Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Naytch on November 02, 2005, 07:19:30 AM

Title: Guitars...
Post by: Naytch on November 02, 2005, 07:19:30 AM
Well, I'm soon gonna head out to buy two new guitars so as to move me up from 'rookie' to 'rookie with two new guitars'

Okay, das lame. Anyway, I was thinking of a nice electric and a bass, but recently I've learned that there's something called an Axe Guitar in existence.

Anyway, whats an Axe guitar? It's shaped diffrent from a normal guitar, but is there any other diffrences when it comes to sound and stuff? Google doesn't tell me, just the prices of Axes, but never does it say what an Axe is.

Also, and this may sound stupid, but is there such thing as an electric guitar with built in sound? As in it doesn't need an amp to be heard? I never considered the possibility, until I heard the dude from the other store tell a customer that the guitar had 'built in'  :confused:
Title: Guitars...
Post by: nirvana on November 02, 2005, 09:55:53 AM
Not sure about an "axe guitar".  Axe is normally a word used to describe a guitar such as, "Wow, nice axe!" or Yngwie Malmsteen's axe playing is amazing!"  This means any electric guitar is pretty much an axe to me.

Oh and I think there might be some guitars with built in sound but there are also mini amps that can easily fit into your pocket.  You can also get a cordless hookup, it's pricey but worth it if you don't like being limited by the cable.  I can look around when I get home, have to get ready for school now.
Title: Guitars...
Post by: lasersailor184 on November 02, 2005, 10:30:40 AM
I do believe Axe guitars developed into their own style, not just a nickname.


Anyway, I have an Ibanez bass.  It's pretty basic, but it's treated me well for 7 or 8 years now.
Title: Guitars...
Post by: Skilless on November 02, 2005, 10:56:04 AM
speaking as a 25 year working musician, I have never heard of a brand of guitar named Axe.  It is a slang term used by wannabe hipsters trying to sound cool when talking about their instrument.  As far as a guitar with a built in amp and speaker, Fernandes makes a decent (although ugly) travel guitar that may meet your needs. -  
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=bass/search/detail/base_pid/516834/

They also make a bass model.-
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=bass/search/detail/base_pid/513187/

I've never played one of these but Fernandes is a reputable manufacturer that makes a decent product.

In all probability the clerk when speaking of "built in" meant an onboard pre-amp which many guitars have now to boost and tailor the signal to the player's needs.
Title: Guitars...
Post by: fartwinkle on November 02, 2005, 11:04:32 AM
Depending on what kinda of music you wanna play i would look at a mexican stratocaster from fender.
Then If you need an amp look into the blues Jr its a tube amp and iMHO
tubes just sound better.

And yes i second the above go to musicians friend they cant be beat on price.
Title: Guitars...
Post by: SirLoin on November 02, 2005, 11:28:31 AM
Fender Telecaster(made in Korea)...Beautfull Ash body with flamed maple neck,Semour Duncan pickups..$699(Cdn)

i just bought this 3 weeks ago...by far the best valued guitar(tele style) on the market.

i recommend it as a move up from a starter axe..or a move down(in $) from those overpriced(but very nice) American Tele's.



Title: Guitars...
Post by: Skilless on November 02, 2005, 11:33:57 AM
Quote
Originally posted by SirLoin
Fender Telecaster(made in Korea)...Beautfull Ash body with flamed maple neck,Semour Duncan pickups..$699(Cdn)

i just bought this 3 weeks ago...by far the best valued guitar(tele style) on the market.

i recommend it as a move up from a starter axe..or a move down(in $) from those overpriced(but very nice) American Tele's.





Was it this one?  I've been looking at if or a while.  I think I want it.  I don't have a use for it though.  I use a Line6 Variax exclusively now.  I only bring a second guitar to the gig in case I break a string...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/515207/
Title: Guitars...
Post by: fartwinkle on November 02, 2005, 12:08:33 PM
check out this one.
good guitar and pretty good price.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/510000/



http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/s=amps/search/detail/base_pid/480511/
Title: Guitars...
Post by: Skilless on November 02, 2005, 12:11:56 PM
Never really cared for the Strat.  My favorite Fender would be a Thinline Tele.
Title: Guitars...
Post by: fartwinkle on November 02, 2005, 12:17:08 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Skilless
Never really cared for the Strat.  My favorite Fender would be a Thinline Tele.


I like the strat becuase of the ergo's and the versitillity change Pick ups and change the whole banana.

I always found tele's a bit too twangy but hey they are cool looking geetars and lots of people love em and of course its a Fender:p
Title: Guitars...
Post by: Voldemort on November 02, 2005, 12:19:32 PM
The only guitar I've ever seen with 'built in sound' is one of the playskool ones with little buttons on the fretboard.

I play a Martin Alternative X (http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/6/9/8/271698.jpg) and it's got electronics built in (I assume this is what the 'built in sound' is that's being referred to) by Fishman.  There's a pickup installed just like any guitar but I have Treble, Mid, Bass and Brilliance EQ sliders as well as Notch and Volume knobs.

This is a pretty standard setup on all new Acoustic-Electric guitars.  Fishman makes good stuff, Taylor guitars have most excellent stuff installed.

I've got a fender stratomcasterizer however I play it very little.  Good luck finding what you're looking for and above all...keep asking questions!  it's the only way to learn :)

 Musicians Friend really is your friend.  I buy all my strings, picks and other life limited items from there.  Even bought my amp after trying it out at Guitar Center and couldn't swing a decent deal.  Behringer makes a mighty fine amp for acoustic-electrics:

(http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/3/2/3/265323.jpg)
Title: Guitars...
Post by: Naytch on November 02, 2005, 06:48:39 PM
Dang, those fernandes' look ugly...

So an axe is just a slang term? I know that the axes are shaped diffrently than normal guitars; like their body is shaped like a V or something like a lightning bolt. But I still don't know if they work any diffrent.

The lone guitar I have now is a solid black fender strat. It's served me well enough in wooing the women at school :)
I also have two amps; a big GTX I keep in my room and a small ten watt fernandes that I use when I play elsewhere. I wanna get a battery powered portable since usually the lights of the building flicker when I play LOL (really bad circuitry in this country)

Anyway, I just wanna know what an axe is. If it's just a general term for guitars, then what's so special about those V shaped guitars and those weird lightning bolt shaped ones?
Title: Guitars...
Post by: United on November 02, 2005, 06:50:29 PM
I've seen a guitar with a built in amp...

Total crap.  It had a speaker where the tone/volume pots would be and sounded absolutely terrible.  Think marbles in a blender with some unplugged guitar mixed in there.  I'm not saying they are all like this, but the one I heard being played was just like I described.

I don't know anything about Axe guitars, but Gene Simmons plays an "Axe" bass.
(http://www.kisstabs.com/graphics/equipment/gene/axe_bass.jpg)
Though, I don't think there is actually a brand named Axe.

I just bought an Epiphone SG w/ Maestro Monday.  Pretty good gitfiddle for a terrible guitarist such as myself. (Not implying you are terrible, though!)

Saw you replied before I was done:

V shaped guitars are just a different body shape of guitar.  There are TONS of different shapes and styles.  I'm assuming that the lighting bolt shaped guitar you are speaking of is an Explorer?

(http://www.gibson.com/Files/images/explor-guitar.jpg)

Again, just another body shape.
Title: Guitars...
Post by: Naytch on November 02, 2005, 07:45:51 PM
United, that's the lightning bolt thing I was talking about. So there's no other diffrence aside from the body shape? That's a shame...

I'll get one anyway! :D

Dey jus look soo kewl....
Title: Guitars...
Post by: United on November 02, 2005, 07:56:42 PM
Oh, there are many differences.  You'd be surprised, but there are TONS of things that can affect how a guitar sounds; wood type, pickups, amount of wood on the body, solid or hollow body, etc.

My best advise is to go to your local music store and play a lot of guitars and pick the one that feels best to you.

I highly recommend AGAINST buying a guitar just because it looks cool.
Title: Guitars...
Post by: Naytch on November 02, 2005, 07:58:47 PM
LOL obviously, but anyway, I just said that cuz by your post I just assumed that it had no diffrence.
Title: Guitars...
Post by: United on November 02, 2005, 07:59:58 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Naytch
LOL obviously, but anyway, I just said that cuz by your post I just assumed that it had no diffrence.

Ahh...  Just play some at your store and pick the one that feels best to you. :)
Title: Guitars...
Post by: Voldemort on November 02, 2005, 08:52:15 PM
I'm putting away for a nice Gibson Archtop.  I was mightly impressed when I played one a few months back at an open mic type night here in town.  I don't know much about it, but the feel and the sound was most outstanding even though I don't know what a humbucker is :P
Title: Guitars...
Post by: United on November 02, 2005, 08:55:07 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Voldemort
I'm putting away for a nice Gibson Archtop.  I was mightly impressed when I played one a few months back at an open mic type night here in town.  I don't know much about it, but the feel and the sound was most outstanding even though I don't know what a humbucker is :P

Hehe.  I'd love to get me a nice 335, but that $3000 tag is really changing my mind quickly. :D
Title: Guitars...
Post by: Voldemort on November 02, 2005, 08:56:24 PM
I was actually considering robbing the guitar center.  I'll pick up one for ya :D
Title: Guitars...
Post by: United on November 02, 2005, 08:57:13 PM
Excellent, got one in Alpine White? :)
Title: Guitars...
Post by: nirvana on November 02, 2005, 10:47:06 PM
Perhaps you are talking about the Flying V body?  THey are light, but the freat feels really short and stubby with a big arse tail hanging off the end, not my cuppa tea.  I play standard strat with EMG 81 on the bridge.
Title: Re: Guitars...
Post by: Nash on November 03, 2005, 01:19:47 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Naytch
Also, and this may sound stupid, but is there such thing as an electric guitar with built in sound? As in it doesn't need an amp to be heard?


Line 6 guitars are very nifty. Suggest you look into them.
Title: Re: Re: Guitars...
Post by: Skilless on November 03, 2005, 01:41:09 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Nash
Line 6 guitars are very nifty. Suggest you look into them.


I have a Variax that I use exclusively.  It faithfully emulates almost 30 different stringed instruments-everything from a Les Paul to a Strat to a Gibson 12 string acoustic to a banjo to a sitar, but it still needs to be plugged into an amplification source.  Actually, to do it right you need two amplification sources: A guitar amp for the electric models, and an acoustic amp or PA system for the acoustic models with an A/B switch to choose between the two.

I also use a Line6 Flextone amp. It will emulate the sound  of a bunch of classic amps.  My favorites are the Fender black panel, the Marshall plexi, and the Vox ac30.  I use these models for my clean, lead, and crunch channels respectively.  It also has effects built in (reverb, delay, chorus, flange, wah, lesli, tremolo).  I use no stomp boxes; I plug directly into the amp.

Between the Variax and the Flextone, there is virtually no guitar sound that I can't get.