Chinese guitars sure are getting pretty good...

[lxskllr]

Sounds like we have rather similar tastes. You must be a terrible guitar player. :awe:

Indeed :^D

I tried using the '12th fret harmonic' method for setting intonation. It works okay. It would help to have a) a better ear or b) a tuner that is not my cellphone

That won't work. Your 12th fret harmonic should be perfect with regards to the open string. You have to actually fret it to check the intonation. Pressure makes a difference, so you want to use your normal finger pressure, whatever it is. Don't look at the tuner until you feel sure your pressure is right, because you'll have a tendency to try to press it into tune. Even pressure, and don't move the string side to side, because that'll change the pitch too.

 

[Nintendesert]

Another blow to the American worker. Traitor.

 

[Markbnj]

I tried using the '12th fret harmonic' method for setting intonation. It works okay. It would help to have a) a better ear or b) a tuner that is not my cellphone

The best electronic tuner I have used to date is gstrings on Android. I had a couple of stand-alone units that were nowhere near as sensitive and accurate. I assume that is because my smartphone has a lot more cpu than even a good stand-alone tuner.

 

[Hugo L.]

Good job sending your money to China instead of forking over a few more bucks and sustaining the local economy.

 

[JoetheLion]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm still going to buy a Paul Reed Smith Custom Black.

 

[jemcam]

If you've been playing acoustic for a period of time and go to electric, the strings will feel like spaghetti, especially if there are 9's on the electric.

 

[mrrman]

I prefer the American guitars...I looked at Chinese guitars but they just looked cheap. I found a Japanese site and that had some killer guitars but they were really expensive. I will stick with my ESP and Jackson guitars.

 

[Scarpozzi]

All my current guitars are Korean....the one guitar I had that was Chinese, purchased 8 years ago felt and sounded much cheaper.

In Korea, it used to be that there were 3 or so companies that made guitars to whatever spec people ordered. So all the big brands would place large orders through these companies and do their quality control measures. They aren't bad instruments....but not as good as the Japanese/American quality guitars. Still not bad bang for the buck. I'm sure Chinese guitars are similar quality if they come out of the right manufacturing facility and the wood quality/thickness is right. The guitar I had was far lighter than it should have been.

 

[phucheneh]

I keep gradually getting this guitar more to my liking. The feel. But I have more trouble with the sound.

One funny thing I've noticed is the kind of intrinsic personality differences between artistic types and more technically-minded people like myself. I ask people who play guitar (and do it quite well) questions about setup and get shrugs- their effort has gone into form, and they've mostly just bought what they felt they needed to sounded good.

I'm more willing to 'work' for what I want, and have fun experimenting. I'll end up being able to set up a guitar like a pro, but not play a damned thing. Heh.

I have moved to GHS Boomer 11's, which, unsurprisingly, sound a bit heavy on the low end. The wound strings have a really nice tone, but it's...boomy. The higher strings have a less cutting tone than the other two sets (Fender 9 and EB 10) I've tried, and compliment the pickups well, I think. It all seems to be about the right match...EB 11's on the other cheapie guitar I mentioned (Ibanez Gio...GRX20 I think?) sound great because the kinda-lifeless dual humbuckers seem to 'need' them more.

I think I need to get a new nut to try and raise the bigger strings slightly, plus I'm prolly binding in the slots a little.

Anyhow, I mainly posted here again to see if anyone could answer a question: how to get more of that kind of mellow, sickly-sweet blues sound out of the guitar? Here's an example from something I'm learning. Lead comes in at about 0:30...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TzNSaxZqw24#t=24

I know he's playing something totally different, but Teppei also loves Tele's and I'm watching other dudes play it on them. Granted...much more expensive ones. I just don't know how to make the tone kind of lean that way, even if it's not nearly as rich. Bridge PU with tone down is a start, for sure.

 

[phucheneh]

You know, I think I know why I can't get that lead to sound worth a shit. G string (or F; I'm down a step) needs to be wound.

 

[lxskllr]

Anyhow, I mainly posted here again to see if anyone could answer a question: how to get more of that kind of mellow, sickly-sweet blues sound out of the guitar? Here's an example from something I'm learning. Lead comes in at about 0:30...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TzNSaxZqw24#t=24

I know he's playing something totally different, but Teppei also loves Tele's and I'm watching other dudes play it on them. Granted...much more expensive ones. I just don't know how to make the tone kind of lean that way, even if it's not nearly as rich. Bridge PU with tone down is a start, for sure.

I'd try the neck pickup, with the tone up fairly high. He's also running it through reverb, and a little tremolo(I think).

Edit:

You know, I think I know why I can't get that lead to sound worth a shit. G string (or F; I'm down a step) needs to be wound.

Wound Gstrings are really crappy if you work the strings a lot. You'll wear through the windings by bending the strings, and they'll unravel.

Edit2:
You might like this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdpw6Cs1vlY&list=TLdUE4xtpPHnM

 

[phucheneh]

I'll mark vid for later. It looks a bit 'vintage'...but I'm guessing useful setup info and othe Tele-related instruction in there?

I really did want to try a wound G, since my third string always sounds like shit. Guitar shop had no sets in stock, for some reason. I shoulda just left the Boomers on it; they had a really good sound for acoustic-type sections, at least. And not obnoxious.

Instead I made a 'custom' set out of Ernie Balls, which in the future will be relegated to bailing wire use. It's...kinda neat, though.

I believe I'm using: 13, 17, 26(w), 32, 44, 56. In DGCFAD.

I...kinda like it.:awe:

 

[phucheneh]

Hah, go figure...GHS makes almost the exact same set, except I'm sure they sound a shitton better than the EB's. But if I want to downtune, I need 11's minimum.

GHS Boomers in 12-15-24w-32-40-52 are going to get ordered. I know, I'm weird. The other set they sell is 13-17-26w-36-44-56.

I'm not worried about the G string coming apart on me. Better than trying to play an unwound 22-24 (a.k.a. a fuckin' bicycle spoke).

D'Assanshdajdjwushso also makes some sets in their XL line, but I've already heard those and they sound just as bright and trashy as EB's. I would try some 'pure nickel' strings instead, but AFAIK half the strings are still steel, anyway. And wound third is only available in 'nickel plated' or whaever. I want mellow strings, dammit. And no damn clanky sitar-sounding crap on the high strings.

I got a new generic nut installed pretty painlessly. Lots of tweaking needed on it, but now my string height is much more consistent, rather than being dangerously low at the far end with an overly-compensated high action at the bridge. I didn't glue it, so it's easy to pop it out and sand on it a little further to tweak the heights. Probably will order some Fender bone nuts to do it more 'proper.' Amazing the stuff that a music store doesn't have because OMG NUT REPLACEMENT; YOU'RE CRAZY. SEND IT TO THE LUTHER.

 

[Triumph]

All my current guitars are Korean....the one guitar I had that was Chinese, purchased 8 years ago felt and sounded much cheaper.

In Korea, it used to be that there were 3 or so companies that made guitars to whatever spec people ordered. So all the big brands would place large orders through these companies and do their quality control measures. They aren't bad instruments....but not as good as the Japanese/American quality guitars. Still not bad bang for the buck. I'm sure Chinese guitars are similar quality if they come out of the right manufacturing facility and the wood quality/thickness is right. The guitar I had was far lighter than it should have been.

It's been that way for 25 years or more. One of those companies was/is Samick, they had/have their own line of guitars that aren't very popular, but I have one that I bought in 1997 and for that time, for the price, it was an excellent guitar. It has these ridiculously high output humbuckers that match the EMG 81's in my LTD and the humbucker in my Jackson (I forget what that one is).

I prefer the American guitars...I looked at Chinese guitars but they just looked cheap. I found a Japanese site and that had some killer guitars but they were really expensive. I will stick with my ESP and Jackson guitars.

Many Jacksons are made in India now. No longer can you say that if it's a Jackson, it's MIJ.

 

[DaTT]

Here's my guitar....before and after

Before:

After:

 

[Fritzo]

Hah, go figure...GHS makes almost the exact same set, except I'm sure they sound a shitton better than the EB's. But if I want to downtune, I need 11's minimum.

GHS Boomers in 12-15-24w-32-40-52 are going to get ordered. I know, I'm weird. The other set they sell is 13-17-26w-36-44-56.

I'm not worried about the G string coming apart on me. Better than trying to play an unwound 22-24 (a.k.a. a fuckin' bicycle spoke).

D'Assanshdajdjwushso also makes some sets in their XL line, but I've already heard those and they sound just as bright and trashy as EB's. I would try some 'pure nickel' strings instead, but AFAIK half the strings are still steel, anyway. And wound third is only available in 'nickel plated' or whaever. I want mellow strings, dammit. And no damn clanky sitar-sounding crap on the high strings.

I got a new generic nut installed pretty painlessly. Lots of tweaking needed on it, but now my string height is much more consistent, rather than being dangerously low at the far end with an overly-compensated high action at the bridge. I didn't glue it, so it's easy to pop it out and sand on it a little further to tweak the heights. Probably will order some Fender bone nuts to do it more 'proper.' Amazing the stuff that a music store doesn't have because OMG NUT REPLACEMENT; YOU'RE CRAZY. SEND IT TO THE LUTHER.

I've made my own nuts out of bone, plastic, and one time I had to MacGyver one out of a stick I found on the ground while camping

There's not a whole lot to check to get your guitar sounding right that you can't do yourself. Your main enemies are going to be intonation and fret buzz. If you're tuning a whole step down, you're probably going to need higher action set at the bridge to compensate.

Intonation is tricky to get right, especially if you have incorrectly installed frets (which is a big problem on low end guitars). I use a tuner pedal and LIGHTLY press the strings down at the 5th and 12th frets to get them as close to the whole note as possible. It takes time and can be frustrating.

Have you tried the new Ernie Ball Cobalt strings? I've been using 9 gauge Super Slinkys for decades, but the new Cobalts finally got me to convert. They last forever, and the tone is so crystal clear I couldn't believe it. Worth checking out!

 

[DaTT]

Man, I should really start playing again.

 

[TheAdvocate]

I started playing about a year ago. Even got some advice from Fritzo.

I thought thoses squiers were all MiMs? Or is that just the "special" lines like the classic vibe?

I ask because I have my eye on one of those squier jazzmasters or jaguars. Played one at a local shop and was surprised by the quality.

Chinese guitars are crap though, I'm afraid. I have a starter guitar (epi LP jr) and it just isnt any good. It was fine for learning mechanics, but I find myself playing my '95 american strat almost exclusively.

Since we've got so many guitar nerds around... any opinions on the gretsch electromatic line? I really want to get an electromatic 5422 12 string but no one carries them locally (low demand for electric 12s) so Id have to have one ordered... link - http://www.gretschguitars.com/products/index.php?partno=2514813506

 

[phucheneh]

I've made my own nuts out of bone, plastic, and one time I had to MacGyver one out of a stick I found on the ground while camping

There's not a whole lot to check to get your guitar sounding right that you can't do yourself. Your main enemies are going to be intonation and fret buzz. If you're tuning a whole step down, you're probably going to need higher action set at the bridge to compensate.

Intonation is tricky to get right, especially if you have incorrectly installed frets (which is a big problem on low end guitars). I use a tuner pedal and LIGHTLY press the strings down at the 5th and 12th frets to get them as close to the whole note as possible. It takes time and can be frustrating.

Have you tried the new Ernie Ball Cobalt strings? I've been using 9 gauge Super Slinkys for decades, but the new Cobalts finally got me to convert. They last forever, and the tone is so crystal clear I couldn't believe it. Worth checking out!

I'll try the Cobalts at some point. The main things are 1) I like to be able to get some quiet playing in, so it's nice to have a decent sound while unplugged. I would just pull out the acoustic, but with my strumming habits it gets damned loud, and I can't practice 'lead' parts to much extent. And 2) the Tele is just a bright guitar. EB's, or any other generic steel/nickel-wound set (I'm getting the feeling they're all pretty much the same), can sound just fine when you're plugged in on most guitars. But I think a cheap Tele is about the worst thing to hear them on.

Especially unplugged. Which is what was really annoying me, because the GHS strings just sounded like a quiet, generic acoustic. Good tone, no 'bite' to it. Little lifeless when plugged in, but easier to amp the sound up than to tone down the EB's.

For feel, though, I'm really liking the 13-56 setup with a wound 3rd. I think the similar 12-52 Boomers will be perfect for playing a step down. As far as the reasoning for that- well, I just like it. And I listen to (and want to play) a lot of stuff that commonly uses it. Plus a capo on the 2nd fret is easy.

Use a nice fat low E string, and you've also got the ability to easily get into a drop tune. So with a capo and turning just one tuner, I can pretty much go into any mainstream tune quickly. Versatility is sweet, though obviously there are compromises.

 

[Fritzo]

I started playing about a year ago. Even got some advice from Fritzo.

I thought thoses squiers were all MiMs? Or is that just the "special" lines like the classic vibe?

I ask because I have my eye on one of those squier jazzmasters or jaguars. Played one at a local shop and was surprised by the quality.

Chinese guitars are crap though, I'm afraid. I have a starter guitar (epi LP jr) and it just isnt any good. It was fine for learning mechanics, but I find myself playing my '95 american strat almost exclusively.

Since we've got so many guitar nerds around... any opinions on the gretsch electromatic line? I really want to get an electromatic 5422 12 string but no one carries them locally (low demand for electric 12s) so Id have to have one ordered... link - http://www.gretschguitars.com/products/index.php?partno=2514813506

An orange 5420 has been on my wishlist for two years now (Santa hates me ) The Electromatic line is some of Gretsch's best work to date for the price. Fantastic players.

 

[phucheneh]

Can anybody comment on the saddles on that guitar?

I'm certain on the GHS Boomer strings, ordering both 'lights' and 'mediums' (...12's and 13's). Generic tension charts put 11's in standard tuning (my preference for feel) around the same as these strings when down a step, and I know I like their sound.

Going to go ahead and get a Graph Tech nut for it to replace the cheapie I put in. And as a final compliment, was also considering their saddles. I think a lot of my gripes about tone from unwound strings has to do with the bridge design. I may even do a 'string-through' mod with a drill...

Just curious if anyone has been this route, i.e. taking a super basic Squier Tele or Strat and just trying to make some 'corrections' without breaking the bank.

 

[Fritzo]

Can anybody comment on the saddles on that guitar?

I'm certain on the GHS Boomer strings, ordering both 'lights' and 'mediums' (...12's and 13's). Generic tension charts put 11's in standard tuning (my preference for feel) around the same as these strings when down a step, and I know I like their sound.

Going to go ahead and get a Graph Tech nut for it to replace the cheapie I put in. And as a final compliment, was also considering their saddles. I think a lot of my gripes about tone from unwound strings has to do with the bridge design. I may even do a 'string-through' mod with a drill...

Just curious if anyone has been this route, i.e. taking a super basic Squier Tele or Strat and just trying to make some 'corrections' without breaking the bank.

Upgrading a low end guitar usually ends up being more expensive than getting a better guitar

 

[BlitzPuppet]

I still love my guitar (Tennessee Made) . I replaced the stock pickups with DiMarzios (not in the pic) and couldn't be happier. Love Gibsons but can't stand Les Pauls...they dig into my sternum and don't "fit" me very well.

 

[Nintendesert]

I still love my guitar (Tennessee Made) .

Hero to the American worker. :thumbsup:

 

[phucheneh]

Upgrading a low end guitar usually ends up being more expensive than getting a better guitar

For an electric? Gotta wholey disagree there. I'm not trying to make a $2000 guitar. Just make a decent cheap guitar into a more decent cheap guitar that suits my tastes.

The saga continues. Restrung again tonight, back to the GHS Boomers like I wanted. Since I can't get the set I want locally, and I'm impatient, I bought a few different ones, and currently strung with 11-16-24w-32-42-50 and it's fuckin' wonderful.

I also caved and spent $60 on a Graph Tech 'bone' nut and their PTFE-coated saddles.

So, not including strings (they're a whopping $4.50 or so a set- why anyone would buy Ernie Balls for the same money is insanity), this is now like a $210 guitar. I've heard a lot more cash sound a hell of a lot worse.