Which electric guitar advice please

Philly112

The guitar is back.

First impressions. The action is now as low as it could possibly be. Maybe not as low as some super shred guitars I've played, but not far off. Certainly lower than any Strat I have played (only played one other tele, and that was relatively difficult to play). It might actually be too low for me to be honest! I play it and it doesn't feel like I'm putting enough effort in, if that makes any sense! I'll need to practice some tapping, which is what all tele players do of course . Never thought I'd be able to shred on this guitar, but I reckon I can now. If I could shred, that is.
I'll keep it like this for a couple of weeks and see how I get on with it - I've got to get used to the hybrid strings as well of course. The string tension is lower now than I am used to (on the G,B,E strings).
The 4 way switch adds another dimension to the sound, so it can now sound like a meatier humbucker guitar. Again, I'll need to play around with it with my various pedals, but it's certainly a more versatile guitar with this mod. (given that teles are very versatile anyway). Not sure why all teles don't have this as standard to be honest. It's essentially a cheaper and simpler mod to the S1 system (although that does give even more variety).

Philly112

My guy took the neck off my guitar to level the frets. Obviously only possible on a bolt on neck guitar. They were finished off with the neck back in place.

KungFuPro

Shredding on a telecaster you say, John 5 is definitely worth checking out, great player, keep meaning to check out his solo stuff.
                                Love the bit around 3:15, he makes string skipping/tapping arpeggios look easy!

I think teles/fenders with a small radius you don't want strings too low, most of my guitars have a pretty flat radius 10/12" upwards, my Eagle has something like 9.5" which feels really curvy to me. If I have the strings too low, bends tend to choke instead of ringing out. I like a bit of distance too as you can feel what you're actually playing.

I quite like hybrids on fender scale lengths, a lot easier for larger bends Gilmour/Hendrix style. 10s in standard tuning are too much like hard work for my decrepit fingers, just thinking of 'Run to the hills' intro With 10s makes my fingers hurt. I guess it's what your fingers get used to though and the style you're playing.

Philly112

That's good. But should be in the beginners section though.

Philly112

Just got back from 4 hours 'jamming' with my neighbour and his 15 year old son. My guitar, bass and a small drumkit (the dad). Played some easy funk songs - Cissy Strut, Pick Up the Pieces, Long Train Running. The lad wants us to play at the next open mic down the town. But don't think they allow drums. Thank god.

KungFuPro

I remember trying string skipping arpeggios a year or 2 after picking up a guitar, Paul Gilberts Intense Rock II on VHS (around 27:00)
                                Not the best thing to try an learn as a beginner, saying that, it's always worth having a go no matter what level you're at. Gotta tackle the hard stuff at some point, 20  years later still can't do it.

Sounds good man, I'm trying to get something of a cover band going at work with a drummer, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, etc anything playable. Think I'd have to ban mobile phone recordings or hose anyone down recording my sloppy playing though.

Philly112

The thing is, I've been playing on and off for many years, and I guess I'd describe myself as an 'intermediate' player. Can't tap, sweep or anything like that though! Probably need more work on my theory to be honest as that holds me back.
I have around 20 solo pieces or so I can play comfortably, chord melody style, some of which sound pretty good. Mainly jazz standards, Misty type stuff.
But it was great fun today just funkin around, heck none of us knew how to play Long Train Runnin, but 30 mins on You Tube and Ultimate Guitar and voila! Mozart it aint and as long as at least one of the trio is holding down the groove, it all sounds OK.
I'm going to take my looper and delay pedal next time and we'll do Floyd's Any Colour You Like, which is pretty easy as well.
Probably need to find a singer next, and we can get some Police songs down, as I know a few of those. The wife has offered to sing, but we don't know any Mongolian yodelling tracks.

KungFuPro

I wouldn't use sweep/tapping myself when improvising/lead play in a band, only if it was part of a solo I was covering. Fair play to anyone who can ad-lib it into their playing. It's difficult enough playing stuff you're confident playing.

Sounds like you've been playing long enough to know bends and vibrato are the main techniques to make a guitar sing. No one likes hearing bad bends, like an out of tune singer. Flat bends and no vibrato - guitar doesn't sound nice no matter how many notes are played.

Just try to enjoy it if you get the chance to play in front of people, pull enough constipated faces and even bad bends seem like you're just really into the music.

Philly112

I actually played in a band when I first started. Over 20 years ago... Jazz funk, Crusaders type stuff. Since then, gave up for years, played some acoustic, gave up, played some of my solo pieces in an old folks home every week (great experience!), gave up......
I've now got some time, and some disposable income, and have been at it for a few years again.
Beats golf...

hyperfish

...every time