ODDS and ENDS
(I know some of this techno-talk might appear daunting – if you have any questions, email me)
Best for class guitar: classical or steel string?
Steel string
Best make and model for class guitar:
Rogue RA-090 full-size dreadnaught
Chairs or sit on floor?
Chairs
What kind of picks?:
What? You don’t have your own personalized picks? LOL – Dunlop Tortex .50mm
Strings:
Round wound phosphorous bronze for the wrapped strings, stainless steel for the top two
String brand:
Generic round wound bulk strings at juststrings.com – you’ll save money, buy in bulk, and never be looking for a G or a B string when they inevitably break.
String sizes:
55, 45, 35, 24, 15, 12 – plus or minus 1
Must-have music room guitar accessories:
Tubular guitar stands, string winder/peg puller, small screwdriver set, guitar polish, tuning app
Must-have gigging guitar accessories:
Peterson StroboClip tuner, Dunlop StrapLocks, fishbowl tip jar, business cards, 9v batteries
Best beginning guitar method:
My own
Best guitar for the instructor:
Anything acoustic/electric and built like a tank with a loud bottom end – take some Ibanez dreadnaughts out for a test drive. Cost between $300-400
Best guitar amp for the instructor:
Something sturdy, two channel with an XLR input for a Shure SM58. Check out some Peavys. If a kid throws up on it, you won’t cry.
Best acoustic guitar for gigging:
A MIM Martin DX – If a drunk breaks it, it’s not like you broke a REAL Martin. If it needs a pickup, have a Fishman Aura Pro installed.
Best electric guitar for gigging:
Tie –
__A chambered Godin Multiac for more rock/pop tones as well as guitar synthesis, w/round wound strings
__An Ibanez archtop for more jazz sounds, w/flat wound strings
If a drunk throws up on either of these, you WILL cry.
Best guitar synthesizer:
__Analogue - BOSS SY-300
__Digital – Roland GR-55
Best electric guitar amp for gigging:
__Small to medium size venue- Fishman Loudmouth Performer
__Large venue: Fender Tone Master Deluxe Twin Reverb
Best vocal mic:
Shure SM58
Best guitar pedal for gigging:
Tech21 RK5 V2 – includes delay with tap tempo, boost, OMG overdrive, independent reverb with choice of room size, a rotary speaker mode, compression, fuzz, a tuner, headphone capability, and an XLR Output
Best vocal pedal for gigging:
TC Helicon VoiceTone Create Vocal pedal – Gives you the ability to add a second or third vocal harmony voice with effects. Caveat emptor: it only sounds cool if you sing in tune. If you’re out, the other two parts will also be out. Not for the faint of heart. Fairly steep learning curve.
Best unpowered 12 channel mixer for gigging:
Yamaha MG12XUK 12-Channel Analog Mixer
Most painful classroom truth:
Every year, you’ll lose one or two classroom guitars to wear and tear.
Favorite phone call:
The parent asking where they can buy an affordable guitar for their child.
Next stop: Stacking Skills for Success: Guitar - Part Four
(I know some of this techno-talk might appear daunting – if you have any questions, email me)
Best for class guitar: classical or steel string?
Steel string
Best make and model for class guitar:
Rogue RA-090 full-size dreadnaught
Chairs or sit on floor?
Chairs
What kind of picks?:
What? You don’t have your own personalized picks? LOL – Dunlop Tortex .50mm
Strings:
Round wound phosphorous bronze for the wrapped strings, stainless steel for the top two
String brand:
Generic round wound bulk strings at juststrings.com – you’ll save money, buy in bulk, and never be looking for a G or a B string when they inevitably break.
String sizes:
55, 45, 35, 24, 15, 12 – plus or minus 1
Must-have music room guitar accessories:
Tubular guitar stands, string winder/peg puller, small screwdriver set, guitar polish, tuning app
Must-have gigging guitar accessories:
Peterson StroboClip tuner, Dunlop StrapLocks, fishbowl tip jar, business cards, 9v batteries
Best beginning guitar method:
My own
Best guitar for the instructor:
Anything acoustic/electric and built like a tank with a loud bottom end – take some Ibanez dreadnaughts out for a test drive. Cost between $300-400
Best guitar amp for the instructor:
Something sturdy, two channel with an XLR input for a Shure SM58. Check out some Peavys. If a kid throws up on it, you won’t cry.
Best acoustic guitar for gigging:
A MIM Martin DX – If a drunk breaks it, it’s not like you broke a REAL Martin. If it needs a pickup, have a Fishman Aura Pro installed.
Best electric guitar for gigging:
Tie –
__A chambered Godin Multiac for more rock/pop tones as well as guitar synthesis, w/round wound strings
__An Ibanez archtop for more jazz sounds, w/flat wound strings
If a drunk throws up on either of these, you WILL cry.
Best guitar synthesizer:
__Analogue - BOSS SY-300
__Digital – Roland GR-55
Best electric guitar amp for gigging:
__Small to medium size venue- Fishman Loudmouth Performer
__Large venue: Fender Tone Master Deluxe Twin Reverb
Best vocal mic:
Shure SM58
Best guitar pedal for gigging:
Tech21 RK5 V2 – includes delay with tap tempo, boost, OMG overdrive, independent reverb with choice of room size, a rotary speaker mode, compression, fuzz, a tuner, headphone capability, and an XLR Output
Best vocal pedal for gigging:
TC Helicon VoiceTone Create Vocal pedal – Gives you the ability to add a second or third vocal harmony voice with effects. Caveat emptor: it only sounds cool if you sing in tune. If you’re out, the other two parts will also be out. Not for the faint of heart. Fairly steep learning curve.
Best unpowered 12 channel mixer for gigging:
Yamaha MG12XUK 12-Channel Analog Mixer
Most painful classroom truth:
Every year, you’ll lose one or two classroom guitars to wear and tear.
Favorite phone call:
The parent asking where they can buy an affordable guitar for their child.
Next stop: Stacking Skills for Success: Guitar - Part Four
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