicians

Posted on Tue, 14 March 2006 at 14:00

#19

Pip (Philip Kelly) wrote:

I have a big Black Bc Rich Warlock bass I love it to bits

Posted on Tue, 14 March 2006 at 18:30

#20

Idlevice2 wrote:

Difference between a Les Paul Standard and a studio? The studio looks good. Well, I hate binding on ANYTHING.

Personally, I play a Gibson Voodoo V (hmm… have I mentioned that elsewhere before?) through a Randal RH100 and Randal 4x12 cab.

Bass is really my instrument though. I currently play a cheap Peavey C4 (costing £250 brand new), but I’ve never played a better bass, and yes, I’ve played far more expensive ones. The only ones that compare are other Peavys. Playing through a 370 watt Carlsboro Bass Beastly. Bit boring, but with lots of control over the sound, except a friggin’ compressor built in, which is next on my shopping list.

Posted on Tue, 14 March 2006 at 21:06

#21

Superunknown wrote:

Ci? wrote:
i was being sarcastic

Too bad. I’d love to discuss pedals.

About the difference between Studio and Standard Les Pauls. Lookwise I see none.

Posted on Wed, 15 March 2006 at 00:37

#22

fatboy wrote:

Dennis wrote:
Why not?

It really makes you a better player to play regularly with other musicians

Simply because I’ve got another outlet, writing. I’ve got a book in the making.

Posted on Wed, 15 March 2006 at 10:25

#23

Dennis wrote:

Superunknown wrote:
Too bad. I’d love to discuss pedals.

About the difference between Studio and Standard Les Pauls. Lookwise I see none.

I’ve asked in music shops and they can’t tell me any difference apart from cosmetic.

I have a Les Paul Studio and it isn’t lacking anything in the sound department.
It keeps making loads of mistakes when I play it live, though.

I mean, must be the guitar, couldn’t be ME, right…?

EDIT:

As for pedals, I prefer Boss, but I use a Zoom multi unit, cos it’s just too much tap-dancing otherwise.

Posted on Wed, 15 March 2006 at 10:27

#24

Idlevice2 wrote:

anyone curious about those new behringer pedals? 15 quid for a semi-decent bass distortion unit isn’t bad, even if it is cheap plastic. You can get some cool fuzz off it (like Muse). Sounds good with guitar as well. Kinda ulta-hi gain thing, which I like. Noisey bastard, though and requires a lot of tweeking. Anyone else bought these amazingly cheap pedals?

Posted on Wed, 15 March 2006 at 10:37

#25

Dennis wrote:

Idlevice2 wrote:
anyone curious about those new behringer pedals? 15 quid for a semi-decent bass distortion unit isn’t bad, even if it is cheap plastic. You can get some cool fuzz off it (like Muse). Sounds good with guitar as well. Kinda ulta-hi gain thing, which I like. Noisey bastard, though and requires a lot of tweeking. Anyone else bought these amazingly cheap pedals?

Our bassist turned up to last Saturday’s gig with a brand new Behringer chorus pedal, funnily enough.

Similar in design to the Boss ones but don’t seem quite as robust. Sounds good though.

I think these days there is no need to pay through the nose for FX, I think it’s mostly the name you are paying for these days, like designer clothes.

Posted on Wed, 15 March 2006 at 10:46

#26

Misanthropologist (d) wrote:

Idlevice2 wrote:
anyone curious about those new behringer pedals? 15 quid for a semi-decent bass distortion unit isn’t bad, even if it is cheap plastic. You can get some cool fuzz off it (like Muse). Sounds good with guitar as well. Kinda ulta-hi gain thing, which I like. Noisey bastard, though and requires a lot of tweeking. Anyone else bought these amazingly cheap pedals?

Not heard of them, but sounds interesting. Someone tell me more of this wonder. I could probably live with a bit of unwanted noise for fifteen quid.

Posted on Wed, 15 March 2006 at 12:04

#27

Taunty Dan wrote:

i’ve got a behringer x-v amp pedal for guitar, and at £45 i’ve gotta say its a bargain. There are 100 built in sounds and you can create new ones yourself using the effects on offer. It has a wah pedal too. Now admittedly, these sounds aint incredible, and the wah pedal aint a patch on the crybaby, but for home recording and private use its pretty fucking excellent. Wouldn’t have thought it would stand the test of gigging, though.

Oh, its got a built in tuner too.

Highly reccomended.

Posted on Wed, 15 March 2006 at 13:01

#28

Idlevice2 wrote:

Misanthropologist wrote:
Not heard of them, but sounds interesting. Someone tell me more of this wonder. I could probably live with a bit of unwanted noise for fifteen quid.

Or spend 30 and get a noise-gate with it ;)

Posted on Wed, 15 March 2006 at 14:25

#29

Misanthropologist (d) wrote:

Oh, pshaww, not my style at all. Much more likely to take it apart and prod it to find out if I can make any ‘improvements’.

I never can. :(
;)

Posted on Wed, 15 March 2006 at 14:36