Guitarspeak [Archive]

jmerlino

08-03-2005, 06:43 AM

Hah! There's definitely a gearhead connection there. When I first joined these forums I noted that there is a phenomenon in the guitar world called G.A.S., which stands for "Guitar Acquisition Syndrome", or more generally, "Gear Acquisition Syndrome". It refers to the irrational desire that people often get for a new piece of gear, even if they already have a more-than-adequate rig. I speculated on the existance of M.A.S. I'm sure it exists.

Of course, Brad is right in that the chick magnet factor is there, too (although most of the motorcyclists I know are married - make of that what you will).

Beyond that, I think there's A) a general love of loud things, and B) a certain sort of "Americana" connection. Romance of the road, that kind of thing. And the connection goes way back into rock mythology. Elvis rode. Marlon Brando, even though he wasn't a musician, influenced a lot of the cultural cues. Easy Rider with the Steppenwolf and Hendrix music in it. The Grateful Dead hung out with the Hell's Angels. Culturally, the connection is pretty strong.

I just wish there was a way to carry my gear on the bike. I'm not risking my $2500 guitar on the bike, and my amp weighs 85 pounds. Not practical.

BeemoKat

08-03-2005, 08:06 AM

Most of what little I know about Life Its Ownself, I've learned from guitars or motorcycles.
I think part of the connection is that these are:
a) very high concentration activities, if you are not all the way engaged, chances are you will screw up. The difference is that with a guitar, you play a few bad notes, with a motorcycle, the stakes are a lot higher. Also they are activities in which quick recovery and recomposure from mistakes is at a premium.
b) activities in which the more you know, the better it gets.
c) What you put in is what you get out.
d) opportunities for life-long learning, you can never be too good, and there is always somebody better than you.

Braddog

08-03-2005, 09:48 AM

...Yeah baby! :clap

Just kidding. :brow

I have a cousin who collects guitars and guns, both with equal passion. I'm guessing that at this stage of his life, he's got thousands of dollars worth of both. He stopped by when I was helping a different cousin mow her lawn. He noted my David Mann t-shirt, asked about my bikes, etc. Then he told me about his guitars, guns, etc. My reply was, "For cryin' out loud, the next logical step is a motorcycle! When are you getting one?"

I'm pretty sure he won't be getting one. I currently own 3 guitars, 2 electric, 1 acoustic. Catalog brands, for the most part. I haven't played any of them in maybe 2 years. :doh

username

08-03-2005, 10:05 AM

while there may be a relationship between guitars and bikes, i wouldn't fret.

[rim shot.]

YB in IN

08-03-2005, 10:41 AM

In my best tongue in cheek humor mode:

Chicks dig motorcycles
Chicks dig guitars

I do all that I do to meet chicks.

Why I am in Nashville again with a bunch of dudes?

While in Nashville with a bunch of dudes, go and check out The Flying Saucer downton off of the Broadway exit off I40. It's kind of tucked away in a corner, but it's right across the street from the Frist Center. they have some wonderful beery goodness on tap. Also, it's a Vanderbilt hangout. :brow ;)

magwa

08-03-2005, 11:38 AM

Hah! There's definitely a gearhead connection there. When I first joined these forums I noted that there is a phenomenon in the guitar world called G.A.S.,....snip.....I just wish there was a way to carry my gear on the bike. I'm not risking my $2500 guitar on the bike....... Not practical.

I don't have access to the link on my computer here at work, but a friend sent me the link to Jake Shimabukuro playing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on the ukulele. Blew me away. Google it if you like music of any kind.

Since I was heading out for a vacation that included a couple of commercial flights in some smaller planes, I immediately went out and bought one to "keep me company" on the two-week trip.

I bought a pretty good uke for under $300. Since I decided upon the baritone uke which is tuned the same as the first four strings of an axe, purchasing this guy cured my GAS for the moment, gave me something unusual to play that wasn't off-track from my guitar playing/practicing, was small enough to carry on/cheap enough to check through.

I'd never carry the Taylor on the back of the bike. But this uke will fit across the seat and top of the hard bags on the R1150RS.

I'll report later.

James.A

08-03-2005, 11:41 AM

...And, while in Nashville you gotta stop by Gruhn's. I once irritated the great one in person by asking him if he'd give me a volume discount on appraisals.

As far as the affinity between riders and musicians, I don't understand why.
Also, I know plenty of fine musicians who do not ride. In my circle of friends, it's about 50/50.

blake

08-03-2005, 12:17 PM

While in Nashville with a bunch of dudes, go and check out The Flying Saucer downton off of the Broadway exit off I40. It's kind of tucked away in a corner, but it's right across the street from the Frist Center. they have some wonderful beery goodness on tap. Also, it's a Vanderbilt hangout. :brow ;)

brad, nice meeting you at the national. i'm not sure why you're in nashville, but if you need a guide give me a shout.

garth's spot on about the flying saucer. i work right across the street from it. there are several cool music related places to check out. drop me a line if you're looking for local advice.

jmerlino

08-03-2005, 06:37 PM

I'd never carry the Taylor on the back of the bike. But this uke will fit across the seat and top of the hard bags on the R1150RS.

Hey, that's not a bad idea. I was thinking about checking out a Martin backpacker guitar, too. They're small and light. Don't know about the price. It'd have to be cheap enough that I wouldn't feel too bad if it got crunched.

magwa

08-03-2005, 09:35 PM

I really like Martins. Sold an HD-28 to buy the Taylor 914CE.

I had the opportunity to tour the factory in Nazareth (sp?) PA a couple of years ago. The only "whole" guitar you can buy there is the Backpacker. I played it and it sucked. I thought it was me.

Then I tried one that a friend had packed on his K110RS. Still sucked.

Save your cash.

jmerlino

08-03-2005, 10:42 PM

Save your cash.

Thanks for the heads-up. I don't see the backpacker as a "real" martin, so I wouldn't expect it to sound like a D-28 or anything.

But primarily I'm an electric player, so I would only be looking for something to practice on anyway. The kind of stuff I play doesn't really lend itself to campfire singalongs or the like.

magwa

08-04-2005, 12:02 AM

......It's not a comparison with a real guitar that, IMHO, makes the Backpacker suck. Even considering it as no more than a tool for practice (which is pretty much the way I figured the ukulele), there's something about playing a note or a run and having them fall flat or sharp that just makes me want to put the practice guitars down. I bought a Washburn Rover on one trip to Las Vegas. Gave it to my grandson when I got home.

The uke rocks. Baritone. Reason: You can fake Hawaiian music plaing a G C D, or any 1-4-5. With the low string tuned to a D like your guitar, fingering any one or two compatible notes in an open strum all up and down the neck doesn't send folks running for cover.

Here's that link to Jake playing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".

http://www.collegehumor.com/movies/159572/

Let me know what you think.

BradfordBenn

08-04-2005, 12:43 AM

I have a Soloette travel guitar (http://www.soloette.com/steel1.htm) Hummingbird Model that I used for a while when travelling, thanks to 9/11 it got to be too much of a hassle on planes for work.

Oh yeah, regarding Nashville ended up out with clients everynight :( Need to schedule more time for fun next time.

jmerlino

08-04-2005, 05:51 AM

there's something about playing a note or a run and having them fall flat or sharp that just makes me want to put the practice guitars down.

Oooh. Okay. That's a little different. I didn't realize you were talking about intonation problems. I had assumed it was a matter of tone.

jmerlino

08-04-2005, 05:56 AM

I have a Soloette travel guitar (http://www.soloette.com/steel1.htm) Hummingbird Model that I used for a while when travelling,

That's really cool looking, but a little pricey for a beater.

jmerlino

08-04-2005, 06:03 AM

Here's that link to Jake playing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".

http://www.collegehumor.com/movies/159572/

Let me know what you think.

That's pretty amazing. That guy has incredible right hand technique.

snoone

08-04-2005, 07:00 AM

Hey, I'm not so sure its a motorcycle/guitar thing only (I'm a Martin D-35 owner and backpacker as well) I think it's more of a thing about doing individual activities as opposed to team activities or things you need to do with others. I bet a lot of bikers ski or play golf, tennis or do a lot of things that you can do by yourself.

I'm not so sure I play well with others so I was forced to find the things in life that I didnt need anyone else to participate in to enjoy.

magwa

08-04-2005, 08:54 AM

....snip....I'm not so sure I play well with others so I was forced to find the things in life that I didnt need anyone else to participate in to enjoy.

That certainly has the ring of famliarity. 8^)

Certainly, some folks would say that about my guitar capabilities!!!!

STRESS

08-04-2005, 10:48 AM

My favorite traveling guitar is my "Baby Taylor" I bought my first one with a hard shell case which protects the guitar from just about anything because of the good fit. It fits in an overhead on a plane if need be. It has the ability to inter-change necks to a full size if wished.
I love these guitars, they are guitars not toy guitars. They are small enough that they can be played in a recliner or probably in a car as a passenger. The soft case has an option for a second strap so it can be carried as a backpack. I have a pick-up in one and it blows people away when they hear the sound from it. I too looked at the Martin but didn't care for the body shape as it almost always required a strap do to its shape.
I have a Spruce that I accidentally pulled from a guitar rack one evening i by stepping on the line cord, it broke but has since been glued and still sounds good. I ordered a replacement and choose the Mahogany and its sound even better. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

donkey doctor

08-04-2005, 12:05 PM

Hello; My foavorite travel guitar is the Tacoma papoose. I have an electric version of this great guitar. I have had it for 5 years now and I wouldn't be without it. Everyone who picks it up is blown away. It has a shorter scale, but I bought it far a practice guitar, and really enjoy it. I have a Martin dreadnaught, and a nice Ovation, along with an assortment of electrics and bases, but the one I choose most often is the Papoose. I tried the Taylor baby, and was tempted, but when I got home I played the Papoose for an hour and fell in love again.

BradfordBenn

08-05-2005, 09:00 PM

That's really cool looking, but a little pricey for a beater.

Yea, it is not a beater it actually sounds pretty good. I have recorded a few pieces with it cause it gave me a better sound then my "real" guitar. It does take travel really well though.

The_Veg

08-06-2005, 01:19 PM

http://www.erlewineguitars.com/pgs/chiquita.htm

This, BTW, is the small guitar on which Nigel Tufnal plays the wild solo in a scene in This Is Spinal Tap.

jdiaz

08-06-2005, 02:17 PM

This, BTW, is the small guitar on which Nigel Tufnal plays the wild solo in a scene in This Is Spinal Tap.

Don't look at that link!!! See what happened to the poor guy that looked at Nigel's guitar. :D

Nigel: Exactly. Now this is special, too, it's a...look...see...still got the uh...the ol' tagger on it...see...never even played it ...see...

Marty: You just bought it and....

Nigel: Don't touch it! Don't touch it! No one...no one...no! Don't touch it.

Marty: Well uh I wasn't...uh I wasn't gonna touch it...I was just pointing at it...I....

Nigel: Well don't point, even.

Marty: Don't even point?

Nigel: No. It can't be played...never...I mean I....

Marty: Can I look at it?

Nigel: No.

Marty: Don't look at it.

Nigel: No, you've seen enough of that one.