Why I can't have nice things

bluechargeboy

monquixote said:

Am I the only one mentally singing:

"DANGER WANK DO-DO DO-DO DO-DO"

To the tune of Danger Mouse.

Well, this forum went downhill pretty fast. 

monquixote

bluechargeboy said:

monquixote said:

Am I the only one mentally singing:

"DANGER WANK DO-DO DO-DO DO-DO"

To the tune of Danger Mouse.

Well, this forum went downhill pretty fast. 

We only built this site to make wank jokes. 

The guitar thing is just a front. 

bluechargeboy

And I played right into your ha- Let me rephrase that.

axisus

I don't go near a plectrum with my acoustic guitars! 

bertie

VimFuego said:

fecking hell bert, if he had the action any lower those pick marks would be on the back X_X

you being serious ?   that action looks nearly 10mm approaching 12th...............  mine are about 3 or 4  at the 12th open stringed

ESBlonde

You bought a guitar without a pick guard?

Although there may be some (arguable) tone implications to fitting one, I think you might see the merits. I have seen clear plastic options which don't obstruct the overall appearance but with some damage already evident they will only offer protection against further damage.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Pickguards/Pickguard_materials/Clear_Pickguard_Materials.html

Complete with fitting and removal instructions and allegedly without damage (that might not apply since your finish is already damaged).

Does that help?

not_the_dj

Glen Hansard's Martin freaks me out slightly..

bluechargeboy

bertie said:

VimFuego said:

fecking hell bert, if he had the action any lower those pick marks would be on the back X_X

you being serious ?   that action looks nearly 10mm approaching 12th...............  mine are about 3 or 4  at the 12th open stringed

Action is 3mm at the 12th fret, low E.

bluechargeboy

ESBlonde said:

You bought a guitar without a pick guard?

Although there may be some (arguable) tone implications to fitting one, I think you might see the merits. I have seen clear plastic options which don't obstruct the overall appearance but with some damage already evident they will only offer protection against further damage.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Pickguards/Pickguard_materials/Clear_Pickguard_Materials.html

Complete with fitting and removal instructions and allegedly without damage (that might not apply since your finish is already damaged).

Does that help?

Cheers, people keep recommending this kind of thing to me but I feel strangely intransigent! Allegedly cedar wears so much and then you are left with the hard bits of the grain which do not wear anywhere near as quickly. This causes a ridged effect which my guitar indeed displays.

I noticed that the influences on my percussive guitar style (e.g. Nuno Bettencourt, Nick Harper, SRV) all have guitars with spectacular amounts of wear on them so I should have seen it coming really....! :-S

bertie

bluechargeboy said:

Action is 3mm at the 12th fret, low E.

crikey it doesnt look it.......  

stickyfiddle

Damien Rice & John Butler's guitars are looking similarly fecked these days too. I wouldn't worry

bluechargeboy

See? Wrecked acoustic guitars are the new acoustic guitars, wait until Fender realises this.

not_the_dj

Have a lol.

Relic acoustics, it's got to happen b

Phil_aka_Pip

I never understood flailing from the elbow when playing guitar. How the hell can you use any finesse, getting the pick to play the right string(s) when you're thumping in that manner?

bluechargeboy

Phil_aka_Pip said:

I never understood flailing from the elbow when playing guitar. How the hell can you use any finesse, getting the pick to play the right string(s) when you're thumping in that manner?

In my case the wear comes from times when I am hitting the strings in a very percussive manner, and generally going for a vibe rather than a melody line, if you see what I mean. I am controlled when I play nicey-nice chords and melody lines.

And I flail from the wrist, I'll have you know!

Phil_aka_Pip

bluechargeboy said:

Phil_aka_Pip said:

I never understood flailing from the elbow when playing guitar. How the hell can you use any finesse, getting the pick to play the right string(s) when you're thumping in that manner?

In my case the wear comes from times when I am hitting the strings in a very percussive manner, and generally going for a vibe rather than a melody line, if you see what I mean. I am controlled when I play nicey-nice chords and melody lines.

And I flail from the wrist, I'll have you know!

all in the wrist action. cool. It just looked as if you'd been flailing from the elbow. sorry.

btw do you apply different thumb pressure to keep the pick parallel to the treble strings compared to when it is picking the bass strings? my pick tends to rotate a little around the last joint of my index finger in order to achieve that.

bluechargeboy

A casual inspection of my picks would suggest that they are never parallel to the strings, establishing beyond all doubt my membership of the Enraged Chimpanzee Guitar Method. I don't think I have different thumb pressure across different strings though.

bertie

Phil_aka_Pip said:

I never understood flailing from the elbow when playing guitar. How the hell can you use any finesse, getting the pick to play the right string(s) when you're thumping in that manner?

some acoustic strumming - you know where you play ALL the strings, actually requires a tightly controlled combination of elbow flailing and wrist action -   playing with wrist action alone just wouldnt get the required volume/tone

Henrytwang

Do you play a lot of Richie Havens stuff?

alcxam

Hmmmm... I don't think cedar is good top choice for your playing style...