Dec 01 2024

how to make cheap guitar sound expensive

How to make a cheap guitar sound expensive

By Vinnie Mah Music Articles No Comments

How to make a cheap guitar sound expensive

how to make cheap guitar sound expensive

We have been sold the idea that a cheap guitar can never sound as good as an expensive one. The premium price tag gave the illusion that it must be better because it cost more. While there are valid reasons why a costly guitar bears that price tag, an entry-level guitar can be equally good when used correctly! In this article, we want to share 4 guitarists who reaffirmed the theory of Tone Is In The Fingers. Let’s dive in!

What is the first step to GREAT TONE?

I guess by now you are aware that perhaps the great tone came from great skill on the guitar. What better way to improve your tone than to have someone to guide you on every step? Taking lessons ensures your progress is efficient and effective!

We are a music school in Singapore offering guitar lessons at Upper Thomson Road. Signing up for guitar lessons with us means learning from a team with over 10 years of experience running a successful music school in Singapore. Over the years, we have refined our teaching methods to ensure they are engaging, effective, and tailored to suit students of all ages and skill levels. Our commitment to excellence goes beyond lessons—we organize annual recitals! It provides our guitar students with the opportunity to showcase their progress, build confidence, and experience the joy of performing.

Jack Thammarat proves that Tone is in the fingers

Imagine landing in a foreign country for your guitar performance but your guitar is nowhere to be found. Yup, that happened to Jack Thammarat earlier this November. After landing in India, he was told that his guitar was not on the same plane as him. We are talking about his trusty Yamaha, the one made by the USA custom shop with all the bells and whistles!

Instead of his custom-made guitar, Yamaha gave him an entry-level Pacifica PAC012 for the gig! Which he performed flawlessly! It left fans dropping their jaws and wondering how he managed to do that. The guitar eventually reached him in India but only after the show was over.

John Mayer can make a cheap guitar sound expensive!

John Mayer sounds great on his expensive custom shop guitars but he can also make a cheap guitar sound just the same! This wild moment happened during one of John Mayer’s concerts when a fan got more than he asked for! The fan hoped for a signature on his guitar, but John picked it up from him and started playing like it was his.

Joe Satriani sounds expensive with a cheap guitar!

This is perhaps one of the most legendary videos in guitar history, at least to me. The video shows Joe playing something that is not his signature Ibanez guitar but sounds like he would have on better gear. This video reinforces the idea that tone is in the fingers! Confirming what guitar teachers will often say during guitar lessons! Practice, practice, and practice! Joe Satriani is also famously known as the guitar teacher of the legendary Steve Vai. Guess what…

Steve Vai makes any guitar sounds like his expensive Ibanez Jem

Steve Vai, like many other Ibanez artists, is rarely seen using anything that isn’t an Ibanez. Most of these guitarists are loyal to the brand that has provided tremendous help for their career. However, in this one rare video, we can see Steve Vai playing a Parker Fly that belongs to a fan. These are very different guitars as compared to Steve’s signature model. The weight, balance, feel and tone take some getting used to. Yet, Steve played it like a fiddle.

What is the secret then?

Good techniques, proper guitar lessons, and consistent and effective practice habits are the keys to achieving a masterful tone on almost any guitar. While self-studying the craft is possible, taking guitar classes accelerates your progress. This is akin to why sports have coaches. A coach’s role is to analyse and study how they can help their athletes attain their optimum performance. Well, it is the same for music schools with dedicated music teachers. We have the best interest in helping you or your child get the best out of your music education.

So if you are looking for guitar lessons, consider taking a Trial Lesson with us! I am sure with our decade-long experience, we will be of valuable help to you.

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Nov 30 2024

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How do you choose the right guitar strings?

By Vinnie Mah Music Articles, Music Instruments No Comments

How do you choose the right guitar strings?

how to choose guitar strings

I’m sure you’d know how destructive it would be if you did not choose the right guitar string. Your guitar will play differently due to the change in tension. Some parts of your guitar might get damaged in the process. You could even snap a fresh string and cut yourself! In short, being ignorant about your guitar strings is never a good idea. So how do we choose the right set of guitar strings? Let’s dive deep!

Should I sign up for guitar lessons to learn about string changing?

It is a ridiculous statement to suggest that you should sign up for guitar lessons to learn about string changing. However, guitar string changing IS part of guitar lessons in most music schools in Singapore. String changing is not an easy task!

However, if you are capable of changing strings on your own but need guidance in guitar playing, we are here to help! We are a music school in Singapore offering guitar lessons at Upper Thomson Road. Signing up for guitar lessons with us means learning from a team with over 10 years of experience running a successful music school in Singapore. Over the years, we have refined our teaching methods to ensure they are engaging, effective, and tailored to suit students of all ages and skill levels. Our commitment to excellence goes beyond lessons—we organize annual recitals! It provides our guitar students with the opportunity to showcase their progress, build confidence, and experience the joy of performing.

What are the things I need to know about guitar strings?

Thankfully, you need to know just a few things about guitar strings before buying a pack! Let’s take a look at typical string packaging and the information present.

Gauge

The thickness of the strings. Most strings are labeled with just the thinnest and thickest strings on the front of the packaging for faster shopping. The rest of the specs are usually printed at the back of the packaging. Here are some common string gauges.

Acoustic: (a) 0.011 to 0.052, (b) 0.012 to 0.053
Electric: (a) 0.009 to 0.042, (b) 0.010 to 0.046
Ukulele: G (0.028), C (0.032), E (0.040), A (0.028)
Classical: Medium tension (recommended)
Bass: 0.045, 0.065, 0.085, 0.105

What happens if I use the wrong gauge?

Typically, the retail staff will recommend you some safer options should you be unaware of the current gauge of your strings. While there are no formal industry standards, most major brands ships their instruments with the same few options of string thickness! You can also go to the product website and have a look at the spec sheet. But ok let’s talk about the what ifs.

Too light – Your strings may start hitting onto your fretboard easily and cause notes to make an unpleasant buzzing sound. If you happened to restring way too light, the tension of the strings may not be enough to create enough clearance between the strings and the fretboard. You may end up with a guitar that has strings sitting flat on the fretboard.
Too heavy – Your strings will pull the neck in a tension more than it can handle and causing it to bow more than it should. If you are on a floating bridge, it will be tilted forward instead of sitting balanced and flat. You might break your bridge off the guitar if you are on a fixed bridge setup. Indeed, you can break your guitar when stringing them with strings that are way too heavy for it to handle.

Guitarists are fussy and hence the reason for the wide variety of string gauge. To change your string gauge to something different, you can send your guitar into a qualified tech (such as GuitarGeeksSG ) and these professionals will be able re-setup your guitar based on your new string gauge. It is a complicated process to fine tune the guitar. However, a right setup will mean that you will be enjoying your guitar more than before!

Material

The material of the string can reshape your guitar’s tone drastically. It is also the most common reason why there are so many different types out there! However, not every has the patience to try out every different types of materials out there. Hence, we usually refer to the description on the packaging, word of mouth or simply follow what our favourite guitarist(s) are using. To help you shorten your search for the best tone, here are some of the common materials and their characteristics.

Electric Guitar
- Nickel-plated steel – Balance and smooth tone
- Pure Nickel – Warmer tone
- Stainless Steel – Bright and strong tone
Acoustic Guitar
- 80/20 Bronze – Bright tone with a strong bass
- Phosphor Bronze – Warm and smooth tone
Ukulele
- Nylon – default ukulele string material
- Fluorocarbon – Fishing line rebranded as premium ukulele strings. Thinner than nylon and brighter tone
  - Read more about Fluoroucarbon here
Classica Guitar
- Medium Tension – Balance tone
- High Tension – Stronger attack and punchier bass tone
Bass Guitar
- Steel – Brightest tone
- Nickel/Steel Alloy – Bright tone
- Pure Nickel – Warm and smooth tone

One more thing to note about string material is that the characteristic of the tone does not remain consistent throughout its lifespan on your instrument. As you play, the string gets stretched out, aged, tarnished, and even rusted. There are simply too many reasons why the tone doesn’t stay the same as day one. However, that’s not really an issue for musicians of certain genres. Some bassists believes they should never change their strings, only to boil them in hot water to clean them before reusing them. They believe this will allow them to have that warm tone they desire. Some guitarists would do a monthly string changing because they prefer the bright tone from a fresh set of strings. During one of Tommy Emmanuel’s clinics in Singapore many years ago, he mentioned that his strings are changed before every show! I do wonder how true and consistent could that be. Regardless, I should remind you that Tone Is In The Fingers!

Coating

Simply put, while coated strings are usually 2-3 times more expensive than non-coated versions, the coating makes your strings last longer and hence makes more monetary sense. Of course, your guitar has to have good-quality hardware and has been set up perfectly to reduce the chance of string breakage while playing. A set of coated strings from popular brands can last you anywhere from 2-3 months to more than 6 months. There are a few common factors that will cause even the coated strings to rust. If you have any of these following, your best bet is to stick to coated strings.

Sweaty palms and fingers
You’re in a place with high humidity
You practice aggressively on a very regular basis and cause high wear and tear
Changing strings regularly is not something you want to do
Buying new strings regularly will affect your budgeting

Still unsure about how to choose your guitar strings?

The last thing anybody wants is to damage their guitar because of a wrong set of strings. Choosing the right set of strings is only part of the equation, let’s not forget about the right technique for restringing a guitar. Restringing your guitar the wrong way can also cause significant damage. If you are unsure, we strongly recommend you leave it to the professionals.

There are quite a few very established and reputable guitar techs in Singapore. Most of them are very reliable and offer great value for their service. One of them is Guitar Geeks Sg and they can be reachable here.

But if guitar lessons are what you need, we are ready to help you become the guitarist you wish to be. Consider taking a Trial Lesson with us! I am sure with our decade-long experience, we will be of valuable help to you.

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Nov 27 2024

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Things to look out for when buying a guitar in Singapore

By Vinnie Mah Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Music Articles No Comments

Things to look out for when buying a guitar in Singapore

Singapore is a bustling city with a rich community of music schools and guitar shops! But every country has its unique culture and practices especially when it comes to guitar shops. So if you are new to guitar shopping here on the sunny island of Singapore, this article might help make your trip easier!

Guitar Lessons in Singapore

Before we share spicy information about our guitar shops, allow me to share what we do! We are a music school in Singapore offering guitar lessons at Upper Thomson Road. Signing up for guitar lessons with us means learning from a team with over 10 years of experience running a successful music school in Singapore. Over the years, we have refined our teaching methods to ensure they are engaging, effective, and tailored to suit students of all ages and skill levels. Our commitment to excellence goes beyond lessons—we organize annual recitals! It provides our guitar students with the opportunity to showcase their progress, build confidence, and experience the joy of performing.

Perhaps a recommendation of the top 5 guitars in Singapore?

Having a list of suitable guitars before heading down to the guitar shop is always a good idea. This makes you prepared and informed before getting convinced about something that you might regret later on. In our previous article, we shared our Top 5 Acoustic Guitar for this Christmas in Singapore. Perhaps that article might help you get a better understanding of what is available here on Sunny Island Singapura.

We have more of such articles underway! If you wish to be informed, consider following us on Facebook.

Buying a Guitar in Singapore is not the same anywhere else

Okay, let’s get to the juicy bits about buying a guitar in Singapore. Guitar shops are kind of like what they have described in Hotel California, “you can check out anytime you like but you can never leave“. Well, that is either you have made your purchase or you have mustered enough strength! I mean, they are candy shops!

Guitar shops here are categorized into Big and Small. They have very different vibes and ways of doing. So do remember to apply our pro tips accordingly!

Big Guitar Shops and their uniqueness

NOBODY IS SERVING ME

Big guitar shops are often understaffed and do not have the capacity to deal with every single customer walking in. If you are walking in hoping for someone to help, such shops might not be your best bet.

- Snag a salesman up the minute you are able to make eye contact with one. Learning their name typically lets them know you are serious about buying something.
- State your intention such as the type of guitar or the guitarist you are trying to model after.

THE SHOP IS SO NOISY

Because of the lack of staff, it is usually tough for them to do noise control. After all, it is a shop selling items that make sound! Some guitar shops do have a special room, a nice and quiet place that allows you to audition the guitar. But not all of the bigger music shops out there have such luxury.

- Visit these guitar shops during quieter times such as weekday mornings.
- Ask if they have a room for you to try the instrument.

THE STAFF DON’T KNOW ANYTHING

Now this is quite typical with most retailers. Especially with the holiday season fast approaching, many of these staff you encounter might be on their holiday job. Because they are students working during their holiday, they don’t usually have the most adequate training and experience.

- Do your research by reading articles such as this one.
- YouTube is a great source for learning all the information you need in a short time.

Smaller Guitar Shops and their quirkiness

THEY KEPT FOLLOWING ME AROUND

This quirkiness is commonly found in shoe shops too! Our best bet is because the staff are just too eager to serve you. Also, guitars are fragile and not that cheap.

- Greet the guys in the shop first before you shop.
- Tell them what you are looking for and ask for their advice.

THEY DON’T LET ME TRY THE GUITAR

Yes, this is true to a certain extent. Some guitar shops actually forbid their customer from trying their guitars. The staff would perform a tune on the guitar for you before hanging it back on the rack while leaving you confused. Their intention meant no harm, especially to the guitars.

- Let the staff perform on as many guitars as you wish for you.
- After comparing a few, try to narrow down your options.
- Ask to try the guitar if you are certain about buying it.

WHY ARE THEY SO ANGRY

Trust me they are not angry but just displaying some kind of defense mechanism that they have developed over time. You see, while there are many genuine buyers, there are also plenty who have time to kill. Smaller guitar shops do not have the time and resources to waste on customers who are just window shopping.

- Remember that this is just a unique culture developed over time.
- No matter what they say, do not engage in unnecessary arguments.
- Beneath it all, they are nice people. Especially when money is on the table.

Disclaimer: Before presenting this article as some sort of proof during your shopping trip, please be reminded that what we are sharing here is based on our personal experience. They are only true to a certain extent.

Conclusion about buying guitars in Singapore

Buying a guitar in Singapore can be a lot of fun. As Singapore is the busiest port in the world, we have pretty much every brand and model you can think of! We have access to a list of limited edition models, top-of-the-line boutique brands, and rare collectors. However Singapore is not just for the rich, the vast collection of lower-end and more affordable guitars helps most kids here to learn the guitar. So while we do not have our very own Ochanomizu guitar street, guitar shopping is still very accessible here in Singapore.

Talk to us if you are interested in signing up for guitar lessons. Or, take a Trial Lesson with us! I am sure with our decade-long experience, we will be of valuable help to you.

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