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Zodijackyl
63 Axe Handles High

Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:39 pm
Posts: 7601
Location: United States
PostPosted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:23 pm 
 

Mr Ferocious wrote:
Does anyone else write odd-time signature riffs/melodies?
And if you do, do you use a different method from me, which is choosing a number of notes to play, and then messing about with it until you like it?


I generally don't choose a number of notes, I just play things, and then when I find something that I could work with, sometimes I change note durations or add/remove notes until it sounds right. There's a lot going on mentally, but it's hard to explain beyond just jamming and playing with whatever comes out.

VHSDVD123 wrote:
thanks!

also this is pretty hilarious, because those songs you listed were all among the first songs I've learned. Rigt now I'm working on the Blood And Thunder solo


Glad to help. Those are among the best known+easiest songs of the bands you mentioned, so that's the logical place to start.

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Mr Ferocious
Mallcore Kid

Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:26 pm
Posts: 21
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:29 pm 
 

@Apteronotus and Zodijackyl

Thanks dudes, seems jamming is the answer. I'll keep on doing that and something good should (hopefully) come out of it.
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StinkyPenis
Metal newbie

Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2011 11:36 pm
Posts: 349
Location: Bangladesh
PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:22 am 
 

Mr Ferocious wrote:
Does anyone else write odd-time signature riffs/melodies?
And if you do, do you use a different method from me, which is choosing a number of notes to play, and then messing about with it until you like it?


Writing something in a different time signature is hard. You have to approach it in a different way. I'm not very good with this but if you can do it more power to you. I do like 3/4 a lot and I feel more music should use it.

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colin040
Metal freak

Joined: Sat Dec 08, 2007 6:00 pm
Posts: 7609
Location: Netherlands
PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:35 am 
 

Was in the mood to play some intense fast stuff so played along to Sepultura's ''Troops of Doom''. My right hand...it hurts. :lol:

Anyway, does anyone have an idea how to develop a better ear? I've noticed that I'm slowly hearing things better but I'm curious if I could increase it rapidly.

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Indecency
Metalhead

Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2012 9:15 pm
Posts: 1165
Location: Edmonton, Canada
PostPosted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 2:50 pm 
 

I just recently started playing guitar and I'm having trouble trying to use reaper to record. I got a 3.5mm / 1/8in jack that I connect my amp to my computer. However, I don't know how to get Reaper to recognize it and record. Whenever I search I only see instructions on how to use MIDI.

If you can help, please PM me as I often forget to check back here. I get PM emails instantly though.

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allureoftheearth
Metal newbie

Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2011 11:28 pm
Posts: 156
Location: US of A
PostPosted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 5:26 pm 
 

Inherited a Jackson Dinky with a Floyd Rose installed. Currently waiting for new locking nuts and string saddle inserts in the mail. I think string changing on this is going to be a bitch....
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hakarl
Metel fraek

Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:41 pm
Posts: 8816
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 5:28 pm 
 

allureoftheearth wrote:
Inherited a Jackson Dinky with a Floyd Rose installed. Currently waiting for new locking nuts and string saddle inserts in the mail. I think string changing on this is going to be a bitch....

Harder than with a non-floating bridge, but by no means a bitch (unless it's somehow completely different from my Ibanez licensed).
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Porman
Sweek Souvlaki Muncher

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:00 pm
Posts: 1703
Location: Sweden
PostPosted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:53 pm 
 

Get a TremSetter! That will spare you of a lot of headaches. My Jackson RR1 is from 1997 and the past 3-4 years the weather here has been really hard on it. I have to adjust the neck almost every change of season. I can only imagine what I'd have to do if I didn't have a TremSetter installed. Probably tune the damn thing every time I pick it up.

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hakarl
Metel fraek

Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:41 pm
Posts: 8816
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 3:38 pm 
 

Despite having a licensed FR, my Ibanez doesn't go out of tune in normal conditions. I'm too lazy to adjust the neck all the time, but I have to fix the intonation about twice a year.
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Porman
Sweek Souvlaki Muncher

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:00 pm
Posts: 1703
Location: Sweden
PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 3:57 pm 
 

It's worst during the summer, and the last three summers we have had "tropical heat" here in Stockholm. The humidity is bending the neck of the guitar even though it's stored in its gigbag in my closet. Really, nice to get to rehearsal and see it's bent and having to spend 20 minutes to set it up.

Intonation is just as good as it ever was.

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soul_schizm
Metalhead

Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:55 am
Posts: 764
Location: United States
PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 1:34 am 
 

Ilwhyan wrote:
allureoftheearth wrote:
Inherited a Jackson Dinky with a Floyd Rose installed. Currently waiting for new locking nuts and string saddle inserts in the mail. I think string changing on this is going to be a bitch....

Harder than with a non-floating bridge, but by no means a bitch (unless it's somehow completely different from my Ibanez licensed).


One gets used to it....

Always tougher than a non-floating bridge.

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Mechanix11
Metal newbie

Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2011 12:33 pm
Posts: 130
PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 1:38 am 
 

hi, well i hope this is the right thread to put this question, well anyway i want to improve my rhythm guitar playing and also some shred stuff, mainly i play thrash metal, so i want to know which songs or exercise can help me with that :headbang:
thanks in advance

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Bruce500
Metal newbie

Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:15 pm
Posts: 63
Location: United States
PostPosted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:08 am 
 

Hey so I'm just wondering:

How much theory should be required to be respected as a guitarist? I've played for 2 years, and can keep up with most bands that I play along to as far as skill goes. I write a lot of music, and people(drummers that I've shown) say that I'm an amazing songwriter, but I am completely self taught and don't know any chords, scales, or any of the technical terms for theory. The other day I started taking guitar lessons officially, and my teacher wouldn't let me play in lower tunings, and treated me like a complete newbie because I don't simply play random chords and call them songs. Is it truly important that I get this "official" training? Because right now it seems somewhat pointless since I already am proficient in both songwriting, rhythm, and motor skills. Thoughts?

Oh, and for some musical background, I have played violin for 7 years already, so I think in notes rather than frets, another conflict I'm having with my new teacher.

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Porman
Sweek Souvlaki Muncher

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:00 pm
Posts: 1703
Location: Sweden
PostPosted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:50 pm 
 

It depends on what you think is important. I reckon you already know how to read notes since you play violin? I wouldn't say there's too much difference in terms of scales and music theory. The only difference might be that there are chords involved in guitar.

Does your teacher know how to read sheet music?

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Necroticism174
Kite String Popper

Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:46 pm
Posts: 5352
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 4:53 pm 
 

Getting a teacher is only useful when it comes to correcting bad habits like having a shitty speed picking or sweeping technique (once you teach yourself bad technique, it's hard to shake off later on) Apart from that, there's nothing wrong with the self-taught route. There are plenty of sites you can learn scales on.
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theposaga about a Moonblood rehearsal wrote:
So good. Makes me want to break up with my girlfriend, quit my job and never move out of my parents house. Just totally destroy my life for Satan.

http://halberddoom.bandcamp.com/releases

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Bruce500
Metal newbie

Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:15 pm
Posts: 63
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:10 pm 
 

I'm not sure if he knows how to read notes... I know sheet music half-way, as in, I understand the fundamentals of sheet music and everything, but it's hard for me to make out what exact note it's telling me to play, but I still can figure it out after a little bit.
The teacher teaches drums as well, and I'm thinking that since I can teach the theory for the simple guitar stuff to myself, I'll get more out of taking drum lessons from him since I've always wanted to drum, and I don't own a kit to teach myself on. I figure that I don't want to have to be a newbie again for guitar, but I'm willing to start from scratch on an instrument that I don't already know.
Thanks for the input!

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EnemyofLight
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2010 11:12 pm
Posts: 1196
Location: United States
PostPosted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:24 pm 
 

Just bought an LTD F-series guitar, and while I'm searching/saving up for an amp and other necessities, I'm getting the basics down on the guitar. Any tips for a beginner. I'm starting to learn scales and chords, but where should I go after that? Also, are Line 6 amps good? My friend has one and says it's good, but I want to get some other views on it.
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soul_schizm
Metalhead

Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:55 am
Posts: 764
Location: United States
PostPosted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 12:55 am 
 

EnemyofLight wrote:
Just bought an LTD F-series guitar, and while I'm searching/saving up for an amp and other necessities, I'm getting the basics down on the guitar. Any tips for a beginner. I'm starting to learn scales and chords, but where should I go after that? Also, are Line 6 amps good? My friend has one and says it's good, but I want to get some other views on it.


A very basic tip: don't ignore your right hand (or left, if you are a lefty). You'll get a lot of mileage from learning great picking technique. Work that pick, and that wrist. Play tricky rhythms, and even funky strumming. You'll thank me later :)

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Necroticism174
Kite String Popper

Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:46 pm
Posts: 5352
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 1:00 am 
 

Learn songs you like that don't sound difficult with tabs, then eventually try some harder stuff by ear.
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theposaga about a Moonblood rehearsal wrote:
So good. Makes me want to break up with my girlfriend, quit my job and never move out of my parents house. Just totally destroy my life for Satan.

http://halberddoom.bandcamp.com/releases

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somefella
Veteran

Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:57 pm
Posts: 3134
Location: Singapore
PostPosted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 5:22 am 
 

soul_schizm wrote:
EnemyofLight wrote:
Just bought an LTD F-series guitar, and while I'm searching/saving up for an amp and other necessities, I'm getting the basics down on the guitar. Any tips for a beginner. I'm starting to learn scales and chords, but where should I go after that? Also, are Line 6 amps good? My friend has one and says it's good, but I want to get some other views on it.


A very basic tip: don't ignore your right hand (or left, if you are a lefty). You'll get a lot of mileage from learning great picking technique. Work that pick, and that wrist. Play tricky rhythms, and even funky strumming. You'll thank me later :)


This. Learn a bunch of basic Iron Maiden or Iced Earth songs and play those triplet/gallop/chugging riffs again and again and again until its effortless for you to make each chug/gallop/triplet completely audible and clear, at any given speed. You either learn this early, or skip it first and come back to it painfully, like I am now :@

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EnemyofLight
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2010 11:12 pm
Posts: 1196
Location: United States
PostPosted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:22 am 
 

Picking is one thing I really need to work on, I'm pretty off on it. I'll look at some tabs and start working on getting them down. Might get some lessons if I can find them.
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somefella
Veteran

Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:57 pm
Posts: 3134
Location: Singapore
PostPosted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:53 pm 
 

EnemyofLight wrote:
Picking is one thing I really need to work on, I'm pretty off on it. I'll look at some tabs and start working on getting them down. Might get some lessons if I can find them.


Good that you know this early. I always thought mine was fine til my new band pointed it out, and it's a bigger pain in the ass to work on it now than it would have been a year ago. Those bands I mentioned are awesome to get your right hand technique down. Work on picking clarity, and also on playing muted and unmuted notes in a riff, you can use any generic, At The Gates ripoff riff to practice this.

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awheio
Metalhead

Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2011 2:00 am
Posts: 539
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:14 pm 
 

Okay, here's a question about picking.

What's the scoop on anchoring? (Specifically, in my case, holding my pinky down on the pick-up for stability while I pick.) It really helps me tremolo pick fast and even, but I hear that it is a bad habit. Is this so? I'm trying to practice without anchoring, but my goodness it's difficult. My 16th notes have gone from about 170 to 120 =/.

Thanks.

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Porman
Sweek Souvlaki Muncher

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:00 pm
Posts: 1703
Location: Sweden
PostPosted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:03 pm 
 

Why would you do that?

Why is it a bad habit? I mean, people use very individual and unorthodox ways to play. Just look at Marty Friedman's picking hand!

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TheEvilSocky
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2011 12:34 pm
Posts: 590
Location: In your basement
PostPosted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:12 pm 
 

It's only a bad habit by "classical standards" and even then only enforced by dickhead teachers.
I say anchor away!
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Apteronotus
Metalhead

Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:07 am
Posts: 1004
PostPosted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:36 pm 
 

As far as I am concerned outcome is the only reason for technique. If nothing else suffers from it sound-wise, then play in a way that makes you comfortable and gets you the sound you want. If you are using a ton of force to hold your hand in position with just your pinky that could be a problem but I doubt that is the case.

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Necroticism174
Kite String Popper

Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:46 pm
Posts: 5352
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 11:48 pm 
 

Anybody else have weird difficulties/inconsistencies with their playing? For example, I have a lot of trouble doing descending diminished sweeps, but I can do the ascending ones just fine. The picking motion Is the same for both so it's strange.
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theposaga about a Moonblood rehearsal wrote:
So good. Makes me want to break up with my girlfriend, quit my job and never move out of my parents house. Just totally destroy my life for Satan.

http://halberddoom.bandcamp.com/releases

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Porman
Sweek Souvlaki Muncher

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:00 pm
Posts: 1703
Location: Sweden
PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 3:59 pm 
 

I can't really alternate pick. I use downpicking for almost everything except for triplets and of course 32nd notes.
It feels like I'm cheating if I play alternate picking when I play fast rhythm.

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hakarl
Metel fraek

Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:41 pm
Posts: 8816
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 4:51 pm 
 

Porman wrote:
I can't really alternate pick. I use downpicking for almost everything except for triplets and of course 32nd notes.
It feels like I'm cheating if I play alternate picking when I play fast rhythm.

That's silly. But you must be quite the downpicker (or in a doom metal band) if downpicking is all you do.
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"A glimpse of light is all that it takes to illuminate the darkness."

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Porman
Sweek Souvlaki Muncher

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:00 pm
Posts: 1703
Location: Sweden
PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 6:05 pm 
 

Nah, it's just a habit I guess.

And for the record, I don't play slow stuff.


Last edited by Porman on Sun Jul 02, 2023 4:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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hakarl
Metel fraek

Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:41 pm
Posts: 8816
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 6:10 pm 
 

As long as you get no problems with your arm. For me alternate picking (or economy picking) came from necessity. We had very long rehearsals at first, and I also practiced at home quite a bit.
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Porman
Sweek Souvlaki Muncher

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:00 pm
Posts: 1703
Location: Sweden
PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 6:29 pm 
 

No problems. I do make exceptions when it actually feels more natural to alternate pick. I've been doing this, playing in bands since 1998 so it's nothing that gives me any trouble.

Forgot to mention that the reason I started downpicking everything was because I read that both Scott Ian and Jason Hetfield downpicked most of their rhythm guitars, so it sounded logical to do that just to fatten up your tone.

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somefella
Veteran

Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:57 pm
Posts: 3134
Location: Singapore
PostPosted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:52 pm 
 

I'm having a few problems with palm-muting. I always thought I had it down but my vocalist(an ex-guitar player) keeps insisting it can be MUCH better. It's not that I am completely unable to palm-mute but it just doesn't sound "heavy" enough, for lack of a more suitable term. I imagined I wasn't hitting the strings hard enough but apparently that isn't the problem. Any tips on how to rectify this?

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Necroticism174
Kite String Popper

Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:46 pm
Posts: 5352
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:26 am 
 

Experiment with different hand placements. Also, palm muting a single string can only sound so heavy. Try doing it with power chords or tritone chords.
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theposaga about a Moonblood rehearsal wrote:
So good. Makes me want to break up with my girlfriend, quit my job and never move out of my parents house. Just totally destroy my life for Satan.

http://halberddoom.bandcamp.com/releases

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hakarl
Metel fraek

Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:41 pm
Posts: 8816
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 6:11 am 
 

It also depends on the amount of distortion you can get from your amp and the level of output of your pickups. E-standard can only sound so heavy, too. The really heavy-sounding palm mutes in metal and metalcore are at least as low as drop-C. That said it's not desirable to downtune just to optimise the heaviness of chugs. I picked C-standard for a multitude of reasons.
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"A glimpse of light is all that it takes to illuminate the darkness."

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Porman
Sweek Souvlaki Muncher

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:00 pm
Posts: 1703
Location: Sweden
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:08 am 
 

There are positives and negatives with tuning to low, using to much gain, etc. If you're playing with a second guitarist, you will find that you don't need to use as much gain as when you're playing alone.

Try different things. Eventually you will find the ultimate palm mute chug sound!

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allureoftheearth
Metal newbie

Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2011 11:28 pm
Posts: 156
Location: US of A
PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:03 pm 
 

Just got my guitar back in working order. Newby here.
Wondering what are some things I should start doing ASAP. From reading the earlier posts I see that learning how to pick well is important but was wondering what else.

Also, good metal songs to start learning?
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Porman
Sweek Souvlaki Muncher

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:00 pm
Posts: 1703
Location: Sweden
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:42 am 
 

Learn how to use your pinky and work up its strenght.

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hakarl
Metel fraek

Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:41 pm
Posts: 8816
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:22 am 
 

My first songs were Metallica - Orion, Agalloch - The Lodge and Black Sabbath - A National Acrobat (the first couple of riffs). Worked for me quite well. I recommend finding songs that implement some more unorthodox chords than merely the basic minors, majors and 7s. It's more important to learn barré chords than open chords, and though you should know how to play the basic open chords, don't stop there. Many, many chords (even basic ones like Bm) can only really be played with barré. I second pinky strength.

I have smallish hands, so I learned to use pinky where most guitarists use ring finger (even basic 5ths). When playing rhythm, good use of pinky is very important. Like here, sliding the pinky a bit can really make simple rhythm guitar sound a lot more exciting:
E
B 7 7 7 7 9 9 9 9
G
D 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
A 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
E
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Hermit Hill
Metal newbie

Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 12:19 pm
Posts: 48
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 6:23 pm 
 

The nut on my Epiphone G400 broke the other day. I saw this as an opportunity to upgrade because I'm getting sick of that thing. My price limit is very low, around the 400-500$ range.
I play in a post rock, depressive rock, black metal style and I've always loved the look of Gibsons.
This is my first choice:
http://www.rondomusic.com/al3100tribalgreen.html

I've heard good things about Jackson high end guitars but I haven't heard if their low end have a similar price to quality ratio, are they any good?

Lastly I've heard that if you can't get a fantastic guitar, you might as well keep the one you have. Do you think I should just repair my Epiphone?

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

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