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Post subject: For a rookie player...How do you judge how good a guitar is?
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 4:48 am
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Hello everyone,

I have recently bought an Am Std Stratocaster and I am getting to know her and spend some quality time with her. :)

I have had a few "issues" (either hardware or my lack of technique) and I have been trying to solve this, either by increasing my knowledge about electric guitars or fiddling with my guitar.

I have gone a long way... From saying that my Yamaha Pacifica 112v was the same as my Fender Am Std Strat. Now, whenever I grab my Pacifica, I can't play it for long before I have to go back to my Strat!!!

But in saying this... I always have the same question in the back of my mind "Did I get a good guitar?"! I spent lots of time listening to Youtube videos, reviews, setup videos and etc... But, nevertheless, every time I play I ask myself "Is this what a perfect Am Std Strat is supposed to sound and play"?

So... keeping in mind I am a rookie player (coming from acoustic guitars), what would be the definitive (if there is such a thing) tests you would do to make sure your guitar is "THE GUITAR"?

Cheers all!

PS: Just to add a bit of "context"... My guitar plays confortably (relief around 0.010'' and action at the 17th at a bit above 2mm... which is already a bit high), but strumming chords or picking notes harder leads to a little bit of fret buzz. I was told this is normal, but I keep asking myself if this is really normal (mind you... I don't slam the string down). This is my biggest source of doubts... This and my OCD kicking in, of course! :)


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Post subject: Re: For a rookie player...How do you judge how good a guitar
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 4:52 am
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Your guitar is fine.
Play on, play a lot, play LOUD.


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Post subject: Re: For a rookie player...How do you judge how good a guitar
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 6:35 am
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Lets forget my guitar for the moment... (I have a few topics regarding that)

What I am looking for is how to be sure we have the guitar we have to own!

I am interested in getting an Eric Johnson at some point, and I want to make sure that, when the time comes, I am ready to make an informed decision!


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Post subject: Re: For a rookie player...How do you judge how good a guitar
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 7:13 am
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Like I said, play (on, a lot, loud).
You say you're a rookie, but in time you will get to know your own playing style and your preferences on the guitar (& other gear).
An AmStd is a great guitar - in fact it's so good that it might very well be argued that it doesn't in any way limit a player from expressing him/herself to the max.
And, if you play enough, there will be a day when you notice that the equipment is not the crucial point; you can take any guitar and sound like yourself.

And on that context part (since you brought the subject up...): many players who come from acoustics or are otherwise beginners have a heavy attack. An electric guitar doesn't need that. Of course, if you're going to play like SRV, you have to set up the guitar in a similar way, but us mortals get away with less.

Oh, BTW; did you already have the guitar set up by a pro? Just asking, cause this is the fifth new topic you've started, and on which you mention problems with the guitar. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: For a rookie player...How do you judge how good a guitar
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:25 am
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Hello again!!
And thank you for your advise! I can tell you, I am taking it very seriously and I have been playing quite a lot (unfortunately, living in a small apartment with two kids, the loud part is a bit restricted!!! :D ).

I completely realize that playing makes you know more the instrument and what you are looking for. But I am asking to step back for a moment and, besides the tone or the sound you are looking for, I am more interested in knowing... simply... how do you choose the am std (for example), out of the 10 am std that there are in a store. This is really my main question... What makes a guitar be that guitar (and I completely understand that experience makes you know this more easily and readily)?

jmattis wrote:
Oh, BTW; did you already have the guitar set up by a pro? Just asking, cause this is the fifth new topic you've started, and on which you mention problems with the guitar. :wink:

I didn't do a professional setup! :D But as I said, this topic is not about my guitar. It is about trying to understand people that say "play 30 different guitars until you find the one". I want to know what makes the one, the one!
In fact, I don't want to talk about my guitar at all in this topic! :) (although, it is the most beautiful guitar ever!!!)


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Post subject: Re: For a rookie player...How do you judge how good a guitar
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:18 am
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Every guitar is different, even ones which are the same model and built on the same day. Also, your style (the way and how you play) comes into play. If you haven't done so, get the guitar set up properly (and I don't mean Guitar Center). Find a GOOD luthier and have him or her look over the guitar. Many things come into play when it comes to how well a guitar sounds and plays: the nut, the action, the intonation, the pickup height and all those little things that either love or hate a guitar.

Lastly, your ear and the sound you hear in your head play a big part of how a guitar is "supposed to sound." For instance, I love the look, vibe, and in the right hands, the sound of Gibson guitars. I've owned several, and in the end I sold all of them. For me, and my style of playing, they don't do it for me.

When choosing a guitar, don't go by the model or the name. Play the guitar. You will either connect with it, or you won't. A little story:

Way back in 2004, I was in Nashville playing lots of Strats at many different stores. I must have played three or four different 2004, 50th Anniversary American Series Strats, and I was not very impressed. But then I played a fifth one through a Fender Twin Reverb. Instant Eric Johnson tone. To my ear, it sounded like what I wanted a Strat to sound, and I own/have owned many, many Strats. I fell in-love right there on the spot. I bought the guitar and never looked back. For the next several years it was my main guitar. There was just something about THAT guitar.

Fast forward to 2014. I ended up selling that guitar for a 1975 Strat. Again, I played it and was like, "I must have this guitar!" It was even closer to "The Stratocaster" sound I I heard in my head. As much as I loved the 50th Anniversary Am. Series Strat, I love this guitar that much more.

Here's a youtube clip. Keep in mind that I made this demonstrate the tone in various pickup configurations. I'm not really playing anything, just noodling.

http://www.search.ask.com/search?ch=vid ... ype=videos

I hope this helps.


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Post subject: Re: For a rookie player...How do you judge how good a guitar
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:38 pm
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milcs wrote:
I am more interested in knowing... simply... how do you choose the am std (for example), out of the 10 am std that there are in a store. This is really my main question... What makes a guitar be that guitar (and I completely understand that experience makes you know this more easily and readily)?

(snip)

I didn't do a professional setup! :D But as I said, this topic is not about my guitar. It is about trying to understand people that say "play 30 different guitars until you find the one". I want to know what makes the one, the one!


Some people have a very romantic idea of guitars. They think that finding a guitar is like falling in love and that somewhere out there is that one perfect guitar just for them, if they can only find it! I admit there's something appealing in this idea, but I would recommend not listening to those folks, as this is a sure way to waste a lot of money.

An American Standard Strat is an American Standard Strat. They all have the same specs. If there is a difference in the ten guitars, it's going to come down to the setup of that individual guitar, which will affect the way the guitar feels in your hands. The tone of a solid body electric guitar is almost entirely dependent on two things - the pickups and the scale length. Your AmStd Strat will have exactly the same pickups and scale length as the other nine you might play.

Many of us have got caught in the endless quest for "the perfect guitar", which doesn't exist! I've been playing guitar for thirty years and I've bought and sold many instruments in that time. I'm just trying to help you not waste your money.

Hope this helps.


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Post subject: Re: For a rookie player...How do you judge how good a guitar
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 1:21 pm
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As to, "THE ONE." There is such animal. I play different guitars for different purposes and reasons.

Don't forget that a good quality amp also plays a bit part to how a guitar sounds. The best that you can do is play a bunch of guitars and find one that fits you. Keep in mind that your taste in what you're looking for may change over time.


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Post subject: Re: For a rookie player...How do you judge how good a guitar
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 4:16 pm
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TheDudeOfDoom wrote:
milcs wrote:
I am more interested in knowing... simply... how do you choose the am std (for example), out of the 10 am std that there are in a store. This is really my main question... What makes a guitar be that guitar (and I completely understand that experience makes you know this more easily and readily)?

(snip)

I didn't do a professional setup! :D But as I said, this topic is not about my guitar. It is about trying to understand people that say "play 30 different guitars until you find the one". I want to know what makes the one, the one!


Some people have a very romantic idea of guitars. They think that finding a guitar is like falling in love and that somewhere out there is that one perfect guitar just for them, if they can only find it! I admit there's something appealing in this idea, but I would recommend not listening to those folks, as this is a sure way to waste a lot of money.

An American Standard Strat is an American Standard Strat. They all have the same specs. If there is a difference in the ten guitars, it's going to come down to the setup of that individual guitar, which will affect the way the guitar feels in your hands. The tone of a solid body electric guitar is almost entirely dependent on two things - the pickups and the scale length. Your AmStd Strat will have exactly the same pickups and scale length as the other nine you might play.

Many of us have got caught in the endless quest for "the perfect guitar", which doesn't exist! I've been playing guitar for thirty years and I've bought and sold many instruments in that time. I'm just trying to help you not waste your money.

Hope this helps.
Very true, at least with Fenders for sure. I bought a American Standard strat last year . I picked it up and played it for a bit. Mostly trying to get a feel for the neck and make sure everything works. Sighted the neck to look for things like warped neck or bad fretwork. Checked out the hardware and the body, etc for any dings , dents , crooked or loose tuners. Didnt really give any thought to the set up at all because I was going to take it home and set it up myself with 10s instead of 9s . If for some reason I found a problem with the guitar during the setup or there was something that the setup couldnt correct I would have returned it. As it was I set it up to my liking , innotation , action and everything are to my liking and its one of my main guitars now. Fenders for the most part are so consistent IMO. I chose mine based on specs and the finish / neck combo.


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Post subject: Re: For a rookie player...How do you judge how good a guitar
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 6:43 pm
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paris wrote:
As to, "THE ONE." There is such animal. I play different guitars for different purposes and reasons.


If a guitar were truly perfect, it would be the only one you'd ever need, right? But guitars aren't perfect. Some sound great with distortion, some sound great clean. Some are great for jazz, some are great for metal. However, the OP was referring to a hypothetical situation where he would play ten AmStd Strats. My opinion based on experience is that there would be very little variation between them, aside from things that can be easily tweaked in a set-up (action, pickup height, etc.)

Now if he were to play a 2014 AmStd Strat, a vintage '62 Strat, a Tele, an SG, a Les Paul, an ES-335 and a Rickenbacker 360, then of course, there would be a huge variation in tones and feels and he might find that loves one of those guitars, dislikes another one and the rest are just okay.

paris wrote:

Don't forget that a good quality amp also plays a bit part to how a guitar sounds. The best that you can do is play a bunch of guitars and find one that fits you. Keep in mind that your taste in what you're looking for may change over time.


Totally agree with the rest of your post.


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Post subject: Re: For a rookie player...How do you judge how good a guitar
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 6:54 pm
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My final litmus test for a guitar (or amp for that matter), is to let one of my friends, that plays guitar much better than I do, try it out and I listen while they play. I realize that my playing skills are the limiting factor. Usually a more skilled player can advise about the setup of a guitar.

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Post subject: Re: For a rookie player...How do you judge how good a guitar
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 7:22 pm
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TheDudeOfDoom wrote:
paris wrote:
As to, "THE ONE." There is such animal. I play different guitars for different purposes and reasons.


If a guitar were truly perfect, it would be the only one you'd ever need, right? But guitars aren't perfect. Some sound great with distortion, some sound great clean. Some are great for jazz, some are great for metal. However, the OP was referring to a hypothetical situation where he would play ten AmStd Strats. My opinion based on experience is that there would be very little variation between them, aside from things that can be easily tweaked in a set-up (action, pickup height, etc.)

Now if he were to play a 2014 AmStd Strat, a vintage '62 Strat, a Tele, an SG, a Les Paul, an ES-335 and a Rickenbacker 360, then of course, there would be a huge variation in tones and feels and he might find that loves one of those guitars, dislikes another one and the rest are just okay.

paris wrote:

Don't forget that a good quality amp also plays a bit part to how a guitar sounds. The best that you can do is play a bunch of guitars and find one that fits you. Keep in mind that your taste in what you're looking for may change over time.


Totally agree with the rest of your post.


Thanks for thoughts. Me personally, I use a '75 Strat, a '76 Strat (which sounds a bit warmer than the '75. The guitar is shielded, which changed how it sounded), a '00 Clapton Strat, a Taylor and my Andy Summers inspired Tele. A year ago, I used the Tele all the time, but the '75 is my current favorite.


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Post subject: Re: For a rookie player...How do you judge how good a guitar
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:48 pm
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Here's another aspect for consideration... As mentioned already... a good amp is important.... not only for a good tone... but... different types of amps and the tone/sound they produce WILL affect how the guitar feels when you're playing it.

This may sound a bit wonky... but it's true. The response you feel from the fretboard and strings changes with different types of amplifiers.
A Fender Twin has a different response than a Marshall JCM800... A Deluxe Reverb has a different resonse than a Vox AC30 etc...
And your guitar will feel a little different when playing thru those amps.

Is there any diff in the setup... no.... but the way the amp processes the sound affects how you PLAY the guitar... which also affects the "Feel"... or perhaps more accurately... how you interpret the way the guitar fretboard/strings feel.

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Post subject: Re: For a rookie player...How do you judge how good a guitar
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 4:15 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
My final litmus test for a guitar (or amp for that matter), is to let one of my friends, that plays guitar much better than I do, try it out and I listen while they play. I realize that my playing skills are the limiting factor. Usually a more skilled player can advise about the setup of a guitar.


+1
I realise how true this words are, when you are a rookie you simply don't have skills enough to properly judge a guitar.
My little history: after several years with cheaper instruments I eventually bought an American standard strat with fat 50 pickups, nice instrument. It was my main axe for some months. She currently sits in her case in favour of an 80s made in Japan strat and a Mexican made Baja Tele....
When I pick it up I realize it's overall a better sounding guitar but still I play it less than the others... Go figure!
I realise I spent too much time watching videos and reading forums, it was an addiction. As other said, go and play the hell out of it. There will be always a "better" guitar for you out there, just don't waste time waiting for it.


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Post subject: Re: For a rookie player...How do you judge how good a guitar
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 4:29 pm
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By the way,
The mij strat is set up with floating tremolo and medium to low action. It buzzes a little when I strum hard.
The am std is set with decked trem and high action (noticeably higher than 2mm), it buzzes if I strum hard. I like to experiment between different set ups. I Believe this helps the technique.
I played many many strats in my life and all buzzed if I played them hard.
Has that been ever a problem to me? No.
I come from acoustic 12 strings, I had to reset my picking technique!!!


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