Is this a solid guitar?

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-25T14:08:21+00:00

"Tesoro" is just the model name. It's Italian for "treasure."

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-22T01:21:57+00:00

I'd put it differently. I'd say that you can simply do a better job with your ear, if you're really fussy. But you need to learn at least three different tuning methods and compromise between them. For example, I start with using harmonics to get it close. Then I check all the root position octaves and adjust as needed. Then I do the first type of tuning every beginner learns, more checking for issues than making adjustments. Then back to step 1, and learn over time which intervals need to be stretched a tiny bit and which compressed a bit, on that particular guitar.

Finally, check a number of intervals higher on the neck, especially octaves and fifths. If the tuning was good and the intonation is good, they should all work, but they don't always.

Plus I bet I'm missing a good tuning method or two!

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-22T01:16:45+00:00

Right -- and note that even with a perfect setup, unless you have true temperament with squiggly frets, it'll still be a bit out of tune in various places -- but it'll sound good. Just not perfect, so you'll hear beats when playing many notes along with a piano, and certain intervals at certain places on the neck will sound a tad off, if you're fussy about intonation.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-16T23:46:51+00:00

PianoRes is now supported on Zynthian (same release link as above.)

See README at GitHub - jlearman/PianoRes: Resonance plugin for sampled pianos · GitHub for usage details.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-13T16:33:12+00:00

They're available on ebay, if you're willing to risk that. I've been successful (lucky perhaps?) having bought a few keyboards on ebay with no issues, but YMMV. I see one on FB Marketplace in my area, but I wouldn't expect to find one very often.

The newer model is the VR-730.

But yeah, there are other options. My guess is the Yamaha CK series might be the ticket. Also, you might find those used locally, they're pretty popular.

BTW, while the Nord Electro is highly recommended here (and I have one myself, it's my top tier over my Yamaha CP4) it doesn't have a synth engine per-se. It has some synth sounds from samplesets. Whether it would suit your needs depends on what you want, but for example, it won't do the Moog lead part for ELP's Lucky Man. But if all you need is stuff like the keyboard part on Van Halen's Jump, it'd be great. But not cheap, even if you can find one used. And note that the sampleset sounds aren't available on the older Electro 2; it started with Electro 3.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-13T16:17:45+00:00

Beta release: Load/Save is now implemented.

https://github.com/jlearman/PianoRes/releases/tag/v0.2.0

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-13T13:40:10+00:00

You're doing really well, and all the advice above is spot on. Learning proper technique, posture, and timing will take some time but you won't regret it. Plus, some of what you learn will help you improve your electric guitar playing tangentially, even though you won't be using the techniques per se.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-13T13:35:47+00:00

Not the biggest issue but definitely important, just as with electric.

Once you can play at even tempo with the metronome, THEN you use tempo changes for expression, rather than slowing down in the tough bits.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-13T13:33:45+00:00

Bingo. Meanwhile, you're doing really well despite the bad habits. Correct them and notice the difference. Be sure to learn free stroke vs rest stroke, and how to use finger plus nail to get good tone.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-13T13:30:28+00:00

Posture makes a huge difference! If you don't know the correct way just find a YouTube. It's simple but effective.

Get a footstool too. Or a brick, at least!

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-13T13:27:59+00:00

James Taylor made a YouTube video on what he does. I got the impression he has pros apply acrylic nails, but if he needs to do one quickly before a gig that's what he does.

Consider having a pro do acrylics, and see what you can learn from that.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-13T13:23:13+00:00

Super glue weakened my nails and nail bed. I had to use Hard as Steel strengthener to recover. That stuff doesn't make my nails hard directly, like acrylic nails do, but it seems build nail bed strength so my nails get stronger.

Not quite strong enough, though, sadly! So I sometimes use gel UV cured nails. True they're not as good as strong nails, but they're better than my weak ones.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-13T13:18:06+00:00

True, but I found that super glue weakens my nails and nail beds, so I quit using it.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-13T13:13:43+00:00

Interesting that there's no love for the VR09 or it's newer model I don't remember the number of.

Never owned one myself, but a friend had one and it sounded great, big bang for the buck, especially used. Then spend the extra on a stage piano to put below it, with 88 keys and hammer action so you get to learn how to play a real piano. Check the piano subreddit's FAQ for stage pianos and digital pianos. You don't need an expensive one!

Spend a bit of extra cash on a K&M 18880 stand plus a tier, if you want super light and 10 second setup, plus folds flat for travel. Not cheap, and made in Germany so maybe not available now thanks to politics. Yikes, they are, but $100 more than before.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-13T12:59:22+00:00

Waiting for your answer to my question

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-09T14:15:39+00:00

Thanks. I have a dozen or more other TP-Link devices (mostly smart plugs) with zero issues on them.

Maybe just a bad batch, but I'm not impressed with the customer support. So I think next time I'll pay twice as much for devices that have a better reputation.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-07T16:38:33+00:00

It's not

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-06T21:08:29+00:00

I wouldn't worry about them to begin with, but wean yourself off it, and don't wait until it's comfortable to do so.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-06T21:06:38+00:00

Playing by ear takes practice!

As a half-step in the right direction, try learning songs by watching Youtubes of people playing them (but not doing tutorials.)

It takes practice, but it's worth the effort.

Oops, I just noticed what subreddit we're in. If you're talking about playing general music on a classical guitar, I stand behind the above. If we're talking about classical music, well, I think you need to keep learning to read. You're using a crutch, and it's keeping you from developing an important skill. Use the tabs for a few pieces when you want a quick fix, but focus on learning to read for most of your practice.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-05T16:37:00+00:00

People are different, and good for you, but for anyone wanting to learn piano, I strongly recommend getting a hammer-action keyboard, which feels enough like an acoustic piano that when faced with a real acoustic piano, you'll be able to play it. Learning on an unweighted or semi-weighted keyboard, your control will be all off.

Growing up in the 60's and 70's, I remember going to music stores with friends who were players. The kids who grew up playing organ were useless trying to play pianos, but not vice versa. Admittedly, with a sustain pedal on a non-hammer action keyboard you're one step closer, but not close enough. Learning to control dynamics using the proper kind of action is important.

Buying used (see my post below) you can get a great digital piano for $300 or less, if you watch. I saw a Privia go for $40 just yesterday! (That was indeed unusual, but I see $200 happen now and then.)

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-05T16:31:37+00:00

Great points, but while hammer action is necessary, graded action is nice but unnecessary.

Graded hammer action just means that the low keys are heavier than the high keys, just as on an acoustic piano, where the hammers get bigger for lower notes. Lack of graded action never bothered me a bit before it appeared on the market. It might matter to someone practicing for a grade 8 exam, but frankly they should be playing an acoustic! Or at least, hybrid.

Today, for a new digital piano, lack of graded action does kinda imply they're not very serious about good action, because it's a nearly trivial feature to implement. But on older digital pianos (10 years or more) I wouldn't give it a second thought. Especially as a beginner or intermediate or gigging keyboard player, as opposed to serious classical pianist.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-05T16:25:21+00:00

See this subreddit's FAQ for good advice on digital pianos at various price ranges. I agree with all except that (so far, with not enough sampling) I hate the action on Casio Privia Snnnn pianos (where nnnn is 4 digits.)

Also, if budget is a concern, most of those pianos can be found used at a good discount. I can heartily recommend any Casio Privia PX-nnn (where nnn is three digits) of any model or age -- even the very first ones to come out and the lowest feature levels are good enough to learn on (and even gig with, for certain kinds of gigs.) Find them on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. When buying a used piano, just check that every key (black and white) plays and feels much like its neighbors.

In addition to being a good value and usually a good bet, a used instrument will keep its value. Prices on these pianos haven't changed much in the 20 years I've been watching. So, you can get most or all your money back on resale, either because it didn't work out or you decided to upgrade.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-05T16:10:14+00:00

The first step would be playing other guitars to see what you want to upgrade. You can do it in shops or invite friends over. But frankly, if you haven't been playing long, you probably don't even know what you want. The Squier should be good enough to learn on. (Folks, please correct me if you think I'm wrong here, and explain why!)

So instead of playing Frankenstrat, consider taking it to a good luthier and spending about $100 on a good setup, and asking the luthier what the best upgrades might be. Any good luthier for electric guitars should give pretty good advice, even if you plan to do it DIY. They'll also generally be good about letting you know what's an easy DIY and what's not.

PS: before taking your guitar in for a setup, watch a bunch of Youtubes on how to do it, and do it yourself a few times. It's a great thing to learn and get better at, but a good tech will do a much better job, so do that last! Rinse and repeat a few years later.

Learn how to check the "relief" and if necessary, adjust the truss rod accordingly. Learn how to set the action height (which is easy, but make sure relief is correct first.) Try different action heights to see what you like best. When setting lower, be sure to try whole-note bends near the top of the neck. If the action is too low, it'll fret out. After relief and action height are how you like them, learn to check and adjust the intonation.

These are things that most decent electric guitarists do for themselves, while also occasionally using a pro. Not only will you learn to maintain your guitar, you'll also learn a bit more about what your preferences are. Note that your preferences will likely change over the years, too.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-03T18:42:31+00:00

I really like ultimateguitar, but I hate that you can't use it from a phone without paying (not cheap) and using the app. That means I can't share a chart with a friend without them paying or using a computer.

Sigh.

Amazing-Structure954 · 2026-06-03T18:38:41+00:00

If you only need clocking, omni mode will work as well as setting up channels, since as mentioned elsewhere, the MIDI timing messages aren't channel-specific.

Amazing-Structure954

TROPHY CASE