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Post by andyfr on Feb 26, 2015 8:55:14 GMT
Anyone who has seen any of my previous posts will know that I was in a bit of a dilemma, not sure when or what to buy or even how much to spend. Well I finally took the plunge! We were down in Sheffield and I called in Rich Tone Music and walked out with a Taylor 214ce Deluxe at a really great price. As soon as I picked up the Taylor it just felt “right”, really comfortable and a very good action. Even the hard case is impressive fitting the guitar really snugly.
At the moment I don’t have much time to devote to playing but intend to keep picking it up when I can even if it’s just for a few minutes at a time. As I haven’t played for over 35 years, and I wasn’t that good back then, I will have to ensure that I don’t develop any bad habits, like holding the guitar incorrectly and causing muscle strain, so any tips will be most welcome. I noticed that I was getting a bit of discomfort in my wrist and think it might be due to me bending it too much. I really want to learn fingerstyle and I have seen quite a few sites with tabs and videos, although I think I should start with some very basic exercises to gain some strength in my fretting hand and to learn which string/which finger with my other hand.
I know I have a very old pitch pipe in the loft somewhere but I think I should maybe get a decent chromatic tuner, but what to go for? I can get one for my Android phone or I can get a standalone unit - I don’t really want a clip on or pedal unit as I will be using it at home.
Over the next few days I will only be able to check the forum occasionally so don’t think I’m ignoring any posts you may leave.
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brianr2
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Post by brianr2 on Feb 26, 2015 9:17:48 GMT
Congratulations, I hope you will be very happy together. As to tuners, I have always found the Snarks very good, and I especially like THIS ONE.. I know its a clip on but it is so small that you can leave it on the guitar permanently, even when in a case. THESE are also pretty good and unobtrusive but I don't them quite as sensitive or easy to use as the Snark. Have fun. Brian
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stringdriventhing
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Post by stringdriventhing on Feb 26, 2015 9:30:11 GMT
+1 for Snarks
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Post by andyfr on Feb 26, 2015 9:37:01 GMT
Thanks guys, maybe I will have to reconsider a clipon.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 26, 2015 10:27:58 GMT
andyfr - Congrats Andy - hope you'll be very happy together. Would love to hear how you're getting on in a short while. As for tuners, and especially for home purposes, why not just learn to tune by ear? All you need is a starting pitch for one string, then tune the others from that. I realise I'm swimming against the tide here, but it's a very valuable skill to possess though it may need some working on. You can get your reference pitch from a fixed pitch instrument if there's one around, or from the internet - www.onlinetuningfork.com/And, for go-anywhere use these are great - www.amazon.co.uk/Stagg-TF1440-440Hz-Tuning-Fork/dp/B000OR7VT2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1424945855&sr=8-3&keywords=tuning+forkIf you aren't playing along with anyone/anything else, the actual pitch of your guitar doesn't matter (within limits obviously) as long as it is in tune with itself. Being able to establish this quickly is one of the most useful skills you will ever develop. The clip on so called "tuners" can be handy when playing out and in circumstances when it's hard to hear your guitar. Looking forward to hearing more about your new guitar! Keith
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Post by surfguy13 on Feb 26, 2015 10:47:20 GMT
Congratulations, I hope you will be very happy together. As to tuners, I have always found the Snarks very good, and I especially like THIS ONE.. I know its a clip on but it is so small that you can leave it on the guitar permanently, even when in a case. THESE are also pretty good and unobtrusive but I don't them quite as sensitive or easy to use as the Snark. Have fun. Brian Yup, I am now a BIG fan of Snark headstock tuners. I was with my friend (and luthier) Richard Bartram the other day checking out a slightly sharp low E on one of my acoustics and to my surprise Richard used an SN2 in favour of the high spec all singing all dancing tuner. The SN2 was just perfection, the LCD hit 440 smoothly and without any sensitivity at all. I then clipped my trusty Korg AW2 on the guitar, whilst the SN2 was still clipped on, and the AW2 was all over the place relative to the SN2. I will never use the Korg again other than in emergencies. I immediately ordered one from Amazon for the princely sum of £12.20 and I can honesty say that it is the best tuner I have ever used and the bargain of the year for the money!!
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Post by andyfr on Feb 26, 2015 11:42:32 GMT
Hi Keith
I used to tune by ear, don't half make your lobes sore though. Seriously though, when I was in the band I just tuned with an E pitch pipe which I probably still have in the loft somewhere. Then it was just a matter of tuning to the fifth frets. I suppose I feel it's time to update a bit.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Feb 26, 2015 11:51:03 GMT
Congrats on the new guitar, Andy! I had a Taylor 210 some years ago, and I think they're super guitars.
I also concur with the consensus on Snark tuners, although I also use an Intelli IMT-900 and a BOSS TU-10.
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Post by vikingblues on Feb 26, 2015 17:33:30 GMT
Many congratulations on the new guitar Andy! Hope you have many good years with it Your description of picking it up and it feeling just right, very comfortable and with a good action is very familiar - when that happens there's not much to do other than get the guitar. I've never been to RichTone - it's a long way away! But I did get a MIJ Tokai Les Paul Custom from there by Courier quite a few years back and it was the best set up electric I ever had, and they were very helpful on the phone dealing with my questions. I'm another Snark user, and really like it. It's taken me nearly 40 years of guitar playing but I can now finally "feel" when a string goes into tune with the others, but I need the tuner to start things off. If I start with a string that's a bit out of tune and tune all the others relative to it I usually can't get on with the sound - it just seems wrong. The Snark is so quick and easy too, and I'm a lazy sod at heart! Mark
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Post by grayn on Feb 27, 2015 18:05:28 GMT
Congrats on the Taylor.
Any pics?
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Post by andyfr on Feb 28, 2015 16:00:37 GMT
Pics will be done very soon.
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Post by andyfr on Mar 1, 2015 14:12:45 GMT
Photo of my new guitar.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Mar 3, 2015 14:50:14 GMT
That's a cracker, andyfrBeautiful guitar - hope we get to hear it sometime
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Post by andyhowell on Mar 3, 2015 17:08:46 GMT
It's always a nice (if not guilty) feeling when you have bought the right guitar :-)
Enjoy it!
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windminstrel
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Post by windminstrel on Mar 3, 2015 17:58:10 GMT
Nice looking guitar. Some good You Tube clips relating to this model. May buy a new guitar myself this year, Taylor was one of the makers I was considering, Martin being another. Paul.
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