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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Being 59 and not playing for 20+ years, I just picked up a very nice used six/seven y.o. Celebrity CC057 to entertain my three grandsons, 10 to 18 months. I'm hoping I can stir their musical interest as get they older.
Now, I am the guitarist's equivilent to a golf duffer. Therefore I'm way out of the league here with ya'll at OFC. But the HC forums aren't real Ovation fans :rolleyes: . So, here I am with a couple of questions.
Since I'm a recycled 'fret virgin', what would be the 'best' set of strings to break in my uncalloused fingers (I know, it depends on... :p ). I have small hands and that's one reason I purchased the Ovation. I just bought a set of Martin SP PB xtra lights. But alas the set is for a 12 string (I'll double check next time). They'll go back tomorrow.
Next, there's absolutely no chance of this ol' turd (me, not the git) goin' on the road, but I would like to take advantage of the 'tronics. What would be a rea$onable ($$ & wattage) amp for one room self-punishment?
BTW, my Dad bought a Gibson single pickup, sunburst dual cut-away back and a Fender amp in '60 (Sorry I don't have the model #s). That was my teething git. My brother is now sitting on a small gold mine! ;)
TIA! |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | You might wanna go light and coated. Coated strings seem to be bit more forgiving on the fingers and last a good while longer than uncoated. D'addario EXP are a popular choice... Elixirs Nano are very smooth as well...
As for amps... small practice amp would suit just fine 15 watts would be plenty...
2 low priced models with good reps
-Behringer Ultracoustic AT108 15-watt Acoustic Guitar Amplifier
- Alesis Coolfire 15 Watt Acoustic Amp |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1116
Location: Keller, TX | Some Adamas Light 1818's would work well to get the fingers working again. You could also go with some extra-light strings, but they sound very tiny.
Any acoustic amp would work well. Crate has some decent priced ones out there and you could usually find them on sale. For the top-shelf amp, lots of us recommend GenzBenz for the pure/clean sound. |
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July 2005
Posts: 3410
Location: GA USA | Three things, Paul Revere:
1) Welcome to the club! Stick around and you'll learn plenty, and have fun.
2) You're not really out of your league with many here. There are quite a few of us duffers.
3) A friendly note - don't bring too much politics. we mess with each other plenty, but we don't slam one another for politics or religion. It just keeps the guitar talk more fun.
Again, welcome!
Jas (pronounced Jazz) |
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March 2005
Posts: 12758
Location: Boise, Idaho | You could start with the Adamas 1717s, but you may as well start with 1818s. You will take awhile to build up callouses and you probably won't be doing barre chords for awhile. By the time you get the callouses, you'll probably be due for a new set of strings anyway.
Crate has a little 15 watt practice amp for about $70 at Guitar Center. It is not an acoustic amp, but should work for you. If you find that you like to play plugged in, then you can move up to something better. The CC057 sounds a little light without plugging in, so you might want to move up to something that sounds better unplugged at about the same time you want to move up to a better amp. I wouldn't spend much on an amp until you find out how much you'll be using it and whether you just want a better sounding guitar. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Mark, esplain t'me the reason for buying a non-acoustic amp (no matter how inexpensive) when he's playing an acoustic? |
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Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | roland ac60..bought one i love it...jason |
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March 2005
Posts: 12758
Location: Boise, Idaho | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
Mark, esplain t'me the reason for buying a non-acoustic amp (no matter how inexpensive) when he's playing an acoustic? Cause he's cheap like me and it's hard to find an acoustic amp that's cheap. That's probably assuming too much, because it's hard to find anyone as cheap as me. I started with a Crate 15W amp my wife bought me. It was OK. I found out it was a bass amp, which may explain why it was OK. Then I found my little Epiphone acoustic 30W amp for around $120. The Crate is sitting up at the cabin, just in case I need to plug in up there (which hasn't happened in over a year).
If you can find an acoustic amp for what you think is a reasonable price, buy it. I'd upgrade the guitar first and then you might not need any amp. If you spend $200 on an acoustic amp, you might find that it doesn't make the Celebrity sound that good and you will think you wasted your money.
Sometimes my thought processes are really hard to explain, aren't they? |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | 
(we keep him way out there in Idaho, so he doesn't hurt anyone) |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Got try on your own. Buy Daddario, extra lights, use them for a month, then go up to custom lights, use them for 6 months, then go up to regular lights. By then your fingers will have toughened up. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Dayuum, great info!
Captain_Lovehandles,
Nice catch on PR!
1) I've learned more lurking here & 'overthere' in the past two days than I ever knew 'bout gits!
2) Where are they? :confused: I feel sooooo lonely! :D
3) It wasn't a slam, just one of those universal truths! Comment noted and sig adjusted. ;)
Thanx for the welcome!
Everyone,
Ya'll have given me some super leads. I'll be busy researching your suggestions.
Now, do I NEED 15 watts for personal use? Or is that the minimum to drive the quality?
Again, I appreciate the inputs. Don't go away.. I know I'll be bugging ya'll some more. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
(we keep him way out there in Idaho, so he doesn't hurt anyone)
So many sheep, so little time! ;) |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | You don't need 15 watts, but smaller are less available and most are for electric. The Behringer acoustic is a good starter and way under 100 clams. Try some things out. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Regarding strings, just go with regular lights, either EXP's or Elixirs. Your fingers will be sore for about a week and then toughen up just fine. My callouses come off (read that as "peel" off) once in a while and they redevop pretty quickly if I just keep playing. |
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March 2004
Posts: 629
Location: Houston, Texas | And play through the pain. They numb up after 15 or 20 minutes of hard playing, and it won't take too long before your calluses are thick enough, or your bones stick through the skin, depending on your playing style. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12758
Location: Boise, Idaho | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
(we keep him way out there in Idaho, so he doesn't hurt anyone) |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Originally posted by Jeff W.:
(we keep him way out there in Idaho, so he doesn't hurt anyone) |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I agree with Moody, just go with regular lights 12-52 guage, and just play. I think you'll find that your fingers get tough before you need to replace with a new set.
Oh, and Welcome. If you ever make it over to the first coast, stop by. |
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September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | Originally posted by Joyful Noise:
And play through the pain. They numb up after 15 or 20 minutes of hard playing, and it won't take too long before your calluses are thick enough, or your bones stick through the skin, depending on your playing style. Work your fingers to the bone...whada ya get?... :)
2ifbyC, welcome home
Dave |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Welcome to the board. My 2 cents - d'Darrio EXP16s for the strings, just play until it hurts, and you'll find it hurts less every day until it won't hurt anymore after a week or two. And if you stop by and see cwk2, take a side trip to Gainesville and we'll toss a few (beers, not gits). |
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An Ol' Newbie Needs Help...
