A bunch of random thoughts on getting back into guitar for the 3rd time

B

BrammyH

Mayor McSleaze
I never really know how to answer "How long have you played?" I played pretty heavy from 1984-1991. Then took a break until 2012, played then until 2017. That band died and the most I did was kinda run through scales and chords until a month or so ago.

This time, I wanted to do two things: Probably focus more on metal, and I've had the same 2nd guitar player in every band since 1984. He's still one of my best friends. I wanted this time to try making music with someone else. As my wife predicted, that didn't last at all since he is close to the safest option to jam with. The more I started playing metal again, the less joy I felt. I still like it, but I'm not the angry thrasher I was back in the 80s.

I also don't think I really have it in me for a band this time. I want to keep playing, but jamming with my buddy off and on with some backing tracks sounds like a good mental health exercise. Saying yes to a band would be saying no to some other activity I enjoy.

It's coming back a lot faster than I thought. Muscle memory is truly a thing and while I'm not at the point I was when I stopped in 2017, I'm closer after a month than I thought I'd be.

As I get older, I am more cognizant of how much crap I carry around. I have a ToneX pedal on my Pedal Train Nano board. When jamming with others, I'll run it into my Egnator Head and Mesa cab. That said, I'm not thrilled with this. I'd like to get to a point where it's one trip from the car to rehearsal. We'll likely play at my place since he lives in a condo. However, he is without wheels for a bit so I'd have to bring it to his condo, and up to the 3rd floor. I'm not sure I want to get an FRFR speaker, but I am thinking of getting one of those power amps in a pedal and mounting it on the pedal board. Jamming with him, I'd just grab a guitar, pedalboard, and amp. I will find out tomorrow what, if anything he has for practice amps too.

I also remembered how much I love this forum. Unlike other forums, it's a nice a chill place. Glad it's still here.
 
micwalt said:
Welcome back to guitar! FRFRs are really great, just saying.
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Yah. My wife's band is firing up more, so getting her gear is a higher priority. Thinking about it, depending on how long he is without wheels, I could just leave the stack there.

I've bought the ToneX and a new LP and I don't want to spend more money.
 
BrammyH said:
I also don't think I really have it in me for a band this time. I want to keep playing, but jamming with my buddy off and on with some backing tracks sounds like a good mental health exercise. Saying yes to a band would be saying no to some other activity I enjoy.
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This is basically what I do, except there are four of us and a drum machine. We get together once a week and none of it's any good but it's social, it provides an opportunity to play with other people, it's occasionally challenging, and it's a fun time.

We're playing in a living room with a mixer and one powered speaker on the floor in the middle of the room. The mixer handles the singer's mic, the drum machine, and my guitars. I'm totally happy with it. I've got a Friedman IR-D on my board and I just use that with one of the cab options and it sounds great. The other players are using small amps.
 
BrammyH said:
I never really know how to answer "How long have you played?" I played pretty heavy from 1984-1991. Then took a break until 2012, played then until 2017. That band died and the most I did was kinda run through scales and chords until a month or so ago.

This time, I wanted to do two things: Probably focus more on metal, and I've had the same 2nd guitar player in every band since 1984. He's still one of my best friends. I wanted this time to try making music with someone else. As my wife predicted, that didn't last at all since he is close to the safest option to jam with. The more I started playing metal again, the less joy I felt. I still like it, but I'm not the angry thrasher I was back in the 80s.

I also don't think I really have it in me for a band this time. I want to keep playing, but jamming with my buddy off and on with some backing tracks sounds like a good mental health exercise. Saying yes to a band would be saying no to some other activity I enjoy.

It's coming back a lot faster than I thought. Muscle memory is truly a thing and while I'm not at the point I was when I stopped in 2017, I'm closer after a month than I thought I'd be.

As I get older, I am more cognizant of how much crap I carry around. I have a ToneX pedal on my Pedal Train Nano board. When jamming with others, I'll run it into my Egnator Head and Mesa cab. That said, I'm not thrilled with this. I'd like to get to a point where it's one trip from the car to rehearsal. We'll likely play at my place since he lives in a condo. However, he is without wheels for a bit so I'd have to bring it to his condo, and up to the 3rd floor. I'm not sure I want to get an FRFR speaker, but I am thinking of getting one of those power amps in a pedal and mounting it on the pedal board. Jamming with him, I'd just grab a guitar, pedalboard, and amp. I will find out tomorrow what, if anything he has for practice amps too.

I also remembered how much I love this forum. Unlike other forums, it's a nice a chill place. Glad it's still here.
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Welcome back to both the forum and the guitar. I've gone through a few extended breaks as well over the years. I landed pretty much in the same place as you did; enjoying the fun/mental health part of just low-key jamming with friends. We've played a few parties, and even a few bar gigs in the ~13 yrs we've been hanging out. Each time we've played out I get reminded of the difference between jamming for fun and practicing/rehearsing for a gig. The latter turns into work, but like any work, pays off with improved skills. I have a lot of respect for professional musicians and the work it takes to be successful at it. It is not easy.
 
Congrats on getting back into guitar. I never stopped playing, but I am in the middle of a long period where I don’t play a lot. I seem to have forgotten more than I remember at this point.

I never used digital modeling live. I’ve only used tube amps live in the past.

I use modeling (or capture) for direct recording, and low volume playing at home. I’ve only used FRFR at home.

FRFR is versatile because you can use a variety of speaker cab + mic IR’s. It reminds me of using a PA monitor live without the tube amp behind. I’m sure I could have gotten used to using digital live via FRFR, but I probably would have missed the oomph of the tube amp blaring behind me on stage.

Since I mostly play at home, and occasional jam sessions out with friends, I still mainly use tube amps. I have noticed that digital feels and sounds much closer to tube amps if fed through real guitar cabs. Since I have multiple real guitar cabs, I’ve mostly abandoned using FRFR except for direct recording.

I’ve noticed that some pro players who use modeling live on big stages, also have a real tube amp behind them. I’ve read that the audience is only hearing the digital setup. The amp behind the guitarist is for the player’s, feel, sound, inspiration.

If I went back to playing bars, there is no way I’d be hauling a bunch of extra gear. It would be modeling, or capture, through FRFR. Class D powered FRFR are so much lighter than tube heads and typical guitar cabs. And, since an audience often hears a band through PA speakers, digital sims sound like the real deal to them.
 
jrockbridge said:
I have noticed that digital feels and sounds much closer to tube amps if fed through real guitar cabs.
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Yeah, running my ToneX Pedal into the FX return on my Egnator head yields still that tube warmth. I am blessed I live in the woods so I can crank it. I do prefer playing through headphones though.
jrockbridge said:
And, since an audience often hears a band through PA speakers, digital sims sound like the real deal to them.
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Yeah, I think it's unlikely (famous last words) we do a full band anytime soon. If we do, and a PA is involved I'll just go out from the ToneX to the PA.

I got together with my friend today to hang out. We are both members of a model train club so we were going there. It was funny to see our old set list on his music stand.
 
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