April 3, 2021

Guitar

I started taking guitar lessons when I was 14; I lasted all of eight sessions? It wasn’t until I was 25 that I started taking an interest in learning again. I regret not taking it more seriously when I was younger, but I think I would have regretted not picking it back up even more. It’s never too late to start!

My typical loadout:

  • Fender Telecaster
  • Vox AC15
  • Hotcake Distortion

Guitars

If you’re interested in learning the instrument, you’re going to need a guitar. There are thousands of different models out there to choose from and selecting one can be a daunting task. Ultimately, what separates a good guitar from a bad one is quality control. Don’t worry about pickups or “tone” wood – you want something that, when properly setup:

  • Stays in tune
  • Can be intonated (as much as possible w/ equal temperament)

Recommendations

If you’re interested in an acoustic, Yamaha makes a fine instrument. It’s at a price point that’s acceptable to someone just starting out – who might not stick with it? – while also being something that you can grow into. You should spend hours of practice before you spend hundreds of dollars on an upgrade.

  • Yamaha FG800

It gets a little trickier with electric guitars; the amp you pick is going to have as much of an impact (if not more…) on your sound than anything else. I’m partial to Fender – but advances in CNC technology makes their budget Squier line a very attractive alternative. As for the amp, if you’re going to be playing in a bedroom, digital amps have made some great strides over the years. Yamaha has some excellent offerings in that realm, as does Boss. But if you want to play with a band, consider getting a tube amp.

  • Squier Classic Vibe ‘50s Telecaster
  • Yamaha THR10

I’ve also heard good things about Scuffham S-Gear, but I have no experience with it. You’ll need an audio interface if you want to go the software simulation route.

Setup

What’s a proper setup? There are worse places to start than this example from Joe Walsh:


You should also immerse yourself in “Setting Up Your Guitar to Professional Standards” by Ron Kirn. It’s a 73 page book that details how to setup a Stratocaster, but it’s applicable to almost every guitar you’ll touch. Seriously – this is your new bible.

Theory

Zach Quillen - https://zachquillen.com/
I’m currently taking Zoom lessons with Zach. Highly recommended.

Justin Guitar - https://www.justinguitar.com/
Justin has some good videos on YouTube and has produced a number of quality songbooks.

Rick Beato - https://rickbeato.com/
His “Beato Book 4.0” is a good resource. I find him a bit grating in his videos, but he knows his stuff.

Jesse Rothacher © 2021