What are some negative things that come with playing?

[watsonminot]

I am doing research on a topic, and I need help from people regularly play guitar.

 

If you could name 3 negative things about playing, that you wish you could change, what would they be?

 

Whether it be a need for better (easier to comprehend) literature for lessons, lighter equipment, ETC.

 

Thank you guys for your help in advance!

[Dannyalcatraz]

1) It takes time from other things, which can lead to conflict.

 

2) it requires a dedicated space, if for no other reason than storing your gear.

 

3) the noises you make may not be universally appreciated, which can lead to conflict.

[russclan]

In no particular order:

 

1. Regular playing can lead to frequent bouts of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome). This can, in turn, lead to the inability to pay bills.

 

2. It has been known to be a source of friction with relationships, perhaps even the cause of divorces and breakups. My guitars have never griped at, or made demands of me.

 

3. When "in the zone", one can forget the passage of time, which leads to very long, grueling days at work due to lack of sleep.

 

Not that any of the above currently applies, or ever has applied, to me. But I have heard...

[Winston Psmith]

I am doing research on a topic, and I need help from people regularly play guitar.

 

If you could name 3 negative things about playing, that you wish you could change, what would they be?

 

Whether it be a need for better (easier to comprehend) literature for lessons, lighter equipment, ETC.

 

Thank you guys for your help in advance!

 

First, I want to be sure I understand the question? Are you asking about the potential negative impact of being a musician? That seems to be the question Dannyalcatraz and Russclan are addressing, but from the OP, I think you meant something slightly different, i.e., things we encounter as musicians, which we feel have a negative impact on our playing, or ability to pursue music. In that regard-

 

1) Less crap. Sorry to say it, but we don't need so many makers of music gear, if so many of them are making cheap imitations of gear we all know and love. We don't need more cheap, low-quality import guitars, or disposable amps and pedals, we need fewer, but better-made bits of affordable gear.

 

2) Less Marketing BS Not every new product is going to change, or improve the way you play, or the way you sound. One of your engineers may think that putting Robo-tuners on ALL your guitars is a great idea, but you might want to check with your customer base first.

 

3) Less consolidation Years ago, CMI (Chicago Musical Instruments), the parent company behind Gibson, was buying up other companies, and trade names like mad, only to kill off many of the brands involved. In some of the most egregious cases, people like Tom Oberheim lost the right to use their own names on their own product designs. Recently, Fender has been doing the same thing, acquiring (and essentially killing off) Kaman Industries, who brought us Ovation, Takamine and Hamer guitars, Gretsch (now made overseas), and even buying a major stake in Guitar Center. Leo Fender wanted to make money, sure, but he wanted to make guitars, too. The people behind the industry, at this point, have no interest in creating a quality product, if a cheap product will bring them the same market share, at a lower production cost.

 

There's my rant, who's next?

[watsonminot]

The reason I am asking is because I have dreamed of starting my own product, but I want to go about it the right way. I have been asking across several forums now, and making a spreadsheet of the trends.

 

Quality seems to be a trend, which I planned on having excellent quality from the start. (I wonder what type of person disregards quality from the start?)

 

I have been playing guitar since 13, and I am 25 now. I know it is something I have always been interested in.

 

Thank you all for your answers so far, keep them coming if there is anyone else that would like to answer.

 

And to Winston, I was asking as in the second part of what you thought I meant. "things we encounter as musicians, which we feel have a negative impact on our playing, or ability to pursue music."

[Winston Psmith]

And to Winston, I was asking as in the second part of what you thought I meant. "things we encounter as musicians, which we feel have a negative impact on our playing, or ability to pursue music."

 

Thanks, it helps to have that cleared up. Otherwise, I think you'll get a lot of answers concerning the negatives surrounding life in music as a profession. In the words of a great man . . .

 

The music business is a cruel and shallow money

trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and

pimps run free, and good men die like dogs.

There's also a negative side.

 

Hunter S. Thompson

 

As a dedicated gear addict, if I may respectfully suggest a couple of things to consider, before you try to develop a product for the market -

 

Is it innovative? There are a legion of products out there, and a legion of imitators. The market really doesn't need another Tube Screamer clone, or a Crybaby copy. It's not enough to build a better mousetrap, if everybody already has one . . .

 

Can you maintain supply, and quality control? Two separate, but related issues. Some innovative products have died out because parts were no longer available. In other cases, popular and innovative products have suffered in QC, when they had to switch to overseas production to keep up with demand. Think long-term, in case your product is a success. And good luck . . .

[Dannyalcatraz]

There have been a few scandals in the past couple of years in which suppliers of boutique gear have been exposed as having merely repackaged the products of others with fresh paint and decals, or essentially assembled things from kits and selling them for 10x what they're really worth.

 

Veteran D.I.Y.ers seldom fall for such things, but guys like me? We're at risk every time we venture out looking for interesting and/or unusual new gear, chasing quality and exotic tones.

 

That harms both the legitimate boutique gear manufacturers and the people who want to buy such things.

[desertbluesman]

The only real bad thing about playing guitar for me is;

 

1) The amount of time you have to put into the learning process.

 

2) Practicing every day to keep your chops up.

 

3) And if you stop practicing, you lose your abilities.

[skipclone 1]

A cure for tendinitis.

 

Hearing protection that doesn`t feel like you`re trying to put an airplane in your ear.

 

Wait, am I on the right track?

 

I`ll try another take-

 

Music merchants telling you that what they have is what you need. There should be an outside, objective source that you can input what you`re looking for, how you intend to use it, how much you can spend and get say, top three choices. If you have to get on an airplane-your problem.

 

Buying gear to sound like something you hear on the radio. That sound may have NOTHING to do with the gear and everything to do with production, mixing and mastering etc.-it would be nice to hear how something is going to sound in YOUR hands, without a pedal hunt. That pedal shootout site is awesome, great idea.

 

This forum is-mostly-for guitar players. Some of the members also make guitars. It would be good to get more input from full time luthiers, and from sellers, merchants as well. Their side of the story is rarely heard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[watsonminot]

Yea I am also seeing alot of complaints about the over-saturated market, 80 products that do the same thing.

 

I want to create something of high usability, quality, and be affordable for the average broke guitar player such as myself.

 

But the reason for my question to begin with, is because I want my product to solve a problem. Not merely be another toy.

[Larryz]

I would look to your own experience with regard to solving a problem that all other guitar players would share. You have been playing since you were 13 and you are now 25. What problem did you have or do you have that could be solved with a new innovative product? Does that product already exist?

 

If you kept it a secret and flooded the market, how long do you think it would be before there would be many duplicates out there? It's a great idea to look for common problems that need to be solved from your intended audience...but, also look to your own experience...I think your survey would be more effective if you had a product in mind and wanted feedback. But I'll come up with 3 ideas for the survey:

 

1). Acoustic strings that do not squeak

 

2). Finger picks or fake nails that are comfortable

 

3). Pain liniment for us old farts...LOL!

[Justus A. Picker]

An acquaintance of mine recently began marketing a voltage regulator he designed specifically for vintage tube amps. He's having some moderate success with it, is getting great reviews, and its been picked up by some big name players including Keaggy, Tom Petty and Mike Campbell. He has years of research into this thing. Years! It's not easy developing a new product and getting it to market....

 

 

[Sharkman]

 

2. It has been known to be a source of friction with relationships, perhaps even the cause of divorces and breakups. My guitars have never griped at, or made demands of me.

 

 

This one really hits home with me. Back in June 1999, I was playing one of my guitars, trying to figure out which chords Lenny Kravitz was playing on "Are You Goin' My Way?" when Almost Mrs. Sharkman #2 called. When she heard me strum a chord while talking on the phone with her, she kinda sorta went a tiny bit ballistic. It seems that her first husband used to play the guitar when she wanted to talk, and he wanted to tune her out. She dumped me the following week, although I managed to keep living.

[whitefang]

I have a friend, a music degree holder, who admitted to practicing up to 18 hours a day!

 

He said, regrettably, that one day, he looked up from his music stand and noticed the little girl he recalled just learning how to WALK had suddenly grew breasts and was engaged to be married! And the SON he had before her, that little kid who just had the training wheels on his bike removed seemingly a few days earlier, had spent the last two years in the military! He told me he then scaled back his practice time, and started getting involvd with LIFE instead. He explained it was the reason me, and many OTHER old friends hadn't heard from him for a long while.

Whitefang