Guitar: Simplified, A Project.

Talk about modding or building your own guitar from scratch.
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therizzla
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Guitar: Simplified, A Project.

Post by therizzla » Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:09 am

About twice a year I get semi-serious about modifying (or de-modifying) a guitar that would make more sense to me, and let me explain what I mean by that:

I started on bass and I still consider it to be my main instrument, I got into guitar for two main reasons: 1) It was more fun to play music alone on guitar and 2) I'm a gear whore and guitar has way more fun toys than bass. I tend to approach guitar from a bassists stand point.

What I'm planning to do is inspired mainly by two people: Chris Ballew of The Presidents and Ricky Wilson of The B-52's.

My "Guitar: Simplified" will not have a string in the typical G string location and will most likely be tuned CGCxcc or a halfstep up (actual tuning subject to change). I've tried this out on my Tele in a higher tuning with all 6 strings and really liked it and separating the guitar into two halves; a bass side and a treble side, eliminating the B string transition between the two really helps my brain make much better sense of what I'm doing. I mainly just use the B and e strings barred ala Link Wrays Rumble solo anyway, this would just make that easier.

I've always talked myself outta this as it's not the "right way" to play guitar, but so many of my heros do weird shit with their guitars and tunings that I figured "why not?" maybe it's time I made the guitar worked for me instead of struggling to emulate others who use standard tunings.

I figure a lot of people won't dig on this, so before you comment just know that I'll be keeping my Jazzmaster and Tele in standard format and tuning and hopefully getting a newer MIM Tele for this project.

Here's some pron of similar set-ups:

Ricky Wilson, B-52's:
Image

Chris Ballew, The Presidents:
Image

To a lesser extent, Keef:
Image
Last edited by therizzla on Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:50 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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painted wood
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Re: Guitar: Simplified, A Project.

Post by painted wood » Sun Mar 06, 2011 3:02 pm

sounds cool. I like thinking out of the box. That would be too many Cs for me though. I would likely mix in some other notes like a D or F or just experiment with the tuning until I found one that works.

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Re: Guitar: Simplified, A Project.

Post by noisepunk » Sun Mar 06, 2011 6:07 pm

I've wanted to do something similar as well; I've been missing the high e on my les paul for about a year, and when I started out I use to just play on whatever strings weren't broken, only ever really replacing the low e, or else the lot.

So, I approve!

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Re: Guitar: Simplified, A Project.

Post by RaDana » Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:34 pm

+1 for Ricky Wilson, totally underrated. IIRC, he had two guitars/tunings, one with just the G removed and the other with both the D and G. I've really considered doing this too, after getting into Seasick Steve and The Flat Duo Jets (whom I think did something similar with tunings).

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Re: Guitar: Simplified, A Project.

Post by therizzla » Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:01 pm

RaDana wrote:+1 for Ricky Wilson, totally underrated. IIRC, he had two guitars/tunings, one with just the G removed and the other with both the D and G. I've really considered doing this too, after getting into Seasick Steve and The Flat Duo Jets (whom I think did something similar with tunings).
Yeah, I think he had a few weird tunings, but two he used a lot.

Great call with Seasick Steve, that guy is great and if you look into him he has really been around in the music world!

I love The Flat Duo Jets, not sure about Dexter's set-up though.
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Re: Guitar: Simplified, A Project.

Post by paltic » Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:21 am

awesome idea...this actually reminds me of Wes Borland(way back when I was listening to old crapmetal). he made a crazy custom 4-string guitar(I think) that's tuned in a weird way

Image
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Re: Guitar: Simplified, A Project.

Post by A_saVANT » Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:26 am

paltic wrote:he made a crazy custom 4-string guitar(I think) that's tuned in a weird way

Image
Have you listened to any of his side projects (not limp bizkit)?

He's actually a pretty versatile guitar player. I have mad respect for that guy...with the exception of limp bizkit. Though I feel like if they didn't have that lead singer douche wagon that I would actually listen to them. Tight riffs, and their collaboration with that guy from Wu-Tang is still my favorite song from the rap-core genre...err...the only song I like from the rap-core genre. :P

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Re: Guitar: Simplified, A Project.

Post by jorri » Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:11 pm

go for it... i wanted to make a guitar with BBbbbb or bbbbbb tuning. its on my first cheap guitar at the moment strung with super heavy strings and high action because its not playable... the idea is to play slide/bow/volume pedal and there's quite an amazing chorus effect-i like to think of a fake string section. i think i started tuning to that when i was 12 but with standard guage strings after read about sonic youth's tunings in a guitar mag but never really heard them yet.

i find i keep my main guitar in standard, though use different chordal tunings but can't get away from droning notes and the associated scale. whatever i play sounds too similar until i change tuning so i change after one song. love unison sounds-are the top two c unison or 8ves

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Re: Guitar: Simplified, A Project.

Post by paltic » Tue Mar 08, 2011 4:33 am

A_saVANT wrote:
paltic wrote:he made a crazy custom 4-string guitar(I think) that's tuned in a weird way

Image
Have you listened to any of his side projects (not limp bizkit)?

He's actually a pretty versatile guitar player. I have mad respect for that guy...with the exception of limp bizkit. Though I feel like if they didn't have that lead singer douche wagon that I would actually listen to them. Tight riffs, and their collaboration with that guy from Wu-Tang is still my favorite song from the rap-core genre...err...the only song I like from the rap-core genre. :P
of course i used to listen to his other works...bigdumbface, eat the day, black light burns(even his work as a bassist)...i like that primus/faith no more-crazy approach, and his presence and presentation on stage's really cool...the band's 1st album actually kicks ass imho
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