I picked my first guitar by walking into a music store with multiple guitars that were not part of a "starter pack" and also less than 300€. Then I picked one I liked the look of (a mean metal slant with all the knobs on one side) and felt it. That's it. The guy at the store checked that there were no obvious defects and told me to come back if anything was wrong.
The ESP LTD M-50 I picked (at around 200 USD, I think) is not a very good guitar. But then, I'm not very good (any good) at playing it. After a year of casual playing I can tell I could do better on a nicer instrument, but I still like it. I love its looks and feel and I can work with its problems.
Someone said you should pick your first instrument on basis of wanting to take it home and make love to it. Nothing else matters, because you won't know the difference until you're a bit more experienced, and unless you really love it, you won't play enough for anything else to matter. If you do keep at it, you can always get a nicer one once you can express what sort of instrument might work better for you. Which you can't until you start.
For a dad with small hands and his almost 9 year old son, what would be a good guitar? I've got an acoustic Ovation I'll probably never be able to play well, and I wonder if hand size may be some of my difficulty.
So if I got this, I'd want me and somewhat my kiddo to be able to actually play.
Ideas?
The Jr. version of the Epiphone (which coincidentally is included with the Rocksmith pack, apparently) is pretty nice for small hands. I'd recommend going into a guitar shop and testing a few Jr. guitars.
Edit: Hand size is not THAT important as long as you learn to use your pinky well. If you can span the largest 1-5th frets on your guitar, you can play like 99% of rock chords and songs after practicing and doing stretching exercises.
If you go into jazz, you might need a slightly larger span for some of the weirder chords, but you can even do without those.
Alright, just sat down and gold medal'ed the technique challenges. That's decent stuff. Hopefully they'll expand on that as I'm surprised pinch harmonics weren't included. Really though, there's a lot of stuff they could add to that section.
If you haven't opened the squier, i'd get a real guitar, as the plastic neck thing is annoying, the intonation isn't great, and the way the frets are made makes bends super annoying. If you can get full price for it back, there are better 200-300 starter guitars out there -- including the "regular" squier. If you have an actual friendly local music store, go in and just tell them your budget and be nice to them. They live off people upgrading in the future, but that means they'll try and sell you something that you'll actually want to play too.
Thanks much folks. So, with rabbit's throw in, here's the series of events when I get home:
Return Squier to BB. Buy Rocksmith. Proceed to LGS and buy a for real guitar. Enjoy Rocksmith for guitar playing, and RB3 for everything else musically worthwhile.
Given that I honestly spend more time on drums than anything in RB3, I figure I'll make out best this way. Thanks again 
Pro tip: try using the Direct mode on your receiver to help shave off that last bit of audio latency. I was in Stereo mode, but that was still going through my receiver's DSP and adding just a hair of latency. Direct mode gets me as close to a straight amp connection as I'm going to get. Apparently the Rocksmith ADC cable adds 30 ms of latency.
I'm used to building calluses on my fingers and will get over that, but my fret hand is doing some serious cramping after awhile. Its bad enough that i have to stop. Stupid old age 
30 ms is pretty standard for an ASIO pc music system too. It doesn't get a lot faster than that unless you are pure analog.
My reasonably high end USB mixer with proprietary drivers has 40 m latency total, between input hw and driver.
That's why I run Firewire. 
But yeah, it's really good for a $30 game connector.
Hey duckilama,
re: your question about a smaller guitar. I've got a Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe and it's incredibly comfortable, even for smaller hands. You can get one at Amazon or wherever for about $400, which may or may not be more than you want to pay. It weighs less than almost any guitar, stays in tune forever, has a great "leg" for a comfortable sit down stance and has a great set up out of the box. They look a little weird to most people but as far as play ability goes, I think they're tops. Good luck man, Rocksmith is really getting me back into playing guitar after a long time away. Big fun!
I have no consoles and no electric guitar. What would it take to connect Rocksmith on a PC to the acoustic gathering dust in the corner?
I have no consoles and no electric guitar. What would it take to connect Rocksmith on a PC to the acoustic gathering dust in the corner?
Just the game and a pickup for your acoustic.
Katy wrote:I have no consoles and no electric guitar. What would it take to connect Rocksmith on a PC to the acoustic gathering dust in the corner?
Just the game and a pickup for your acoustic.
Any recommendations for a decent pickup?
I posted this in the articles thread, but that is starting to get a bit moldy so I am posting some thoughts here as well.
So how are the training minigames?
The foundation is solid but they could use some presentational work. They need to be less "game-like" in a lot of cases. For example, why does the "ducks" mini-game knock me out after a certain amount of time? So it can support leaderboards, which are already hacked? Why have that at all?
Why does the "riff-repeater" only have a set number of lives, so if I am struggling I get kicked out? Why does it kick me out when I finally succeed? What if I want to keep practicing? In order to keep practicing I either have to get kicked out and restart (which due to the loading and many menus, can take a stupid long time) or pause and restart before it kicks me out to the main menu.
There are number of nuisances like those I mentioned - I can only hope that Ubisoft is listening and considering some changes to tone the gamey parts down a notch. It's clear that people are buying this more as a innovative practice tool than a rhythm game and hopefully Ubisoft responds to the desires of the market. Given that they are looking to sell DLC I am hoping they will want to keep people happy with the base product.
That’s not to say this is a toy for everyone. In fact, to someone with a healthy knowledge of how to play guitar, this probably will seem a lot like a child’s toy, and a woefully inadequate tutor. Again, sort of in the same way that if you know how to read, you don't need something that wastes time electronically telling you that C makes the Kuh sound. Yes, Rocksmith teaches you about fingering, anchoring, bending, slides, hammer-ons/offs, alternative tunings, scales, chords and other beginning concepts, but it doesn’t teach you at all about … well, I don’t know because I’m completely a beginner.
The two most negative reviews I read of this were both from experienced guitar players who dismissed this because "it doesn't REALLY teach you the REAL way" or whatever, which is crap. The thing I need help with is not music theory or 5th fret tuning method, it's making my fingers strong enough and quick enough to control the instrument, and I can tell Rocksmith is going to help me a lot. Frankly both reviews came off as snobbish.
Gamestop is selling Rocksmith as a standalone game for $70 this week, so I'd need to hunt down a guitar. Guitar Center is selling an Epiphone Les Paul Jr. for $120, while Musician's Friend is selling a Dean Vendetta XMT Electric Guitar with Tremolo for $99. (Amazon also has the Dean Vendetta for $99, but it's in translucent black.)
Best Buy is selling a combo (whether it's in-store or the retail bundle depends on the B+M location, it appears) for $200, but it comes with a $50 gift card.
Gamestop is selling Rocksmith as a standalone game for $70 this week, so I'd need to hunt down a guitar. Guitar Center is selling an Epiphone Les Paul Jr. for $120, while Musician's Friend is selling a Dean Vendetta XMT Electric Guitar with Tremolo for $99. (Amazon also has the Dean Vendetta for $99, but it's in translucent black.)
Best Buy is selling a combo (whether it's in-store or the retail bundle depends on the B+M location, it appears) for $200, but it comes with a $50 gift card.
Considering the bundle comes with an Epiphone Les Paul Jr, I think that's your best option.
A friend has a question: Will Rocksmith work if his guitar has active electronics, such as a piezo pickup?
(I have no idea what a piezo pickup is, but if anyone knows the answer to the question, please let me know.)
A friend has a question: Will Rocksmith work if his guitar has active electronics, such as a piezo pickup?
(I have no idea what a piezo pickup is, but if anyone knows the answer to the question, please let me know.)
Anything that takes a 1/4" plug, I do believe. If his guitar works with an amp, it should work with Rocksmith.
Gaaald got that setup and he seemed to think it pretty awesome.
snorlax789 wrote:A friend has a question: Will Rocksmith work if his guitar has active electronics, such as a piezo pickup?
(I have no idea what a piezo pickup is, but if anyone knows the answer to the question, please let me know.)
Anything that takes a 1/4" plug, I do believe. If his guitar works with an amp, it should work with Rocksmith.
Thanks!
snorlax789 wrote:Gamestop is selling Rocksmith as a standalone game for $70 this week, so I'd need to hunt down a guitar. Guitar Center is selling an Epiphone Les Paul Jr. for $120, while Musician's Friend is selling a Dean Vendetta XMT Electric Guitar with Tremolo for $99. (Amazon also has the Dean Vendetta for $99, but it's in translucent black.)
Best Buy is selling a combo (whether it's in-store or the retail bundle depends on the B+M location, it appears) for $200, but it comes with a $50 gift card.
Considering the bundle comes with an Epiphone Les Paul Jr, I think that's your best option.
I'm assuming that the bundle doesn't have a strap, picks, a stand, or a bag/case. Is that accurate?
I was actually leaning toward getting the game from Gamestop and the Dean Vendetta from Amazon. In total, that's about $170 before taxes. I'd lose out on the $50 gift card, but I'd get a slightly better guitar, from the reviews that I've read so far.
Looks like there's some good info in this Q&A on Reddit. Sounds like they're revamping the 5 repeats in Riff Repeater in some way. Also they plan on continuing to release 3-5 songs every two weeks for now.
Looks like there's some good info in this Q&A on Reddit. Sounds like they're revamping the 5 repeats in Riff Repeater in some way. Also they plan on continuing to release 3-5 songs every two weeks for now.
Excellent, that's my main issue with the practice portion of the game.
Also it would be nice if they made navigation possible with your guitar, instead of switching to the controller after every song... Like "Play a power chord to confirm" or something. The game detects them pretty much perfectly. Maybe for Rocksmith 2...
edit: BTW, reviews on this game are terribly unfair. Specially the Kotaku review, that guy is just {ableist slur}.
YOU PEOPLE ARE MAKING IT VERY VERY HARD TO NOT GET THIS!
(sorry, I just had to let that out)
YOU PEOPLE ARE MAKING IT VERY VERY HARD TO NOT GET THIS!
(sorry, I just had to let that out)
Easy answer: don't resist! It's totally worth getting!
After skimming through that Q&A I feel a lot more confident in Ubisoft's backing of this. They're really paying attention to feedback and working on some of the larger complaints.
Guitar-based navigation was asked about several times but there wasn't an Ubisoft reply. They should be aware that it's wanted though. I'd love that as it would be nice to not need to constantly wake my controller back up for navigation.
gregrampage wrote:snorlax789 wrote:Gamestop is selling Rocksmith as a standalone game for $70 this week, so I'd need to hunt down a guitar. Guitar Center is selling an Epiphone Les Paul Jr. for $120, while Musician's Friend is selling a Dean Vendetta XMT Electric Guitar with Tremolo for $99. (Amazon also has the Dean Vendetta for $99, but it's in translucent black.)
Best Buy is selling a combo (whether it's in-store or the retail bundle depends on the B+M location, it appears) for $200, but it comes with a $50 gift card.
Considering the bundle comes with an Epiphone Les Paul Jr, I think that's your best option.
I'm assuming that the bundle doesn't have a strap, picks, a stand, or a bag/case. Is that accurate?
I was actually leaning toward getting the game from Gamestop and the Dean Vendetta from Amazon. In total, that's about $170 before taxes. I'd lose out on the $50 gift card, but I'd get a slightly better guitar, from the reviews that I've read so far.
The bundle I got at Walmart for $200 had the game, Epiphone Les Paul Jr guitar, pick, strap, xbox 360 usb to 1/4" jack, another cable that I briefly glanced at and I think was 1/4" jack to 1/4" jack, a poster and Epiphone sticker and manual 
any suggestions on exercises that will help with stretches like you find between 2nd and 5th fret?
I can only do a couple measures of those and it completely wrecks my hand and i have to stop.
Guitar-based navigation was asked about several times but there wasn't an Ubisoft reply. They should be aware that it's wanted though.
Aww, really? I thought I was full of super good ideas today u_u
tboon, if you have an electric guitar, get this, it's awesome =)
Edit: Ranalin I'd like to help but I'm not sure what you mean...
any suggestions on exercises that will help with stretches like you find between 2nd and 5th fret?
I'm not quite sure what you mean either. Are you not using your pinky or are you just having a hard time with your pinky getting fatigued? If the former, then use your pinky. If the latter then it's just a matter of repetition and rest. Your pinky is normally atrophied and guitar can be demanding on it. You'll just have to build it up.
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