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Post by fatfingerjohn on Aug 16, 2023 21:10:03 GMT
This just kills me from my favorite mimic ...
Enjoy.
FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Aug 11, 2023 8:01:54 GMT
Hi, I bought one about 5 years ago for around £50.00. MInes the Sapele one, on their website now its about $78! I echo most of the other comments; bear in mind I'm no expert and to me a capo is a capo and I get by nicely with cheap trigger ones. My thalia ...Big? Yes. Heavy? Yes. Thick on the fretboard side? Yes Strong spring? Yes. Lovely to look at? Yes. End result is, it looks nice but stays on my guitar rack. I think I've got the bits it came with somewhere. If you like, I can post it to you to try for as long as you like on the basis that if you don't want it just post it back; and if you do want to keep it then a donation to 'Music For Dementia' is all that's suggested at an amount you think is sensible ...£10-15? Let me know. John That is a very kind offer John. If anyone else would like to take you up on your offer then please go ahead. It seems like this would be not quite what I’m looking for in a capo. First of all I didn’t realise it was a spring system. My preference is for capos where I can adjust the tension (I used to have one of the original Victor capos but unfortunately leant it to a student and never saw it again!). Also, if it’s heavy then that would be something else I would not get on with. Robbie That's no problem Robbie. If anyone else wants to take up the offer that's fine with me, just message me. Although I think the general consensus is that they look great, are nice to own, but limited practical application. FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Aug 10, 2023 18:01:12 GMT
Hi,
I bought one about 5 years ago for around £50.00. MInes the Sapele one, on their website now its about $78! I echo most of the other comments; bear in mind I'm no expert and to me a capo is a capo and I get by nicely with cheap trigger ones.
My thalia ... Big? Yes. Heavy? Yes. Thick on the fretboard side? Yes Strong spring? Yes. Lovely to look at? Yes.
End result is, it looks nice but stays on my guitar rack.
I think I've got the bits it came with somewhere. If you like, I can post it to you to try for as long as you like on the basis that if you don't want it just post it back; and if you do want to keep it then a donation to 'Music For Dementia' is all that's suggested at an amount you think is sensible ...£10-15?
Let me know.
John
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Aug 1, 2023 21:43:12 GMT
Hi Leo. Thanks for the advice.
At the moment I just find that actually holding something between thumb and fingers is so foreign to me after 50 years of nails only that it's a huge jump. I am not thinking of actually using the thumb pick to 'strum' up and down; more to do what I call 'pick and strum' in the same way as you describe. Then if I can get used to not using the thumb nail for the 'pick' part it might be a start. This probably doesn't make much sense but I'll just play around a little and see where it goes; probably nowhere!
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Aug 1, 2023 15:40:43 GMT
Reaching my twilight years and so far have avoided using a pick/plectrum for 50 years. Tried it a few times and just didn't feel right. I'd say keep on playing as you do.
There's a guy who posts up YT videos, who plays a lot of electric guitar for styles that would traditionally use a pick but there's none in sight.
Have a look at his picking technique if you have the chance.
Thanks for your reply. Its very tempting to 'stick with my knitting' as we used to say at work although I will have another try, perhaps with a thumb pick to start. Interesting video thanks; not my normal cup of tea but like seeing how others play. FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Jul 31, 2023 16:48:16 GMT
What a great set of replies, thanks everybody. I few comments back ...
Keith. I know you use a thumb pick. I've tried one once for 5 minutes (shows how tenacious I am!) but was uncomfortable (small and tight) and just felt very strange. Is there a large one for my fat thumb you might recommend?
Delboy. Thanks for the useful info. I fear my basic skills are so far down the range that the videos are just in my dreams, but good to look at.
Leo. I think you and I are similar as I use nails strumming and fingerstyle. I do a bit of hybrid of a fashion but nowhere near that standard, and again, with nails.
Phil. A very encouraging reply thanks. I will have to perservere, as if someone of your ability (way beyond mine) finds it so rewarding it must be worth it. Just hope I'm not too late.
Paul. Thanks so much for the generous offer but I did get a small collection many years ago but gave up too quickly so I will have to have another go. INteresting about your muting; I find this impossible as I hold my thumb about 45degrees to the strings and can't then damp properly; another thing on my list.
Martin. Very useful info and learning about your journey. Perhaps I could try it with a mandolin to see what its like as I won't have so many ingrained habits and preferences. I do have a (cheap) Mandola whch has got a bit more room for my fingers so might give that a go.
Iain. I remember you saying about your thumb. I'm not going to purposely disable myself to force practising with a pick but interesting that you found it rewarding.
Again, thanks for all your help and advice.
FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Jul 31, 2023 7:26:24 GMT
Hi,
Reaching my twilight years and so far have avoided using a pick/plectrum for 50 years. Tried it a few times and just didn't feel right. I suppose also I tended, wrongly no doubt, to 'look down on it' a bit, thinking my fingers were meant for the job. Also recognising that I've never practised scales etc and do very little playing on individual strings (except bass notes within a chord with my thumb and fingerstyle patterns), solo work (except a few runups/downs and a little melody picking with thumb/fingers) etc, mainly accompanying either fingerstyle or strumming.
I've always felt that there is so much else to learn (and the list just gets longer!). I've also tried thumb/finger picks, but usually to avoid broken nails which I rarely get now since using OPI nail strengthener.
Where do you guys and gals sit on this. Do you regularly use a plectrum? Should I make this a target in next 12 months to practice? Or is it the devil's bit of plastic? .
FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Jul 25, 2023 12:02:54 GMT
Thanks. So, trying 2 sets and £10.00 off 1st order if you subscribe to their mailing list (can immediately unsubscribe if you want), so about £15 a set. Looking forward to trying them. FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Jul 24, 2023 21:46:53 GMT
I got mine from Andertons, they were £14.99 for 11s and 13s. 12s for some reason were £15.99. I was comparing them to elixirs. Worth checking out peach guitars too Thanks. They add about £5 for p&p though which is a shame. I'll look round a bit more. FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Jul 24, 2023 15:32:10 GMT
I’m interested to know if anyone here has used Stringjoy Foxwoods…the coated ones. I’ve got them on all my guitars at the moment and I’ve been very impressed with them so far. The company are interesting too and they have a good website and several very informative youtube videos. They are also cheaper than Daddario and elixirs, so a bonus. I'd ne interested in trying a set of these, 12-54 and the coated ones. But I've had a search around UK and best price including delivery of 1 set seems to be around £18-19 whih is quite a bit more than the Dragon Skins which I'm trying at the moment. Do you know where to get them in UK for a better price?
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Jul 9, 2023 8:15:50 GMT
Hi, I've used Daddario EXP 16s for many years although always tried different ones. These are the only coated ones I liked. They stopped making them and have tried their new ET versoin and found they became dull very quickly. Like the Newtones but never as much as the old EXPs. Have just tried a set of these Dragon Skins; Hard Coated PB Lights and really like the balanced sound. They were recommended by someone I follow on You Tube. I'll see how they go and update after a couple of months. Sensible price too. FFJ I would quite like to try DR Sunbeams at some stage. I tried these dragon skins many years ago when they first came out, but being a fingerstyle player their rough coating ripped my nails up!! I suppose the clue was in the name really!Robbie Interesting point; I'll keep an eye out for this. I also find that some coated strings sound a bit 'scratchy when strumming; I don't use a pick so it's fingers only; I need to watch this as well.
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Jul 8, 2023 12:56:25 GMT
Perhaps try Santa Cruz Parabolic - I have the mid tension on my Sobell and low tension on my 00... they really sound great and have a coating of some sort, so should last a while. I usually hate coated strings as they are pretty dull in comparison with uncoated, but these seem clear and responsive. Sadly not cheap. Jonny Hi, Just shows that everyone has dfferent experiences with different strings and the only rule seems to be 'use what you think suits you'. There are so many factors involved. I'm sure Johnny is much more knowledgeable than me. Here's my take on Santa Cruz strings. I tried them after a recommend by someone on the forum for 'low tension' and ease of playing as fingers get older. Bought 2 sets; as Johnny says, not cheap. I bought 'low tension'; Santa Crus say string guage is not relevant, it's the tension. But out of interest I found somewhere something which said the low tensions were 12 16 23 32 44 56. Put one set on my Taylor. Sounded great first on. Took them off after 6 weeks as they sounded very dull. My Taylor is 310ce dread and my main 'strummer'. Put the other set on my Turner Koa, I have this tuned permanently in open d and play it 80% fingerstyle. Just replaced them after 12 months Santa Cruzes still sounded OK but you could see the wear on them on fretboard and lost some of their 'ring' and sustain. So, it may well just be the usual horses for courses. I won't buy SCs again because cost is high and I didn't feel any real benefit from the 'low tension' theory. No doubt others have come to different conclusions! (Replaced them on Turner with my first try of Dragon Skins which early days sound great) FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Jul 4, 2023 16:50:44 GMT
Hi, I've used Daddario EXP 16s for many years although always tried different ones. These are the only coated ones I liked. They stopped making them and have tried their new ET versoin and found they became dull very quickly. Like the Newtones but never as much as the old EXPs. Have just tried a set of these Dragon Skins; Hard Coated PB Lights and really like the balanced sound. They were recommended by someone I follow on You Tube. I'll see how they go and update after a couple of months. Sensible price too. FFJ Attachments:
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Jul 3, 2023 15:00:24 GMT
I gave up on barre chords many years ago. My wrist and other jonts are just too stiff and it isn't through want of trying. Plus I don't have the benefit of long digits (now, now Leo ...). So I 'get by' with cheat chords and, particularly in fingerstyle, just use the strings I need. One thing I found which overcame my stiff wrist, elbow etc was to hold the guitar in a more classical position, including resting it on on left knee (normally I used right) and with the headstock at 45 degree angle. This took lots of the strain out of the joints and allowed me some success. But I didn't like the position for the rest of the time so stopped doing it. But if you can try the classical pose then it might help?
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Post by fatfingerjohn on May 14, 2023 19:35:44 GMT
Hi,
The chat following Keith's lovely video of a Ralph McTell song, which RT played on piano, got me thinking of other artists best known for their guitar accompaniment who also excel on the piano. I remember seeing RT playing 'Old Brown Dog' at one of his shows in Newark many years ago and also in Sheffield more recently. I'm sure you guys will know of lots of others who play guitar mainly but have a magic touch on the piano. So to get things started here's a less -well-known Neil Young song where he accompanies himself on piano. It's one of my favorite NY recordings and seems to bring out his wonderful feel for phrasing a lyric and gentle vocals albeit to a very serious theme.
FFJ
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