I Got A New Electric Guitar.

[B0WIE]

Shred is back to being cool. Give anything enough time...
On youtube, I even see a lot of respected classical players posting an occasional electric guitar solo lately. I generally don't read youtube comments but these are always hilarious as you'll see a lot of people from the EU classical community being critical while the (assumedly) American viewers heap on the praise. I think it's cool to finally see shred/heavy metal solo guitar getting respect as an art form. It's not something I play but I've always respected those who have the discipline to build their chops. If we're honest, what Tommy Emmanuel does is acoustic shred and it's no less vulgar or excessive than most 80's metal guitarists. 

I'm going to go grab my Ibanez now.

[Silence Dogood]

That is a sweet ax! To me, it screams 80's hair metal band, in a good way. 

That's exactly what I was going for!

[Silence Dogood]

Shred is back to being cool. Give anything enough time...
On youtube, I even see a lot of respected classical players posting an occasional electric guitar solo lately. I generally don't read youtube comments but these are always hilarious as you'll see a lot of people from the EU classical community being critical while the (assumedly) American viewers heap on the praise. I think it's cool to finally see shred/heavy metal solo guitar getting respect as an art form. It's not something I play but I've always respected those who have the discipline to build their chops. If we're honest, what Tommy Emmanuel does is acoustic shred and it's no less vulgar or excessive than most 80's metal guitarists. 

I'm going to go grab my Ibanez now.

I love a good Ibanez!  Thought about getting one but I just love Jackson necks.  They fit my hand perfectly.  And like you pointed out, YT is the place for shred!  I love it.

[B0WIE]

I love a good Ibanez!  Thought about getting one but I just love Jackson necks.  They fit my hand perfectly.  And like you pointed out, YT is the place for shred!  I love it.

My luckiest guitar buy ever was when I saw a craigslist ad for a "Steve Vai Ibanez $500". The guy was about to go out to dinner w/ his family and I told him, "Please, I'll give you your asking price, just wait for me". I didn't tell him I was an hour away. 
It turned out to be the rare black Ibanez Jem from 1989. The one tasteful looking Jem they made w/ pyramid inlays. He was a jock and this thing sat under his bed unused for 20 years. I feel weird for owning it because it's worth a lot and I rarely play it but this was a childhood dream guitar for me. I think I'm going to learn to shred some day and, if not, this thing wasn't a bad investment.

[Silence Dogood]

My luckiest guitar buy ever was when I saw a craigslist ad for a "Steve Vai Ibanez $500". The guy was about to go out to dinner w/ his family and I told him, "Please, I'll give you your asking price, just wait for me". I didn't tell him I was an hour away. 
It turned out to be the rare black Ibanez Jem from 1989. The one tasteful looking Jem they made w/ pyramid inlays. He was a jock and this thing sat under his bed unused for 20 years. I feel weird for owning it because it's worth a lot and I rarely play it but this was a childhood dream guitar for me. I think I'm going to learn to shred some day and, if not, this thing wasn't a bad investment.

Wow! What a find!!!  I've never seen a Jem with that particular cutout.  I like it.  I always loved the pyramid inlays too, much more than the vines. 

As far as shredding goes, I'm 50 and this year finally decided I'd try and learn to play faster.  I'm sure there are many great techniques for learning, and if one sticks with anything in a disciplined way it would likely work, but I happened upon a couple YT vids that really helped open this world up for me.  I'll post them below in case you are interested.  I'm still not playing super fast (yet!) but I'm hearing  sounds coming out of my amp that I've never heard before, and that has been both fun and encouraging! And it's really something to demystify all this a bit and see your fingers moving faster than they ever have.    Best wishes to you in learning too!

https://youtu.be/vgkXjamtap0?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/PJyj0tGQ4q8?feature=shared

[B0WIE]

Wow! What a find!!!  I've never seen a Jem with that particular cutout.  I like it.  I always loved the pyramid inlays too, much more than the vines. 

As far as shredding goes, I'm 50 and this year finally decided I'd try and learn to play faster.  I'm sure there are many great techniques for learning, and if one sticks with anything in a disciplined way it would likely work, but I happened upon a couple YT vids that really helped open this world up for me.  I'll post them below in case you are interested.  I'm still not playing super fast (yet!) but I'm hearing  sounds coming out of my amp that I've never heard before, and that has been both fun and encouraging! And it's really something to demystify all this a bit and see your fingers moving faster than they ever have.    Best wishes to you in learning too!

https://youtu.be/vgkXjamtap0?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/PJyj0tGQ4q8?feature=shared

 Thanks. I've stumbled across some of Paul Gilbert's videos on Youtube and, even though I wasn't trying to watch them as shred instructionals, I found them fascinating to watch. He explains things so well that they can give anyone who is playing guitar some food for thought. I tried watching some Vinny Moore recently and, even when he's teaching, he's still going faster than my brain can keep up with. I like that Paul explains the shifts and things that experienced players benefit from knowing. I don't need to know the scales, I need to know how to be more efficient so I can move around the board. I thought having a little classical guitar agility would help but it's really a different thing entirely, even though both are equally challenging. As a kid I thought classical seemed impossible as I could never understand how to do bass + lead. Now, it's almost the opposite, and my right hand wants to position like a spider, it does not want to wiggle a pick.

[Silence Dogood]

Thanks. I've stumbled across some of Paul Gilbert's videos on Youtube and, even though I wasn't trying to watch them as shred instructionals, I found them fascinating to watch. He explains things so well that they can give anyone who is playing guitar some food for thought. I tried watching some Vinny Moore recently and, even when he's teaching, he's still going faster than my brain can keep up with. I like that Paul explains the shifts and things that experienced players benefit from knowing. I don't need to know the scales, I need to know how to be more efficient so I can move around the board. I thought having a little classical guitar agility would help but it's really a different thing entirely, even though both are equally challenging. As a kid I thought classical seemed impossible as I could never understand how to do bass + lead. Now, it's almost the opposite, and my right hand wants to position like a spider, it does not want to wiggle a pick.

I'm with you on the scales, etc.  That stuff doesn't hold my attn for very long.  My favorite way of learning to is just find songs/solos I like and learn to play them.  That's what most if not all the great guitarists that we've looked up to our whole lives did.  They'd slow down records and learn the parts. 

[Silence Dogood]

My gold Guild got the name Gilda, so I wanted to give my new Jackson a theme too.  Since it reminds me of the 80s, I decided to name it Marty after Back to the Future.  Behold!

[StringPicker6]

GREAT SCOTT!!

[B0WIE]

If you replace the capacitor on the tone pot with a flux capacitor and play at 88bpm... well... be sure to have a sports book in your pocket.

[William2]

LOL!!!

[Silence Dogood]

Great responses, BOWIE and StringPicker6!  I'm not sure why but themes and electric guitars go together for me.  Not so much with acoustics.  When I pick up the Jackson ("Marty"), I find myself playing 80s riffs (White Lion, Def Leppard, Skid Row, et al), so in some ways it's my own little Time Machine, like Back To The Future.   My own little midlife meltdown, and quite a bit of fun.
 

[guitarman001]

My gold Guild got the name Gilda, so I wanted to give my new Jackson a theme too.  Since it reminds me of the 80s, I decided to name it Marty after Back to the Future.  Behold!

That is super cool.

I'm in the process of selling off (I think....) my electric gear after not playing it for 8 years. Bummer as it's a one of a kind PRS, a Suhr HSS and special cab with light neodymium magnets. When I was in a band it was cool but I like the solo acoustic now.

But I get how awesome it is... I really hope you enjoy this bad boy. Again... Very cool ...

[B0WIE]

I'm going to go grab my Ibanez now.

Wow, less than two months ago and I've already gone back in DEEP. I've been giving my old electrics some care, swapping out pickups, fixing up an old 80's Jem I picked up at a great price. I hadn't been playing electrics for the last 13 years but I'm SOOOOO glad I didn't sell mine all those times I was tempted. I have a few special electrics that I bought specifically because they were those 1 in 100 "nice ones".

[Silence Dogood]

That is super cool.

I'm in the process of selling off (I think....) my electric gear after not playing it for 8 years. Bummer as it's a one of a kind PRS, a Suhr HSS and special cab with light neodymium magnets. When I was in a band it was cool but I like the solo acoustic now.

But I get how awesome it is... I really hope you enjoy this bad boy. Again... Very cool ...

Thanks so much!  I'd be the last person to tell someone else what to do, but, man, I'd consider thinking long and hard before offloading ALL electric gear.  I did this when I got way into acoustics and it took about ten years before I regretted it, but I surely did.   I had built a dream Strat that I still miss sometimes.  Anyway, just my lowly two cents. 
 

[guitarman001]

It's the advice I get from many. My time is restricted heavily and I think that to get good at something, you can't do everything. But I hear you....

[teh]

I'm primarily both an acoustic player and a porch picker but after 55 years of playing, I finally stuck my toe in the water and bought my first electric guitar. Mine happens to be a Larrivee Baker T-Pro designed from the ground up by Matthew Larrivee. I'd be the last person to suggest keeping a guitar that isn't being played but I would encourage you to pause and think about it before proceeding.

As the old saying goes, "The Apple doesn't fall from the tree." and that's certainly the case with Jean Larrivee's two sons, John Jr. and Matthew. They have grown up in the business with their parents and their contributions to the company are evident. Three of my Larrivees coordinated by John Jr. and Matthew are out and ready to play on this rainy day: An LSV-03, a 00-24 and the Baker T-Pro. I might add that my son has an American made Fender Telecaster and he likes my Larrivee better.

[Silence Dogood]

It's the advice I get from many. My time is restricted heavily and I think that to get good at something, you can't do everything. But I hear you....

Man, I can certainly relate to time being restricted.  If I'm lucky I get 15-20 minutes on my Larrivee before going to bed each weeknight.  On weekends I'll knock out a couple hours a day, usually on my electric because I don't get to play it during the week.  I don't have a "music room" so each time I play electric I have to drag out the amp, etc. in my living room, set it all up.  A bit of a hassle, but part of the gig when you have a large family and a small-ish house.  All said, I wish you well in whatever path you choose.

[guitarman001]

Thanks, guys... Such a shame we can't just play ours 8 hours a day.

Those Baker T Pros look great.

My two are a Suhr Pro S4 and PRS orange fade 10 top with satin maple neck and 57/08s