Guitar Thread

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

Opinions to thread guys & gals - @Bill Walker (may as well invite you personally as you know I appreciate your opinion).

Sent my US Strat into have a full set up and repair of a fret - currently mulling over replacing the pickups at the same time.

Think it's a 2013 model and feels nice though never particularly bonded with it (you'll remember I bought the Mexi Strat at the same time).

Looking at the fender deluxe drive pickups as an upgrade as they aren the most powerful.

Am I about to get rid of the 'Strat' sound but putting on the supercharged version or am I just about to heighten my overall enjoyment?

Failing that, IF I get on better with the U.S. Strat now, do I upgrade the Mexi?

All opinions welcome folks.

Long live the guitar thread...........

Is there anything particularly bad about the sound of your guitar that warrants a pickup upgrade, or do you just want a different sound?

 

[PinkFinal]

Anyone else got Dupuytren's contracture aka viking hand ?
Having trouble with some chords , varying views on if it's treatable

 

[Onholiday(somemightsay)]

Is there anything particularly bad about the sound of your guitar that warrants a pickup upgrade, or do you just want a different sound?

To be fair, the guy that is giving it the set up pointed that out to me which is fair challenge.

Putting it up against my Tele or Epiphone it feels tame. Nothing wrong (you can drive it from the amp but nothing that catches you on the quieter settings (IMHO).

Just looking to maximise it's potential witho compromising it being a Strat (of that makes sense).

What you thinking?

 

[Nightmare Walking]

1. Make sure you're guitar is set up properly. A high action makes it really difficult.

2. Resist the urge to death grip it( hello tendinitis)

3. Wrist position is important, the further away it is from the neck in the classical position the more pressure is on the strings to help you.

4. Roll your index Barre finger to its side

5. Note which strings are muted as the natural narrowing on parts of your finger can be the culprit. I have to change my Barre finger to a higher placement on a 7th Barre chord over a minor for example.

5. Pull the neck towards you like your trying to break it in half, another way of adding pressure to the strings without using your fingers.

6. Get a squeezy ball to strengthen your fingers

7 it takes time

Cheers mate. I can get the form, it is just difficult changing chords. I am a little bit better today, than I was yesterday and I hope to be a little better tomorrow.

I have also started practicing standing up. I never realised how different it would be, compared to being sat.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

To be fair, the guy that is giving it the set up pointed that out to me which is fair challenge.

Putting it up against my Tele or Epiphone it feels tame. Nothing wrong (you can drive it from the amp but nothing that catches you on the quieter settings (IMHO).

Just looking to maximise it's potential witho compromising it being a Strat (of that makes sense).

What you thinking?

A little more gain rather than a tonal change then?

Makes sense.

 

[Bill Walker]

Opinions to thread guys & gals - @Bill Walker (may as well invite you personally as you know I appreciate your opinion).

Sent my US Strat into have a full set up and repair of a fret - currently mulling over replacing the pickups at the same time.

Think it's a 2013 model and feels nice though never particularly bonded with it (you'll remember I bought the Mexi Strat at the same time).

Looking at the fender deluxe drive pickups as an upgrade as they aren the most powerful.

Am I about to get rid of the 'Strat' sound but putting on the supercharged version or am I just about to heighten my overall enjoyment?

Failing that, IF I get on better with the U.S. Strat now, do I upgrade the Mexi?

All opinions welcome folks.

Long live the guitar thread...........

It's all down to what you're after mate.

Here's a great list of strat pickups, with a description of the sound, those Fishman Fluence sound very nice. Also like the Texas specials.

Best Strat pickups 2025: upgrade your tone with a new set of pups

Treat your prized old battle axe to a set of the best Stratocaster pickups – single coils and humbuckers included

www.guitarworld.com

 

[Onholiday(somemightsay)]

It's all down to what you're after mate.

Here's a great list of strat pickups, with a description of the sound, those Fishman Fluence sound very nice. Also like the Texas specials.

Best Strat pickups 2025: upgrade your tone with a new set of pups

Treat your prized old battle axe to a set of the best Stratocaster pickups – single coils and humbuckers included

www.guitarworld.com

Cheers for that BW - I'd kind of written off the idea of the Seymour Duncans etc due to trying to stay 'Fender'.

I've never really changed or upgraded any of my guitars so this is kind of a leap on my behalf.

I do really like the Tex Mex (that is such a top clean sound they give but I don't really play anything like that).

Going off the Fender demos for each of the pickup types the Deluxe drive ones came off better (granted it's not a well rounded test of them).........

 

[ballbag]

Right then. I am starting to make some progress. I know a few songs, learning scales and arpeggios, getting to grips with chords in the open position and just started on barre chords.

I am doing minor and major in the a and e positions.

Anyone got any tips? My hand is aching with it.

I managed to get my 6th string barre chords better by practicing the E major open chord with my 3rd, 4th and 5th fingers (rather than fingers 1, 2 and 3). Then when I played an F barre, I'd just slide the fingers from the open E chord down a fret and barred the first fret with the index finger.

Another tip I used was to just barre the first 2 strings for a bit, then the first 3 strings, then 4, then 5 and then all 6 strings. Eventually got to the point where barring all 6 strings was a lot easier than when I started.

Good luck man!

 

[Onholiday(somemightsay)]

I managed to get my 6th string barre chords better by practicing the E major open chord with my 3rd, 4th and 5th fingers (rather than fingers 1, 2 and 3). Then when I played an F barre, I'd just slide the fingers from the open E chord down a fret and barred the first fret with the index finger.

Another tip I used was to just barre the first 2 strings for a bit, then the first 3 strings, then 4, then 5 and then all 6 strings. Eventually got to the point where barring all 6 strings was a lot easier than when I started.

Good luck man!

That's exactly how I still naturally play it - it's the 'correct' way that I have to think about but refer to pending where my hand needs to be next..........

 

[threespires]

My eldest went for a mooch around at the Little Guitar Shop in Birmingham yesterday. He came back raving about a Valiant Mercury he'd tried. I'd never heard of it or them but they are seemingly a Ukrainian boutique company. He likes to play guitars he can't afford, if the shop is amenable, so.has played a few decent guitars but is actually quite hard to impress. I've never heard him rave about a guitar like this one. It's a kind of strat/jaguar hybrid and from what he said super versatile and lovely to handle.

Anyone any experience of owning one of these or come across them before?

 

[GornikDaze]

My eldest went for a mooch around at the Little Guitar Shop in Birmingham yesterday. He came back raving about a Valiant Mercury he'd tried. I'd never heard of it or them but they are seemingly a Ukrainian boutique company. He likes to play guitars he can't afford, if the shop is amenable, so.has played a few decent guitars but is actually quite hard to impress. I've never heard him rave about a guitar like this one. It's a kind of strat/jaguar hybrid and from what he said super versatile and lovely to handle.

Anyone any experience of owning one of these or come across them before?

Wow - I never knew this place existed! Looks a decent shop. Mind you visiting guitar shops is a very dangerous hobby for me. That said Mrs Daze did ask if I was going to get another one recently which I took as a green light.

I’ve not heard of Valiant but they do look nice. My local tech is a supplier for Jennings guitars which are amazing.

Jennings Guitars UK

James' Home of Tone proudly represent Californian guitar makers, Jennings Guitars in the UK for the first time. Showcasing their beautifully made and designed guitars this side of the pond, and helping make obtaining one of their instruments that little bit easier. Check out Jennings Guitars today!

www.homeoftone.co.uk

 

[Bill Walker]

Wow - I never knew this place existed! Looks a decent shop. Mind you visiting guitar shops is a very dangerous hobby for me. That said Mrs Daze did ask if I was going to get another one recently which I took as a green light

Ulterior motive mate.

She probably wants to buy herself something...so let hubby have a shiny new guitar

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Opinions to thread guys & gals - @Bill Walker (may as well invite you personally as you know I appreciate your opinion).

Sent my US Strat into have a full set up and repair of a fret - currently mulling over replacing the pickups at the same time.

Think it's a 2013 model and feels nice though never particularly bonded with it (you'll remember I bought the Mexi Strat at the same time).

Looking at the fender deluxe drive pickups as an upgrade as they aren the most powerful.

Am I about to get rid of the 'Strat' sound but putting on the supercharged version or am I just about to heighten my overall enjoyment?

Failing that, IF I get on better with the U.S. Strat now, do I upgrade the Mexi?

All opinions welcome folks.

Long live the guitar thread...........

If you haven't bonded with it then maybe you just need to move on. Any American made fender holds its value really well, however upgrading pick ups does nothing to the value. It might sound different (better?) But it's dead money.

If you like the sound of a particular pick up get a mex made cheaper strat or even a squire and upgrade.

 

[threespires]

Wow - I never knew this place existed! Looks a decent shop. Mind you visiting guitar shops is a very dangerous hobby for me. That said Mrs Daze did ask if I was going to get another one recently which I took as a green light.

I’ve not heard of Valiant but they do look nice. My local tech is a supplier for Jennings guitars which are amazing.

Jennings Guitars UK

James' Home of Tone proudly represent Californian guitar makers, Jennings Guitars in the UK for the first time. Showcasing their beautifully made and designed guitars this side of the pond, and helping make obtaining one of their instruments that little bit easier. Check out Jennings Guitars today!

www.homeoftone.co.uk

Yeah really nice shop and very nice people, older guitar nerds but not po faced and very supportive.

They'd literally just got a collection in from one of their friends who had sadly passed away. In amongst it was a Rickenbacker bass that my son's mate took a real shine too. Gave him an incredible price on it on the basis it was fate that he'd come in at the same time as they'd finished prepping it and he was the sort of lad their mate would've wanted to have it! They know my son and his mate a bit from a couple of gigs they'd played support at but nonetheless it was a very generous price.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Yeah really nice shop and very nice people, older guitar nerds but not po faced and very supportive.

They'd literally just got a collection in from one of their friends who had sadly passed away. In amongst it was a Rickenbacker bass that my son's mate took a real shine too. Gave him an incredible price on it on the basis it was fate that he'd come in at the same time as they'd finished prepping it and he was the sort of lad their mate would've wanted to have it! They know my son and his mate a bit from a couple of gigs they'd played support at but nonetheless it was a very generous price.

I've seen GAK (large Brighton based guitar store with big online presence) has gone bust this last week. Industry chat is there are too many online based stores and one or more was bound to fail.

Must be hard competing with online and we might end up with 2 or 3 online stores and that's it.

 

[Bill Walker]

Yeah really nice shop and very nice people, older guitar nerds but not po faced and very supportive.

They'd literally just got a collection in from one of their friends who had sadly passed away. In amongst it was a Rickenbacker bass that my son's mate took a real shine too. Gave him an incredible price on it on the basis it was fate that he'd come in at the same time as they'd finished prepping it and he was the sort of lad their mate would've wanted to have it! They know my son and his mate a bit from a couple of gigs they'd played support at but nonetheless it was a very generous price.

Mate of mine just got soaked with a Chinese Ric bass off eBay. (A chckenbacker)
Looks dead real till you take it to bits and see inside.
These fakes are getting better.

I recently bought a Chinese 335 direct from China, Superb for the price. I'm looking out for some Gibby pickups for it.



Not suggesting your lads mates is fake btw. :)

 

[threespires]

I've seen GAK (large Brighton based guitar store with big online presence) has gone bust this last week. Industry chat is there are too many online based stores and one or more was bound to fail.

Must be hard competing with online and we might end up with 2 or 3 online stores and that's it.

Hadn't realised GAK had gone to the wall. Sadly you can see it all going the way you say. From what I can tell, the shop I was talking about is essentially the guitar version of Desmonds for anyone who remembers that sitcom. But I think his business model is not focused on volume sales of new equipment so hopefully places like that will survive.

 

[threespires]

Mate of mine just got soaked with a Chinese Ric bass off eBay. (A chckenbacker)
Looks dead real till you take it to bits and see inside.
These fakes are getting better.

I recently bought a Chinese 335 direct from China, Superb for the price. I'm looking out for some Gibby pickups for it.



Not suggesting your lads mates is fake btw. :)

I can't remember which province but there's one specific place in China that benefitted from their BRI strategy and is now a massive guitar hub.

When you consider the quality of some of the lower/mid point OEM stuff made there for the likes of Yamaha. it's pretty impressive for the money and not really a surprise that they've now got the expertise to press on with making increasingly better guitars.

The history of the Rickenbacker in question is known so I think it's legit. Locally there's a bunch of guys who have grown old together and are getting to the end of their regular gigging days and it's nice to see them using the local music community to find good homes for some of their gear rather than just chucking everything online.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Mate of mine just got soaked with a Chinese Ric bass off eBay. (A chckenbacker)
Looks dead real till you take it to bits and see inside.
These fakes are getting better.

I recently bought a Chinese 335 direct from China, Superb for the price. I'm looking out for some Gibby pickups for it.



Not suggesting your lads mates is fake btw. :)

I've been looking at chibson acoustics. The quality and sound is on par with a high end epiphone (based on Facebook group chat). But half the price and with a Gibson logo. For jnr whi takes a guitar to school on a bus every day it makes a lot of sense.

 

[Crooked_rain]

I've seen GAK (large Brighton based guitar store with big online presence) has gone bust this last week. Industry chat is there are too many online based stores and one or more was bound to fail.

Must be hard competing with online and we might end up with 2 or 3 online stores and that's it.

Seems a lot has got to do with online presence now

Look at Andertons, Lee Anderton and his staff have pretty much become Internet celebrities in the guitar world and their business is flying. They do all sorts of fun videos, blindfold tests and all sorts. They have a big following of people just watching their content even if they're not shopping for gear. They've done a great job.

Many other shops just have a guy shredding and then a link to by the guitar. That doesn't cut it these days.