10 Questions We Ask Everyone

TheMadMick · October 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A cheap no name acoustic. I bought it at the market in Belfast to lean the Simon and Garfunkel version of "Are you going to Scarborough Fair". Still pick it out occasionally today.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My flute. Not because of the body but because of the wooden head. It's irreplaceable.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Fred. A cheap Hofner I bought on Herford in Germany.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Working on getting the best strings I can to get the sound in my head.

5: What strings do you use?
See question 4. Used to be Martin special lights - but who knows where this is going?

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

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Don't go on stage. In church it's generally joke with the other guys I'm going to play with.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Enjoy the moment.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Started the intro to a song and lost it completely. My mate picked it up and it went well. The organist was kind enough to say she enjoyed my improv.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Keep working at it.

thejkr · November 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A battered nylon string guitar that I commandeered from my family attic as a teen.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Probably a mexican strat that I gigged with...for the memories.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
As above. Looking at vintage gear now but its pricey.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A few bits and pieces for a telecaster Im building.

5: What strings do you use?
D'addario 9's for the longest time but recently being enjoy Ernie Ball 10s

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
That I would have recorded much more.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Never drank before a gig. I thought it was a crutch. Probably worrying that I wont be able to hear something through the speakers onstage.

8: ...And five minutes after?

Definitely having a few pints.

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

Pedals shorting out...

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

Enjoy it. Record more. You'll never have these times again!

SaulPanzer · November 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A nasty Satellite Les Paul copy, I got it some time in the late 90s from a car boot sale. Eventually sold to a mate who wanted something cheap and grungy sounding for his band.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My BZ4000 bass, no hesitation.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Probably my cheap Cruzer jazz bass, no idea on a date..maybe it just had a hard life.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A proper bass guitar amp, I'm use a combo of a cheap 6-string practice amp and my computer..starting to feel like I'm working against my gear instead of with it.

5: What strings do you use?
Adagio regular flatwounds

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Nothing, I'm so new I haven't tried recording myself yet.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Thinking of an excuse not to go on stage.

8: ...And five minutes after?
A combination of getting out of there, throwing up or cleaning up what I already threw up.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Being given the lead part in a school play and having to sing and act in front of people repeatedly.

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

Keep your dads ancient fender P bass, buy an amp and actually practice with it.

Guy · November 2020

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
ibanez sa got it in 2001 ish

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
my custom rg 550 which is a red white black swirl done by richard fay

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
1987 ibanez s 540

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

bit of a buy and sell - aholic reallyt want to try a decent japanese esp and find another Ibanez rga prestige

5: What strings do you use?
Dadarrio nyxl hybrids

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
being able to play better ! lol

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
not much really !

8: ...And five minutes after?

loading a car or getting a drink or chatting to people

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
think ive been pretty lucky - and not been on stage that much so that cuts the odds down - but worst is being convinced by the crowd to play eye of the tiger and not having played it in a year kinda had to ad lib the chords !

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

slow down learn the basics and accept that leanring an instrument well is all about failure and experimentation and hard work and every now and again some wonderfully rewarding and joyous moments happen

centregrove · November 2020

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

Hofner Colorama single pickup 1971 - complete POS. New starters with access to decent Squiers and Pacificas etc are on a different planet compared to those days!!

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

1964 cherry stoptail ES335 - shipped a week after Eric's. Bought in 1989 for what now seems like pennies - was my main gigging guitar for years and I'm still very attached to it. Its sitting next to me on the sofa!!

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

1953 Telecaster - it is an aged refin but all the bits are original and its sounds incredible.

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

1960 blonde ES345 - hope to land one soon.

5: What strings do you use?

Elixir 11-49

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

I can't listen to anything I ever recorded without wincing at the mistakes and everything I could have done better.

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

Final tune-up

8: ...And five minutes after?

Jazz cigarette

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

Guy that jumped up dropped his trousers and waved his todger around until the singer pushed him off stage. Burnley Blues Festival so fairly standard behaviour!!

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

Concentrate on playing keys (I'm about equally "good" at both) - good keys players are far more scarce and in demand than good guitarists!

Telecastermaster · December 2020

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

A black Yamaha Pacifica I took from my brother when we were kids! It really wasn't a bad guitar to start with actually but it's retired and lives in the attic now.

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

My blonde Telecaster of course!

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

The blonde Telecaster mentioned above. I have it dated to about 1989. I love drooling over other people's vintage guitars, but I'm not sure I'd actually want to own one myself.

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

I'm waiting for my new Tele Custom 70s to arrive. After that I'd like to put a lid on my GAS for a while!!

5: What strings do you use?

Ernie Ball 10-46

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

The guitarist...

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

Onstage? What's that?!

8: ...And five minutes after?

Erm....

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

The worse thing would be if someone actually let me up there!

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

Don't sweat the big stuff and just enjoy it.

fastbob72 · January 2021

1. A Hohner Arbor Series Les Paul copy that was in 1990 or 91.

2. My MIJ Squier Stratocaster.

3.Now it's my MIJ Squier Strat. I got it new in 1993.

4.Well,I was thinking about this the other day. I've the aforementioned MIJ, an MIM Player Series and 2 Partscasters I've put together (that cover the Strats and Strat-esque guitars, I've got more non Strats lol).
Anyway, I was just looking on the Fender website at the Stratocasters on offer thinking I just cannot justify buying another Strat. Then I realised, it hit me like a lightning bolt. I don't have a Strat with a maple fingerboard, they're all rosewood. oh and a Pau Ferro.

So my next bit of gear will either be a Squier CV 50s model or a Player with a maple fretboard.

GRBaldwin · January 2021

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

My first guitar was an Aria Pro II double cutaway which I got for £120 from what I remember. That and a Zoom 505 pedal and I was loving it!

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

Tricky one. Electric wise it would have to be my patent pending Peavey Wolfgang USA Archtop standard, as that's the first great guitar that I ever bought and it's seen a lot of gigs. Acoustic wise, it'd be my custom Avalon A8-325 with Alpine Spruce top and Madagascar B&S. Love that guitar!

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

I actually think it's my Peavey Wolfgang at 22 or so years old.

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

I'd really love a Preston Thompson DMA or an equally tasty Martin D18

5: What strings do you use?

Always changing. Mostly Ernie Balls on Electrics and Acoustics wise it depends on the guitar, the Martin Retros I've tried recently are nice. Been told that Santa Cruz Parabolic Medium tension are the shiznit, so keen to try them.

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

Probably the tempos on my first band's recordings. All the songs are painfully slow! It's like we were all on Heroin or something. We weren't btw!

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

Been a long time now, but at the time most likely making sure my guitar wasn't horribly out of time and I could actually almost play the thing.

8: ...And five minutes after?

Hopefully drinking a well deserved pint

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

Whammy pedal being not calibrated properly and pretty much playing a good half a song in between in tune and a semitone out, or dropping a plectrum in the middle of a speedy thrash metal song solo and completely blagging the crap out of the rest.

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

Same as someone above. Songwriting is more important than shredding

31maxh · January 2021

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

It was a Dean Tonic - It's impossible to buy now, I really wish I'd kept it. It was this dirt cheap almost plastic guitar but I'd give anything to have it back in my possession. Otherwise, I learned on my dad's Ibanez superstrat copy. I forgot the model number, but I loved it. Me, My brother and my dad had one at one point.

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

My favourite guitar I've ever owned was a Westone Cutlass.

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

currently, my Washburn acoustic, around 15 years. In tthe past, my westone from the 70s.

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

My partner is looking for a guitar we can both play. We're keen on this mahogany PRS acoustic. Something of a compromise, but it looks sexy.

5: What strings do you use?

I've been pretty set on 9-46 for a while now. Used to do 10-52 but downgraded a few years ago.

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

I would teach the singer how to write lyrics... he says...

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

Tuning and drinking.

8: ...And five minutes after?

drinking... and still tuning for some reason. taking the bras off.

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

snapped a string - replaced it within a minute mid-song. I'll take that as a win. Even if poorly prepared.

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

Play more. Fuck work. Play more.

Tannin · January 2021

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A very cheap nylon-strung thing which, for some reason I don't recall, I sanded back to bare wood and put steel strings on.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Tacoma Thunderhawk baritone. It's not my best guitar, not the most expensive, not even my most-loved (though it's close), but the company no longer exists and the instrument is just about irreplacable. All the others, special though they are in their different ways, could be replaced by just ordering another one and scratching up some money.

3: What's the oldest guitar that you own?
The Thunderhawk again. 2007 so it's post-Fender, but still a good one.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Probably another acoustic guitar, same as usual. But which one? I'm running out of room, not to mention money, so it will have to be something special. Wait and see what comes along.

5: What strings do you use?
Depends entirely on the instrument. Typically 12s or 13s, mostly brass, mostly uncoated, but one of the Matons works best with phosphor bronze. Horses for courses. Brands don't matter much, not in strings.

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

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Pretending that I'm not as nervy as I actually am. Gets me every time.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Nothing special. Grab a drink, pack the gear up. But I haven't played live in decades.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
For some reason never explained, the other guys always made me be the bouncer. Suppose a drunk yobbo wanders on to the stage and wants to sing along? Guess who got the job of getting rid of him. Every time. Dunno why, it's not as if I'm big and scary-looking. Never got hurt doing that but I had some nasty moments.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Work out what you need to do to get good, reliable tone. Forget trying to be fancy, focus on good tone. Everything else can come later.

Mux · January 2021

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Hondo Rickenbacker Bass copy cost 110 - I still have today although it is unplayable

. The bridge broke made a replacement at work but the intonation was way out .

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
A made in Germany P bass - it has no markings but its just right

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

Yamaha SA-1800 late 70/s early 80's
4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?

Some sort of vintage Rickenbacker Bass

5: What strings do you use?
RotoSound Flat wounds on Basses
E Ball 9 for electric

Adarrio for Acoustics

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Would like to work with full Jazz Orchestras not plugins or synths

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Wheres the set list check tuner

8: ...And five minutes after?

Dont look back

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Back in the punk rock days probably spitting ..... say no more

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Learn to read and read everything

Mattharrier · February 2021

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Focus (by Kramer) 211S, fat strat job.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Probably none of them, but of the three, my Hohner LP copy (but I'd actually probably grab my first uke as it was a present from my wife).

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Hohner Arbor Series - late 80s.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A really good guitar. Or more pedals (it will probably be more pedals).

5: What strings do you use?
Ernie Ball. Recently picked up a cheapish acoustic which I've put Rotosounds on, which seem OK.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Very little recording done, but generally the level is too high and distorting, so bringing that down a bit (or standing further back from the mic).

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
The closest I get is leading a song in my uke group's fortnightly Zoom session, which is always part way through. So playing uke, I guess!

8: ...And five minutes after?
More uke playing, although there's always a beer as well.

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

I did a bit of DJing at a charity party a mate was hosting. My first public appearance and I couldn't hear anything clearly through the monitors, and played half a song with no bass whatsoever. Tragic.

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

Make mum and dad buy you a decent guitar, instead if sending you off to your first lesson with the knackered lump that had been in a loft for several decades, so you actually enjoy it, rather than hating every minute and giving up.

Josh_Cosku · February 2021

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A classical guitar Admira Juanita.

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

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Maybe some picks from 15-20 years ago. No old guitars or amps, mostly 3-5 years old.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Recently acquired two guitars which I was gasing for some time. I cannot think anything else at the moment, maybe a new amp or one of those fancy dual overdrives...

5: What strings do you use?
Elixir 10s.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I don't have many recordings, most of them are live performances.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Being anxious, drinking beer and maybe checking the gear one last time.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Relaxing, having beers and critics with band members about how it went and new ideas.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Singer got super drunk and acted very strangely... It was very annoying and embarrasing.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Finding a good teacher much earlier and working on audial approach rather than a visual approach while learning.

mo6020 · February 2021

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
I was loaned (to see if I would persist with learning) an Epi 335 and a 1x12 combo from one of my parents friends for a few months when I was 11ish, my the first one I owned was a Marlin Slammer Strat copy I bought from my guitar teacher after a few lessons. It's one of the East German ones from the mid-80s and is sat in the rack behind me looking rather worse for wear these days. It's indestructible and I'm thinking about swapping the electrics out for something boutique to give it a new lease of life.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
I'd like to think the Slammer for sentimental reasons, but this is a tough one. Maybe my main Strat ('95 USA Standard)?

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

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
I'm eyeing a new amp and am torn between a Lazy J J10LC and a Rift Amps Plexi 18... I'd quite like a Les Paul Junior, too.

5: What strings do you use?
Ernie Ball 10-52s on my Strats, Ernie Ball 10-46s on my 335, and I'm currently experimenting with the Martin Clapton signatures in 13-56 on my acoustic..

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Can I re-record the whole lot? I found a copy of an old EP from 2002 a few weeks back and hearing it makes me cringe.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Don't gig anymore, but back in the day I'd be grabbing a couple of beers to take onstage

8: ...And five minutes after?
On the merch stand

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
I never had anything hugely tragic happen to me onstage, my singer/other guitarist always had the bad luck with stuff like that. We did play first at an all day punk event at the Purple Turtle once in 2001 or 2002, which resulted in us playing to like 5 people or something. That was pretty bad..

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Practice the boring stuff, it will make the fun stuff easier. Also stop using that horrible Boss Metal Zone pedal for your lead parts...

.Pazzi. · February 2021

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A cheap classical guitar bought when I was a teenager (maybe 13 or so in the early eighties). I had some classical lessons and was completely put off playing guitar. All I was taught was sight reading things I found boring so I gave up. I can't remember what happened to that guitar. I didn't get back into playing guitar until maybe 5 years later and from there I was self taught learning things by ear.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
1989 Fender Strat Plus.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
1989 Fender Strat Plus.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
I'm modifying my Strat. It started with the frets being worn out and me not wanting to mess with the original neck so I replaced it with a custom neck. This allows me to have a new neck but go back to the completely original guitar if I want. The new neck has been really inspiring and one thing has led to another so I've got an upgraded tremolo on the way also.

The next thing on my list is the pickups and electronics. I would like to try something different there also and am doing some research but I'm in no rush. The main thing is I have to be able to put the original guitar back together any time I want so no upgrades/changes that I can't reverse.

5: What strings do you use?
Ernie Ball 8 11 14 22 32 46

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Make my guitar parts louder in the mix

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Being paralysed by fear.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Signing autographs

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
My eldest son without my knowledge told his head teacher I could play guitar and I was then roped into playing acoustic guitar at a school easter service (he didn't mention I had not played for years). Other parents had also been accused of being able to play instruments and got roped in, but everyone else bottled out and I was on my own for the event. No opportunity to rehearse and playing with 150 kids and their parents singing something they don't know either wasn't great. Luckily no-one caught it on camera so no-one ever has to re-live it.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Play deliberately and with a purpose, focus on playing with accuracy and clarity, play with other people as much as you can, be inspired by others but don't compare yourself to others.

Annette · February 2021

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

1970 I was 16.

A Burns Trisonic and it came with a Selmer amp.

https://postimg.cc/zHWPJXYt
https://postimg.cc/xkCxXPSb
https://postimg.cc/RNhRmLw3

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

Cromwell

https://postimg.cc/jDjhsQNw

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

Cromwell

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

Gretsch New Yorker
Vintage VE880AQ

5: What strings do you use?

Cheapest - loadsa bollocks talked about strings.

11-50/52 on acoustic and electric - i replace plain 3rds with wound 3rds.

12-54 on slide electrics and my fingerstyle resonator.

13-56 on other resonators.

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

What's a recording?

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

Shake and think am I really good enough to do this.

8: ...And five minutes after?

Large drink or two.

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

Amazingly hungover.

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

I learned entirely from TAB so I'd say learn some theory along the way.

babyfacelouie · March 2021

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

A no-name les paul copy, about 1972

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

I don't.........I burn to death in a mess of doubt and uncertainty...........probably my 1971 Fender Tele (I love this guitar)

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

A 1970 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe

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

ESP LTD TE-401 - for the 'metal' me

5: What strings do you use?

Any, don't have a preference

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

Pretty much most of it if I'm honest, but mostly my vocals as I can't sing..........

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

Noodling

8: ...And five minutes after?

Noodling

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

Getting paid off half way through the 2nd set.....we were awful............

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

Stop noodling and start practicing!!!!!!

Robb · March 2021

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
In my teens a mate convinced me to get a guitar and he would teach me to play. Didn't have a lot of money but went out and bought an 'expensive' new EKO Ranger. My mate showed me a couple of chords, then got bored and didn't bother to follow up on the teaching experience. As the guitar cost so much to me as a teenager I just learnt what I could myself; if only YouTube had been available then I might not be as crap as I currently am.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Original Pilgrim acoustic - Model 1 (1972)

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

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Either a hollow body or some form of Telecaster

5: What strings do you use?

Various weights of D'Addario and the occasional Ball slinkies

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I don't feel I have ever finished a recording as there is always that little bit extra I can think of adding - so probably changing my approach to recording and let things lie.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Checking that I've checked everything.

8: ...And five minutes after?

Beers

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Strap broke and guitar hit head first and snapped the headstock. Errr, no backup.

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

You will be your own worst critic - get over it.

Harmony1954 · May 2021

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Some sort of Teisco Del Ray “Rock and Roll Model” single pickup guitar from an uncle of mine.

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

2106 Limited Edition Claro Walnut SJ-200 EC as there are only 50 of them in the world

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
1954 Harmony model H51 archtop with a Gibson P13 , volume and tone

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A Marshall 4X15 cab or a Fender 2x15 Cab

5: What strings do you use?
Martin Monels on Mahogany guitars. D'Addario Chrome 10s on Les Paul, Spectrum Bronze Thomastik Infeld on the J200 and Bullets on the Strat

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Have no one around when I am recording vocals, or have an Isolation booth

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
worrying that no one else showed for soundcheck

8: ...And five minutes after?
Feeling bewildered

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Couldn’t hear myself through the monitors

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Playing and practicing are two different things. It’s those who practice and learn that improve

AJS · June 2021

1. What was your first guitar?
Selmar 6 string acoustic

2. The building's burning down, what guitar do you save?
My Martin Acoustic or my Charvel 750xl

3. What's the oldest guitar you own?
Fender 1979 Anniversary Stratocaster

4. And the next piece of gear you'd like to acquire?
Helix

5. What strings do you use?
D'Addario 9s Martin 12s

6. If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Not applicable

7. What are you doing five minutes before you go on stage?
Checking batteries or tuning up

8. ... and five minutes after?
Drinking Cider

9. What's the worst thing that's happened to you on stage?
Power cuts had a few as we play lots of very old country pubs with dodgy electrics

10. What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Get a teacher early buy the best gear you can afford

Murray28 · July 2021

1. What was your first guitar?
Kay Led Paul Copy - super high action and appalling tuning stability.

2. The building's burning down, what guitar do you save

My 1987 Japanese Contemporary Fender Stratocaster

3. What's the oldest guitar you own?

See answer Q2

4. And the next piece of gear you'd like to acquire?

Probably a midi controller

5. What strings do you use?

Electric: D'Addario 10s Accoustic: Elixir 12s

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

Wish I could find it TBA.

7. What are you doing five minutes before you go on stage.

Taking a p*$$

8. ... and five minutes after?

Having a drink

9. What's the worst thing that's happened to you on stage?

Got completely lost mid solo 'Hotel California ' was awful & embarrassing. Didn't stop though that's a big no no. Somehow got through it

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

Have some lessons and buy the best you can afford (buying cheap is a false economy)

EmptyEstus · August 2021

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A crappy 3/4 size Spanish. No idea who made it. Got it in the mid '90s when I was a young kid.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Melody WD28 acoustic because of the sentimental value. It belonged to my dad.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
The Melody. 1974, made in Italy.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
I keep GASing for an LP type for noodling on.
Whether that'll be an LTD, Epiphone or HB, I'm not sure yet.

5: What strings do you use?
I really like the EB Paradigms.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Just more skill in the recording process in general, haha.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
I've not gigged in years and years. Panicking probably. Haha.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Ordering a pint.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Joined a band as a bassist at last minute, two weeks before a pre-booked gig. Learned the songs for the set. Halfway through, they changed the setlist mid-gig and they were songs I didn't know. Very embarrassing. No idea why they did that to me.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Get a metronome, and do the chromatic exercises that you hate. Stop trying to sweep and run before you can walk, just nail the basics.

MyLittleEye · August 2021

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A Columbus Les Paul Copy I saw in a shop window in Denmark Street - looked just like the one on the first ZZ Top album cover.
The shop assistant sent me home with a Peavey Rage transtube practice amp too... pretty good in 1988.
Even so I didn't stick at it and gave up after six months or so.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My Ryan Jarman Sig. Mus-Uar - there were only 252 made

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
A 1966 Teisco 2 pickup Tulip guitar. Plays like sh.. but sounds filthy as f...

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A Stretch Limo of course!

5: What strings do you use?
Still experimenting! However I recently paid £12 for a set of NYXL Balanced Tension 10's and was sent a 5 pack
...so for the foreseeable, balanced 10's it is!

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I'd learn to play the guitar

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
That backstage scene from Spinal Tap

8: ...And five minutes after?
wrapping up the cables; lugging the amps to the van and then driving around the M25 in the pissing rain !

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Getting invited onstage by a blues band in the Netherlands to jam with my harmonica.
Me: "What key'll we be in?" Singer: "A" - I ready an appropriate harp.
Gets the nod to let rip ...aaand car crash!
In Holland "Ay" is Dutch for E !!

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Practice daily; avoid 22 year gaps.

Toneseeker · September 2021

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

A very basic poor quality steel strung acoustic for Christmas 51 years ago.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
The only one I have - A Gibson Hummingbird

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
2014 Gibson Hummingbird

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Yamaha SA2200VS

5: What strings do you use?
Elixir

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
The vocals - sounded awful

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Final adjustments to stage clothing.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Finishing my first song.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
At a festival - inexperienced sound engineer completely screwed everything up. Sounded great in the monitors but out front it was dreadful.

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

BillDL · September 2021

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
About 1969. My parents bought my brother and me a "Gallotone" acoustic as a joint Christmas present when we were kids. This was a brand made in East Germany or Czechoslovakia, probably by the same kind of violin making and luthiery company that had developed into Hofner. It was all we could get in Africa where I was raised. UK importers also sourced and rebranded guitars from the same makers in those days, and John Lennon has been photographed as a youngster playing a Gallotone. My first electric guitar was a 1979 Fender Stratocaster (sunburst with black plastics) bought in 1981, by which time I was working and earning.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My early 80s Yamaha FG340 II bought new around 1983. It was the first good acoustic I bought and it has a lot of sentimental value attached to it.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
A 1960 Hofner Senator archtop acoustic with De Armond detatchable pickup. I repaired it from a wrecked state around 1985. It doesn't play very well, but the brunette sunburst finish on flamed maple or sycamore laminate makes it a nice wall decoration.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Nothing. I need to stop buying guitars .... although, a nice Yamaha acoustic of the same build quality and wood as my first good acoustic would be good, because that guitar now needs a refret.

5: What strings do you use?
Rotosound 10-46 on most of my electric guitars, with 9s on a couple. For most of my acoustics I use Thomastic-Infeld Spectrum Bronze (SB111) 11-52. They sound like 12s but have a "softer" feel while retaining a full sound. On my Sigma concert-sized electro-acoustic I use any good brand of 12s. On my classicals I use Martin normal tension ball ends because I don't play them as often as the steel strings and I am clumsy when tying them off at the bridge.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Less reverb on most of them. At the time you are compensating for the lack of reverb in the room and the tendency is to add too much, but when played back through speakers in a live space it is overpowering. It's been a long time since I recorded anything, but I am in the process of setting up a room in my house to start recording again.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
It has been a long time since I played live and, even then, it was only a few pub gigs and as part of the band in a few stage shows. I have done more tinkering and repairing of guitars in the intervening years than playing, so I am very rusty. I would normally have been smoking a cigarette and trying to remember lyrics for backing singing.

8: ... And five minutes after?
Smoking a cigarette.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
I was playing guitar as part of the band for a stage performance of Grease. I had a fancy little Zoom 9002 strap-mounted multi-effects unit and a little pad controller stuck to the guitar to switch between presets. I had used this through a DI box straight into the PA mixer before, but in small pub rather than a large hall, and with shorter cables. I couldn't reduce the latency and was still working on it 15 minutes before the show. I had to swap to a mic'd combo and a Boss BCB6 case with my 5 Boss effects pedals and power supply pedal at the last minute. I just scraped through, but it wasn't a very good performance.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Practice more regularly, use an acoustic more often, listen carefully to lots of different types of music, and be less reliant on effects when playing electric.

Open_G · September 2021

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
It was an encore e83 bass. A precision copy that was head heavy, after 6 months all of the tuning pegs rattled, the tone and volume knobs fell off. I still loved it.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Gibson Les Paul- it’s the most expensive single thing outside of a car I’ve ever owned.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Probably my Taylor acoustic.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
I’m set.

5: What strings do you use?
Elixir

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Just for there to be more of them

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

8: ...And five minutes after?
Lugging kit into the car

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Guitar falling off strap and landing on its headstock.

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

You’ll never be a virtuoso, just enjoy the journey.

Kasalic · September 2021

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Must have been around 1972 and it was a nylon strung acoustic from my Uncle.

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

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Westone Spectrum DX, purchased new from Mann’s Music in 1987

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

5: What strings do you use?
D’Addario 10 to 46.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Nothing good enough to be changed

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Noodling away in a corner

8: ...And five minutes after?
Having a drink

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Power got turned off as we were running late and refused to stop (I was only 17 and it was a punk band

)

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Learn some music theory.

Clitheroekid1001 · October 2021

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A white Hondo L.P. after a couple of nylon string wrecks. It was a bit rubbish but looked the dog's to a 16 yo me.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My Vantage es copy made in Taiwan. I used to have a Japanese Vantage Ghost L.P. Junior decades ago. Wish I still had it.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
A Vintage (brand) Tele. Bought on a whim for £100 s/h when I got my om21. The Martin is long gone but the V Tele is still a great guitar.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Godin Summit SG (semi gloss) l.p. junior lookalikee. Or a Tokai L.P.. Or a Gibson tribute junior.

5: What strings do you use?
D'addario on my acoustics. 10s on the electrics.

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

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Panicking about the singer's monitor not working while he has a pint and a chat.

8: ...And five minutes
Cursing the weight of bass and pa gear and my age! (While the singer has a pint and a chat).

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Getting on the stage sometimes. I did have an amp catch fire decades ago but we had a spare and it was more funny than tragic.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Get some lessons although I guess it would have been a waste of money,

ScottMaple · October 2021

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

Fender Bullet, from a guy at my school who had painted it silver. Circa 1998.

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

My 1991 Fender Strat+

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

The 1991 Fender Strat+

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

I don't know.

5: What strings do you use?

Turbo Slinky (9.5 - 46)

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

The performance!

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

Holed up in the toilet. (Nerves)

8: ...And five minutes after?

Buzzing

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

Heckled by a hostile audience in an alien environment.

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

Learning how to play music that you don't like doesn't mean that you will write music that you don't like.

Two-Ross · October 2021

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

An Admira Spanish / classical guitar, a birthday present from my parents 20 years ago, and where it all began.
Still probably my most treasured possession, together with a Yamaha Pacifica that came into the picture a few years later.

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

There is a clue in my previous response

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

Admira

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

I need to sell a few first.

5: What strings do you use?

Electric - 9s, currently D'Addarios
Acoustic - Martin retro 12s
Classical - Savarez 520R high tension (red)

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

Completing it - I have a bit of an archive of half-finished ideas and sketches.

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

Relentlessly re-checking tunings, cables, hair, etc.

8: ...And five minutes after?

Wishing it was 5 minutes ago.

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

Not music, but I once came off stage from a minor theatre role and realised I'd been wearing a jacket inside out for the entire performance.

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

Don't stop playing live if you think you aren't good enough to make it. Just enjoy what you are playing in the moment.

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