OK, I'm Back

[marnold***]

This is a follow-up to this thread.

Well, after starting that thread, I've been listening to a bunch of metal and got the desire to play again. Yeah, I screwed more than a few things up, but it was fun. I just plugged my Jackson right into my Jet City and played. I decided that I was going to get back to learning the solo to "Breaking the Chains" since it is just about the easiest Lynch solo out there, although there is a ton of bending, including a couple of step-and-a-half bends. Gotta hit those right or the whole things sounds off. My fingertips are very sore now, but in a good way.

I know it sounds weird to post this only four days after starting the other thread, but remember that had been going on for a couple of months before I said anything about it. Maybe just writing about it was catharsis enough. I've often found in counseling that I don't have to say anything brilliant most of the time, just let the other person talk. The lesson for today is don't sell anything when you are in a bad mood (kind of like "Don't go grocery shopping when you're hungry.")

Hopefully after this I plan to revisit the lead parts to Sabbath's "Paranoid" (aka "Hound of the Baskervilles") and John Hiatt's "Perfectly Good Guitar."

I also can't help but wonder if my ennui was due to the fact that since I got my Jackson and my Jet City, my level of GAS has been as close to nil as any guitarist's could ever be. I mean, I've had the guitar for two years and the amph for one and a half. Usually by now any warts would be glaring. They just aren't there. Yeah, I've glanced at some Agiles, but only in passing. I'd also like to get a true-bypass delay pedal to replace my Boss, but that's pretty low-end GAS. Maybe my life as a guitarist up to this point has been more GAS-motivated than playing-motivated. I just need to adjust to the new reality.

I now return you to your regularly-scheduled metal:

[Monkus]

lol, very cool. We really were listening though...

[Eric***]

I'll take that as a '+1' then...

I'm glad you're back! I just decided today that I'm going to break my Jet City out of storage tonight. I got a replacement power light for it, so I should figure out how to install it.

[Lev]

Thats great, I'm sure these threads will help others who get into similar ruts. I think it happens to all of us at some point.

One question that did occur to me when reading your original thread was are we becoming victims of information overload? Back in the 80s I used to sit for hours listen to records working out riffs and speculating about what guitar of FX were being used. Now its all at our finger tips with youtube and google. Some of the mystery and magic has gone from learning an instrument. We can instantly compare our chops against a million other guitarists. We can quickly identify our limitations and become disheartened. We cant even use crappy gear as an excuse because there's an abundance of affordable quality gear available to us.

Anyway, I digress. Now can we bring back brother Jimi from the brink?

[FrankenFretter***]

Glad to hear you're back, Rev. I go through that every so often myself, so I know where you're coming from. The past few days I've had some irritating tinnitus, which makes everything sound like crap, but I've still indulged in playing pretty much every night. It's not as satisfying, though.

I do loves me some old Sabbath, btw. Excellent choice!

[marnold***]

One question that did occur to me when reading your original thread was are we becoming victims of information overload? Back in the 80s I used to sit for hours listen to records working out riffs and speculating about what guitar of FX were being used. Now its all at our finger tips with youtube and google. Some of the mystery and magic has gone from learning an instrument. We can instantly compare our chops against a million other guitarists. We can quickly identify our limitations and become disheartened. We cant even use crappy gear as an excuse because there's an abundance of affordable quality gear available to us.

Along these same lines, there's a zillion different guitars, amphs, pedals, pickups, etc., etc., etc. out there. For all of them, you will find someone who will say that it is the best thing since sliced bread. We have access to more information than ever. The trick is trying to determine which of it is useful. The problem then is that you spend so much time trying to decipher all of this that you don't actually play.

That's also why I wondered aloud whether my finding my perfect combo of guitar and amph actually contributed to everything. I stopped bothering trying to find truth in the noise and was just left with my guitar, amph, and what meager skillz I have. Sort of like newlyweds who are desperately in love having to get used to the mundane realities of life. When they were dating, their relationship was their break from Real Life (tm). Now their relationship IS real life.

[Tig***]

Welcome back! (I knew all you really needed was a good dose of Teh Brootalz)

[Spudman***]

Playing more guitar is the new G.A.S.

[Brian Krashpad]

Bienvenue!