What the string is made of will also affect the sound. I believe in the 50s and early 60s strings were usually pure nickel and usually higher gauge than modern strings. Now strings are made in lighter gauges and you can get nickel plated steel or pure nickel. Steel being a bit brighter and pure nickel being a bit warmer. I tend to use Ernie Ball Rock n Rolls 11s.

If you're playing surf I would definitely go with higher gauges. A lot of retro types are into flatwound strings too (think early George Harrison). I've never tried them so I'll let someone else share their opinion.

I have played for almost 30 years (you'd never know by hearing me play though) and pretty much have only played 60s/70s punk with a 5-6 year stint playing hardcore in the 80s. I have always played Ernie Ball Super Slinkys. They last, they're cheap and they sound good (trashy). The lighter the gauge the more trebly your guitar is going to sound - just something to keep in mind. I used to use a B string in place of my high E (always breaking it) but I gave that up a few years ago. It will beef up your sound.

I started taking lessons recently only because I wanted to learn some techniques/styles that were completely eluding me on my own. Other than that, I don't think that lessons are all that important.

Yeah, heavier strings sound better on electric too.  Fenders play heavier than other guitars.  So if you like the feel of 11's on a Gibson, get 10's or an 11/10 custom gauge for the Fender.  I like some of the custom gauges, but stock up, since those get discontinued without warning. As far as brand, Dean Markley, Ernie Ball and DR are all good names. And there's nothing wrong with skipping official lessons. Learn from your friends, and from playing along with awesome music.

Hi!

I was always playing the cheapest strings I could get here in my town. Then I discovered that Thomann had Ernie Balls for pretty little money, and since I've heard of them back then, I now play those. Can't tell the difference in sound really, but they last longer than the cheap ones, and maybe they sound clearer and more poewerful. But that may be wishful thinking.

For my acoustic guitar, I use the thickest strings I can get (.13) - this may hurt a bit, but my guitar sounds that much fuller and richer and louder and more powerful. With the electric guitar I'm not so sure if that's also the case. Maybe the specialists here know about that.

Cheers, Doc

I've played guitar for 5-6 years, I've never taken lessons and it shows, I suck.  Just wondering if some of the more knowledgeable players could tell me about certain strings to try out. 

Cheers.

Gawd bless Mr. Childish. 

Most prolific garage punker ever! Billy is one of those artists, right when you think you have enough in your collection...you hear something else that you must get. 

I need many of these listed but I'm sure the majority are OOP.

Add in all the books/poetry and paintings and you'd swear the guy has to be twins or have a time machine or something. 

Hey Kopper, I know this list doesn't include any 7" or 12" records, but it's definitely worth mentioning that Billy Childish recently appeared in a new band, The Guy Hamper Trio, who put out a single on Damaged Goods Records in 2010.

That's good: Life won't get boring.

"!Billy be Childish!"

I play through a Peavey Bandit 65 from around the mid-80s; got it off a guy in Southie for about $50, needed something to tide me over until I could get the money for what I really wanted(Fender Bassman), but after getting it cleaned up, I think this'll stick with me until it dies.

Well, yeah.

whatwave dave said:

Of course you mean the 12" EP on Ready Records, right Pete?

Pete Fiend said:

The Demics

The one with the funny looking airbrushed cover wasnt that bad. Im still wondering what records were on that 63monroe cd set that I saw a while ago.

whatwave dave said:

Of course you mean the 12" EP on Ready Records, right Pete?

Pete Fiend said:

The Demics

Of course you mean the 12" EP on Ready Records, right Pete?

Pete Fiend said:

The Demics

Hard by Christchild.

You just love those dirty band names I can see.

Blaine said:

The urinals

Vomit pigs

The Demics

Rob: I'm in London, Ontario, Canada....so it would be a bit of a drive...LOL

Rob Bailey said:

Hi Dave, If you in Europe you be pleased to know you can catch Cyril and Roy live in London on Sunday 24 April @ Le Beat Bespoke 7, cheers Rob

whatwave dave said:

1. Flamin' Groovies

2. Flamin' Groovies

3. Flamin' Groovies....

 

Detect a pattern here? Last time they played in Canada was 1978 and i didn't go to see them as i wasn't a huge fan. Now that i'm older (but definitely not wiser) and a HUGE fan of The Groovies AND Roy and Cyril are out doing shows, i gotta see them!! A-Bones are the perfect back up bands as Mirian was the Prez of The Flamin' Groovies fanclub for many years.

I did get to see Magic Christian (Cyril's new combo) about 2 years ago and that just whet my appetite even more for a real Flamin' Groovies show!!

Roky Erickson

? & the Mysterians

Von Lmo

Woulda put Jandek on this list but I got to see him a couple years ago.

My wishlist would be.

The Who/High Numbers live @ Railway Tavern circa 64 set

Steampacket with Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & Rod Stewart

The Birds with Ron Wood Ali McKenzie and Tony Munroe

Hi Dave, If you in Europe you be pleased to know you can catch Cyril and Roy live in London on Sunday 24 April @ Le Beat Bespoke 7, cheers Rob

whatwave dave said:

1. Flamin' Groovies

2. Flamin' Groovies

3. Flamin' Groovies....

 

Detect a pattern here? Last time they played in Canada was 1978 and i didn't go to see them as i wasn't a huge fan. Now that i'm older (but definitely not wiser) and a HUGE fan of The Groovies AND Roy and Cyril are out doing shows, i gotta see them!! A-Bones are the perfect back up bands as Mirian was the Prez of The Flamin' Groovies fanclub for many years.

I did get to see Magic Christian (Cyril's new combo) about 2 years ago and that just whet my appetite even more for a real Flamin' Groovies show!!

New episodes: Yup! Checking it out of course!

I need to call in, just need to get my shit together there....

Hideout Admin said:

I don't think there were any voice messages "collected" (as if I get that many to "collect" them, haha!) for Savage Kick that were not used... but hell, I could be wrong. That was a year and a half ago, so one or two may have slipped through the cracks. But it's not like I can't start collecting new ones, so CALL!

314-266-8472

And don't forget to listen to the new episode here!

IDON MINE said:

Hey man, great to see you keeping the rolling, uhm, rolling.

Cool to see the voice mail line up! Also, is there a chance we get to hear some old voice messages collected for the now long gone savage kick 70? Where there even any? It would just be fun to listen in.

Questions over questions...



Hideout Admin said:

Call and make a request, leave a comment, tell me a joke, whatever! I might use it on an upcoming episode: 314-266-8472

And don't forget to check my blahg for the latest episodes!

Now if I could get that extra bass boost with an intact brightness from the mids along with that cardboard crunch I'd be happy.

Jamie said:

I'm thinking you might actually save money by just getting a different cab. A 6x10 Silvertone cab is probably pretty rare. I built one for my 1484 out of pine from Lowes. I just stained the bare wood and put some polyurethane on it. I ordered a fender style grillcloth online. It looks pretty decent. I might put a picture up here sometime.

 

I used some 12" Eminence Legends because 1. I found them cheap on ebay and 2. supposedly they have a vintage Jensen/JBL vibe to them. I've never played through any vintage speakers so I couldn't tell you how they compare. They are very loud and clean. They don't really break much at all. They have good bass but are also pretty bright. They're just about right for the Silvertone as far as clean speakers go but are just a little too bright for my blackface Bassman head. They might continue to break in.  

I think I'm going to build another cab and try to find some lower powered speakers so I can get that cardboard box sound you're talking about. I may try some tens.

Mardy Pune,

It's sounding more and more complex to me. I thought it would be as easy as doing a little math, matching ohlms, and soldering. I have looked at the speakers. I actually had to solder the wire back on one because it came undone. The speakers are wired in parallel. No transformers on the speakers as far as I can tell. One output transformer to 3 speakers. I am wondering if I should just find a tech that knows old amps. I  don't want to get fried.