So, many of you know me for my writing (if that wasn't obvious enough), but when I'm not writing (which is the default setting that I'm on right now), I noodle around with my guitars. I figured I would explain my guitars, the setup, and whatever nook and cranny that I can.
1. Main Guitars:
1.
Epiphone Riviera P-93 Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar:
This guitar became my main guitar the moment I got it (which was about a few weeks ago). I've been interested in semi-hollow bodied guitars the moment my eyes feel upon its design (that, and being a fan of 生形 真一 (Ubukata Shin'ichi)). Unlike the normal ES series made by Gibson (and by extension, Epiphone), the Riviera uses three dogeared P-90 pickups instead of the usual two covered humbuckers. This allows the guitar to have more twang while still sound "fat", but it lacks the same sort of punch that you would get from a humbucker. This Riviera has a wine red finish (burgundy, just to simplify), gold hardware, and a Bigsby tremolo to top it all off.
Strings used: .10 - .46
2. 1994 Epiphone Les Paul Standard Solid Body Electric Guitar:
This guitar I had for a few years now and it really hold up for a used guitar. A nice cherry sunburst finish to accompany the two humbuckers. I replaced the tuning machines on the headstock to something larger and more suiting for this guitar (not to mention, the added stability for the strings). This guitar used to be my main go-to guitar, and it still is... for drop-tuned songs. Don't get me wrong, I do play certain songs with it for standard tuning, but it's only for specific songs that would make sense with the guitar. The way it is now, I rather use it for J-Rock bands like Pay money To my Pain and SiM, and for USA bands like Tool, Mastodon, and Soundgarden (they are the worst offenders ).
Strings used: .10 - .52 (Ernie Ball Slinky Top, Heavy Bottom strings)
3. Ibanez Gio GRX 170:
To be honest, I rarely use this guitar, but this is the third guitar that I would primarily use since it challengers me to be creative while also cautious. When it comes to down tuning, the bridge makes it complicated as all the strings will get thrown out of whack, so it primarily stays in E standard. It also came with a tremolo arm, but I rarely use it unless it's necessary, as it could complicate how the strings stays in tune. By all rights a "super-strat", this guitar has shark-tooth inlays, HSH (Hunbucker - single-coil - Hunbucker) setup, 24 frets (which is something I enjoy because with the other two guitars, bending up from the 22nd fret is a bitch), and a slanted heel where the neck connects with the body, which helps for access to the upper frets.
Strings used: .09 - .42 (Ernie Ball Super Slinky strings)
2. Practice Guitar:
Yamaha EG 112C Electric Guitar: Yeah, I primarily use this guitar to practice songs before playing them with my first two main guitars. It's pretty much a Stratocaster copy, but it has a HSS setup along with a Master Volume and Tone knob. Honestly, This was my main guitar for a while before I got the three up above. This guitar was also fixed up a few times, from replacing the jack plate, to swapping one of the tuning machines on the head stock with a large one (in a weird alternate version of Rory Gallagher). It still works, but it just still feels a bit too "stock". Maybe I should replace the neck and pickups sometime in the future?
Strings used: .09 - .42 (same as the Ibanez Gio)
3. AMP:
Marshall MG30DFX Purple Limited Edition:I couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw it; I knew I needed to get it. This was a complete step up from my old amp, which was a dingy stock Epiphone practice amp that comes along as a package with a Special II (which was my first guitar, and the one that got away from me due to fucking store owners (but my '94 Les Paul makes up for it)). Aside from your basic clean and OD (overdrive) channels, you also got four digital effects built into the amp: Reverb, Delay, Chorus, and Flanger. I rarely use the clean channel (but that's changing), so for my OD channel, it's setup is like that:
- Gain: set between the the 9 and 10 o' clock position (2.5).
- Bass: Set at the 11 o' clock position (4).
- Contour: Set at the 12 o' clock position (5).
- Treble: Set at the 5 o' clock position (10).
- Volume: Set at the 8 o' clock position (1 (It get's loud if I go any further)).
I keep the effect on delay as certain songs that I play to uses delay, plus, I like trying to sustain my notes with it (but again, it's changing soon).
Also, don't always believe the specs for this thing, it's 80 watts, so yes, I can blow out your ears if you go any further than 1 for the OD volume (don't know about clean).
4. Effects:
1.
Mini Mod FuzzerOne of the first effects I bought, this fuzz is designed to produce, well, fuzz. No, not the kind of fuzz you get when the TV or Radio signal is going haywire. Rather, the fuzz is one of the effects that Jimi Hendrix uses (and just about everyone knows about Jimi). I got this effect because there's songs that require it, and I do like trying to broaden my horizons when it comes to my sound.
2.
Ernie Ball Wah:
This is the second effect that I got along with the Fuzz, and despite it not being a Crybaby, it still does what I need it to. This pedal allows you the manipulate the sound of the guitar by placing your foot on top and moving it up and down, which causes the sound to get caught in this envelope like sound. It's hard to explain, so I suggest listening to Isolation by Nothing's Carved In Stone (particularity the second half of the solo which uses the wah effect) to get a better understanding of what it does.
3.
BOSS SD-2 Dual Overdrive:This effect I just got today to replace the on-board OD on my amp. Honestly, I didn't know that this was discontinued, and I don't know why it isn't still manufactured as this is a good effect that gives you options with your OD effect. The crunch can give you that nice OD effect that you normally would get from an amp, but it add a bit more for me considering how it's set. The lead channel, after adjusting it that is, gives me and aggressive, bluesy sound that I'm enjoying, plus, it sounds close to Shin'ichi's OD/Distortion sound, so I'm grateful for tinkering around with it.
4.
TC Electronic Flashback X4
...
What, you expect an image? Right now, this baby is on layaway, but next week, I'm definitely paying it off. If you want to know about, just "Google it".
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That's pretty much it. As it is, I'm working on building my pedal-board, and I go a good idea of where it's going, but it will still be a while till it all comes together.
さよなら。