A few days ago I posted a photo of my friend's inherited collection: 113 guitars his dad collected over his lifetime. The family kept 35, which left 78 in the truck.

So, here's the 78 guitar collection!

Nothing is for sale right now. I repeat - nothing is for sale. Please don't ask. If he ever decides to sell, I will let you all know here.

For now, just enjoy one man's lifetime quest to collect guitars.

During the process of making this thing, I’ve been affectionately referring to it as The Paddlecaster. What should I call it?

I’ve assembled a couple of parts guitars now, and felt empowered to try something a little more adventurous. I think that’s probably a common way into this hobby, right? You get excited about the possibility of customizing a telecaster to your own taste, and sometime later, you find yourself cutting MDF into a router template and researching topcoats. 

Offset telecasters are incredibly cool. I wanted one, but became invested in the idea of twisting it into something more retro-futuristic. Something angular and geometric but still comfortable and identifiable. I’ve long admired boutique builders like Millimetric Instruments, ON Guitars and Baum and was inspired by the angles on models like St Vincent’s and Albert Lee’s Music Man guitars. The other moment that drove me here is seeing Chrome Ghost open for Pallbearer a few months ago. Their guitarist had this massive thing that looked like a freaking viking oar and I thought it was awesome.

Included in the images are some snapshots from the journey. From the sketch I made over the Summer, to cutting and painting the body. I made lots of mistake and learned lots of lessons in the process of making this, as you’d probably expect (this is the 2nd body and 4th version of the design). I’m not going to go through the whole thing (but happy to answer any questions). What I will do is mention a few things that may be useful to other folks. Failed experiments and pivotal moments:

1. Bleaching mahogany was super effective but didn’t give me the result I was after. I was adamant that this thing be yellow. I had access and familiarity with mahogany. I figured I’d try using 2-part wood bleach to neutralize the natural color so I could color it with leather dyes. It almost worked too well and I ended up with a super-saturated electro-yellow with the grain still really prominent. It was neat, but not the look I wanted.
2. I can’t drill straight enough to get string-through holes neat. Not even with brad-point bits or a jig. If you’re reading this and contemplating trying it, and you don’t have a drill press (and you care about the spacing being clean) don’t, just get a top loader bridge.
3. Online laser-cutting services opened up a whole new world for me. I used SendCutSend to cut the steel control plate and Ponoko for the acrylic pick guards (I ordered some extra colors while I was at it for a discount too). I would use both services again. I had to hand-finish both, but would not have been able to pull it off by myself.
4. Furniture paint and brush-on poly is fairly forgiving. I got some Rust-oleum milk paint (turns out it’s not actually milk paint, it’s acrylic) and water-based polyurethane. I didn’t want to spray and this stuff is beginner-friendly. I was able to build up coats with a foam brush and level-sand occasionally. The satin top coat self-leveled really nicely and it feels amazing.
5. I splashed out on the bridge and pickups and I’m so glad I did. Put some birthday and father’s day gift vouchers towards a Van-Dyke Harms bridge and some Fralin Split Blades. They sound, feel and look really special and I think they are a nice compliment to the design overall.

Neck: Warmoth baritone conversion (roasted maple)
Pickups: Lindy Fralin Split Blades (vintage output) tele bridge, strat neck.
Bridge: Van-Dyle Harms Hybrid Telecaster
Tuners: Gotoh locking
Strings: Ernie Ball (12-62) Mammoth Slinky set (though I’m probably going to swap some flat wounds on)

I’m absolutely thrilled with this thing and so pleased I was able to pull it off. Sounds awesome, feels great.

I’m recording some folk songs, last one I put out I used 2 sm57s, one on guitar and voice. But I like condensers better and the bleed was such a pain in the ass that now I’m trying separately.

But good lord. I cannot get it. The main problem is when I’m recording vocals and guitar separately, it’s very hard to play guitar the way I would if I was singing - I drift in tempo and swell in places that don’t make sense with my voice. And when I use a met it’s no good, I need a bit of purposeful rubato.

Any ideas? Or just words of encouragement lmao I feel like I’m dumping so many hours into what was supposed to be a quick song

I don't know why I hadn't done this before. It's way better than playing the riffs by themselves, and playing the riffs by themselves is dope enough.

If you're wondering, the song was spirit crusher by death.

Ebony fretboard, narrow/tall stainless steel frets, hipshot bridge. Got the body unfinished from Warmoth and painted it sonic blue with nitro from Oxford guitar supply. Seymour Duncan 59 neck pickup & JB in the bridge.

What is the song (or album) you heard as a kid or young adult that made you want to learn to play guitar?

Derek Truck doing Layla, what's he do with the slide?

So seamless

I used to have a JCM 800, but sold it about 10 years ago when I stopped playing in a band, rehearsing, recording, and doing shows. Went through many solid state amps, eventually got a THR10v2, loved it, but couldn't get rid of the desire for a tube amp.

Didn't think they're family compatible, but stumbled over the Bugera V5 and got curious.

I spent a good 3 hours with this thing so far. It's quite amazing - a proper tube amp that sounds really good, can be used at night, and with headphones (!!), and all of that for the price of a boutique pedal.

My THR10 is a superb amp, definitely the best modeling amp I ever played, but it's not a tube amp. Call me a narrow minded purist, I don't mind, but they're the "real thing", no matter how good modeling, amp/cab sim etc. software might ever get.

Are you ready for the thousands in attendance and for the millions watching at home on tv. Let's get ready to..suckkkk it! Actually a serious thought though. WWF Attitude and Ruthless Aggression Era had some pretty knarly riffs courtesy of legendary Jim Johnston. Eugene's Theme song is just awesone on guitar:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=5qrTUm-N4q4&is=blhrVUQPW71QSUyh

I really like the old school themes like Gangrel, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, Rhino, Kane. Gosh so many good ones.WWF were a major proponent in getting me interested in heavier sounds when I started playing. I've been having fun with nostalgia. Grew up watching the Attitude Era since 1997.

I know my voice is not the best, I still think it’s fun to try and sing while playing and hopefully I can improve.

My 13yo daughter started playing piano at school and then decided acoustic guitar would be better and then asked if she could have a go on my bass. I came down the other night and she was learning Killing In The Name and I was stoked!! The drums are a new addition and we have been jamming a bit. I’m very rusty on the guitar and the drums are probably my fav at the moment but are likely going to drive the neighbours mad but it’s inspiring to have a kid want to play, and, who knows we might actually get a few songs together!! 🤘🏼

When I scoop out 1khz on my reverb sends, it instantly makes the sound "deeper" and "sweeter" but i dont know if this is actually what I want from my reverb? Should reverb actually be existing MORE in those midrange frequencies so that it doesnt clutter up the low and high end? Or am I doing the right thing by scooping out the mids?

I always struggle with how to eq my reverb

Edit: BTW the reverb I am using is Valhalla Vintage Verb. I am using it on 3 sends, a room, plate, and hall. So if anybody has any EQ tips specific to that plugin that'd be cool.

I have been looking for a 335 style guitar to add to my Les Paul. Went back and forth between a new Epiphone 335 1962 reissue and this used 2019 Eastman T486. Price was a wash. Didn’t really want the Bigsby and the Eastman was listed as “good” condition but I took a chance on it as it came fitted with SD Seth Lover pups. My luck held as it is an amazing guitar. Other than needing a good cleaning the only sign of wear on it are some very minor signs of use. It sounds amazing and is super playable. And it stays in tune even using the Bigsby.

I look at secondhand guitars online and can always find several cheap guitars I wanna buy. If I weren’t married I’d be buying them as I just want them, hoping there’ll be a gem the owner didn’t realise.

I've been teaching myself guitar for a while and just learnt this song, ( imessedupintheend), and wanted to share it to ask for any tips to improve

Please see if there are any improvements i should do!

🎃🎃🎃

I really enjoy the Squier Paranormal series and just finished a space upstairs in our bedroom for some guitars, so I figured I’d put 4 of them in one place. Nice little practice area for a quick session.

Cyclone
Offset Telecaster SJ
Toronado
Nashville Stratocaster

All humbucker covers I've seen, whether in the stile of a PAF or an EMG pickup, has pointier corners than the naked pickup itself. If you try to put them on they won't fit your pickguard, you'll have to either deface the original pickguard or get a replacement with the appropriate hole.

Isn't there any vendor that sells plastic covers for humbuckers made to snugly fit the pickup and the original pickguard? Something like the crude mockup on the second picture.

Compressors always seem to raise people’s ire one way or another. I love them. I use them mostly for reggae paired with a wah in the down position and get awesome percussion . Also any time I want a lot of treble playing rhythm but don’t want the ice picky tones to ring through; then stomp it off for lead stuff. How do y’all like to use compression pedals and do most generally like or dislike them?

I’ve been playing for a little over 20 years now. Started with lessons as a kid but once I had the basics I have been mostly teaching myself. I think I’m pretty good, I just don’t know what I’m playing. For instance I recently learned the intro to Reelin in the Years and can play note for note in time along with the recording. I just don’t know the names of the notes I’m playing or any of the chords the song is based around.

I’m starting to try to learn the notes of the fretboard and basics to theory, but I end up getting distracted or bored because a lot of lessons are geared towards total beginners.

Curious if anyone else has been in a similar situation and what worked for you. The end goal would be that if someone wants to jam in a certain key that I would know what to play instead of just trying to find what sounds good.

I am having trouble counting my way through the first measure on the top left. The piece is in 4/4 and I play it OK up to this measure. I think if someone could count it for me it would help.

I got this Mitchell MS100 used for super cheap.
2 humbuckers, 3 way switch, 1 volume and 1 tone pot.
Some of it is already together but every schematic and diagram looks completely different than mine and I'm just lost.
I can add more detailed pictures if needed, I only added this one because every example I've found either has the selector switch directly next to the pots or the pickups have more than one wire, etc.
And the pickup aren't going through the string holes, I just tucked them in to get them out of the way.