Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: hamfist on March 29, 2009, 08:50:38 AM

Title: I feel lost
Post by: hamfist on March 29, 2009, 08:50:38 AM
It's a happy and a sad story really.

I seem to have come to the end of an intense three year journey of getting my whole guitar/amp rig sorted.

It's finally there !!   My two guitars are perfect for me. My pedalboard is pretty much perfect (OK, I might want to add a wah at some point). My amps (2 duplicates plus another spare set of transformers) are perfect. My two identical cabs are now also perfectly suited to the rest of the rig.

The bad point is that this has been my main hobby for those years (yes, more so than actually playing the guitar).  I have so enjoyed cruising the www, researching, buying, selling etc.   But it's all over now. I feel a bit lost.

OK, so I've got the best tone I've ever had, and I really enjoy it, but I do miss the tone quest.

If I was made of money, I would just add to my gear but, unfortunately finances have tightened up a lot for us recently, and it's a strictly "sell one to buy one" motto for gear now.

I am to be pitied  :(
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: MrBump on March 29, 2009, 08:52:34 AM
Give me all your gear and start again.

It's the only way...
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Dmoney on March 29, 2009, 09:21:11 AM
i've actually been feeling the same way.
i dont have much, but ive been through a lot.

right now i have 2 guitars i really like and as much as i look at others, i just don't feel a need.
i have a few heads that do different sounds.
pedal wise i'm there, i don't use much, so it's down to tuner, wah, delay

i've never tried messing with cabs and speakers much, because a lot of the time i use cabs provided by promoters unless i tour myself. and then i end up in the position of lending it to others. but ive been generally happy with 1960A cabs, even in comparison to mesa cabs and some other things.

so yeah, while i COULD do some work still, i don't feel a dire need.
i could play with speakers in preparation for recording.
I'd probably wire a mixed pair into a 1960A.

amp wise i have a dual rec, a jcm 800 2205 and a soldano avenger.
dual rec and avenger i swap between mostly.
speaker suggestions welcome.
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: ailean on March 29, 2009, 09:48:13 AM
Don't worry Alan, it won't last, you'll still be cruising the net, and you'll find something that then needs to be factored into your rig. Or you'll get a new guitar that doesn't work with your current rig.

I'm not going to pity you just yet, I've got to know you too well :D
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Twinfan on March 29, 2009, 06:35:59 PM
It'll change, it'll change!
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: hunter on March 29, 2009, 07:06:30 PM
What about a guitar teacher to refocus?
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Jonny on March 29, 2009, 08:10:36 PM
Luckily I'm not where you are yet Alan

But I can understand why you would feel like this at the end.
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Sifu Ben on March 29, 2009, 08:56:12 PM
As my first martial arts teacher told me "perfection is to be strived for, not achieved"
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: 38thBeatle on March 29, 2009, 10:37:43 PM
There is a strange thing about tone, in my experience at least, in that what you think is the ultimate gradually becomes the familiar and then becomes the" its ok but it aint quite there" and then you get back on the tour bus to tone heaven. I guess what you are saying is that it is better to travel than to arrive.
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: indysmith on March 29, 2009, 11:21:13 PM
if you've got all the gear that you want, and you're happy with your tone, then it's time to start a new journey to making beautiful music!
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: hamfist on March 30, 2009, 07:14:23 AM
What about a guitar teacher to refocus?

It's a good idea, but guitar teachers cost money.  :(
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: hamfist on March 30, 2009, 07:15:19 AM
As my first martial arts teacher told me "perfection is to be strived for, not achieved"

Your martial arts teacher obviously doesn't have as great a guitar rig as I do now !  :wink:
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: MrBump on March 30, 2009, 10:45:33 AM
What about a guitar teacher to refocus?

It's a good idea, but guitar teachers cost money.  :(

You could sell some stuff...  but that then means that you'll have to buy stuff...  which you could then sell... 
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: hamfist on March 30, 2009, 12:30:39 PM
You could sell some stuff...  but that then means that you'll have to buy stuff...  which you could then sell... 

The eternal problem !!
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Johnny Mac on March 30, 2009, 03:07:06 PM
What about a guitar teacher to refocus?

It's a good idea, but guitar teachers cost money.  :(

Learn from the net, or set a goal, like a song you've always wanted to play.  :)
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: hamfist on March 30, 2009, 04:46:05 PM
What about a guitar teacher to refocus?

It's a good idea, but guitar teachers cost money.  :(

Learn from the net, or set a goal, like a song you've always wanted to play.  :)

Johnny, to be honest I struggle to be motivated to play or learn anything that is not directly linked to playing with a band of some description.
  My whole "raison d'etre" for playing guitar is to play with others in a live setting. If it's just playing for playing's sake or simply practicing just to get better,  then I lose all motivation.
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: ailean on March 30, 2009, 04:48:02 PM
You could always play to annoy your neighbours?
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: hamfist on March 30, 2009, 06:25:46 PM
You could always play to annoy your neighbours?

I like my neighbours !
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Fourth Feline on March 31, 2009, 09:33:41 PM
Ironically, my whole enjoyment of the music ( and the guitar as it's vehicle ) only kicked in properly, when the 'Tone  search' ended. 

Yes;  in the final stages a bit of the good old narrowing down of genre specific components - and getting the best prices was as enjoyable as ever - but  when ( after 30 years ) I could just let go of the gear search - and got on with trying to make my playing / music better, I felt great .

For me the eternal search ( which of course began again with every genre I experimented with ) - was not invalid as such , but to a great degree - it was an excuse to delay what was really needed ; - and that was bl***y hard work and study / practice.   

The three strongest elements of transition for me where :

1) Realising I could not respond adequately to someone saying " play us a tune then" .

2) Seeing a video of Joe Pass ( playing a "nice tune" ) whilst going D.I. into the front of house public address system - and still delivering a great  evening's music.

3) Reading Matt Otten ( After watching his silky smooth demos for Peerless Monarch guitars on 'You Tube ' e.t.c. )  - saying that for him the tone search was not a path he felt that important, compared to study of the music itself.

To now get excited ( as a self taught, not music college player ) about song structure, melodic possibilities, nice harmonies - and the challenges of solo playing.  Has been the best evolution I feel to have ever made.

Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Philly Q on March 31, 2009, 10:26:28 PM
1) Realising I could not respond adequately to someone saying " play us a tune then" .

Oh, I know that feeling.   :(


You could always play to annoy your neighbours?

I like my neighbours !

Presumably they're not like mine, who has built himself a little bus-stop-like shelter in the back garden so he can sit out there at 3 in the morning shouting "JAH!  RASTA-FAR-EYE!" at random intervals....  :|
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: MDV on March 31, 2009, 10:29:57 PM
Theres always something else.

Always.

And youre going to change your mind about stuff you have too.
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: indysmith on March 31, 2009, 11:28:56 PM
1) Realising I could not respond adequately to someone saying " play us a tune then" .

Oh, I know that feeling.   :(
Same! :? haha i always seem to just play random notes until about 8 sound good together, and then play them over and over again :)
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: hamfist on April 01, 2009, 07:27:21 AM
1) Realising I could not respond adequately to someone saying " play us a tune then" .

Oh, I know that feeling.   :(


You could always play to annoy your neighbours?

I like my neighbours !

Presumably they're not like mine, who has built himself a little bus-stop-like shelter in the back garden so he can sit out there at 3 in the morning shouting "JAH!  RASTA-FAR-EYE!" at random intervals....  :|

Lol !!
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: hamfist on April 01, 2009, 07:28:30 AM
And youre going to change your mind about stuff you have too.

Highly likely, knowing my history.     I just wish it would happen soon !!
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: martinw on April 01, 2009, 09:14:08 AM
Anyone want a tenner down on Alan still having the same gear in 12 months time?  :lol:

Didn't think so!
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: ailean on April 01, 2009, 09:36:00 AM
Anyone want a tenner down on Alan still having the same gear in 12 months time?  :lol:

Didn't think so!

I'll lose a tenner just to see him sweat :twisted:
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: hamfist on April 01, 2009, 12:21:54 PM
Anyone want a tenner down on Alan still having the same gear in 12 months time? 

A year !!!  That's ridiculous !  Surely no-one keeps gear that long !
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Johnny Mac on April 02, 2009, 09:40:23 AM
1) Realising I could not respond adequately to someone saying " play us a tune then" .

Oh, I know that feeling.   :(


You could always play to annoy your neighbours?

I like my neighbours !

Presumably they're not like mine, who has built himself a little bus-stop-like shelter in the back garden so he can sit out there at 3 in the morning shouting "JAH!  RASTA-FAR-EYE!" at random intervals....  :|

Blimey he sounds a bit mad! You could have a jam with him Philly!
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: dheim on April 02, 2009, 07:42:14 PM
1) Realising I could not respond adequately to someone saying " play us a tune then" .

Oh, I know that feeling.   :(


i know it too! even if i'm just starting to live it like a real problem... certainly not for the bloody tunes people wants me to play, but because i'm starting to feel much less secure about my playing skills than i was just a couple of years ago...

You could always play to annoy your neighbours?

I like my neighbours !

Presumably they're not like mine, who has built himself a little bus-stop-like shelter in the back garden so he can sit out there at 3 in the morning shouting "JAH!  RASTA-FAR-EYE!" at random intervals....  :|
[/quote]

make him a friend... so he'll hopefully begin to OFFER...   :lol:
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: dheim on April 02, 2009, 07:46:33 PM
1) Realising I could not respond adequately to someone saying " play us a tune then" .

Oh, I know that feeling.   :(


i know it too! even if i'm just starting to live it like a real problem... certainly not for the bloody tunes people wants me to play, but because i'm starting to feel much less secure about my playing skills than i was just a couple of years ago...

You could always play to annoy your neighbours?

I like my neighbours !

Presumably they're not like mine, who has built himself a little bus-stop-like shelter in the back garden so he can sit out there at 3 in the morning shouting "JAH!  RASTA-FAR-EYE!" at random intervals....  :|

make him a friend... so he'll hopefully begin to OFFER...   :lol:
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Philly Q on April 02, 2009, 09:45:03 PM
make him a friend... so he'll hopefully begin to OFFER...   :lol:

Blimey he sounds a bit mad! You could have a jam with him Philly!

Not a chance!  It's actually pretty creepy going in the kitchen in the middle of the night and hearing someone shouting or mumbling crazily about 20 feet away.  I'm glad I'm on the first floor.

Here's his bus stop.  Why the hell would you build that in your garden?

(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/IMGP2611.jpg)
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: bareknucklehead on April 02, 2009, 10:07:54 PM
The brand new Axe FX will give you a reason to start over

http://www.fractalaudio.com/products-fa-axefx.html

 :)
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Johnny Mac on April 02, 2009, 10:14:53 PM
I can imagine Philly, that would drive me mad to be honest, which is exactly what he sounds like! Does he smoke huge spliffs in his bus stop?
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Philly Q on April 02, 2009, 10:23:23 PM
I can imagine Philly, that would drive me mad to be honest, which is exactly what he sounds like! Does he smoke huge spliffs in his bus stop?

Dunno - I'm afraid of accidentally making eye contact!  :lol:  I imagine he does....
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: dheim on April 02, 2009, 11:12:48 PM
make him a friend... so he'll hopefully begin to OFFER...   :lol:

Blimey he sounds a bit mad! You could have a jam with him Philly!

Not a chance!  It's actually pretty creepy going in the kitchen in the middle of the night and hearing someone shouting or mumbling crazily about 20 feet away.  I'm glad I'm on the first floor.

Here's his bus stop.  Why the hell would you build that in your garden?

(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/IMGP2611.jpg)

 :idiot2:

it could have been worse. he could have built a sign too.
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Philly Q on April 02, 2009, 11:15:15 PM
 :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: indysmith on April 02, 2009, 11:22:51 PM
Duuuuude, I'm so getting a backyardbusstop. <--- sweet band name
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: dheim on April 02, 2009, 11:36:17 PM
it's perfect for stoner... a bit like backyard babies, indeed...
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: ailean on April 03, 2009, 08:17:42 AM
If I was gojng to build myself a shelter for smoking in, it would have doors and a small heater so I didn't freeze my t**s off. (I don't smoke so no problem)
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: hamfist on April 03, 2009, 09:10:45 AM
Lol.  This must be one of the most bizarre transformations of a thread.
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: prozacbear on April 03, 2009, 11:38:18 AM
Yeah well... We just didn't want you wallowing in self pity :D

Edit: cr@p, I really must remember not to post from Sue's PC - Ailean.
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Bradock PI on April 04, 2009, 01:36:04 PM
You only need to really worry if one night you hear a diesel engine and look out to see a large red double decker in the garden.

On the gear point I can easily see how this can become a factor but one of the biggest influence on tone and presense is the player so let that be your motivation for the moement then you will find that you can outplay your current rig
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: PhilKing on April 04, 2009, 10:52:54 PM
Are you sure that he bought it - have you noticed a missing bus shelter around you?
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: noodleplugerine on April 04, 2009, 11:05:43 PM
This guy seems like a legend. I'd kill to have a bus stop in my garden :D
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Fourth Feline on April 04, 2009, 11:20:25 PM
Just be glad it's not a less stable relation of Dave ( Twinfan ) - he'd have at least two ...  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Twinfan on April 05, 2009, 01:36:52 AM
:lol:
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: 38thBeatle on April 05, 2009, 09:32:58 AM
I bet the buses in his garden are more frequent than they are in my area.
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Philly Q on April 05, 2009, 09:54:33 AM
I bet the buses in his garden are more frequent than they are in my area.

In his mind, they probably are.
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Twinfan on April 27, 2009, 04:21:32 PM
It's a happy and a sad story really.

I seem to have come to the end of an intense three year journey of getting my whole guitar/amp rig sorted.

It's finally there !!   My two guitars are perfect for me. My pedalboard is pretty much perfect (OK, I might want to add a wah at some point). My amps (2 duplicates plus another spare set of transformers) are perfect. My two identical cabs are now also perfectly suited to the rest of the rig.

The bad point is that this has been my main hobby for those years (yes, more so than actually playing the guitar).  I have so enjoyed cruising the www, researching, buying, selling etc.   But it's all over now. I feel a bit lost.

OK, so I've got the best tone I've ever had, and I really enjoy it, but I do miss the tone quest.

If I was made of money, I would just add to my gear but, unfortunately finances have tightened up a lot for us recently, and it's a strictly "sell one to buy one" motto for gear now.

I am to be pitied  :(

So to get this thread back on topic..........................

Has anyone else noticed that since posting this Alan is selling his Krank Distortious Maximus pedal and has bought a Gordon Smith GS-1?

As I predicted, it didn't take long then hey Alan?  :lol:
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Philly Q on April 27, 2009, 06:51:14 PM
So to get this thread back on topic..........................

Has anyone else noticed that since posting this Alan is selling his Krank Distortious Maximus pedal and has bought a Gordon Smith GS-1?

As I predicted, it didn't take long then hey Alan?  :lol:

A very pertinent thread revival!  :lol:
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Jonny on April 27, 2009, 06:53:22 PM
I think it's been passed onto me. I feel I don't have anything to buy. I have guitars, and am going to sell guitars. And I have an amp, plus Martin is going to build me a cabinet.

I'm.. G..A..S..f..r..eee......free...FREE......FREEDOOOMMMMM!!!!

I don't like the feeling so far.
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Philly Q on April 27, 2009, 08:53:25 PM
I'm.. G..A..S..f..r..eee......free...FREE......FREEDOOOMMMMM!!!!

I don't like the feeling so far.

It won't last.  Don't worry.

Or worry.  Whatever feels most appropriate.
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: hamfist on April 27, 2009, 08:58:43 PM
It's a happy and a sad story really.

I seem to have come to the end of an intense three year journey of getting my whole guitar/amp rig sorted.

It's finally there !!   My two guitars are perfect for me. My pedalboard is pretty much perfect (OK, I might want to add a wah at some point). My amps (2 duplicates plus another spare set of transformers) are perfect. My two identical cabs are now also perfectly suited to the rest of the rig.

The bad point is that this has been my main hobby for those years (yes, more so than actually playing the guitar).  I have so enjoyed cruising the www, researching, buying, selling etc.   But it's all over now. I feel a bit lost.

OK, so I've got the best tone I've ever had, and I really enjoy it, but I do miss the tone quest.

If I was made of money, I would just add to my gear but, unfortunately finances have tightened up a lot for us recently, and it's a strictly "sell one to buy one" motto for gear now.

I am to be pitied  :(

So to get this thread back on topic..........................

Has anyone else noticed that since posting this Alan is selling his Krank Distortious Maximus pedal and has bought a Gordon Smith GS-1?

As I predicted, it didn't take long then hey Alan?  :lol:

I'll also admit to selling and buying a cab in the meantime too.  :oops:

But on the positive side, I haven't bought a new amp for months !!!   That is a big step for me.

And Jonny ..... I feel your pain !
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Twinfan on April 27, 2009, 09:17:52 PM
What cabs are you using now then, Alan?
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: HTH AMPS on April 28, 2009, 12:15:33 AM
make him a friend... so he'll hopefully begin to OFFER...   :lol:

Blimey he sounds a bit mad! You could have a jam with him Philly!

Not a chance!  It's actually pretty creepy going in the kitchen in the middle of the night and hearing someone shouting or mumbling crazily about 20 feet away.  I'm glad I'm on the first floor.

Here's his bus stop.  Why the hell would you build that in your garden?

(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/IMGP2611.jpg)

is it legal to smoke in that shelter - it has three 'walls', contact environmental health  :lol:
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: hamfist on April 28, 2009, 07:41:59 AM
What cabs are you using now then, Alan?

Two identical Laney 2x12's (GS212ie), both now fully loaded with greenbacks. My vintage Marshall 4x12 has now gone.

  I had a "magic" event when my rig just sounded so perfect, playing through one of the Laney cabs. It just didn't sound as good through the Marshall, so I sold the Marshall, and put together another identical Laney cab with greenbacks. Two greenbacks on their own is just not quite in the safety zone for me for gigging. Four is fine though. The two 2x12 cabs gives me a pretty flexible setup too.  The gig I did on saturday, I set them up on top of each other, end on end, to have a really thin but tall stack .... didn't take up much space but got plenty of sound up around my lugholes.
Title: Re: I feel lost
Post by: Twinfan on April 28, 2009, 08:59:13 AM
Interesting - sounds like a flexible rig...