Pimp My Guitar

If you're not interested in guitar talk, you may want to skip this post...

Now that The Codes are experiencing some minor success, I figured it was time to swap out my cheap pawn shop guitar for something decent. The whole process started a few months ago when a good friend gave me an American made Fender Stratocaster as a gift. I call this a "process" because I decided to pimp that guitar by upgrading the tuning keys, bridge setup, and pickups - in addition to a couple of aesthetic changes.

Here are the "before and after" shots. As you can see, I started with a standard black and white Strat. First, I made some inexpensive aesthetic upgrades - switching out the white pickguard for red pearloid and the white volume and tone knobs for black.

Then I made a few changes to improve the sound and feel of the guitar. I had an issue with the standard Fender bridge set (where the strings rest on the tremolo just below the pickguard). I was breaking strings on a regular basis. So I replaced the bridge set with Graph Tech FerraGlide Saddles. And while I was at it, I also decide to replace the tuning keys on the headstock for smoother tuning. I chose Planet Waves Auto Trim Tuning Machines (not pictured). Both the bridge saddles and tuning keys were a Christmas gift from sweet Momo.

And my boy Ian hooked me up with new pickups for my rig (another x-mas gift). He did a lot of research and decided on GFS Pro-tube Lipstick-style pickups. They're the three little black tubes in the pictures. The standard Strat includes three 4.9khz pickups, which give it that twangy lead guitar sound. But I'm playing rhythm guitar in The Codes, so I wanted a fuller sound with better mids and lows. The GFS Pro-tubes are three different pickups: 4.9khz, 6khz, and 8khz. They allow for a wider range of sound and styles.

And last but not least, I needed an amp powerful enough for gigs. For practice sessions, I was playing through a Fender Blues Junior. It's a great amp and I'm definitely going to keep it for rehearsals. But it's just not powerful enough to play live with drums. So I started checking Craigslist and eBay daily looking for a good deal on a used amp. I bid on a couple of different models on eBay and ended up getting outbid. Then I found the perfect amp on Craigslist. It's a Kustom Coupe '36 - an all-tube amp like the Blues Junior, but it's more than twice as powerful. Plus, it has two channels with a foot switch, and an additional "boost" switch for leads. And of course it looks badass. Guitar One magazine just gave this amp it's annual "One Award".

So I'm all set for now... Though I have to admit I'm addicted to Craigslist and eBay now.

How to Choose an Acoustic Guitar

Recently, my good friend Lil' Nell decided that she wants to learn to play guitar. The first step, of course is to borrow or buy an entry level instrument. But that in itself is a challenge because she doesn't have experience playing. So deciding on a guitar will take some research. She emailed me for assistance - here's our conversation:

Lil' Nell:
Seeing as how I have no idea what is good and bad in the guitar world and don't want to spend all of my pocket change on it, can you offer some advice? What's your opinion of the Silvertone SD ? No rush...

I also have been looking on craigslist and saw a Harmony with case for $100.

JJ:
Harmony and Silvertone are typically been manufactured for department stores, especially the beginner models - so it's kind of like buying a Sears brand guitar. In other words - they're crap. (Though if you could find an old 1930's model, that would be worth tons of cash.)

Beginners need quality guitars or else they'll get frustrated and quit. By that I mean, a skilled player can make a crappy guitar sound decent through certain finger and picking techniques - a beginner may simply get fed up.

That being said, you can get a really decent beginner level guitar for a pretty good price ($100-200) at a guitar shop instead of a department store. I simply wouldn't recommend a "generic" type brand. Of course, you could find a decent guitar on Craigslist or at a pawn shop, but without experience it might be hard to determine whether you've found a fair deal.

Keep an eye out for Epiphone, Ibanez, or Squier (maybe even low-end Fender models). Those are three brands that are manufactured by major guitar companies, but they're made overseas so they're cheaper than the top of the line stuff.

Check out these deals:
Ibanez IJV50 JamPack ~$100

Epiphone DR-100 ~$100

And this is the acoustic my nephew Kevin started with:
Epiphone PR-150~$130

Lil' Nell:
JJ, Thank you! I really like the Epiphone sunburst. But the Ibanez Jam Pack seems like such a good deal since I have none of the accessories. I was also reading the costumer reviews and most say buy new strings. If I buy the guitar I imagine I would need a bag or stand, picks and...?

I also was noticed the acoustic you have sitting out now; it's a lot thinner than the other guitar. Is that because it is acoustic/electric?

JJ:
Yeah, that other acoustic I have is an acoustic/electric (and those do tend to be thinner, but not always).

That Jam Pack is definitely a good deal, and the guitar is probably pretty decent quality. The Jam Pack would include everything you need... but if you decide on a guitar without the accessories kit, here's what else you might need:

Tuner (definitely):
Korg Tuner ~$15
or
Fender Tuner ~$18

Picks (definitely):
Dunlop Tortex Guitar Picks ~$3
This is a very popular brand. They're the ones I use. For acoustic, I'd recommend thicker picks - like .88mm or 1.0mm

New strings (definitely):
Martin MSP4100 Bronze Light ~$6
There are like 200 brands of bronze or steel acoustic strings. I'd just go with what's popular. And this particular set is "light" meaning they'll be a bit easier on the fingers.

Gig bag (probably):
Road Runner Gig Bag ~$30
I'd only buy one if you plan to leave your house with your guitar (which it sounds like you will if you intend to take lessons).

Stand (maybe):
Ace Guitar Stand ~$10
You probably won't need a stand. You could just leave your guitar in the gig bag or lean it against a wall or chair.

Strap (maybe):
Performance Plus Strap ~$3
You'll need a strap if you plan to stand while playing. So it might be fun to have one, but not necessary. You could always practice while sitting.

Lil' Nell:
How much of my decision should be based on look vs. sound?

JJ:
It's a good idea to pick one that you think looks cool. If you choose a decent brand with good reviews, it'll sound fine. You want to make sure you actually like the guitar, so you'll be more interested in picking it up and practicing.

Lil' Nell:
I also found this at Guitar Center. But I'm not sure about the tuner that's included.

Epiphone PR-150 Player Pack ~$150

And this one... I know I don't need an acoustic/electric, I just like the shape:
Ibanez IJAE5BK JamPack ~$200

JJ:
I wouldn't rule out an acoustic/electric. That Ibanez guitar looks awesome. And I bet it sounds great (based on the reviews). Plus it includes an amp – so you can get a cool blues/rock sound. And of course, you don't have to plug it in if you just want to play acoustic. Nice find.

If you're considering acoustic/electric, take a look at this one too. Fender makes quality guitars and this one looks unique:
Fender DGA-1 Guitar Pak ~$240

For advice on sex, drugs, music, movies, alcohol, blogging or anything else I dig, shoot me an email at thechurning_AT_gmail_DOT_com. I'll either help out or just make fun of you. Either way, I'll post a link to your website (if you have one).