DISQUS

pilgrim · 2 years ago

What would be wrong with playing metal on that Ibanez Artist?
That doesn't seem out of place. It might for a guitarust who uses lots of whammy bar, but for those who don't--it would work.

By the way though, I am playing the guitars I love.

admin · 2 years ago

I don't know, it just doesn't feel right, I see that guitar good for pop-rock, blues maybe, brit-pop, not heavy.

sixslinger · 2 years ago

I kind of agree, and disagree. I think that it really depends on the style. Heavy metal, death rock I would tend to agree. Blue and and rock I think you could use almost any guitar. I think it also depends on the musician.

Mad Stratter · 2 years ago

just pointing out a typo that may cause some confusion: "Fender and Gibson, as the time proved it, fits any gender. "... that is, unless you're talking about the inherent androgyny of the two ;)

feel free to edit this comment once you see it.

Otherwise, great post. I'm playing the guitars I love... two Strats for the blues and rock... Strats are hard to not love.. and a Recording King Rodeo Sweethearts that's got a beautiful bright tone. Take a look at the thing, it just screams country twang (visually and sonicly)

http://www.recordingking.com/ArtGuitars.1864.0....

admin · 2 years ago

Thanks,Mad Stratter, you are right :-) nobody's fault but mine ;-) By the way, beautiful instrument.

For sixslinger - maybe you are right even if I couldn't see myself playing blues on a Jackson or on a Dean, but who knows. I remember at one jam, a guy comes in and takes his Jackson guitar and starts playing blues like hell, and it really sounded well, but I just have a visual holding back, I don't know, for blues I would take a Fender Telecaster I guess. And a Strat also.

lyle robinson · 2 years ago

I mostly agree with your post but like everything, there are exceptions to the rule...like Ted Nugent playing those gorgeous Gibson Byrdlands or Jazz Guitar legend Ed Bickert playing a Fender telecaster. While some guitars just naturally seem to imply a certain genre of music or a certain personality, I think it comes down to that age-old maxim of the music being in the fingers of the player and not the equipment. Cool blog by the way...:)

Lyle

admin · 2 years ago

Thanks, lyle, I hope to see you back for more! About what you say, indeed, you may be right. According to me, jazz, for ex is not at all about the instrument, as far as I see it, without being educated in jazz, it is only about the music, otherwise how could you play jazz on non-standard instruments, as modern jazzmen do?

windwaker · 1 year ago

I agree for the most part. The reason WHY most people choose the guitar they do is that it offers the "best" tone for their particular style of music. I happen to be a jazz guitarist, but I play an Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci Signature model, an undeniably progressive metal guitar. I think I've settled with this guitar because it really feels that much better than anything else. I dabble in music of ALL genres, so it helps to have the balls that the JP offers when I need some kick-to-the-sternum riffage.

admin · 1 year ago

Well, it's a daring choice, in my opinion. But I think that a progressive metal guitar may work well for jazz since jazz offers so much possibilities and progressive music also. They have some common parts from this point of view.

Charlie · 1 year ago

I agree that some guitars are better for different styles, but i dont agree with the aesthetic argument after all who cares what you look like if you play well? Not people you care about id imagine

admin · 1 year ago

Well, some do, at least if you are under the big scene lights you will care for sure cause even if indeed, other arguments count first

Sans Direction · 1 year ago

My guitars worth noting are a late 80s Fender MIJ Telecaster, a Fender electro-acoustic Dread with cutaway and a 1950s (I think) Supro lap steel with screw-in legs. I love the Supro, but really, it takes more time to be proficient at lap steel than I've thrown at it, but I've taken it to jam sessions and not sucked. Some theoretical person could shred on a lap steel, but it ain't me, but plug it into a Bassman and it growls.

I started out in the 80s with Strat orientation. Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Warren DeMartini and Jake E. Lee and the rest of the superStrat set, that's where my head was. And I saw Soul Asylum with Dave Pirner and his Tele Custom and the big honkin' neck humbucker, and I thought it looked cool. My wife saw it, and she got me a gift of the Tele. It's not a custom. It's standard. But I grew to love it. My ears turned away from Clapton and Vaughn and toward Steve Cropper and Danny Gatton. Well, not totally. But enough. Right now, I'm thinking about getting other electrics, and the Telecasters are right out front.

You say a Fender can go anywhere, to any genre. I'm not with you 100%. A Stratocaster can go anywhere. A Telecaster is pigeonholed as a Country instrument, or a rhythm instrument. It simply isn't just that.

When I got it, my Tele had a white pearloid MOTS pickguard, which I never liked. I just (as in over the weekend) got black knobs, a black control plate, and a BWB pickguard. It's much more my style. Now I just need to engrave "Ignore Alien Orders" onto the neck plate.

Ovidiu · 1 year ago

Well, OK for the Tele for country but how about Richie Kotzen's Tele used for rock? Richie Kotzen is a rock guitar player, fast and able to shreds like a charm. See here one of his videos playing a Tele and let me know what you think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ_nq5W-Ndk&feat...

Jol · 1 year ago

Guitars are fashion statements, and people view them as expressions of themselves visually as much as sonically. Sad? Not at all really. It just opens the door for someone clever to exploit a stereotype by contradicting it. I loved Jimmy Page slinging a Telecaster for the first two Zep albums (and tours) and how about the Cult or ACDC cranking out Rock on a Gretsch?

I would have loved to have seen Dime playing a Rickenbacker, but then... some people just feel uncomfortable when they're out of uniform.

Ovidiu · 1 year ago

Yes, I think that feeling good in your own clothes is one of the most important aspect of a musician, because if you feel good you can bring out the best in you. If you don't feel comfortable playing a specific guitar, no matter how good it is, you won't create beautiful music, so you need to pick that guitar that also looks good on you and gives you the feeling everything is right! By the way, Jol, I love your site ;-)

Christopher Dowling · 1 year ago

I got a Strat and a Les Paul. I love 'em both, but the Les Paul is prettier (cherry sunburst), and somehow, better suited to my aesthetic tastes and tonal preference.

Ovidiu · 1 year ago

You must be a happy guitar player, with both a Strat and a Les Paul! Congratulations!