10 Questions We Ask Everyone

JRgtar · April 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A 3/4 size nylon string acoustic was loaned by a cousin. My first purchased one was an encore electric purchased second hand.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Black Stratocaster. Purchased as a teenager in 1994 (I think), Mexican, I still love it.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Probably the encore that resides under my bed (it’s a dreadful guitar, but I can’t bear to part with it).

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Not sure, quite content but maybe a better amp or a semi-hollow.

5: What strings do you use?
Regular Slinky on electrics, Elixir nanoweb on acoustic.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Timing.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Owing to the rarity of the event, mostly checking i’m in tune and trying to quell nerves.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Beer

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Cut my finger at a school gig and managed to spray blood across guitar. It was actually quite a rock moment.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Get into the habit of learning more complete songs.

Neilybob · April 2020

Here's mine -

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
2007 - Burny MIJ Les Paul

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save? Eek umm errr ... Fernandes 80's Strat

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own? Either Tokai Strat, Fernandes Strat or my other Fernandes Strat, all of which I believe are early 80's but quite hard to date.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire? Either a junior or a Tele

5: What strings do you use? Metal one's. 10's on my strat's and 11's on my LP's. Still on my string brand journey to find the right ones.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be? I haven't recorded much yet.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage? Sh*tting my pants.

8: ...And five minutes after? Loving it.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage? I forgot the intro to a song and could only hear in my head a different song. We winged it!

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar? Stop dicking around with GAS for gear and get on a learn the fretboard, chord progressions and how to use scales for soloing.

Peace.

HilditchGuitars · April 2020

Why not?

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Hohner classical, around 1998/9

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save? Tough one, probably my first build (school project) as it's my mum's favourite

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own? said Hohner

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire? hmmm, probably a Marshall JCM800 stack

5: What strings do you use? Regular Slinky

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be? My playing

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage? Forgetting all the songs, and sweating

8: ...And five minutes after? Drinking

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage? Amp cutting in and out

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar? Theory isn't b*ll*cks

TonyJ · April 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
No name classical about 1980

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
It would have to be a partscaster once owned by Rory Gallagher as it not replaceable. But really this is a bit like asking which of your kids you would save. To which the answer would changes regularly

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
62 melody maker

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
OLD ES probably non cutaway i.e. 125

5: What strings do you use?
Daddario only cause that’s the last I bought

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Never made one

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Never been on stage

8: ...And five minutes after?
Still never been on stage

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?

Having never had the talent to be on stage

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?

Take lessons and practice what your taught

IsambardKentucky · April 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?

A Samick classical nylon for £90. Year: 1997. I remember going to my first guitar lesson and teacher at the time telling me it had dreadful buzzing at the nut and to take it back. I was gutted to discover my new instrument was damaged - I was unable to return it (too self-conscious to admit to my folks it had an issue) nonetheless it didn't hold me back. Have it to this day with it's buzzy nut.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My telecaster.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
A 1950's random old acoustic I got from a friends Grandma. Plays terrible, but sounds great!

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A cabinet for a lonely head. I'm trying to reduce gear... (he says..)

5: What strings do you use?
10s... D'Addario... and some Curt Mangans. Looking at moving to 9s.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Better mics.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Out of practice... but probably trying to quell anxiety.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Reviewing how it went in my head?

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
When I was 14 and got my first pedal - a wah. Didn't know how it worked. Arrived in the post the day of a gig... got my brother to bring it along to use. Just in time to start our set I was so excited to unleash my inner-wah. Couldn't get it turned on and was so distracted I dropped the ball on our opening song.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Learn that fretboard (notes) think in notes rather than fret no.s --- so much falls together afterward... and it makes reading music a lot more approachable, in addition to relating/understanding musicians who play other instruments.

MildAshers · May 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Yamaha Pacifica 012 starter pack in blue with Yamaha GA15 amplifier. Bought April 2008.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Gibson Les Paul 2018 Faded Cherry

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Cort MBC1

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A Stratocaster

5: What strings do you use?
D'addario NYXL

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I haven't really done any recording. The bits I have done I should have just committed to my playing instead of being self conscious.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Drinking whiskey Nd getting psyched up.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Finishing the whiskey

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Totally forgot the song

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Learning songs is good, that got you into it, but remember to learn the instrument as well.

RedFalcon · May 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Yamaha Pacifica 112 around 2000.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
I have two hands though... either my Ibanez PGM301 or my Squier Silver Series Strat

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
1991 Squire Silver Series Strat

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Since I love my Strat, I'm looking for a MIJ Fender ST54 in 2TS

5: What strings do you use?
Ernie Balls Hybrid Slinkys

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I haven't anything in years

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
If I do go on stage - Then i'd pee before going on stage

8: ...And five minutes after?

Encore

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?

I can't think of anything...

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?

Try not to think to much about the gear.

Tall_martin · May 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
First bass- 1995, a 1978 fender musicmaster. I couldn't afford a double bass of my own so went for an electric. It was just old and battered then, not vintage with mojo

First guitar fender stratacoustic in 2004 when I moved into a shared house while doing a second degree.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
The musicmaster, no contest. Its been with me for all my formative and adult life!

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
The musicmaster.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A nice solidbody electric

5: What strings do you use?
Elixir coated.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I'd change my bass solo

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Trying to keep it together and remember whats what!

8: ...And five minutes after?
Buzzing and chating

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Playing in front of 1000 hostile students with another teacher, we missed the timing playing to a drum machine and had to restart. It felt like a riot was going to start! It all ended well with so many of them singing along to Merry Christmas by Slade, you couldn't hear the bass!

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Skills learned on the playstation are not going to be as useful long term as the guitar!

GordonBennett · May 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Played a classical guitar that was in the family. After almost a year I got a cream Japanese strat copy... Saiko or something, in 1996 or 97.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?

Gibson Les Paul Standard, cherry sunburst, 1996.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?

No idea how old some of the guitars are... could be the strat copy, could be an Admira classical I got 4th hand in 2005.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Nothing, I only really play the classical these days

5: What strings do you use?

Usually an E, A, D, G, B and E

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?

Make the guitar louder and more to the fore, drop the fucking bouncy dance drums.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?

Trying not to look like I'm bricking myself.

8: ...And five minutes after?

On a high, bouncing around trying to shag something

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?

Nobody turned up

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?

don't break your little finger when you're drunk. Learn some theory.

demonoid_gnome · June 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Ibanez S420 back in 2010

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Ibanez RGT220A

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Ibanez RG3120 from 2005

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Wouldn`t mind a Feline Lion, but way out of reach at the moment financially.

5: What strings do you use?
D'addario 9s or 10s

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Not sure I`m ready for recording yet

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Nor a stage....

8: ...And five minutes after?

See above...

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
And again....

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?

Don`t wait until you`re 40 to start learning!

7DyingTrees · June 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Some acoustic. My parents thought it was a toy so never got me lessons. So i smashed it out of frustration. I was 6 or 7 years old. First actual guitar that i learnt on was a late 70s/early 80-s washburn acoustic that I still have, which my mother got when i was 4 or 5.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Ibanez LA Custom shop they built for me when i was endorsed.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
The above washburn

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Probably a 7 string of some sort, or an 8 string to try again

5: What strings do you use?

D'Addario NYXLs

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Probably would have stopped a song being butchered and left the lead lines on and kept the original mid section on Darkly Darkly Venus Aversa.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Stretching neck and shoulder and arms to avoid further neck injuries and surgery. Used to also include a shot of Jaeger

8: ...And five minutes after?
Used to be a drink. These days probably just packing up.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Was throwing shapes on edge of stage at the warfield in San Francisco, walked backwards, tripped over a large power cable and fell flat on my arse. Soundman didn't catch it in time, so there was an interesting chord that rang out over the PA.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Find a more advanced teacher and just keep learning, as I swear I missed out on being way better because I lived in the middle of nowhere and ran out of teachers who could teach me more.

Corporeal_bodies · June 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
First guitar and what I first learnt on was an epiphone les paul standard in black with a cream pick guard on 2nd of November 1994, I remember the fret work was pretty bad, the top e would get stuck under the frets.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Save my prs mark Holcomb

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Not very old by today's standards but a esp exp from 1997

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
I'd really like a good 7 string, for some prog metal stuff

5: What strings do you use?
At the moment I really like daddario nyxl

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
The guitar tone, things have changed a lot in 15 years and it's now easier to get a really decent tone without spending mega ££££

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Trying to have a poo hoping the butterfly come out my ass

8: ...And five minutes after?
Smoke and beer time

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?
Had food poisoning, didnt know at the time, thought I was just hung over from the night before until puked and shit myself in the middle of the last song

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Learn more style other than metal, It wasn't until i was 20 i start playing different styles at uni. From the age of 12 it was just metallica, metallica and more metallica, yeah as a guitarist I could shred but I wasn't a musician until after uni.

Tex Mexico · June 2020

Just realised I never did this. How rude of me.

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
I think it was my parents' "Lorenzo" brand 00-sized acoustic, but I learnt to play on a Vantage dreadnought, which was the first guitar that was properly mine. First electric was a Carson knockoff Les Paul with a bolt-on neck.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Right now it would be my 1991 PRS Custom 24, if only because it's right next to my front door.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
As above.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Probably another PRS, maybe a singlecut.

5: What strings do you use?
Ernie Ball Slinkys. Not even a preference, they're just always available and if it ain't broke, etc.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
So much to choose from. In general terms it would be to spend more time on tracking and less on m(f)ixing.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Sitting quietly on my own because stage fright makes me lose my sense of humour.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Tearing down.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Some pissed twat who'd just been to see an Oasis tribute act across the street topped off the half-hour he'd spent yelling "do Wonderwall" at us between every song by jumping up on stage, shoving me out of the way and bellowing the chorus of said song into the microphone.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Nobody else cares about your influences being aesthetically coherent. Having jarringly diverse tastes will make your music more interesting, so embrace it and stop thinking you can't do more than one thing.

SpankThePlank · June 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A used black Westbury Standard for my 17th birthday in '83. Wasn't a bad axe.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Depends where the fire is! Poss my '88 USVRI Strat.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
1936 Dobro

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
I'm trying to work out how not to acquire gear.

5: What strings do you use?
Currently Ernie's 11-48

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I think I'm resigned to things that have been recorded. I'd rather move forward. :-)

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Swigging medicinal tequila n orange

8: ...And five minutes after?
See question 7.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Playing a stadium support slot and finishing our set to great applause. Buoyed, we decided to go out and give them another tune. It turned out their high spirits were in anticipation of the main band. They started booing us.
Oops.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Learn more theory and choose gear with character. Oh yeah, and Kahlers are a fad.

HCDavies · June 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A manky old electric from a friend, in 83ish. Total rubbish eventually, I burnt it in 2012 after finding it my mum’s garage.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Aria Legend custom telecaster, the one in my avatar.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
The Aria now, since the fire in answer 1.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?

Nothing at the moment, spent quite a bit recently.

5: What strings do you use?
Ernie Ball, mainly lightest on tele, then Strat and V with Floyd rose and heavier on my Les Paul.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Don’t do recordings much, I’m about playing live.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Running up and down the frets.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Guitar in case, then beer

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Broken string.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Get a better guitar, I didn’t need those new skis, I needed a better guitar.

Cranky · June 2020

What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Jasmine by Takamine, from a pawn shop sometime in 2003/4.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?

The Tele my father-in-law gifted me.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?

1970s red label Yamaha FG-180. You know, like Elliott's.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?

Always keeping my eyes peeled for an interesting solid wood acoustic or anything with p90s. I don't have a flanger pedal, either.

5: What strings do you use?

Actually not that particular about this one, just don't love super light strings.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?

Learn how to record.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?

Will I ever play on a stage? I've only just gotten past playing around strangers at the guitar shop.

8: ...And five minutes after?

How'd I do?

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?

I've never played guitar on stage. But I once tried to help a kid with a little talent show ditty, he needed a simple drum beat to back up his original guitar piece and asked me to do it. I warned him, but I guess he didn't believe me. It took about five seconds for my stage fright to take over, I couldn't tell my right arm from my left and completely ruined his piece. He hardly talked to me afterward.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?

Play less, practice more, and be more outgoing and social about playing. It's okay to want this. What the old man did wasn't your fault so to hell with him.

Winky · June 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
1988 or thereabouts, a BC Rich Eagle from the NJ Series. Solid and workmanlike. A good first guitar in every way.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Fender Elite Stratocaster.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Either a Godin Session or a Fender Blacktop Jaguar. I forget which is older.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A better chair to sit in for the studio.

5: What strings do you use?
Whatever a guitar comes with. I don't get hung up on strings, and if I give it to a tech for a setup I let them choose.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I'd love to finish a recording rather than abandon it.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
I'll let you know when I think I'm good enough to go onstage.

8: ...And five minutes after?
See above.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
See above.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Relax.

LPManic · June 2020

Just saw this series! Really fascinating reading all the responses. Here is my contribution:

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
My first real guitar was a 1985 Gibson The Paul for my 16th birthday. I got it in 1998. Loved that guitar. A friend currently has it on loan.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
2013 Gibson Les Paul Custom R8. But it's pretty heavy and made of wood so I might just leave it to make sure I get out!

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
The 1985 Gibson The Paul.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A 2020 SG Junior and a Catalinbread Blood Donor or Katzenkonig pedal.

5: What strings do you use?
I try all different strings and not too fussed really. I have been trying the Ernie Ball 9.5 Power Slinkys most recently. Decent.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I would have recorded with my first band. We had really good songs. But it wasn't as easy back in those days.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Going to the loo 50 times! Haha

8: ...And five minutes after?
Thinking I'm the best guitarist ever.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
A few technical things but honestly nothing too mortifying.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Listen to more music. Be more open minded. Take a lesson or two.

BenCarter · July 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Guild D-25 Acoustic for my 9th Birthday, so 50 years ago....

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
1962 Fiesta Red LH Strat

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Said Strat

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A BMG Super, but not likely to happen, they don't do LH

5: What strings do you use?
For electric, DR Red Devils, EB Extra Slinkys, Optima Golds; Acoustics either Martin, or d'Addario, although I do have two packets of Nashville Straights (still!) for my Fender F-310

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Get a drummer who doesn't insist the click is slowing down!

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Vocal warm ups and finger exercises

8: ...And five minutes after?
De-rigging, of course!

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Midi controller failure (there were some strange sounds that night!)

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
You really DON'T need to buy 30 guitars!!

Stratovarious · August 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A Rosetti Airstream 2 from the early 60s, bought from my older brother. Not sure I actually paid him come to think of it,

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My 1979 Sienna Sunburst Fender Strat

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Said Strat really, although that's soon to be up for sale so I'd have to say my 1980 Yamaha FG-340.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Behringer Cat, or a Wasp for old times sake. And a viola, I've decided violins look silly on someone as tall as me.

5: What strings do you use?
D'Addario EXL, 10s on Strats and 11s on Les Pauls - apart from one Strat with 12s as i'm a masochist.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
What's done is done,more important to concentrate on making the next one better

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Difficult to remember, but probably thinking "What on earth am I doing here?"

8: ...And five minutes after?
Much the same I'd have thought.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
I don't think anything good has ever happened to me onstage!

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
"Any idiot can play rock and pop, learn something classical instead." (Like that would have been possible with my parents!) Too late now at my age.

SVguitar · August 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Cheap 3/4 scale classical, bought in the BHV department store in Paris.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Fender Jazzmaster

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Probably the Jazzmaster. '88?

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Hoping to simplify the FX set-up in the next six months and move on from a Pod HD500 to smaller unit.

5: What strings do you use?
I have no idea what strings I use at the moment.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Better mastering.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Going really quiet and getting very nervous.

8: ...And five minutes after?

Descending into a pit of self-hatred.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Usually pushing the wrong button at the wrong time.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Nothing really. Maybe learn a bit more music theory?

tomb11112 · August 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Rockwood LX250G Les Paul copy.
This was a gift for my 12th birthday. Sadly sold many moons ago but I have a search on ebay for any that may pop up.
Easier to spot as the tuners were changed and the fingerboard binding had a crack along the fretboard on the low E side by the nut. I doubt anyone here has seen it??

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My 1997 MIM deluxe powerhouse strat. It's been modded over the years and been with me all around the world (moving - not gigging!). If you ever wanted to clone me that guitar has thousands of hours of playing on it.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
a 1981 Ovaton 1621 acoustic that I've converted to Gilmours Hi-strung tuning. Bargain instrument!

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Waiting on the new VL PP3+ power supplies. Sexy right?!?

5: What strings do you use?
GHS or Ernie Ball. 10's on Fenders - heavier on Gibsons.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Spend a few minutes getting things together a bit better and not rushing it.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Tuning/hearding the rest of the band away from the bar and to the stage.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Drink - then start coiling cables.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
School talent show - heavy song with a guitar harmony - new (light) strings - guitar out of tune at the crucial point...

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Enjoy it kid! And get heavier strings on your guitar if downtuning!!!!

spooner248 · September 2020

1. Some no-name electric guitar I bought with money from my paper round in 1973.

2. 85 Strat

3. 85 Strat.

4. New strings

5. Guitar strings

6. the whole recording.

7. Pint and a fight.

8. Another pint and a fight.

9. Pissed my pants.

10. Forget your dreams, you'll never amount to anything.

Guitarlarky · September 2020

1: My first guitar was a Columbus (MIJ) Strat copy bought in the summer of 1978

2. My hand-made P90 Tele

3: Mid 70's Eko acoustic

4: A piezo six-saddle bridge to put on one of my guitars

5: At the moment I use Rotosound RH10 (10-52) but I'd be happy with D'addarios

6: The last band recording session I did, the studio was so cold I couldn't get my hands to warm up properly, I'd love to redo the solo's when I could play properly.

7: Tuning up.

8: Satisfying pint of ale!

9: Broke a tooth by being hit in the face by the mic stand when a drunk punter fell over.

10: You're right - it is better than getting a 'proper' job!

LewisJ · September 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Brunswick acoustic of some sort. Wanted an SG but Santa didn't oblige. I got it when I was 12 years old and had been badgering my parentals for a guitar for a few years.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My Epiphone LP Black Beauty based solely on the fact my old man bought it me for actually sticking with learning to play.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Epiphone Black Beauty from 2004.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
VOS ES345

5: What strings do you use?
D'addario 10s or 10.5s

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
There are no recordings of me playing remaining after I deleted them! (they were poorly recorded DI into garage band from my secondary school band!) Horrendous stuff.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Smoking a big roll up cigarette.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Smoking a big roll up cigarette.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Thought it would be cool to change the way in which a backing vocal was sung, band hated it, got sacked...

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Stop whining about playing 'old music' with your teacher. She knows the way and you will wish you had absorbed all of that blues and rock and roll in 10 years time because that rebellious metal and thrash you like at the moment will give you a headache in less than a decade.

Matthutch · September 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?

A nylon string acoustic my mum borrowed to keep me busy while I was at home after having my tonsils out aged about 13.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?

The Simon & Patrick Cedar dreadnought my wife bought to give to me as a present on our wedding day 15 years ago.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?

The Simon & Patrick Cedar dreadnought my wife bought to give to me as a present on our wedding day 15 years ago

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?

One day I'd like a really nice spruce topped classic dreadnought, probably a Martin D18 or 28

5: What strings do you use?

Mediums on the acoustic (13-56), 11s on my tele and 11s on my mandolin. I'm not massively stuck on one brand but tend to go with D'Addario more often than not

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?

Still having a copy!

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?

It's been a while but generally fannying around with tuning

8: ...And five minutes after?

Wondering if I was in tune!

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?

Not as a guitarist but as a percussionist in a brass band. I was onstage at the Albert Hall and the piece stopped for two beats, during which I was supposed to hit a tubular bell. I missed and hit the stand!

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?

Practice rather than just playing a lot.

stuartdd · September 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?

A hand me down acoustic, around the year 2000.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?

Gibson Les Paul Sunken Treasure.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?

2005 ltd Viper (SG)

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?

Either a Strandberg or a Mayones guitar.

5: What strings do you use?

10-46 D'Addario mainly, Burly Slinky's for lower tunings

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?

Good luck finding one

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?

Pacing and triple checking my guitar is in tune.

8: ...And five minutes after?

Being paranoid about getting my gear safely out of there.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?

Not had that many performances to have anything terrible happen thankfully

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?

Learn more whole songs as apposed to just riffs/sections of songs.

khaotic · September 2020

Howdy folks - an old codger taking first tentative steps

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
My lovely Squire Affinity Strat, finally ariived today

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
See above

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Again, ....

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
My cunning master plan is to build a limited pedal board with a looper, and drum machine and an octaver so that I can practise by accompanying myself. So, one or other of those

5: What strings do you use?
Whatever came with the guitar. After that .. TBC

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
This one might be a tad premature

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Try to wake up, as I appear to be having a nightmare

8: ...And five minutes after?
Get back to sleep after my nightmare

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
I thnk ending up onstage with a guitar would be a pretty substantial worst thing at the moment.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Start playing at 15 not 59, you dipshit!

AntonUk · October 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
little Classical guitar when i was 13 years old

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
my Les Paul

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
a nobilty archtop, from circa 1940

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
an old marshall

5: What strings do you use?
10/46 pure nickel

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
nothing special

8: ...And five minutes after?
order a fresh drink

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
blowing my amp speaker

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
learn how to read music

6or4 · October 2020

What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Rock wood lx-90 sunburst Strat.pure crap.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Pedals not guitars

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
74 les Paul custom

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
More pedals

5: What strings do you use?
Daddario 12s finger shredders

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Reversed cymbal sound

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
drinking smoking straight west coasting.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Booze.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Supporting big band, pedal board disinterested mid song.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?

It’s going to get expensive

Howdy, Stranger!

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