(01-10-2022, 10:08 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: my old fingers are having a hard time with the string tension. Thye're not taking it very well, haha.

(01-10-2022, 10:13 PM)HarleyDog Wrote: That's because you used them more as a kid than an adult. If you are not wearing glasses, your doing it wrong. 

(01-11-2022, 11:49 AM)XenoMorph Wrote: there is a game called RockSmith... Which is suppose to help teach you to play a real guitar (not the plastic toy guitars)

(01-11-2022, 01:01 PM)MileHighGrowler Wrote: I'd have a couple recommendations.  First, on the acoustic front, you can get lighter guage strings.  Not sure what you're using now, but I've got some Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze strings on one of my acoustics and the light guage are really easy to me.  They make extra light but I'll break one in a week the way I play.  

On the electric side, I'd go about this a little differently.  There are so many body styles and they play and feel differently.  I'd be more inclined to go the store and try out some guitars.  LP, strat, tele, 335, etc.  See which one feels best in your hands.  Maybe you've done this, but if not, I think it's a good first step because you want something that feels comfy to want it in your hands often.  For example, I really dislike the feel of a LP as much as I love the look.  Just doesn't make me want to play as much as others.  

If you're not wanting to drop big dollars and get an LP style, I probably wouldn't go Gibson.  Gibson is great and it's the little things and details that make them what they are (plus the name on the headstock).  But they're really pricey if you're just looking to learn and noodle.  You can get an Epiphone for a fraction of the price but a very similar guitar.  Some Epis are amazing quality.  ESP makes some good one in the body style.  I've seen one from Ibanez as well, but never played it.  PRS has a similar thing, but I think they're a totally different category of guitar because of their unique scale length, and are pricey.  

As far as amp... what kind of music are you going to be playing?  I found one of the most frustrating things about electric was trying to get the tones I wanted out of the wrong amp.  You can make anything work, and versatility is awesome, but sometimes the best starting point is knowing what sound you're going for.  Being frustrated isn't a good way to get motivated to play in my experience at least!

(01-11-2022, 02:45 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Is this something online for computer ? I'm old and not tech savvy at all. 

(01-11-2022, 02:50 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Thanks

I'll probably run over to some local pawn shops and see what I can lay my hands on. I've just been dipping a toe into looking and one of the dings on the cheaper guitars I've read say 500 bucks or so is the necks are bad to bend, stretch, and shrink and very hard to keep in tune. Just playing for an hour and you have to retune them 3 times or whatever.

And I'm old school so to speak, 70's 80's rock and some country. Been learning Sweet Home Alabama and such.

(01-11-2022, 11:49 AM)XenoMorph Wrote: there is a game called RockSmith... Which is suppose to help teach you to play a real guitar (not the plastic toy guitars)

(01-11-2022, 03:38 PM)GodFather Wrote: There is also a game called John Madden football that will make you a future NFL coach!

(01-11-2022, 02:54 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/rocksmith/plus?scrlybrkr=b9ed8bcf


I think they have PC Version they had xbox/ps versions.. 

Looks like they are adding a ios and googleplay versions as well

(01-11-2022, 03:31 PM)MileHighGrowler Wrote: You can hit the pawn shops, but it'll be really hit and miss what you find (condition-wise).  I honestly recommend going to a music store with the biggest selection possible and just get your hands on a lot.  You'll learn a lot about the feel from that.  You'll also be able to grab a $5,000 and $500 guitar and maybe realize to your hands there's not much difference.  It can be pretty educational.  I bought my latest guitar a couple years ago and I made a trip to Guitar Center just for that reason.  Didn't even plug a single guitar in, just played about 5 different styles because I was trying to decide what I wanted (I was treating myself to a new guitar to celebrate 20 years of playing).  I wasn't going to buy my guitar there, but the selection is so massive I knew I'd be able to get my hands on everything I wanted to try.  Once you know what you're looking for, you can start shopping around to find the "one."  

That Fender amp you're looking at probably meets what you're wanting in terms of tone and I've seen good reviews on it.  Looking back, I wish I had gone the tube route out of the gate to get a set of tones I just couldn't with a solid state amp.  But 40 watts is more than enough if you're just playing at home (you could even consider the 20 and have plenty of volume).  And solid state is easier to maintain.  It's kind of amazing to me how amps have improved so much over the years and there are so many now that are good quality in the same price range.  

Definitely want to know how your search goes and what you decide to get! 

(01-11-2022, 09:32 PM)Tiger Teeth Wrote: I think we should get the band back together!  Who's in?

(01-12-2022, 12:28 AM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I've got a tank full of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and I'm wearing sunglasses.

(01-12-2022, 12:24 AM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Thanks again

I wouldn't buy a used guitar at a pawn shop. Just to get a feel as you say. I'm not that big on buying used anything as a general rule. My hands are probably medium size and I know I'll not be able to handle a big neck so that will play into it. And I don't want a real heavy guitar.

Other than that I'm pretty open to whatever. I just don't want to go real cheap and then regret it a year from now.

(01-12-2022, 01:01 AM)Tiger Teeth Wrote: Yeah, yeah, yeah...can you play?  I'm talking world tour man.

(01-12-2022, 12:24 AM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Thanks again

I wouldn't buy a used guitar at a pawn shop. Just to get a feel as you say. I'm not that big on buying used anything as a general rule. My hands are probably medium size and I know I'll not be able to handle a big neck so that will play into it. And I don't want a real heavy guitar.

Other than that I'm pretty open to whatever. I just don't want to go real cheap and then regret it a year from now.