Fender vs. Gibson vs. Gretsch

[Reggie Dunlop]

Looking at getting back into playing the guitar (as a hobby) after many years away from it and can afford the good stuff now.

Primarily I wish to play surf and intrumental rawk-a-billy type stuff, so I'd like a warm, throaty sound with a bit of twang.

Sort of narrowed it down to either a Gretsch Flat Duo Jet or Stratocaster American Classic model. But hey, if there's any Gibson fiends out there, let's hear it.

What kind of cool toys (fuzzbox, humbucker pickups, etc) should I look into as well? Amp suggestions?

[KevanGuy]

I'm a Gibson fiend but from what you described Reg Id suggest a Tele.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally posted by KevanGuy@Aug 6 2005, 11:22 PM
I'm a Gibson fiend but from what you described Reg Id suggest a Tele.

A '60s model Telecaster with a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece. I like that!

[KevanGuy]

That'd be pretty sweet. Get a little tube amp action if you get a chance.

[kermitology]

I agree about the Tele for the surf.. I would be a Gibson man if I had money, but I don't.. so I have a strat that I don't like much anymore.

As for amp.. get a VOX. I've got a V60-HD with a VC12 foot controller. I can do amp modelling, a wide range of effects.. the controller is a built in VOX wah, it's a thing of beauty, all chrome and shinguard.

I love Marshal, VOX and Peavy for amps. Peavy's transtube gives amazing sound. I really wish my Studiopro 112 still worked, I loved that thing to pieces.. literally!

[Reggie Dunlop]

Kind of leaning towards a Peavy. Used to have one back in my crappy No-Name Axe days. Forget the model. Will have to check out the VOX.

[firebug]

I happen to have an amazing shoreline gold Fender Lonestar stratocaster I am willing to part with.

It is fairly unique in the stratocaster world in that it has a factory installed Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates double humbucker installed - Very nice sound. The other two pickups are texas specials (google 'fender lonestar' for lots of info).

It is essentially an upgraded American Standard.

If you, or anyone else, is in the Calgary area and would like to give it a spin, pm me.

[Hanna Sniper]

I hate to pump my own brand here but being a fellow Stat lover and for the fact that when you're talking surf guitar you have to loook to one of the greats for that sound. If Dick Dale played a Fender Strat then a Fender Stratocaster it is.

Depends on what type of budjet you're looking to direct in this direction, but you get what you pay for and a cheap intrument is excatly that.

I play a '57 Vintage Series but by the sounds of it I'll think a American Vintage ‘62 Stratocaster might be a better fit as a rosewood neck may be more to you're liking.

Amps
A fender reverb all the way
'63 Fender Reverb
With a bio like this how can you go wrong
Our legendary all tube Fender Reverb unit has been a staple of virtually every surf performance and recording since the early ‘60s. Blues and experimental players love it too! Add it on to any amp.

[icarus]

For surf and rockabilly I might also suggest going to your local guitar store and test driving a Rickenbacker. They're not for everyone but they have a nice tone suited to those styles of music (and you'll look the part). Try one out and see if you like it.

[Andrew]

i have a fender strat with a fender amp. but I think in a few months I am going to get a gibson. I just like the sound of gibson alot better... dunno what i was thinking when I bought the guitar initially. get a les paul!!!! Remember it is the artist, not the guitar! :P I have seen some really good guitar players play on **** guitars and still sound really decent. :P so its all practice, so who cares what ya play.its just nice to have a great guitar though!

[Reggie Dunlop]

I ended up buying three axes!

A '62 reissue Fender Custom Shop Japan Jazzmaster in metallic turquoise (rare). This is my Surf Guitar. Jazzmasters and Jags are actually the de rigeur axe for Surf. Down the road I may upgrade the pups for Seymour Duncans, we'll see.



A Rickenbacker 330 six-string. This is my JanglePop guitar. Nice twang too. Rickenbackers aren't very common anymore, and it's puzzling as to why. Some of the best made guitars around.



An Ibanez Hollowbody. This is my everyday practise guitar. Nice log with killer tone. You can play it unplugged. Howls like a pack of Bloodhounds on a kitten amped up. Helluvalot cheaper than a Gretsch too!



This is my amp. A Fender Hod Rod Deluxe Emerald with Celestion speaker upgrade. Cranked up, it violates several municipal bylaws.



Thanks to all you cats for the advice.

[Hakan]

Nice set up Reg.

My friend has a Gibson Explorer with a Masa amp.

That will shred your kidneys.

[Hack&Lube]

You sure love your turquoise/aqua
I just started playing, but I think I'm too old to get very good. Bought a used 86' Aria Pro II fat strat off ebay and being going at it for a few months just teaching myself.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

You sure love your turquoise/aqua
I just started playing, but I think I'm too old to get very good. Bought a used 86' Aria Pro II fat strat off ebay and being going at it for a few months just teaching myself.

Heh. Just sort of ended up that way. Those are rarer colours on the Rick and the JM, hence their collectability.

Haven't played in a long time, so I'm taking lessons. After farting around in GarageBand on my computer, I decided to get back into it. It's my mid-life crisis, and hell, it's cheaper than a Porshe!

[Hack&Lube]

Well, I started playing during my quarter-life crisis. It's always easier for somebody to pickup something they used to do well instead of learning something new altogether. My axe is green also.

But people think I'm wierd because I like to play things like Whitesnake and Dokken. hahaha.

[habernac]

as long as you don't sing Dokken, you'll be just fine H&L. gotta love old George Lynch stuff. One of these years, I'll pick up a guitar and get some lessons.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

A simple question to all you guitar gods out there, what is the easiest way to learn chord changes? I too have decided to learn to play guitar after many years of playing other instruments and am struggling to make some of the chord changes quickly. Suggestions for exercises or tips for progressions that make the task easier? Thanks in advance for any advice you give.

[Nufy]

As simple as it sounds Lanny, Just practice.

Some nice light strings and easy strumming will allow you to practice for a while without letting your fingers get sore.

For me I taught myself while not working for a few winters way back in the early 90's.

My gf's brother was in a band at the time so we got out a lot to watch them play. That kept me inspired.

Find a few good songs that you like and learn them well. I kinda know the whole Eagles Songbook by now.

Good Luck and keep at it.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald

A simple question to all you guitar gods out there, what is the easiest way to learn chord changes? I too have decided to learn to play guitar after many years of playing other instruments and am struggling to make some of the chord changes quickly. Suggestions for exercises or tips for progressions that make the task easier? Thanks in advance for any advice you give.

Practice.. There's nothing else that will make it easier. As was stated above me, get some light strings and take it easy. Just practice switching between the chords one at a time.. so like E to G kind of thing. Then after you've got that throw in something else..

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Thanks for the advice guys, I'm working at it. Some of the finger positions are tough to find while others are easy. Its fun as hell, but boy do my finger tips hurt! The calouses are building up like crazy. I've found typing becoming a lot more difficult as I can't feel the keys in the same way. Really strange. I gotta say, drumming was so much easier on the fingers!