guitslinger,

Can you elaborate on that "balancing act" to keep the floating bridge from moving while bending strings, I have never seen anything like that. Unless you deck the bridge (which I do also) I don't see how you can prevent the bridge from moving.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

Well, Have you made a decision yet ? We're dying to know (actually, we just want to see pictures).

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"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

Have't got it yet. But I am going with the MIM strat. I stop by GC 2 or three times a week and play them....lol. Kind of got the hots for the black one with the white pick guard and maple kneck.

I know that if you have the bridge floating you can't completely stop the strings that are sounding open from going somewhat out of tune but if you put in the maximum number of springs and get the tension on the spring claw just right you can greatly minimumize it. As a matter of fact someone posted a thread on that very subject a while back. One of the better known techs-I forget who just now but no doubt someone will remember-took a Squier Strat and set it up with the bridge floating and he had acquired the perfect balance with absolutely no tuning fluctuations while bending.It can be done but I don't have the know how or the patience to go at it, so I just deck my vibrato arms.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I played a few, and they were great.
Not to nitpick, but I think the best value on an electric guitar is just a little higher on the price range though. i think the Baja Tele might be the very best ratio of guitar for money.

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

Back to the MIM. Did the wife loosen up some more funds ????

_________________
"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

LOL, she is ok with it. Like I say, I am a rotton guitar player but have really started to focus on it a lot more. Looking at online lessons. Never had a lesson in my life, so I look at all the scale lessons to learn a little lead. Any tips you guys can give me would help a lot. I like the lessons offered on this site as well. I KNOW I will never be a good player, but I have loads of fun playing and learning news things. Thanks for all the replies on here, I really still have a long way to go. Just maybe down the road, I can find someone around my skill level to jam a song or two.........that would be a blast.
General Coulter

One more thing. Would it be worth my time to take a few begginer lessons from a real teacher. I would love to know the basics inside out.
General Coulter

Hi,
Can you give us an idea of your current skill level ? Do you know open chords, barre chords, are you beyond that ? Do you know any scales ? If we know what you know, we can better help you know what we know. Ya' know ?

_________________
"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

I know basic chords, the pentatonic scale.I can play some things in open tuning,kashmire, rainsong, some open g stuff like can't you hear me knocking tumblin dice ect.I just want to be able to learn lead, and blues, classic rock ect. Need to understand the concept of learning the scales.

Believe me when I say that "I am NO expert" here. In fact you probably have more knowledge than I. That said, I would say, maybe learn some more scales and go from there. There are some good courses. The learn & master guitar course is pricey but very well done. I would suggest using the likes of youtube for some instructional videos to help with scales. I'm sure someone with more experience than myself will offer some more (and better) ideas.

_________________
"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

I've done a few things since I restarted playing. I bought some excellent books w/cds from M.I. Musicians Institute, available through Amazon.com. And there's a site called "Guitar Tricks". I've found both of these to be very useful. Both very professional & a lot cheaper than private lessons. There's also some good free stuff on the internet regarding music theory etc. "Rici Adams" is an excellent free site w/interactive lessons & exercises. Of course there's a lot of other stuff out there too, sites & books, but these I've tried & can attest to. You'll do yourself a favor by at least checking these out. Cheers

Forgot to mention. I also got a 1 year subscription at http://www.e-chords.com
Seems to be a good site. Lots of useful stuff. They break songs down well so you can learn them easily and have many songs of all skill levels. May be worth a look-see for you.

_________________
"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

A little update. Looks like mid May is when I will be getting the MIM Strat. I found a local mom and pop guitar store and checked out a MIM they had there. Rotton to say the least. It would not hold a tune period. The guy said it needed to be setup.I just don't see why you would have the things on the wall to play and not set them up in advance.They said they would set it up if i bought it, but a gig bag would be 30.00. If I get one from GC, I am going to ask for gig bag and setup with purchase. Lets see how bad they want a sale...lol. Has anyone here delt with them in the past? If so, I'd like to hear about it.
Thanks
General Coulter

You can ask for the gig bag and I'm sure they will do a setup for you. HOWEVER....I would pass on the setup and have it done elsewhere (maybe the mom & pop shop ?). Guitar Centers are not known for their expertly qualified guitar techs. You can do better.

_________________
"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD