Hey everyone, my name is Eoin and I'm 18. I have a Strat knockoff I got brand new for around 80 euro and an Artec GP-10 amp for 50 euro new too.

hxxp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Elevation-Full-Si ... wItemQQptZ UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item33543e2 590&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

This is not the exact same guitar but it's identical to mine

Here is the amp

hxxp://www.waltons.ie/Product/View.aspx?id=11561

Ok so here is my issue :

When I play it sounds ok but I'm easily demotivated. I think it's me but sometimes I think my guitar just sounds bad. When I play certain riffs they just don't sound right. I've been playing acoustic for around a year and electric only a few months. One day I randomly messed with my truss rod not knowing what it could do and I think I may have messed with the neck etc. Then I read today about intonation and mine is out on a few strings. I tried fixing it but I can't/dunno how on my saddle.

For example on this riff

----------------|------------------|------------|
----------------|------------------|------------|
------0-------0-|------0-----------|------------|
----4-------5---|----7-------0-----|--0-----0---|
--2-------3-----|--5-------4-------|2-----------|
0-------0-------|0-------5-----5s3-|----3s5-----|

the open G totally ruins the sound, since it's meant to blend in but it makes this weird out of tune noise and sounds like crap when I play it, but its in tune? I dunno what to do. And I'm having trouble with muting too, dunno why, I think and hope it's just me, not my gear etc

I tried messing with the saddle and when I get the 12th fret note on a string in tune the open one goes out and when I get the open one in tune the 12th goes out, I'm so fed up. I dunnp whether I should buy some new strings tomorrow and try again, hoping new strings will make a difference, or just bring my guitar in for a setup in the store. Or maybe just forget about it and save for a new one? Sometimes when I'm playing mostly my g string will sound a little out even tho it shows up as tuned on the tuner, and some strings rattle or buzz off the neck, it's really demotivating and annoying

Any advice on my three options I listed above would help immensely

I think you should probably have a professional look at your guitar. Leave the truss rod adjustment to a professional. Good luck.

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2008 Fender Deluxe Fat Strat
1998 Gibson Explorer
1985 Ibanez DT350FR
Peavey Valveking

A normal working guitar can adjust the intonation simply by lengthening or shortening the saddles, not height just sliding it up or down. If this is not working there is some serious issues happening, are you loosening the strings before you adjust the saddles ? Good luck

Well if you messed with the truss rod and weren't sure what you were doing, then I would take it to a shop and have a setup done on it. They'll adjust the truss rod, the saddles, check the fret buzzing, and a list of other things.

Yes I totaly agree .Bring it in to a pro tech and tell him everything you are experiencing and he should have you plugged back in in no time.

Hi Ramza126: that's the best advice, for sure. Though it's going to cost a big part of what you paid for that guitar, which is a drag.

In case someone can recommend a good tech nearby, where in the country are you? If you happen to be within five minutes walk of me, why I'll do it for you myself (no charge). But I ain't walking for a sixth minute...!

Good luck - C

Places to be, people to see?

I'll make a similar offer, bring it round and i'll sort it. I'm in south linc's.

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No no and no

Nah, just lazy!

BTW: Ramza126, if it actually came to a meeting, we'd obviously hedge things around carefully to make it safe. 18 year olds need to be a little cautious meeting up with people they don't know from the internet.

I think you'd likely get great setup from Nikininja though! One of these days I'd like to have that gentleman teach me some stuff about amp innards...

Cheers - C

You need to have a pro set your guitar back up. Now that you "experimented" with a delicate adjustment that you know nothing about, you have no idea how to fix it or how it should even be in the first place. That's like opening the hood of your car and just "tinkering" around until something get messed up, that asking how to fix that from someone online. You can't do stuff like that

After you get that done, keep in mind that playing acoustic and electric is very different. Yes, they're both guitars and yes, it's all "music". But the way you play things will vary greatly between the two. Certain things you played on the acoustic that sound great will sound terrible on the electric, depending on either how much distortion you have and how strings are ringing out.

For starters, your playing Metallica riffs, and thats why it sounds so bad.
Take it to a tech and stop playing Metallica.

You don't look that out of shape in the pics you posted!!

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

How can a logger and a carpenter like Ceri be out of shape!

I knew that riff looked familiar...Sanitarium lol

I'll add to the list of free amateur tech guys willing to help - I'm in Birmingham UK if thats anywhere close.

Good eye! thats the intro to sanitarium!

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"