10 Questions We Ask Everyone

bignorm · March 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
I got a plastic acoustic for Xmas when I was a kid.. It was a toy really and wouldn't tune up.
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Prs EG2
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Gibson Chet Atkins
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
I really fancy a 335
5: What strings do you use?
Picato 9-46
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
The solo on most of my recordings ... I never know when to stop.
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Check the tuning, put in and switch on my in ear monitors
8: ...And five minutes after?
Go off to a quiet corner to unwind
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
I tripped on stage and went crashing though a partion wall and knock myself out. Came round took a few painkillers and finished the gig. The show must go on.
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
When playing a solo, less is more. Don't get bogged down in trying lots of different amps and pedals, chose a decent amp and guitar.

Bueller · March 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A truly horrible Telecaster copy with one awful pickup and a body that was about 1" deep. It cost £14 from a junk shop in Portsmouth in 1975. It was so bad that the headstock was blank - the maker was too embarrassed to put their name on it.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
A 1966 Hofner Senator that I rescued from another Portsmouth junk shop in the mid-1980s. It's not a great guitar but it's been with me for over 30 years and it has some sentimental value. All the others I have are nice but could be replaced.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
The 1966 Hofner Senator.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A modern Les Paul DC Junior. Probably a Tokai TJ as I could use this without worrying that I was losing money on it every time I dinged it (as you would with a Collings 290 DC).

5: What strings do you use?
It always used to be Fender Bullets 10-46 but more recently I've been using Ernie Ball 10-46.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I shouldn't have left the drummer alone with the session engineer to do the mix. The drums were great and the vocal wasn't bad but the bass was barely audible and the guitar sounds like shit.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Not gigged for a long time but it would have been having a pee.

8: ...And five minutes after?
A drink to rehydrate.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
A gig in Hatfield. The band had all gone up in a minibus so I wasn't driving and had a pint or three before we went on. The first song had a stop half way through where only the guitar (me) played and then the band came in, one by one. We got to the stop and the whole band turned and looked at me but I barely knew where I was, never mind what I was supposed to be playing...

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Spend more time playing and less time tweaking effects knobs.

skullfunkerry · April 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Some sort of Epiphone super-strat, in about 1988 I reckon...honestly can't remember now exactly when it was. I haven't kept it or anything. It had a humbucker and a couple of single-coils, covered to look like EMGs but not even active, and a really crappy floating whammy that didn't stay in tune.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Whichever one I can get to safely... but at the end of the day no matter how much I love them, they're just things. And insured.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
I don't have anything genuinely old any more; it'll be my LTD EC1000, which I got in 2010

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A couple of Orange cabs to go with the Dark Terror I've just bought!

5: What strings do you use?
D'Addario 11s when I'm tuning to drop-C, or 10s if I'm in concert pitch

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
The number of people that heard all of them? Or if that's cheating, then it would have to be the guitar solo in "Deeds of Shame"

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Having my customary pre-gig wee

8: ...And five minutes after?
Breaking my gear down with the next band invading my space, probably!

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
I've been pretty lucky... a singer that excelled in coming in at the wrong time and making me look like I didn't know the song, I guess

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Get out there and do it; you're plenty good enough, so stop making excuses

call6825 · April 2016

: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A Yamaha ERG superstrat sort of guitar from the Argos when I was 14. It was some kind of budget Pacifica with no scratchplate. Piece of junk, but I ploughed many hours into it. I still have it at my Dads house. It has an EMG in the bridge and has had several attempted EVH frankenstrat paint jobs, because I was young and stupid.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My new Bass VI. It's only a Squier, but I am loving it. It is a pure DOOM machine.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
The Yamaha, though I've not laid eyes on it in about 10 years.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
You can never have too many FX pedals. So, always that.

5: What strings do you use?
Elixir 11s, because my sweat seems to disintegrate regular strings in weeks.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
More pinch harmonics.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Plugging in my pedal board and inevitably getting no signal, so furiously checking every patch cable.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Step outside. Gig venues are notoriously sweaty.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Strap button failure. Guitar goes crashing to the ground. Luckily, it was just the aforementioned Argos Yamaha in my first pop punk band, but I looked like a wally.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Stick to it. My playing seemed to progress in intervals. I'd get mad and then not touch a guitar again for a few weeks.

bobthemerciful · April 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
1972, 6th birthday present.I know now it was a blue metal ukelele, but all I knew then was it wasn't a guitar. Cried for 2 days till it disappeared to be be replaced by a steel strung no name acoustic.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My Aria Urchin 100. Only new guitar I've ever had, and still the easiest guitar to play that I have. Love it to pieces.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Either the Kimbara acoustic or the Eros Les Paul copy I got as a bag of bits for a fiver in 1982, or possibly the Arbiter SG copy.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Would love a 360/12, but when I'd get to use it God knows, Diezel Herbert which I would definitely use, and a Blackmachine F8, fabulously playable, fabulous build quality. And a 5 string fretless bass.

5: What strings do you use?
Favourites are Dean Markley Blue Steels, but use D'Addario Exp120/7s as they seem happier with Floyd's.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
To have recorded more stuff I'd written.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Checking tuning, smoking.

8: ...And five minutes after? smoking, and packing away gear.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Fell off stage and passed out at a jam at 17 having thrown up on bus on way there, discoverer I'd got hepatitis A, couldn't even lift a guitar for 6 weeks.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Just because everyone you've met so far that have had lessons aren't as good as you, don't be so bloody arrogant and stupid to think you'll be fine on your own, don't wait until you hear Malmsteen and consider giving up, get a bloody teacher NOW.

xSandsJonny · April 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Yamaha Pacifica 112V, 10th birthday present back in 2006. It was a nasty shade of metallic green, but it was a guitar and that was all that mattered. Clocked up a lot of hours with that thing.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My Gary Moore Tribute Les Paul, definitely. Not the guitar that I play the most, but the one that I enjoy playing the most, by far.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
That'll be my Yamaha, which I still keep around for messing about with lower tunings.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Would love a Chapman Ghost Fret, tried one of those the other week and was really impressed! Boring realistic answer though, probably a Boss TU-3 to replace my PolyTune, as I'm not a fan of the PolyTune mode.

5: What strings do you use?
Just standard D'addario 9-42's unless I'm tuned down, when I'll use 10-52's instead. Always like having skinny high strings for easy bends.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I'd have taken a bit more time to iron out the flaws, so I wasn't embarrassed to play them back to people now!

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Talking non-stop to my band-mates to distract myself, and tuning the guitar one last time, just to be sure.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Packing my gear away before heading to the bar.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Never had any absolute horror shows onstage, but have played an entire set so quietly that I could barely be heard, and not realised until the end. Learned to be a bit more vigilant with volume controls after that!

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Learn to sight-read at the same time as you learn to play - it'll save you hassle in the long run.

merello · April 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Played bass mainly so the first personal electric I bought was an Ibanez cheap in about 2007.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Tele Cabronita Thinline

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Said Telecaster.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Like the new MM Cutlass...

5: What strings do you use?
D'addario

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Mobile phone message

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Standing.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Still standing

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
You put your hand onto what you think is the 13th fret...

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Get into the groove - serve the song.

IntoTheFlood · May 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
1999 A black start copy which came with a VHS on how to play. I part ex'd it 2 weeks later towards a Red Squier Strat, which a few years later I stripped down and spray painted blue.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Martin 000-15m

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Ibanez RG270

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Gibson LP Studio or a Strymon DIG.

5: What strings do you use?
10-46 D'addario NYXL or Cobalt Slinky's for home practicing. 11-49 D'addario's for band stuff.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Get a different singer

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Making sure I have 2 bottles of water and a setlist

8: ...And five minutes after?
Standing outside changing my t-shirt

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Ruptured a hamstring

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Practice more and learn actual scales rather than just making it up all the time.

stratcat · May 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Bought my brothers Japanese Squire Strat off him in about 1992.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Tough one, probably my 54 ri Strat

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
The Squire strat from above.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
I'd love an L5 but it'll probably be a 5e3 clone amp

5: What strings do you use?
Ti swings .013 on my Archtop, going to go back up to .011s on my Fenders too I think, 10s feel too sloppy after the archtop.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Nothing

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Wringing a kidney.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Buzzing, backslapping the guys, dropping my gear.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Many years ago playing in a covers band snapped a string halfway through "welcome to the jungle", I forget which string it was but it was certainly a good test getting through the song looking for other ways to play the little fills and licks in other positions on the neck! Made it through ok though.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Don't get distracted going down blind alleys, stick to the path you really want to follow.

robinbowes · May 2016

@SandsJonny said:

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
probably a Boss TU-3 to replace my PolyTune, as I'm not a fan of the PolyTune mode.

Fancy doing a straight swap - my TU-3 for your Polytune?

R.

Sesh · May 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Aria Legend LS20 (Les Paul-a-like). Bought it in 1995/6 along with a Peavey Rage 158 amp. I still have both, but except in the odd nostalgic moment, they don't get any use.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
I really don't think any of them are worth saving. Maybe my Saga TC10 Tele kit I built and have since heavily modded. Mainly due to the effort I've put into it.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Hohner Hollywood JT60, which I think is from the early 90s. Bought it second hand a year or two ago. Its clearly had a hard life but the ATN circuit in it was too intriguing to not get it. The long term plan is to bring it back to its former glory.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A Jaguar or Jazzmaster. Probably a Squier as my budget is never going to stretch beyond that.

5: What strings do you use?
D'addario. 9s on the JT60, 10s on the rest

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
To actually do some would be good.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Never gigged.

8: ...And five minutes after?
See above

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Watching the lead in the school play vomiting on stage.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Don't stop, and learn a bit of theory.

dapplin15 · May 2016

dapplin15 · May 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
The first "real" guitar I got was a Michael Kelly patriot custom, about 4/5 years ago, (which my young self stupidly sold

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
mexican fender telecaster ( p-90 in neck)

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Epiphone dot, my second "real guitar", which i got about 2 years ago i beleive

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acqire?
2016 gibson P-90 with sg (performance spec)

5: What strings do you use?
Diddario NYXL, gauge 10s

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Tune up: the first, and one of few videos of my band we released on Facebook, i was badly out of tune...as i found out to my great embarrassment and discomfort

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
First gig the june.... i expect i will either by crying in fear or jumping with joy

8: ...And five minutes after?
same as above

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
we will find out

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Dont sell your first guitar, you FOOL!!!!

zepromz · May 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?

First electric was a Kay "Woolworths special"

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?

My '98 SG

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?

1954 Fender Champ steel

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?

64 Firebird.

5: What strings do you use?

Dunlop, I am endorsed.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?

Slightly less gain on the rhythm tracks

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?

Waiting for the rest of the band to stop paniking

8: ...And five minutes after?

"Mate, can you give me 10 minutes to pack down?" (repeat ad infinitum)

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?

Realising I had split my trousers and one of my plums was on show.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?

Keep your wrist straight

Garp · May 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?

A cheap Kay Les Paul copy.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?

90's PRS CE24 Goldtop

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?

Early 80's Squier ST-335 Short Scale Strat - the first guitar I bought for myself in about 1985.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Too much to choose from - nice tube amp that gives me "that" sound?

5: What strings do you use?
9's on 25.5", 10's on 24.75", hybrids on PRS.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Nothing really.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Tuning up.

8: ...And five minutes after?

Packing up.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Breaking a string in the intro to a song, then another one in the first chorus (in the days when I only owned one guitar).

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?

Have some lessons!!!

StuartMac290 · May 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
An almost-unplayable steel string acoustic I was bought in 1979 when I was ten. Horrible, and nearly put me off for life, but I persisted and my dad bought me a second-hand electric - not even a Kay, but a Kay copy - but I was hooked. Then when my grandad died he left me the princely sum of £100 which went on an Ibanez Studio 50 in 1981. I still have that - it's been fitted with P90s now and I use it in the studio Nashville-strung.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Either my 1963 Reissue 335, or my K-Line Truxton Special. Realistically, both.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
The Ibanez - I've owned older guitars but none remain.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Hmmmmm. Louis Electric KR12 or a custom-built K-Line Truxton.

5: What strings do you use?
D'Addario. Tens on electric (10.5s on a Gretsch, 11s for slide) and 12s for acoustic.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
A track I played on Isobel Campbell's album "Amorino". I did an alternative pass that was better than the one that made it onto the album.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Having a laugh with the band, hopefully

8: ...And five minutes after?
Trying to stave off the after-show comedown as long as I can.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Dropping my pick during an intro in front of 20,000 people

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Do it because you love it.

Liam · June 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Really cheap LP copy..I can barely recall....wish i'd kept it.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
At the moment my old Washburn D94LTD Acoustic

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Washburn D94LTD Acoustic

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Another guitar

5: What strings do you use?
D'Addario. Tens on electric and 12s for acoustic.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Never recorded anything

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Not been on stage

8: ...And five minutes after?
See above

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Falling off

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Start younger, work harder!

MrStoob · June 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?

A steel strung Kay acoustic when I was about 10 years old. My finger tips toughened up nicely though.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?

Ibanez RG320FM. It's my only 'good' guitar.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?

Washburn Mercury MG-70. A 'loan' by a bassist friend when I stuck only with a Merlin Sidewinder. It actually plays very well though needs some electrical attention.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?

Either a 7-string or a nice hardtail for the land of Djentry.

5: What strings do you use?

Ernie Balls Slinkies or Super Slinkies, depending on my wont. As long as they're new, strings are much of a muchness to me.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?

Huge 'WUB' right at the start of the solo on 'Can't we stay a little longer'. It was a single recording and the best attempt I'd made so it stayed in. They say you should leave in the mistakes but still...

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?

Rarely do I go onstage but back in the day, smoke.

8: ...And five minutes after?

Smoke and drink.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?

Nothing really. How boring.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?

Buy Intense Rock 1/2.

watting · June 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?

I was given a Spanish guitar by my granddad when I was about 10. To this day I don't know why he had it, as he didn't play, but it planted the seed in my mind. My first guitar when I started playing properly at 16 was an Encore ovation style acoustic. My first electric was a Honher Les Paul copy.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?

I wouldn't. It's only stuff.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?

A MIJ Fender Tele I bought new around 2003.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?

I've recently turned to the dark side and bought a Line6 Firehawk. Since then I have been thinking about getting a Variax.

5: What strings do you use?

Whatever's cheap. Currently Rotosound 10's.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?

I always tighten up when recording, so simplify my parts. I would like to be able to relax more.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?

Having a beer and chatting with friends.

8: ...And five minutes after?

Same.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?

Nothing really bad. Our bassists rig once cut out at the start of the only bass solo in our set. I launched myself behind the amp to try and fix it, but it came back before I could do anything.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?

User your ears more. I learned to play out of tab books and I spent hours trying to get my fingers to play the written notes, but never listened to what I played. So, everything was technically correct, but lacked soul.

groovie · June 2016

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
It was a Columbus strat - I loved it.
2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Chris Larkin s type.
3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
An Epi acoustic from mid eighties.
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A nice compressor - I had a Rothwell love squeeze that I really liked.
5: What strings do you use?
Rotosound 9-46 at present.
6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I didn't do much - but more tonal variation I suppose.
7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
It's been a couple of years but normally a pee and/or wash my hands.
8: ...And five minutes after?
Putting the gear away. I hate hanging around.
9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
We were playing in a disused and damp cellar and the electricity supply was dodgy - I bent down to adjust my M9 and got an unpleasant surprise from the metal bar that protects the knobs. Not cool.
10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Believe in yourself.

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