Anyone else amused, and also repulsed by guitar player snobbery?
I’m talking vintage vs modern, poly vs nitro, laurel vs pau ferro vs rosewood, “tonewood,” solid state vs tube, etc.?
It’s absolute insanity on other forums, especially the “big” one.
What say you?
It amuses me as well, especially since I sometimes enjoy the sound of the “low end” products more than the “high end” products. I’m sure I would enjoy having high end guitars and gear as much as most anyone else here, but the obsession with that type of thing is a little ridiculous. And there is definitely no excuse for the bashing of people that don’t buy the pedals or amps that are currently trending.
Ive been on an acoustic bender for the last 12-18 months. Last year, I passed through Nashville three times on business trips, and spent an extra day each time, just to spend it in the guitar shops, and play as many guitars as as I could. I probably played over 250 different high end guitars, new and vintage, every major maker, and many custom makers, with prices up to over $20K. With very few exceptions (like $15K+ MacPhersons), none played or sounded better than my vintage Yamaha FG730S. Even those that were better, were only very slightly better, with the improvement not worth the difference in price from my $102 Yammy.
Whoever set up my Yammy was a Wizard, because it plays so smootly that it actually makes me a better player. I’ve never played another guitar like that.
I’ve got some other Yamhas that are also terrific, and I’ve become convinced that quality and price are not necessarily correlated.
Happens in any hobby. Photographers and their lenses, golfers and their clubs, tabletop gamers and their vintage special editions… It’s the kind of person, not the hobby. Gotta learn how to deal with them and shun them when appropriate.
True.
I’m old enough where it just amuses me now.
Still annoying, slightly, though.
If you can’t play, let your gear speak for you. Don’t replicate the boring pissing contests of r/guitar or r/synthesizer where 90% of the posts were “collectors” showing off gear they can’t play. Consumerism and enthusiasm are different things.
Agreed.
I not saying don’t buy nice things, but the blatant, obnoxious snobbery on some sites is almost unbelievable.
“Amused and repulsed” is exactly right. One of the things I love about Jim Lill is he cuts thru all that babble and just tries to figure it out himself. Agree with him or not, his “Tested: Where Does the Tone Come From” vids are good fun, and well done. https://www.youtube.com/@JimLill/videos
I love that guy! Especially the tacklebox 3 amps in 1 he built.
Guitar snobbery
What say you?…tabs.
exits quietly
Until your ear gets good.
And then, still some tabs.
🤘
This is an interesting bit of snobbery too.
I’ve been a musician for over 25 years. I can read sheet music, tabs, chord charts (including Jazz), and learn most stuff by ear. I still use tabs to learn new songs because it gives an idea of the fingerings, even if it’s just a starting point. Tabs are a specific arrangement of a given piece that at least one person found to be playable. It cuts out unnecessary time considering “how” to play something.
If you gave me sheet music, I would come up with an arrangement and annotate it with tabs to specify.
It’s important to develop your ear, don’t get me wrong, but tabs are a useful tool even for professionals. They’re not just for beginners.
And then, still some tabs.
Did you miss that part?
I wasn’t trying to call you out specifically, just that there are people who hate on tabs in general. If anything I’m agreeing with your rant against snobbery too
But what about the tooooan.
Seriously, fuck the snobbery. Its bad for the allround conversation.
Let me see the weird homegrown mods on your 20 euro used Harley Benton!
Don’t you know, fish glue gives “UberToan!”
I’m 4 months into learning to play and I haven’t noticed any gate keeping so far but I’m not looking beyond artists and content creators just yet.
any time a hobby has a large buy in people with money want to buy clout and people without want to defend their choices.
I will fight you over how good my Orange micro crush sounds …
Brother, the Orange is awesome.
You’ll run into the jerks I described, eventually.
I’m with you, I got the Super Crush 100 combo, best amp I’ve ever had!
The old, and really the new Peavey Bandits are very good solid state amps. The old teal and red stripe models are excellent, if you can find one in good shape. Rock on!
I would like a nitro guitar at some point because of the way they smell. Otherwise, get what you like and let other people enjoy their music regardless of what it comes out of.
Yep, they do smell good.
I had played Line6 gear since the mid-00’s because that was in my budget as a new father in my 20’s (the clichés write themselves here) and was mainly in I guess what became deathcore bands. Anyways, the amount of shit talk was insane. My tone wasn’t Sunn stack deep but I was always able to fit it to the band I was with and find where I belonged in the mix.
Fast forward to being old enough and far enough in my life of upgrade to AxeFX / Poweramp 2x12 land and I honestly am not as into the tones as I was with my old, crusty line6/bogner head.
This is in addition to playing custom shop guitars through all the gear I’ve acquired since the 90’s.
I’ve always felt that tone is 90% in the hands and the rest is just a series of obstacles getting that to come out loud enough to be heard over the drums.
Play what you have and never stop trying new gear, but don’t be afraid to like what you like.
I still have my MetalZone. Like, I get the memes and all, but… 25 years ago, for like $100? The suggested settings in the manual showed off a ton of versatility. I don’t play much anymore, but I still consider it a permanent piece of the kit.
The MetalZone is versatile enough to sound as awful or appropriate as you want to.
I love a metalzone in the mix. That thing makes the sweetest pinch harmonics. Grab the wang bar and get your Dimebag on. 😁
Use what you like, what plays comfortable and what fits your budget. Don’t tell my Fender Player Jaguar, but I just love my cheap Squier Super-Sonic. I love my Orange Dark Terror, but sometimes my Moore Preamp Live or my Spark is just more convenient.
I’m in my mid 50’s.
I’ve owned more guitars than I can remember, but I remember owning 2 real Alpine White Les Paul Customs.
And I remember buying a Korean Epiphone Les Paul Standard from the late 80’s/early 90’s that ate both of the real Gibsons.
Now, I have a Yamaha Revstar 2, and a $200 Yamaha Pacifica 112V.
I learned to set up, level frets, etc., and I’ll never part with either of them.
