It's not about how fast you can play, its about what you can do musically with the tools you have. Become a well rounded musician and you will go much further and learn more. When i was younger all i cared about was becoming a shredder. In doing so i missed out on becoming a well rounded guitar player and had to go back and learn things i should have learned early on. Speed isn't as important as knowing what to do with the techniques and theory you have. If all you are if fast then were does that leave you? A guitar player that can shred but can't jam and groove. My advice is don't focus on becoming a shredder. speed and accuracy comes as a by product of good theory and practice. Like i always tell my students, if you know where to go on the fretboard you can get there much faster. Speed fails if you don't have a mental map of where you need to go. Cheer Nathan.

Great theme.

I currently use my 1969 Les Paul Custom
Newly obtained Washburn N2 Nuno Signature.

Pedals - CMAT MODS Brownie (testing)
Deltalab Tube Overdrive
BBE AM64 Distortion/fuzz
Deltalab MD1 Distortion (Modded)
Electro Harmonix Memory toy
Danelectro Chorus (modded)
ProCo Rat
Marshall M250 Delay

Amplifier - Marshall M250 2x12 combo

Looking to add - Strymon reverbarator
compressor of some sort
Ernie Ball Volume Pedal

Looking to Add a Gibson 56' reissue LP Gold Top.

Nick
SMG Staff

Usually guitarist use the rake because they don't want to take the time to learn proper timing with sweep picking. That's not to say rakes don't or cant sound awesome, because they can if used in context. Thanks for your comments guys.

I just found a pedal that could be the best i have ever come across. I will be doing a review of it in the coming week. its the "brownie" by CMAT MODS. epic tone with switchable jfet's. I also like the deltalab tube overdrive. it really depends on what kind of tone you are looking for. high gain, low gain crunchy, fuzz etc etc. there is a company that makes pre amp pedals that model marshalls and soldano's and rectifiers. ill look up the company and get back to you. i haven't tried them but i have heard good things.

Hands down my 1969 Les Paul my father gave me when i was 16. Simply the most amazing guitar i have ever played.

Cheers
Nick
SMG Staff

This post was edited by Nick Arrietta at January 14, 2011 1:14:14 AM PST

Hey All. This is a good topic. I have been playing for 26 years now and have tried just about every kind of pick made. Everything from thin vinyl to demascus made picks. The single greatest guitar pick i have played was a custom pick made for Greg Koch. hey are a medium jazz III style picks but a little wider. fender made them for him. I was lucky enough that he had given me a hand full when i worked at Guitar Center many years ago. Since they don't sell them to the public I use Dunlop Jazz III's

 

Cheers

Nick

SMG Staff

This post was edited by Nick Arrietta at January 14, 2011 1:04:35 AM PST

Recently I have been on an distortion/Overdrive Kick. I have been looking for a new sound. In my quest for new gear i have come across 4 new stomp boxes that have kind of blown me away. While most put a high price tag on good tone I think many pedals are over looked.

My 2010 Picks in no particular order.

1) Pro Co Rat II $79.99 - $130.00 - High gain distortion excellent for rhythm

2) Delta Lab Metal Distortion $39.99 - super high gain crisp tone with a well balanced EQ

3) Digitech Handwire SC-2 Valve Distortion $99.00 - medium gain with epic mid tones. Everything from metal distortion to blues overdrive.

4) Ibanez tube screamer TS808HW w/brown sound mod. $349.00 -can you say Van Halen II Nuff Said.

In general I think the Inexpensive Delta Lab is very underrated. Plug into a Marshall and you will see what i mean.

The Pro Co rat II is a great addition to any pedal board and is moderately priced.

The Digitech Handwire SC-2 Valve Distortion is a very versitile pedal with great tone.

The Tube screamer is a classic and with the Keeley brown mod will bring down mountains with a single chug.

What do you prefer? What stomp boxes rock your socks?

.9's are brighter and stay in tune less the .10's. 10 gauge strings are warmer and stay in tune great but are pretty harsh on the finger if you don't have hardy calluses. I suggest you start finger strengthening such as squeezing a tennis ball with your fingers for 30 minutes a day. In a couple of weeks you will notice a huge difference.

As i watch guitarist after guitarist and see musicians use different gadgets, amps, guitars etc etc. I still think that Eric Johnson has the most beautiful clean tone out there to date. Now i realize that he is a virtuoso with tone in his blood but there is something about his tone specifically that speaks to me.

Now tone is in the fingers and in you, so no matter how many pedals or gadgets you buy you reall have to feel the music. I have met Eric Johnson a couple of times (briefly) in passing during his concerts. Not enoug to really ask his anything as to why he can generate the angelic sound that resonates through his being. Got kind of deep there lol.

I would really like to ask him what his motivation is behind his feeling. Some day.

So in my opinion I say Eric Johnson has the most epic clean tone EVER!

Who do you think has epic clean tones?

Cheers

Nick

I use Jazz III for soloing and metal riffing. for acoustic I use Vinyl thin picks. give a great percussive sound when strumming. cheers!