10 Questions We Ask Everyone

FastEddie · February 2017

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A classical guitar. Not sure of the brand as it's in my parents loft.
It was bought for £40 in 1980, I was 9.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My classical

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Aforementioned classical

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A Cornell Plexi with a 12 inch speaker.

5: What strings do you use?
On my gretsch, strat and tele it's Ernie Ball. The packet with top light, bottom heavy. I am trying the super light strings Billy Gibbons endorses, Rev or something, on my P90 loaded LP. My 58 Custom Shop LP has Gibson LP strings, 11 on top.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I recorded a solo with the amp in a steel bath. Said amp was a very, very old Supro, guitar was a 58 custom shop LP. I was asked to get a Brian May sound, crazy with that rig, but it came out country and chicken picking. As a result it was pushed back in the mix. My change is to bring it forward. It was a cracking little solo.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
I don't play onstage. My role is recording only. The last time I played on stage was in 1985, I was 14, and quite simply was panicking.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Probably trying to calm down!

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Nothing.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Bin the plectrum. I learned playing classical and have never quite got on with picks. I should have binned them years ago. I rarely use one these days.

Dan_Q · February 2017

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
I "borrowed" the family classical for a year or so then saved up for my 1993ish sunn mustang (new). Still rock it today but i wore the neck out and it now has a squier one and fender electrics (HH).

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My 90's MIJ strat.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
I have a 1970's Kay SG. Probably because I did something terrible in a previous life, and this is punishment. If anybody wants to buy it PM me, as this spring I may put it on the chimenea.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
If I end up regularly Jamming I'll need a bass amp that can keep up with a drum kit. I currently rent one.

5: What strings do you use?
6 string> d'addario XL 10's, rotoreds (11's)
bass> d'addario XL light top / medium bottom roundwounds or XL chrome super light flats

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
To actually make a recording exist I guess.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
It's been 20 odd years, back then would definitely have been a cigarette.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Pint.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Bassist's amp gave up.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Lessons / real music ASAP. Still not done either.

StrummerBoy · February 2017

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Well I "borrowed" my brother's Kay Les Paul copy, but my first own guitar was a Yamaha RGX312.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My Squier Classic Vibe 50s Tele.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Still got the Kay Les Paul somewhere.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Thinking about getting A Squier Bullet Mustang or a Katana amp.

5: What strings do you use?
D'Addario regular 10s. Not that fussy to be honest.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Haven't done any proper ones.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Never played live, apart from in an orchestra with my French Horn!

8: ...And five minutes after?
See above.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
See above.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Get some proper tuition.

kaypeejay · February 2017

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A really cheap non-descript 3/4 size acoustic in 1982

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My Taylor 314ce which is currently being delivered

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
1980s Epiphone PR350s Acoustic .

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
That's the Taylor above.

5: What strings do you use?
Not fussy

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
The playing. I only have one recording on my iPhone and it is the thing that spurs me on to learn properly

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
If it ever happens, I would imagine I would be puking!

8: ...And five minutes after?
Drinking beer

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
In the school play when I was 6. I played Santa and forgot to give one girl a present. Cue bedlam on the stage much to everyone's amusement but my embarrassment. Yes, I know that's not what you meant.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Stick at it. Look for other people to play with and learn the theory instead of messing about.

93SuperVee · February 2017

1. My first Woolworths' acoustic was so unplayable it barely counted as a guitar, so I'm proud to say it was a 1981 Westbury Standard (Matsumoku, DM Super Distortions) recommended by and bought from Bert Veale Music in Neath - still got it, still beats the crap out of most Gibsons I've played.

2. My '91USA Standard Strat - most versatile (and sexy) guitar ever made or ever will be (the Tele loses on sexuality)

3. 1981 Westbury Standard as above - will never be sold and not just for sentimental reasons (see comment on Gibbos)

4. I'd really like a Firebird....mini humbuckers of course (sorry about the Gibsons comments...)

5. 10-52, exact brand is irrelevant & overrated (though if Legacy want to sponsor me...)

6. Huh? You can record these things?

7. Peacemaking between the drummer and singer.

8. Peacemaking between the singer and the audience.

9. Having done an emergency pre gig "fix" on the bass player's borrowed Hiwatt head by wrapping the fuse in fag box foil, hearing and smelling the impending demise of somebody else's amp (we were young and desperate - don't do it kids).

10. If you have a passion, feed and nurture it - don't let others put you off and don't make excuses.

RiftAmps · February 2017

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Boosley and Hawkes classical - Christmas 1994

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Andy Viccars LP Goldtop w/single P90

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
2001 Epiphone Casino - Turquoise

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A burst replica

5: What strings do you use?
Ernie Ball pure nickel 10-46

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Not sure, probably the sillly habit that I got into of string bending like Noel Gallagher.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Having a wee, then tightening my shoelaces.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Having a wee, then changing into my slip ons.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Played an open-mic in Worcester once, we tuned up our instruments 5 mins before going on stage then went to the bar for a quick re-order of beer. Went on stage and everything was horrendously out of tune, found out that a local twat had sneaked over to our guitars and untuned them to spite us. Bellend. We got booed off stage halfway into first song.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Don't break your left wrist, ever. The recovery time is agggesss and your playing sucks afterwards.

AlasdairDavis · February 2017

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Crappy Fender Stratocoustic... loved it though.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My 2014 American Fender Telecaster double humbucker.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Admira Classical

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A Fender Strat

5: What strings do you use?
Ernie Balls

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Too much stuff to mention!

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Looking for a drink

8: ...And five minutes after?
Looking for another drink

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Collapsing after being advised by surgeon not to play the gig and rushing to hospital for surgery.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Start playing earlier.

Habanero · February 2017

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Westone Thunder 1A in around 1984.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Charvel Model 5A

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Tokai Goldstar strat copy from 1984

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Maybe an octafuzz pedal

5: What strings do you use?
Ernie Ball 9s

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I once did a good recording and about halfway through the input level clipped and ruined it.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
If it ever happens, I'd be wondering what I was doing there.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Asking myself if that was some kind of dream

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Realising it's not a dream

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Play what you actually like rather than trying to follow the latest trends

danlpt · March 2017

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Fender Strat HH for my 13th birthday.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
A tough one. I have 2 hands so i'd grab my Peal LP Custom and my Baja Tele. Cheating?

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
My Pearl LP Custom Copy. 70's but not sure of the exact year.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
Hopefully a Nash Tele by the end of the year.

5: What strings do you use?
D'Addario NYXL 11-52

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?

My bands first demos, when we had no idea how to even mic a cab up well.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Nerves, and warming up my fingers.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Tear down, beer, chase the promoter for out cut.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
My 89 JMP went into melt down, no backup available. rest of the gig played with just one guitarist.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Turn that bloody gain down, you can sound big while still keeping a little clarity. You also don't need the highest possible output pickup you can find.

Costello · March 2017

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Started learning on a cheap old Spanish nylon-strung acoustic, borrowed from my mum.

Borrowed my first electric too, from an old pal of my dad's. It was a 1960s 'catalogue' guitar - the make was Broadway. Had to get it re-wired by Dave Dearnaley before I could get a sound out of it! I think that's why I like worn-in guitars and have no problem with a nicely done relic.

The first guitar I actually owned came about a year later. It was a Tanglewood Santana (exactly what it sounds like - PRS copy complete with 'seagull' inlays). Still got it. One day when money is no object I'd like to get it refinished in a lighter finish and change the pickups and electrics. Hard to justify doing that on a mid-90s copy guitar though.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My Les Paul Custom.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
The Les Paul Custom. 1977. Retrofitted with P90s - apparently in the Gibson factory, but I've never verified that.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
The Custom is a heavy beast, and I do like a bridge humbucker. So I would love a Huber Krautster ii, Springer Halfbreed or Hartung Junico - something nice and light, beautifully crafted but not blingy, with P90/bucker combination.

5: What strings do you use?
10-46, usually Ernies.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I'd get paid for it :-)

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Thinking about the gig.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Thinking about the gig.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Totally forgetting what comes next!

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Learn more theory. To which my younger self would be totally justified in responding, "Okay, *you* learn more theory."

missmisstreater · March 2017

The FretBoard Diaries (Video responses you didn't ask for!) is back!

Daves6guitars · March 2017

1) Jedson Les Paul Copy back in 1968

2) My 1994 G&L Special

3) Burns Sonic from the early 60's, in bits ready for restoration

4) Fender Hot Rod Deville

5) Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys

6) Yes, as above, improve on it

7) Rounding up the others!!

8) Head for the bar!

9) Dropped my AC30 down a fire escape, loosened the cab a bit but still worked OK when I switched it on next time

10) Encourage myself to read music

Boromedic · March 2017

I'm not new here although I'm far from a regular, so in honour of being back online I thought I'd go for it...

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Ibanez RG507 in Jewel Blue, 1997 on the never never after playing my mates old Yamaha with a floyd copy. I wanted a Les but that would come later......

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?

Les Paul Standard

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?

CF Mountain and Co acoustic from the 70's

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?

All good for now but probably a pedal or 3.....

5: What strings do you use?

D'addario 10-46 on the Les or Hybrid 9-46 on my Wolfgang copy.....

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?

Most things as I was never involved in the mixing as my mate was a ****er, generally give them more life and make them more live sounding considering they were all one take and live and yet have as much life as an Asteroid......

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?

Used to be chain smoking, then playing. Now just playing......

8: ...And five minutes after?

As above, drinking and smoking, now just drinking.....

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?

Lead singer disorder......... (not me I hasten to add....)

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Practice you procrastinating fool......

Danji · March 2017

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
It would have been a secondhand nylon string, I cannot remember when, it would have been mid eighties.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My Taylor acoustic, it's not expensive, but I have racked a load of miles on it.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Ibanez PM100, I think it's 1996

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A handbuilt acoustic, something like an Atkin.

5: What strings do you use?
Acoustic - Elixir 12s
Solidbody - Ernie Ball 12s
Archtops - D'addario Chromes 12s

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I tend not to listen to anything that I have recorded for that reason.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Ciggie, then I wash my hands

8: ...And five minutes after?
Cig

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Dropped my LP when tuning and snapped the headstock off

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Practice more

BrizzleRocker · March 2017

New guy here, this looks like a good starting point!

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
My Dad's old classical that was restrung with steel strings. Neck like a banana and action that you limbo under.

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
2001 Les Paul standard that I've been gigging with for the past 15 years and my Martin SWOM acoustic (that's two I know)

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
Probably my Gordon Smith GS2, 20 years old this year.

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
An ABY pedal to use both channels of my Vox.

5: What strings do you use?
For the electrics I've just changed to Rotosound 10s, but still using up old stock of D'addario 11s (Les Paul) and 12s (Telecaster). Martin own strings on the acoustic.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I started a great song but lost the Logic project file. Only left with an MP3 on SoundCloud!

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Tuning or swigging back the last of my jack n coke.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Packing up!

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
My old GMajor died a few times and I've had an amp overheat. I've frozen once, completely forgetting the intro.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
You can play like Steve Vai if you want, you just have to put in the work. Start slow and build up. And don't dismiss Eric Johnson so quickly, you will want to play like that one day.

DLM · March 2017

@BrizzleRocker Hullo! Nice to see another familiar face from UKMG joining up.

johnnycashsboots · April 2017

Lixarto said:

As seen in “Guitarist” magazine. We did this twice on MR, but I thought it might be fun to do it again, seeing as we’re now over here, and the questions have changed:

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
A Custom [brand name] Cherry Red DC Les Paul Junior copy. Cost about 80 quid. Wish I still had it. 1979/80

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
Gibson ES 175.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
1957 Supro Dual Tone [like what Bowie played]

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
TV Yellow DC Les Paul Junior

5: What strings do you use?
Can't remember

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Nothing. What's done is done.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Hair.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Analysis.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Turned around after checking my amp and walloped a lassie who had decided to sit on the stage in the back of the head with my [sadly missed] Les Paul Custom.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Learn songs and sing and play.

SC81 · April 2017

1. What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
First ever was a cheap black Encore Strat copy c. 1994. Awful instrument! First proper was an Epiphone Les Paul Standard in 1997

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
For sentimental value the Les Paul.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
1997 Epiphone Les Paul Standard

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A valve amp of some sort. Maybe an orange.

5: What strings do you use?
Ernie Ball power slinky

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
Find someone who knows how to produce it properly and find a better drummer!

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Drinking probably!

8: ...And five minutes after?
After making sure my equipment was safe, drinking again probably!

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
When I was younger my back line amp wasn't loud enough to be heard on stage, so I missed a few chords. Also trod on leads loads of times!

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Practice more and listen to lots of different players.

ToneFerDayz!!1! · April 2017

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?
Squier Strat, 1993

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?
My dad's old Gibson J-50 that I've inherited. It's a beast but it's got sentimental value.

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?
1972 Gibson J-50

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?
A Vibro Champ or something tweed.

5: What strings do you use?
I never use anything lighter than 11s, but whatever the local Czech music store has for cheap.

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?
I'd have gotten rid of that damn drummer years ago and bought an 808 when they were cheap.

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?
Usually just calming my mind and making myself relax. Everyone gets stage fright, it's just easier to cope with it and ignore it with practice.

8: ...And five minutes after?
Having a drink with friends or getting my stuff off stage in a hurry.

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
Projectile vomiting in the middle of the first after eating some very sketchy pizza during sound check. Lesson learned.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?
Don't be a snob, listen to more styles!

Jahanasaurus · April 2017

1: What was your first guitar and when did you get it?

A Stagg Bass in 2002

2: The building’s burning down – what one guitar do you save?

My Suhr modern custom

3: What’s the oldest guitar that you own?

My Green Suhr is around 5-6 years old? Not fussed by vintage stuff t

4: And the next piece of gear you’d like to acquire?

Probably some new pickups or a Line6 G50

5: What strings do you use?

D'Daddario 10-52 NYXL/EXL

6: If you could change one thing about a recording of yours, what would it be?

The production

7: What are you doing five minutes before you go onstage?

Trying to round up the band or grab a water for the stage!

8: ...And five minutes after?

Panic-Breaking everything down!

9: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?

My speaker cable jumped out the cabinet and when I tried to push it back in... maximum electric shocks were received.

10: What advice would you give your younger self about playing the guitar?

Less sweeps more changes!

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My head said brake, but my heart cried never.