How Your Opinions On Gear Change When You Play Everyday:

SG John said:
SG necks in general are anomalies. You learn to play differently. I've been playing an SG since I was 15. This has dictated my playing style for over forty years.

As for Bonamassa, that's the end of discussion there.



I know what you're talking about, but other than my one-off Blue Oyster Cult show and my occasional Alice Cooper gig, I have not been in a cover band in over twenty five years. I'll quit a band before I play anything by the Eagles. I've been playing original music to full or empty clubs for ages, and am much happier as a result. I could probably make more money playing music that sucks, but I don't. My guitars are set up the way I play, and to the songs I write, and how the other guys in the band sound. Everything always works, because it's how it's designed.




Comfy is what it's all about. But, since I was young and going to parties and jams would start, etc. I have always been thrust into a "here play this" situation. You get used to it after a while. I've had to play other people's guitars at gigs if I broke a string in the past. I still put on a good show. Honestly, many of my guitars are completely different than others. People would wonder why I have them, until they play them. Then, they get it. The way they sound, or do what they do. I like my Les Paul, Firebird, and 335 neck profiles. I know from talking to other players, that type of profile is not a favorite. My bass player is not a big fan of me playing a Les Paul. It's not a "John" guitar according to him. One of his favorites is my Rick 330/6. I have no problem playing our entire set on that skinny round neck. It's narrower than my '68 and '69 SGs. And anyone who thinks a Rick is only for Jangle is a fool. It's a tough guitar to play, but sounds amazing.

If it has six strings, or even 4, 5, 8, or 12, I'll play it. And I'll make it sound good. I've never turned down an opportunity to play because a guitar or amp wasn't "my sound."
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Well spoken, and there is one time in the late 70’s while I was a truck driver, we were being off loaded, and I heard some drums, went to the source and chatted with him for a few, he offered up a guitar and amp, I was having a bad day playing, and only went through one off the cuff jam.
It was pretty cool, but when he wanted to try some covers , I was like a deer in the headlights.
And declined the rest of the jam.
This was in Key West Florida.
I am not so shy anymore..
 
SG John said:
If it has six strings, or even 4, 5, 8, or 12, I'll play it. And I'll make it sound good. I've never turned down an opportunity to play because a guitar or amp wasn't "my sound."
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That's a good mindset.

I generally don't turn down any good paying music job. You write good stuff. I don't really like my own material, plus, I need to earn a living and that dictates what I play, at least to some degree anyways.
 
Robert Herndon said:
I know I'm a odd duck, not trying to sell anything, just discussing things that I find interesting.
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We are all odd ducks in our own way! I have seen the Eagles live, Dawn likes them and we usually try and hit as many shows as we can no matter who it is for the most part. I am not into country except the old stuff, all this new Pop Country is a no go for me also which Dawn hates. Same with the Cookie Monster. I like Metal but if cookie monster takes the stage I go get a beer....
 
RobV said:
We are all odd ducks in our own way! I have seen the Eagles live, Dawn likes them and we usually try and hit as many shows as we can no matter who it is for the most part. I am not into country except the old stuff, all this new Pop Country is a no go for me also which Dawn hates. Same with the Cookie Monster. I like Metal but if cookie monster takes the stage I go get a beer....
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Who is cookie monster?
 
@SG John, In the course of my work, I am sometimes asked to play a vintage Broadcaster (or whatever ) on a given recording, and while I do my best, I really don't like certain body shapes, neck profiles, etc., but for me it goes way beyond the style points.

Joe Bonnamassa has said (something to the effect) that he has no preference on neck width or profile. God bless Joe! He certainly can play and he has quite a collection of artifacts.

Honestly, I'm shocked at how crappy some of these highly coveted relics really are when you finally get your hands on them. (Not talking about Joe's guitars, just Holy Grails in general)

The first time I played a real (documented) 1959 Les Paul, I couldn't believe how bad it was. You had to avoid certain places on the neck that would fret out and it was noisy and just generally uninspiring.

Back to the main point...

Everything really changed for me when I went with this 1-3/4" Warmoth neck. Suddenly, it was like freedom after years of being in a narrow string-spaced prison.

With size XXL gloved hands, and a size 14 ring, I really didn't know how much I struggled on my other guitars until I started using the wider neck.

Sure, I can get by with an old 1-5/8" Fender neck, but lately I've just been saying "why bother?"

Now, I'm just kinda done with all the narrow necks, except for my double neck, which has the clubby 60's profile with a volute.

But, I'm getting ready to get rid of about 4 guitars, getting down to just a main and one backup, plus my double neck.

SG's...Definitely different, as you pointed out. I had two, a brand new 2003 Gibson and a brand new 2016 Gibson, and I never bonded with either one. I sent the 2003 back in 2003 and traded the 2016 Gibson SG to @eSGEe for a Chibson that was better in every physical respect.

Interestingly, nobody has kept that 2016 Gibson SG for more than a few months. Lack of MOJO perhaps???

In fact, I played @spectre's vintage 1960-something Gibson SG, and while it was a great guitar, it just never felt right to me and that's kind of a big deal to me now probably more than ever.

I mean, I started on a crappy old 1959 Sears Silvertone with only 18 frets, knocking down $125/week in a bar band in 1980 at only 15, so I feel like I know a good piece when i pick one up.

Now, the funny thing is that I love my double neck, which is basically two SG's!!!! Go figure!@!

As far as bone stock necks go, I would say that my "bare minimum" would be either a 1958 Les Paul or a 1950's era Fender 'U' profile.

Now, I've been playing the Chibson/Slash Les Paul I got from @eSGEe day and night since March 22nd. It's taken 57 days to get my YelloStrat (the body I got from you) into Chris, through the waiting list, and get the bone nut and all the little extras I had him do for me on it.

I've never EVER missed a guitar until this one!!!
 
Robert Herndon said:
@SG John

The first time I played a real (documented) 1959 Les Paul, I couldn't believe how bad it was. You had to avoid certain places on the neck that would fret out and it was noisy and just generally uninspiring.
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I used to be real friendly with a guy that owned a vintage guitar shop. A really, really good vintage guitar shop. He had it all: every year Les Paul, every year of SG, Dumbles, plenty of Tweeds and any Fender guitar you could imagine from any era. Not one bit of it was any better than a good guitar built recently (emphasis on good). Sure you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find the really good ones these days but IMO, after having played oodles of the things and owning one vintage Gibson for a while (a '57 Special) I gotta say that after the bragging rights are dispensed with you don't get much for your money. I was also completely unimpressed with the Dumbles. They were a real head-scratcher to me and I just could not coax a sound out them that was better than the bone-stock Mesas in the shop.
 
Astral Traveler said:
I play around 2 hours every day, I've never broken anything. I wear frets and picks, that's about it.
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An average day for me is 2 to 2-1/2 hours first thing in the morning, running over the setlist for Bad Dog, Outfall and Evil Empyre.

Then, drive to the studio and play all day on recording projects....then drive home, have dinner and play with either Outfall, Bad Dog or Evil Empyre, depending on the day of the week.

My guitars are running around the clock...
 
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