Who do you buy most of your gear from?

[whiteboypain]

I was just curious as to where all of you buy your guitars at, your amps, the expensive stuff. How do you feel about guitar center? Do you order stuff online or try it out in person first?

[remoteCONTROL]

buy gear from your friend who works at guitar center. dont pay full price at guitar center because you dont have to. if you DO have to, sweetwater.com has free shipping and no tax. i usually buy guitars and amps from boutique shops....emerald city guitars in seattle is my favorite by far...not uncommon to see eddy vedder in there selling and trading.

[Siren Silently]

Craigslist. Haha. I also like a place here called West LA Music, they beat any advertised price by 5-10% (print a catalogue from musiciansfriend and they'll beat it and you can bargain for more stuff).

[johnh5304]

I got my Fender Hot Rod DeVille 410 from some website where my dad could get a 15% discount cause he knew the web designer. My Taylor 714ce came from a local high end guitar shop out of Birmingham and I got my USA Telecaster Deluxe off eBay. The tele was only a year old and I think I saved about $350 cause no one else bid on it, plus its a rare color that I have never seen another tele in. I think I get most of my effects pedals from either Musicians Friend or eBay.

[whiteboypain]

I got my Fender Hot Rod DeVille 410 from some website where my dad could get a 15% discount cause he knew the web designer. My Taylor 714ce came from a local high end guitar shop out of Birmingham and I got my USA Telecaster Deluxe off eBay. The tele was only a year old and I think I saved about $350 cause no one else bid on it, plus its a rare color that I have never seen another tele in. I think I get most of my effects pedals from either Musicians Friend or eBay.

nice. I'm thinking about buying a telecaster. Would you say they can pretty much handle both Punk Rock and classic rock music nicely?

[Siren Silently]

nice. I'm thinking about buying a telecaster. Would you say they can pretty much handle both Punk Rock and classic rock music nicely?

Yes. Generally 'buckers are used for those genres but the tele will do it.

[patrickhowell]

Yes. Generally 'buckers are used for those genres but the tele will do it.

Yeah, an SG or Les Paul is the standard for those Genres, but Teles can sound great with the right amp, and have a lot more character.

[theguy77]

nice. I'm thinking about buying a telecaster. Would you say they can pretty much handle both Punk Rock and classic rock music nicely?

i wouldnt know too much about classic rock, since although there is clearly loads of musicianship coming from the guitarists im not a fan of the songwriting or equipment. but if we're talking about the modern underground scene, a telecaster is the perfect lead guitar for anything punk oriented period. with the right amp it can make for an amazing rhythm guitar too but there's a lot of emphasis on the right amp. you gotta pair it with a british amp with a lot of roar to it, like marshall's JCM2000 series (see: brand new's album your favorite weapon). otherwise stick with the humbuckers. the tone really does have a sharp shape and a crisp character you won't find anywhere else though, put it with an orange amp for the lead guitar and you're set. man do i love british distortion haha.

[johnh5304]

Yea I have to say my Tele is extra versatile because of the s-1 switching and the SCN pickups. My amp seems to suit it well for whatever I throw at it. I recently played with a friend's 1960 reissue Gibson Les Paul and basically fell in love with it but I think it is because I'm so used to just playing my Tele through my gear that a change-up was needed to break the monotony of just having a one guitar setup for the past 2 years.

[miketrondson]

I was just curious as to where all of you buy your guitars at, your amps, the expensive stuff. How do you feel about guitar center? Do you order stuff online or try it out in person first?

Well, if you're looking for expensive gear, you'll always want to try it in person first. Maybe even a couple different pieces of each model. With guitars, you may find one you love but can't buy right away and then find another of the same model that plays like shit.

Guitar Center is usually your best bet. They have the lowest prices and will beat prices of others on stuff. Where I live, all the other music stores carry off-brand rip offs or like Ibanez and Schecter. No Gibson, Fender or ESP.

Whoever said ask your friend who works there for a discount is 100% correct. Better yet, ask them to buy it for you on their discount.

I just bought a Gibson Les Paul Classic Goldtop and list was $2399.99. I paid $1950.99 for it. My friends discount had it down to $1450.00 and then she quit.

[whiteboypain]

Just so everyone is clear even though it sounds like it, i have no friend who works at guitar center nor do i get any kind of discount.

[whiteboypain]

Also, i mostly play rhythm guitar and i already have an electric guitar amp i plan on using with the guitar i purchase. It's a no name 1980's style fender looking "solid state" 100 watt combo amp.

Edit: the only text on the amp are the words "model 550"

[OveriseFan]

Also, i mostly play rhythm guitar and i already have an electric guitar amp i plan on using with the guitar i purchase. It's a no name 1980's style fender looking "solid state" 100 watt combo amp.

Edit: the only text on the amp are the words "model 550"

If we're thinking of the same amps - those are actually great.

The tele will be a great choice - I'm very similar to you, only I play a HRD Fender.

[whiteboypain]

If we're thinking of the same amps - those are actually great.

The tele will be a great choice - I'm very similar to you, only I play a HRD Fender.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k157/whiteboypain/IMG_08151.jpg

^ here she is

[whiteboypain]

yeah, i dunno. Ive been thinking about getting a mustang, jaguar, jazzmaster. (lol only 1 of those of course is all i can afford.) i even need some advice as to what a good pedal would be for overdrive or with type set up that would be fun to mess around with. Also, what's a good brand of instrument cable?

[The Boathouse]

monster cables are the shit. lifetime warranty hell yeaaaaa

[johnh5304]

I'd go Monster Cable all the way.

[Siren Silently]

i wouldnt know too much about classic rock, since although there is clearly loads of musicianship coming from the guitarists im not a fan of the songwriting or equipment. but if we're talking about the modern underground scene, a telecaster is the perfect lead guitar for anything punk oriented period. with the right amp it can make for an amazing rhythm guitar too but there's a lot of emphasis on the right amp. you gotta pair it with a british amp with a lot of roar to it, like marshall's JCM2000 series (see: brand new's album your favorite weapon). otherwise stick with the humbuckers. the tone really does have a sharp shape and a crisp character you won't find anywhere else though, put it with an orange amp for the lead guitar and you're set. man do i love british distortion haha.

The Vox AC30 has a lot of punch too and is the standard of the 'british voiced' amps. It is incredibly with a telecaster.

yeah, i dunno. Ive been thinking about getting a mustang, jaguar, jazzmaster. (lol only 1 of those of course is all i can afford.) i even need some advice as to what a good pedal would be for overdrive or with type set up that would be fun to mess around with. Also, what's a good brand of instrument cable?

Don't know about the Mustang. But the Jaguar/Jazzmaster isn't exactly the best choice for high gain music, the pickups are much more suited to surfy cleans with lots of reverb.

[whiteboypain]

ok so i'll probably get a monster cable or possibly 2 of them cause i am going to run it through most likely an overdrive pedal. Now, i already have an instrument cable here at my house already, but it's like an old school vintage looking one. Will using two different brands/types of cables run into the amp effect the sound at all? would i be best off just getting two monster cables that match?

[OveriseFan]

ok so i'll probably get a monster cable or possibly 2 of them cause i am going to run it through most likely an overdrive pedal. Now, i already have an instrument cable here at my house already, but it's like an old school vintage looking one. Will using two different brands/types of cables run into the amp effect the sound at all? would i be best off just getting two monster cables that match?

It truly will not affect the sound a great deal, if your cable is reliable. There might be slight differences due to cables, but honestly, any good cable, it doesn't matter which brand, will yield just about the same sound.

[whiteboypain]

It truly will not affect the sound a great deal, if your cable is reliable. There might be slight differences due to cables, but honestly, any good cable, it doesn't matter which brand, will yield just about the same sound.

I see. Hey, did you see the picture of my amp on the first page? Is that how you pictured it when i described it? Ive been told it's a good amp by the original owner and also a friend who borrowed it for band practice.

[whiteboypain]

Yeah, an SG or Les Paul is the standard for those Genres, but Teles can sound great with the right amp, and have a lot more character.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k157/whiteboypain/IMG_08151.jpg

^ Well this is the amp i will be playing on. It's a solid state/100 watt combo amp. It has reverb on it in case you can't see. It's kind of old, but it's not a bad amp. What do you think would sound good on it?

[OveriseFan]

I see. Hey, did you see the picture of my amp on the first page? Is that how you pictured it when i described it? Ive been told it's a good amp by the original owner and also a friend who borrowed it for band practice.

Not the one I was thinking about, but I'm sure it's a good amp. Seems similar to the one I was thinking about, and is from a good time period for solid state amps.

If you like how it sounds, and others do as well, isn't that what matters? I hate people who slam any amps that aren't tube...

Edit: Does it say Fender anywhere on it...?

[whiteboypain]

Not the one I was thinking about, but I'm sure it's a good amp. Seems similar to the one I was thinking about, and is from a good time period for solid state amps.

If you like how it sounds, and others do as well, isn't that what matters? I hate people who slam any amps that aren't tube...

Edit: Does it say Fender anywhere on it...?

It's a Unicord Model 550. (i think it's from the 70's, but i am still trying to find info on it)

[OveriseFan]

wow...i actually just found out what brand it is. Unicord. LOL. also, it's 115 watts and not 100 watts. hmm

Haha. Didn't think it was a Fender!

Still, seems like a decent amp. And like I said, if you like the sound, and get compliments on it too, you should be glad to play it.

[whiteboypain]

Haha. Didn't think it was a Fender!

Still, seems like a decent amp. And like I said, if you like the sound, and get compliments on it too, you should be glad to play it.

yeah, i knew it wasn't a fender.

In 1978 Unicord stoped making the Univox line of guitars and equipment. They switched to an original line called "Westbury", which lasted until aobut 1982. Westbury amps were also made during this time. Also in 1978 Unicord started selling the exact same amps under the Stage and Univox name.

Unicord designed transformers were used in the imported Marshall amps, because the company didn't think the Marshall transformers could handle the full 100 watts from the 6550 tubes (British Marshalls at the time used KT-88s which were lower wattage). Marshall of England eventually adopted Unicord's transformer design.

Finally, in 1985 due to the recession, Unicord was purchased completely by Korg, pretty much ending the story there. the end

also i found some other stuff, but it's basically a univox.

[OveriseFan]

Hm, very cool. Yeah, I misread your post about it before. I missed the "looking" in Fender-looking. Haha.

[whiteboypain]

Hm, very cool. Yeah, I misread your post about it before. I missed the "looking" in Fender-looking. Haha.

what kind of set up do you have? type of music do you play?

[OveriseFan]

what kind of set up do you have? type of music do you play?

Electric:

Fender MIM Ash Telecaster - Maple Fretboard
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe - 40W - 1x12

I just play straight, clean typically. The reverb on the Hot Rod is amazing, too.

Acoustic:

Seagull S6 + CW Acoustic-Electric - Cutaway - Rosewood Fretboard
Marshall AS50D Acoustic Amp - 50W - 2x8, I believe... Maybe 2x10?

I typically run the Seagull direct in to the soundboard. I use the acoustic amp for coffeehouse gigs that don't have their own set-up. It can handle the guitar as well as a mic for vocals.

I play both solo acoustic, varying between fingerstyle and strummed. Just solo acoustic pop music, you know?

I also play in a band in which I use both acoustic and electric guitars, called Tap Water. You can listen to some REALLY ROUGH mixes of new recordings I posted on myspace, if you'd like. (Pop Tart Culture and Page Zero are the new ones. I know there's problems in the mix! I'm going to fix them.)

www.myspace.com/tapwaternj (http://www.myspace.com/tapwaternj)

Look out for the 3 song EP to be posted sometime this week. I'll probably post it in Poetry & Lyrics forum, as well as Members Only. (I sing some, not too much on these recordings though. My voice is the one that starts Page Zero, and does some of the other work.

As for future purchases on guitar stuff:

I'm debating on my next guitar... I believe it will be either a Strat or a Les Paul. However, I also love the Fender '72 Thinline Telecaster Reissue... I played one today and the neck was so amazing. I fell in love. The sound is gorgeous, too. Strat, I'll definitely go American. I don't know whether Standard, Deluxe, or Highway One. Honestly, I think I might go for the Highway One, because I might prefer them to Standards, and I can't afford a Deluxe.

As for the Les Paul, I think a Gibson's out of the question, so I'll probably get an Agile and swap out the pups for Gibson '57s.

[whiteboypain]

Electric:

Fender MIM Ash Telecaster - Maple Fretboard
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe - 40W - 1x12

I just play straight, clean typically. The reverb on the Hot Rod is amazing, too.

Acoustic:

Seagull S6 + CW Acoustic-Electric - Cutaway - Rosewood Fretboard
Marshall AS50D Acoustic Amp - 50W - 2x8, I believe... Maybe 2x10?

I typically run the Seagull direct in to the soundboard. I use the acoustic amp for coffeehouse gigs that don't have their own set-up. It can handle the guitar as well as a mic for vocals.

I play both solo acoustic, varying between fingerstyle and strummed. Just solo acoustic pop music, you know?

I also play in a band in which I use both acoustic and electric guitars, called Tap Water. You can listen to some REALLY ROUGH mixes of new recordings I posted on myspace, if you'd like. (Pop Tart Culture and Page Zero are the new ones. I know there's problems in the mix! I'm going to fix them.)

www.myspace.com/tapwaternj (http://www.myspace.com/tapwaternj)

Look out for the 3 song EP to be posted sometime this week. I'll probably post it in Poetry & Lyrics forum, as well as Members Only. (I sing some, not too much on these recordings though. My voice is the one that starts Page Zero, and does some of the other work.

As for future purchases on guitar stuff:

I'm debating on my next guitar... I believe it will be either a Strat or a Les Paul. However, I also love the Fender '72 Thinline Telecaster Reissue... I played one today and the neck was so amazing. I fell in love. The sound is gorgeous, too. Strat, I'll definitely go American. I don't know whether Standard, Deluxe, or Highway One. Honestly, I think I might go for the Highway One, because I might prefer them to Standards, and I can't afford a Deluxe.

As for the Les Paul, I think a Gibson's out of the question, so I'll probably get an Agile and swap out the pups for Gibson '57s.

nice. Yeah, i also do the solo acoustic type deal. I have a few songs on you tube, but i don't think they're all that great. I just have a fender dg-11 acoustic guitar and i have a dean markely pro-mag pickup that pop's right in there under the strings. It's alright, but i'd really like to get a Martin or a taylor acoustic electric someday. I'm pretty decent at rhythm, but it's the leads that i need work on.

http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=whiteboypain&p=r

you should comment and rate those! i don't get enough comments or ratings! you can be honest in them too. I appreciate the feed back...it only makes me work harder.

[whiteboypain]

I think "song to an imaginary girl" is your best song.. i enjoyed that one the most to be honest.

[OveriseFan]

Well, to give you an idea, I just recorded a shitty cover of "Make it a Point" by Andy Hull. It's midnight here, so I had to be quiet. (My parents and little brother are sleeping!) Haha. I fuck up a couple times, but whatever. You know what I sound like now, anyway.

This was just recorded with a shitty headphone mic and Audacity, so excuse the quality. Done live.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zzym0xzmig3

[OveriseFan]

I think "song to an imaginary girl" is your best song.. i enjoyed that one the most to be honest.

Haha. Oh Wow.

I had nothing to do with that recording, actually. We used to call that "Cheesy Ass Pop Song". I like that song. We'll have to do a proper recording of that... (That was done by the bassist/vocalist and the drummer/pianist one night. The bassist playing all the guitar parts and the drummer adding in some rhythm here and there.)

Thanks for listening. As for your videos (I don't have a youtube account, sorry! Maybe I'll make one for you tomorrow...) I think it's definitely got some solid stuff, however, the guitar is so overbearing in the videos. If there's any way you can bring out the vocals more (mic placement?) you should. I enjoy it though, besides that.

[whiteboypain]

Well, to give you an idea, I just recorded a shitty cover of "Make it a Point" by Andy Hull. It's midnight here, so I had to be quiet. (My parents and little brother are sleeping!) Haha. I fuck up a couple times, but whatever. You know what I sound like now, anyway.

This was just recorded with a shitty headphone mic and Audacity, so excuse the quality. Done live.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zzym0xzmig3

sounds pretty good so far..

[theguy77]

i get everything from either musiciansfriend.com or zzounds.com. call me cliche but rarely are their prices beat. ive probably ordered about 15 pieces of equipment from those sites and never have i had any issues, always shipped well, havent even needed support.

[whiteboypain]

i get everything from either musiciansfriend.com or zzounds.com. call me cliche but rarely are their prices beat. ive probably ordered about 15 pieces of equipment from those sites and never have i had any issues, always shipped well, havent even needed support.

Yeah, i ordered an acoustic once from musicians friend. Still have it. Works great. My uncle was told on the phone once that he sends back guitars more than anyone else! LOL! he would buy gibson electric guitars from them and usually send them back because he didn't like them.

[bassdrummer2333]

i get everything from either musiciansfriend.com or zzounds.com. call me cliche but rarely are their prices beat. ive probably ordered about 15 pieces of equipment from those sites and never have i had any issues, always shipped well, havent even needed support.

this is very true

[eraserhead]

hahahha, i don't buy expensive gear

but i bought my $350 acoustic from guitar center.

[theguy77]

Yeah, i ordered an acoustic once from musicians friend. Still have it. Works great. My uncle was told on the phone once that he sends back guitars more than anyone else! LOL! he would buy gibson electric guitars from them and usually send them back because he didn't like them.

haha its so great though, i mean to me its better than testing them in the store because in a store, say you're testing a guitar. you have to use THEIR amp instead of testing the sound on your own. you could even cheat the system, say your band has shows to play. you could just order equipment, make sure you dont break it, and switch it out every 30 days, and always get your money back.

[OveriseFan]

haha its so great though, i mean to me its better than testing them in the store because in a store, say you're testing a guitar. you have to use THEIR amp instead of testing the sound on your own. you could even cheat the system, say your band has shows to play. you could just order equipment, make sure you dont break it, and switch it out every 30 days, and always get your money back.

(Thinking about doing this for this Saturday, actually... haha. Only from Guitar Center who has a 45 day return guarantee. It's like buying a prom dress, leaving the tag on, and returning it afterwards!)

[whiteboypain]

haha its so great though, i mean to me its better than testing them in the store because in a store, say you're testing a guitar. you have to use THEIR amp instead of testing the sound on your own. you could even cheat the system, say your band has shows to play. you could just order equipment, make sure you dont break it, and switch it out every 30 days, and always get your money back.

yeah, but sending it back in the mail is a kind of a hassle. I think i'd rather play it in person before i buy it to make sure i chose the right guitar for me. As far as playing it on another amp, i guess you could find an amp in the store that is somewhat similar to yours to give you a general idea. That's what i'm gonna do. I dunno, i'm thinking about buying my next electric guitar at guitar center. Ebay scares the shit out of me sometimes.

[theguy77]

yeah, but sending it back in the mail is a kind of a hassle. I think i'd rather play it in person before i buy it to make sure i chose the right guitar for me. As far as playing it on another amp, i guess you could find an amp in the store that is somewhat similar to yours to give you a general idea. That's what i'm gonna do. I dunno, i'm thinking about buying my next electric guitar at guitar center. Ebay scares the shit out of me sometimes.

ebay got me a 1400 dollar half stack, in perfect condition, with a replaced tube, for 300 dollars. ive never owned larger than a 30 watt practice amp and needed show equipment so that is big for me, and im real happy with its outstanding tone, especially for a hybrid amp with only one preamp tube. hell the distortion sounds better than loads of tube amps. i have LOTS of love for that site regardless of how risky it is.

[whiteboypain]

ebay got me a 1400 dollar half stack, in perfect condition, with a replaced tube, for 300 dollars. ive never owned larger than a 30 watt practice amp and needed show equipment so that is big for me, and im real happy with its outstanding tone, especially for a hybrid amp with only one preamp tube. hell the distortion sounds better than loads of tube amps. i have LOTS of love for that site regardless of how risky it is.

yeah, i know you can find awesome deals on ebay, but there are people on there that are shady and don't even send the item you purchased! that scares the shit out of me!