Larryz

@surfergirl & @Caevan O’Shite, I agree completely with your love for the volume location on the Strat. I doubt Leo was thinking of pinky swells when he came up with the location, but I know tons of Strat players love the location of the volume knob for that exact reason. It just doesn't agree with me. Roy Buchanan proved to be one of the greatest pinky swell players and perfected it using a Tele with the volume knob a long way from the 1st string. I have a Strat with just a volume and tone knob, with an EMG volume knob set down a little further from the 1st string, that I love. I can still do pinky swells easily with it. 😎

@KuruPrionz, +1 on moving the volume knob on a Strat further away from the 1st E string. I know you, me and @desertbluesman agree on that one. I believe DBM puts a dime in the volume pot hole and moves the pot to the middle hole. I too have trouble accidently knocking the volume down when I get carried away playing rhythm. The Assassin will have the same issue to contend with...I like blending pickups and I usually set my volume and tone knobs on my electrics where I think they sound best and then its set it and forget it. I play the electric like its an acoustic and as you say, use dynamics to increase and decrease the volume. I will use a clean boost pedal now and then to switch the volume up and down from rhythm to lead, so that I don't have to turn any knobs...😎👍

@KuruPrionz, You will now be known as a real killer...If you are going to play with the wiring, I wonder if you could have all 3 pups active with 3 individual volume pots (one for each pup)? No tone pots just wired straight to the jack? Not needing the 5 way, just adjusting the 3 volumes for whatever tone you want using 3 combos and pup locations. Might be fun to try and wouldn't cost more than 3 new matching pots...Have fun and keep us posted on however your wiring comes out! I could also go for 2 single coils, no middle pup and a 3 way with two volumes and a master tone. I have a Strat set up that way already using 2 EMG humbuckers! 😎

The hardest chord for me to learn as a beginner was the F chord. The issue is that it uses a partial barre on the 1st and 2nd strings using your index finger. But it is a chord that must be learned and so you just have to work at it. The reward is that you can now move that chord formation (which is the same as the open E chord formation) up and down the fret board and know all of your major chords (A B C D E F G) using the 1st string as the root to name the chord. If you barred all six strings you would also know all of your major chords using the 6th string and/or the 1st string, as the root to name the chords. Barre chords will become important to the majority of beginning players a little later down the road... 😎

@Alaska Picker, Welcome aboard! If "the tone is better than fine right now", I would leave the settings as is. It indicates that no one has messed with the factory settings, or if they have, they did a very good job. I'm sure Gibson did take into account the Chet Atkins preferred settings on the specially made 6 saddle pickups system before attaching Chet's name to the model. Magnetic pickups will not work on nylon strings. A lot of how you will sound when playing the guitar depends on the amplification equipment that you plug into and the settings that you will use. Go for the best sound you can hear. I would have a tech make any changes... It reminds me of a story Chet told about people who would say "that's a very nice sounding guitar" as one lady commented. Chet put the guitar down and asked, "how does it sound now?" LoL! 😎👍 Good luck with your research and +1 on contacting Gibson as they may have information on the settings...

@ShawnE, Leaving your 1st index finger as an anchor on the 3rd string can work for the D and A chords, but not the E. You'll need to move the 1st finger down one fret when playing your E chord in order to get the Ab note. Remember that you are playing in the "open chord" area of the fretboard where you are able to let some of the open strings ring out with the chords. "In the future" you will most likely want to learn barre chords so that you can move the same open chord patterns (like A Am and E Em) up and down the fret board using your 1st index finger to barre across all of the strings and your other 3 fingers to play those same patterns that you are using in your open chords. I'm just throwing out a little tip for now so that you don't have to tie up that index finger when using your A open chord fingering. You are doing a great job and are showing dedication and perseverance...keep up the good work but don't forget to have fun with it! 😎👍 ps. that Ab note is also known as a G#

@ShawnE, I'm going to suggest a different fingering for your A chord formation. You can do it the way you are doing it, but maybe try this suggestion from time to time. I know you may find it useful someday... where 1 = your index finger, 2 = your bird finger, 3 = your ring finger and 4 = your pinky finger considering what I see you doing is 2 1 3 (2 on the 4th string), (1 on the 3rd string) and (3 on the 2nd string). I suggest you try 2 3 4 (2 on the 4th string), (3 on the 3rd sting) and (4 on the 2nd string) for your A formation. Now switch from your A to Aminor back and forth. Switch from your A to D back and forth, switch from A to E back and forth, and see if you like it? 😎

I would just buy a 7 string guitar with the added bass string like the master Bucky Pizzarelli...

I may have used a coiled cord back in the 60's as they were very popular back then. The one in @surfergirl's OP pic is really a cool looking rig and it looks like it has good Fender quality jacks. I prefer straight on one end and right angle on the other end. They work great for Strats, LP's, 335's, 175's, Acoustics, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, Jazz bass, SG's, etc. You can just reverse them for whatever guitar body they will work best with.

@KuruPrionz, Congrats on the cool little amp find! 😎👍

Pirate Looks at 40 is my favorite tune. Here it is Live! 😎👍

Rest in Peace Jimmy Buffett... A great American Singer Songwriter Legend passed away at the young age of 76 on September 1st. I have enjoyed playing some of his tunes for decades and his music has stood the test of time. He will truly be missed... 😎

@Caevan O’Shite, +1 on the Obeyer position in the chart. I seldom use a strap and play sitting down. When I do use a strap, I like to be able to stand up or sit down without having to readjust the strap. I can't play with the guitar slung low as it puts unwanted pressure on my wrists...that's a cool chart! 😎👍

@surfergirl, That's great busking news! Keep up the good work! +1 on playing for friends, family and wedding parties (which have been my last few gigs). I'm trying to retire completely but I can't turn friends down. I may do a few open mics now and then as I only have to show up with 4 or 5 tunes. I like jamming with a few of my buds or just playing at home for my own enjoyment. Keep at it and have fun! 😎👍

@surfergirl, I think the best power trio is drums, keyboard and 1 guitar. If one of them can sing, you'll have the same lineup as The Doors. The keyboard can cover the rhythm chords and the bass. If you're going the Cream, SRV, etc., route the guitar has to cover the chords and the leads at the same time (much like your video). I would rather work with 2 guitars and a bass if I had to do a 3 piece. Then hire a drummer when needed. I play rhythm guitar and a little lead. I like a 4-piece band like Beatles, CCR, etc. I play solo and I'll add anyone who wants to play with me like my harmonica player, drummer, bass player, etc., just makes me sound much better. I just can't let the rhythm guitar chord parts stop to play a lead or the bottom drops out IMHO. When playing solo and the lead parts comes up, I continue with the chords and just add little runs and arpeggios to fill in the lead section till someone shows up to take a lead LoL! Have fun with the trio! 😎👍

@hnovi, Welcome to the Forum. If a company screws up and ships me the wrong guitar, all they have to do is send me a return label, so I don't have to pay for their mistake to return it. I already paid for shipping and handling. I do pay for insurance when I have had to return a guitar as it could get damaged or lost by the carriers. I would have no problem with the company not crediting my credit card or shipping a replacement until they receive their guitar as it would only take a few days. I can stop payment on my credit card if it becomes necessary. +1 patience is a virtue, but banning a customer is not a good business practice IMHO. 😎

+1 I think the OP was looking for comments on different size speakers that come in different amplifiers. Usually, beginners are not into swapping out speakers. There was some good speaker info on this thread though...

@surfergirl, Thank you for providing the pictures. We are all saddened by the loss of life and the loss property in this tragedy. I know we are all thankful for those that survived as well. I will make sure to make a Red Cross donation for the people of Lahaina.

My homeowner's insurance coverage and my vehicle coverage are more than I need to replace my cars, guitars and other personal property in the event of a fire. For theft, I would have to provide estimates/values depending on what was stolen. My insurance agent told me long ago that I could have a collection of musical equipment and/or other collectible items as long as I was not doing it as a business.

Rest in Peace Robbie Robertson...condolences to a great singer song writer and the leader of The Band!

@surfergirl, Good luck and I pray the people on Maui are safe during the evacuations...

@ShawnE, Welcome aboard and good luck with your 1st few days of learning to play the guitar. It is a fun and life-long journey. When you find that local teacher, have them check your guitar for its action and ease of playing. It may save you some finger pain if the guitar is set up correctly. You'll build callouses in a week or two which will ease the pain. Just go easy at first and play a little each day. The main thing is to have fun with it! 😎👍

@surfergirl, I hear there is a tropical storm this week coming up from Mexico which may have made things a little more challenging. It may affect LA and San Diego this Saturday morning through Sunday. Did you find the water as warm or colder than you are used to in Hawaii? Glad you had some good time fun! 😎👍

@surfergirl, Keep us posted on the SoCal surfing! Where at and how you liked it? 😎👍

@whitefang, I never said you ever told anyone how great you are. I simply quoted Forum Rule 4 re; Trolls in response to a comment made by Caevan. Rule 4 besides telling people how great we are, also states that we are not here to stir up trouble and see how many folks we can upset. That's why I said if you come back, hopefully you will help keep this a group of courteous common sense forum members.