U2start.com | U2 & Guitar Gear: Q & A

anstratdubh1979

I mind buzz.

Per Dallas, if the neck and intonation and all are set up proper, you can have a guitar without buzz.

Intonation may not be 100.00 perfect but if done proper, one can get 99.987% correct.

I have my guitars set up an Neeley in Hollywood. He's worked on many pros guitars - including Bono, Edge, The Eagles and many more... Keith Richards...

He asked: "so you trust me as I've worked on Edge's guitars?"

I said: "That is a plus but actually, more that you worked on Keith Richards... because if you didn't get his proper he'd have stuck you with his switchblade." Dave got a good laugh outta that.

Originally posted by thechicken:I don't mind a bit of buzz, since it's not possible to get the strings real close without it.
Also, be aware that a guitar will never be perfectly intonated. Because of the way it is built, some notes will always be a little off. It is more like you have to choose which ones will be right and which ones will be wrong. Most likely, if a decent setup is done, you won't notice these little "wrongs" here and there on the neck.
Be aware too that as the weather changes, the wood changes and the guitar changes. A guitar that sounds good on the summer is likely not to sound good on the winter, it may need another set up.
That is why I do all of this myself. It is easier, cheaper and more satisfying.

Andrew_C

16 years

i might get my SG set up properly then, had it for a yr now, prob needs new strings too.

vanquish

16 years

Hey guys, if I don't have any fret buzz and if I do an intonation test (was reading how to on the net) and it doesn't show any problems, I should be ok to play right? Are there any other things I should check?

As apart from my earlier tuning problem which was just due to new strings I haven't noticed anything wrong with the guitar, other than a small crack in the finish where the nut joins the neck and some dents at the tip of the horn on the back

(unfortunately the Epiphone cardboard box wasn't designed to withstand the rigours of international shipping). But apparently nearly everyone who has an Explorer gets it damaged in that exact same spot, which makes me feel better.

Small annoyances aside I'm happy and most surprised at how easy it seems to play, I already know a couple of basic riffs ( my favourite so far is TTTYAATW).

PS: my pickups (which are apparently gold plated) had an oily looking film on the when I got the guitar, is that normal? ( it could have been from the stickers though)

LikeASong

16 years

Originally posted by Andrew_C:i might get my SG set up properly then, had it for a yr now, prob needs new strings too.

Well, if you haven't chanegd strings in one year, they surely need changing, hahaha

Andrew_C

16 years

Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]Well, if you haven't chanegd strings in one year, they surely need changing, hahaha

yeh and they were the strings on the guitar while it was on display

,and god knows how long it was on display for, with all fukers playing it. OMG with new strings i might actually rival the Edge in guitarsman-ship.

vanquish

16 years

Originally posted by Andrew_C:[..]

... OMG with new strings i might actually rival the Edge in guitarsman-ship.

Yes.....assuming they are magical, ability enhancing strings of course

BTW does anyone know what kind of bottleneck slide I should get?
What does Edge use for his slide parts (eg. Magnificent, Even Better Than The Real Thing etc.)
Am going to a music store on Sat to buy leads and a strap and this is their selection of slides:
http://www.billyhydemusic.com.au/shop/search-result/?search=slide&submit=

AAV711

16 years

I've found that doing these two things are helpful in extending string life:

--washing hands beforehand
--wiping down fretboard after playing with a hand towel

Helps a bit to reduce oils, grease, bacteria, etc. from lingering on strings and corroding them

I've been very good about keeping in this practice with my new Taylor, which sounds **almost** as good as the day I took delivery of it back in June.

thechicken

16 years

Originally posted by AAV711:I've found that doing these two things are helpful in extending string life:

--washing hands beforehand
--wiping down fretboard after playing with a hand towel

Helps a bit to reduce oils, grease, bacteria, etc. from lingering on strings and corroding them

I've been very good about keeping in this practice with my new Taylor, which sounds **almost** as good as the day I took delivery of it back in June.

I always do this, an dmy current bass strings have been there for well over a year now...but they definitely don't sound as bright as when I put them.

vanquish

16 years

Originally posted by AAV711:I've found that doing these two things are helpful in extending string life:

--washing hands beforehand
--wiping down fretboard after playing with a hand towel

Helps a bit to reduce oils, grease, bacteria, etc. from lingering on strings and corroding them

I've been very good about keeping in this practice with my new Taylor, which sounds **almost** as good as the day I took delivery of it back in June.

I wipe my strings down with a tissue, is that ok?
Or do I need a lint free cloth

AAV711

16 years

Originally posted by vanquish:[..]

I wipe my strings down with a tissue, is that ok?
Or do I need a lint free cloth

I imagine a tissue would work, my guitar teacher told me that just a plain old towel/washcloth would work best. Nothing fancy.

WojBhoy

16 years

Originally posted by vanquish:Yes.....assuming they are magical, ability enhancing strings of course

BTW does anyone know what kind of bottleneck slide I should get?
What does Edge use for his slide parts (eg. Magnificent, Even Better Than The Real Thing etc.)
Am going to a music store on Sat to buy leads and a strap and this is their selection of slides:
http://www.billyhydemusic.com.au/shop/search-result/?search=slide&submit=

Edge used a metal bottleneck slide for stuff like BTBS, EBTTRT and Mysterious Ways back in the day, but for later stuff like COBL and MoS he uses a single-string slide - I dunno what the correct term is, but I always liken it to a thimble sort of contraption lol!

AAV711

16 years

Originally posted by WojBhoy:[..]
Edge used a metal bottleneck slide for stuff like BTBS, EBTTRT and Mysterious Ways back in the day, but for later stuff like COBL and MoS he uses a single-string slide - I dunno what the correct term is, but I always liken it to a thimble sort of contraption lol!

From http://www.u2-stage-and-studio.com/edge/id11.html:

SLIDES:
Dunlop slides. I've seen Edge use both chrome and brass over the years. I've not read or heard of any particular preference.

Dallas Schoo has developed the 'ring slide' that The Edge has been seen using for "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" and "Miracle Drug" during the Vertigo tour. Desecribed before the tour as his 'secret weapon', said one fan, it is merely as the name suggests - a slide the size of a ring. This allowing for one to play chords and single note figures and slide without putting on/taking off a full size slide. Naturally, this works great for a standard tuned guitar when the desire notes are not that of an open tuned guitar but that of one or two strings only.

U2 & Guitar Gear: Q & A

what they said

did you know

you

forums

U2start