I don't understand some people

[St.James]

Ok, I don't understand most people, but in this case I don't understand why people will ask which guitar, amp or FX they should buy. That makes no sense to me.

This dude I know has been playing guitar for as long as I have. We even played in a band together in the 80's. After all these years he still knows nothing about guitars and amps.

He sold his Marshall amp a few years ago and is now in the market for a new one. I've been letting him use one of my combos, a Marshall, and he loves it. I've offered to sell it to him, but he just likes using my stuff and buying elsewhere... Fucker!

Anyway, he's been on my case about an amp, wanting me to help him find one. I mean, how the fuck do you help someone else find an amp?

I keep saying, just take your guitar to Guitar Center and jam on a few amps and find the one you like. What sounds good to me may sound like fat ass to you.

Now I have to go to guitar center and help dude pick out an amp.

I just don't get it. I have a jam room full of amps, guitars and all sorts of shit and never asked for any help with any of it.

[Guitardude86]

I know I tend to ask a lot of questions about effects, guitars etc., but if I do it's because I haven't had a lot of gear and the chance to try out every single guitar properly. Yeah you could call me a noob.. But it's not like I can by whatever I want when I want to, so when I DO buy something I want to make sure I've made the right decision.
Sometimes if I'm curious about something like, say a delay pedal, it's nice to have the opportunity to ask about it here first.
Is it worth the money, do I really want a delay pedal, or should I rather save up some more and go for a second hand multi-fx unit? And if it's not me asking about it, it's nice to use the search function to see if anyone else has asked about it before, and save Ron the trouble There's a lot of stuff for sale that I won't have the chance of trying out in the store. In that case it's great being able to ask some more experienced folks on this board what they think about it, since I figure they've had a lot to compare it to, and if they think it's worth buying or not. For example I've heard good things about the Rocktron Intellifex here, so I decided to buy one yesterday. FYI, the only guitar I've bought new was my first one, some cheap Korean crap. Everything else has been second hand.. What can I say.. I'm a sucker for good deals

Edit: It's not an Intellifex but turns out to be a Intellipitch. Nice

[Fragle]

[Newc]

If dude has been playing that long and still doesn't know what he wants in an amp, he needs a POD XT Live. He doesn't sound like the type to quibble over "tubes vs computer chips" - he's looking for something that makes noise, and the XTL will make all the noise he should ever want.

That and a Variax and he'll never again ask what guitar or amp he should buy. If he does, just tell him to start turning knobs and mashing buttons on those two - whatever he's looking for is in there somewhere.

[24seven]

There is far too much choice these days so it can be confusing. Be a little more helpful?

[Shawn Lutz]

some peole really just dont know or they have an idea and just want to get opinions to help them make their mind up.

I always say the same thing....tone is so subjective so use your own ears.. after all it will be your amp and your money , take advice from others with a grain of salt and buy whatever YOU feel is best suited for you regardles of make & model of the amp

[markD]

i have never understood that either, but i can see where some people are almost scared to go try stuff. i have been very blessed to be able to buy and try pretty much whatever i want, but i realize not everyone is in that position.

i also consider it a blessing that i found EXACTLY what i was looking for in MY tone requirements way back in 1990. i played a rivera m-100 with a EV speaker and it gave me EVERYTHING i ever wanted to hear, so i really haven't NEEDED to continue to search for gear.

it is fun to talk about gear though. some of my other guitar playing buddies and i sit and talk about new gear a lot, even though we are happy with what we have.

noobs and/or gear-tards are just looking for somebody to save them the leg work of trying a bunch of junk, and hopefully saving them some bucks in the process. nothing wrong with that.......BUT your buddy that keeps using your gear but won't buy it, that IS weak!!!

[jeff300]

What I get is people constantly asking me to help them find a good guitar or amp at a great price. I spend considerable time doing so, and in the end they don't listen to me and go buy a $300 Squire (when they could easily get one for $75, but no....) and then wonder why it doesn't play so well.

[jim777]

I help out a lot of people buying guitars, but many buy the pretty one instead of the good one anyway. They also tend to give up sooner rather than later

[nateb]

There is also a difference between ::

What cabinet should I get?

and

I play a lot of drop tuning stuff and I like a lot of lower end tone. What is the best direction to go?

General / wide questions are the same as spam to me.

Also, not everyone has a guitar center near them or has someone that deals with Engl, Bogner, VHT, Mesa around them and they are forced to order stuff. Its hard for people to ask questions about stuff that is so subjective.

-Nate

[jackson1]

I just don't get it. I have a jam room full of amps, guitars and all sorts of shit and never asked for any help with any of it.

That's because you're gear smart, D. He's not, apparently. But why not enjoy the company of your friend and help him pick out the right amp, having a good time? I know I would enjoy helping my friends out this way, without wondering why they are gear-dweebs

[MikeStrat]

What I get is people constantly asking me to help them find a good guitar or amp at a great price. I spend considerable time doing so, and in the end they don't listen to me and go buy a $300 Squire (when they could easily get one for $75, but no....) and then wonder why it doesn't play so well.

I've had several people do this to me. They ask me for my opinion on buying a guitar. They ask a million questions. I give them pros and cons and even put them in touch with my contacts. Then they go out and pay top dollar for some huge POS guitar from some unknown person. In general, people are amazingly stupid.

Hey Bill - Look at my post count.

[Shawn Lutz]

MikeStrat's post count will soon be a forgotten number, a number of six hundred and sixty-six (posts)...the Number of the Beast!

[UFORocks]

I've had several people do this to me. They ask me for my opinion on buying a guitar. They ask a million questions. I give them pros and cons and even put them in touch with my contacts. Then they go out and pay top dollar for some huge POS guitar from some unknown person. In general, people are amazingly stupid.

People are sheep man, and they want to be told what to do, especially when buying something they know nothing about.

Whenever someone asks my opinion on gear I just tell them to buy what I like, simply for the reason you stated. Why waste my breath when they're probably not going to take my advice anyway, right? I'd rather see a person spend $200 on something I like than see them blow $300 on something I know to be a pile of crap simply because I let them think they had a choice in the matter.

Later,

Steve

[El_Kabong]

I am amazed at how little some players know about gear, especially pros. A little over a year ago and it was verified that it was he, Elliot Eaton of the Cars joined a Hamer message board asking members what a P-90 pick-up sounds like, as he was about to order a custom Hamer and had no idea.