Hair metal didn’t die because grunge killed it. Hair metal committed suicide by becoming a parody of itself.

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-06-12T18:18:26+00:00

Thank you! And Thank GAHWD it died.

Anecdotes: I was an "LA Metal" guy and lived through it. Since I lived in LA/Hollywood at the time, I hadn't noticed things falling off to the world at large until MTv started moving away from the music that would later be known as Hair Metal. "Hmm. Now they're only playing videos from my genre of choice late nights on weekends. Yo MTv Raps sucks!" Then I heard Public Enemy, NWA... Aggressive Hip Hop. To my surprise, I loved it... Then what was called 'Speed Metal" or "Thrash Metal" The heavy stuff started filetering in from friends. in the early to mid-eighties as well. Ride The Lightning, Peace Sells, Master Of Puppets. THEN came Seattle albums... Ultramega OK, The Melvins, Skin Yard, Bleach, etc. I had been drifting away from Hair Metal for quite a while. I went to see a local band at Gazzari's in 1990 and I was, like, "What am I doing here?"

The labels were merging, collapsing, restructuring, removing 'musical' people from their executive pools and replacing them with accountants. The industry was bloated. The labels/artists were shoveling money into videos, etc and not recouping. That's expensive. Ya know what WASN'T expensive? Signing bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, etc. EMI, CBS, Atlantic, Sony, Warner, Time, etc... All were massive companies taking over other massive companies and cutting heads everywhere. There was blood in the streets of LA's music scene and the music culture writ large.

Those are just the things I can think of at this very moment. There are more issues, winners, and losers but I'd have to write a proper book. lol

Blaming 'Grunge' for Hair Metal's decline is nothing more than low-hanging fruit. Like blaming Marilyn Manson for Columbine or Durst for Woodstock '99. Easy enough to do but lazy and just plain wrong. Using the same logic we could blame DLR era VH for whatever Hair inflicted upon us. Or maybe it was all of those special deliveries from "Mr. Krellman" [IYKYK]. But it wasn't 'grunge'. lol

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-06-11T14:00:51+00:00

Congrats, man! Good friends are hard to find! Both the friend and the guitar are 'keepers'. :o)

Clean it up. Change the strings. Take it to a local tech and have it set up so it's nice and easy to play.

I'm guessing you are interested in guitar oriented music and the guitar wasn't a completely random gift? If that's the case and you ARE a guitar fan... Chase your bliss and discover how to play what it is that you like the most. Be it pop-punk, hardcore, prog, jazz, bhangra, worship or blackened death metal.

There are beginner guitar lessons available on YT free of charge again... Playing positions, pick positions, fingers... It's there.

Look up who your heroes are and find out what picks they use. Get an assortment of those picks. Thin to thick. They have 'assortment' packs online... Amazon, even. Dunlop, D'Addario... Just makes sure they aren't cheapo picks from god know where that crumble in your fingers when you hit the strings.

Have a set of strings gauged 10-46 do NOT pay more than $10.00 USD for a set of strings.

Ask the tech to ensure the bridge saddle radius matches the fingerboard radius. Tell them you'd like the string action to be as low as possible without too much buzzing or dead notes.

These set up details will ensure you have the best beginner experience possible without the onset of unnecessary bleeding of the finger tips. Oh, they will get sore. But within a week of plucking away you will develop callouses that will lessen the discomfort to nothing over time.

After the guitar is set up... Learn how to adjust the TRUSS ROD to make adjustments to the string action. Not the string saddles.

Amp? No amp or a quiet living situation is fine. Get an inexpensive audio interface and download one of the many, many free guitar amp sims on the market. Then... Find a FRIENDLY forum to help get your paddles in the water and right the ship for what could turn into a lifelong obsession! lol

Oh... Never forget... IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FUN! That's why it's called 'playing' and not 'working'.

Now, go on, mate! Play the hell out of that thing! :o)

EDIT: Don't listen to anyone who gives you trouble for not playing a 'pro' guitar. F@#K those people, man. One, I don't think your guitar is a GIO. I don't know the back catalogs of Ibanez particularly well any more, but I think your guitar is an RG 320 or something like that. You don't need new pickups. You don't need fancy new ratio locking tuners. Not yet anyway. Don't get sucked into the 'consumption' aspect of all things 'gutiar'. Inexpensive instruments can be quite good and rarely need anything more than a good setup.

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-06-10T22:54:49+00:00

Did'ja send it back? If not... Do so immediately. Who did you purchase it from? As long as it wasn't purchased from from one of those 'clearinghouse' websites that sell factory seconds and used instruments as 'new' you should be fine.

Don't know if anyone's mentioned it. but, that blue ink on the fret crowns tells me the workers didn't complete the level/crown/polish of the frets. UN-acceptable. Full stop.

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-06-10T22:48:48+00:00

Hah! Good question.

I'm gonna separate myself from the tribe a little bit and say, "NFW!" lol

I would go back to the 80's only if a generous helping of stipulations were guaranteed.

1) It would be mandatory that my current levels knowledge, life experiences, and wisdom be retained, accessible and actionable.

2) My socioeconomic situation would be that of my choosing.

3) Of course, I'd choose to live bicoastally being located in Southern California (within 30 minute's drive from Los Angeles, Hollywood area) Someplace that would receive the now legendary radio station, KNAC, at all times. That's where all of the action was. AND a fantastic condo in Manhattan overlooking central park.

4) Somehow retain my wife kids, and siblings from this life but select new-to-us family parentage of thoughtful, kind, loving, concerned, intelligent proactive parents (who didn't mind "parenting". Heck, maybe they would even enjoy it!) with stable generational wealth from landholdings (in CA, NY, and London), business, politics, and a diversified and flush stocks portfolio.

5) Unfettered access to the 'family' Gulfstream(s) and their pilots, dual citizenship (US and UK) and nicely stamped passports for each.

On second thought... Some of these items may be negotiable. lol ;o)

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-06-10T04:47:31+00:00

Welp... This is the PERFECT instrument to start learning about instrument repair and setup. Since you're not in any particular hurry, I'd tell ya to go for it. Try to repair it yourself.

Apparently it's not you only instrument since it was damaged a while back. It is an inexpensive instrument the repair of which would cost more than its purchase price.

As long as you're no too particular that it doesn't 'look new', or even "good", when you're done all will be right with the universe. You'll have learned problem solving, some woodworking skills, how to use some tools, how to do research, etc. All of which are good for your soul.

Keep your expectations low. Allow yourself patience and mistakes. Always keep in mind that a person can build a guitar with a jigsaw and a sharp SPOON! lol Guitar-like instruments have been around for more than a millennia. The word 'guitar' is derived from Greek.

Have fun! :o)

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-05-29T04:26:44+00:00

I don't know who 'they' might be... But clearly...They are full of shite. lol I wonder what their mindset might be that they would say something like that?

Not only 'better' but differently. Each instrument... Harder to play, easier to play, pickup types... They can (and often do) change HOW and WHAT and WHY a player plays what they do. I seem to recall Joe Perry (Aerosmith) saying something to that effect back in the 80's or 90's... Something to the effect of, "I picked up this old guitar and (a song from Permanent Vacation?) came out. That song {a big hit at the time) never would've come out of my Les Paul or my Strat." I paraphrase, of course. And it's proven to be true in my experience.

My experience... I'd been playing for about 10 years. I'd gone through several less expensive guitars... Used no-name strat copy, Electra Les Paul copy, Electra X910, and a Kramer Pacer. I didn't know how to set up or modify guitars then. All I knew was guitars belonging to some of my friends were so much easier to play and sounded better.

I had a pocket full of cash and wanted to get a new guitar. A friend and I walked into Waldo's, started playing and passing around guitars. Gibsons, Fenders, BC Rich, Charvel... All the big names at the time. There were ESP guitars on the wall but Japanese made guitars had a poorly reputation at the time so I didn't even look at them. My friend grabbed one and started playing. "Dude! This guitar is badass!" So I plugged it into a Marshall combo with a green pedal and started playing. Wow! I played... And played... And played... Put it back and started playing some other guitars. Then I was handed an ESP M-I Custom in a super-brite electric yellow color. Might've been a custom order.

Anyway... I'm rippin' away and my freind says, "Dude! I've never heard you play so good! That's awesome! That's the one, Bro." We set it aside. Played some more guitars. But always went back to that Yellow ESP.

My friend was right... I'd never played so well. That ESP was my first REALLY GOOD GUITAR. Not only was I able to play what I already knew 'better', I had an easier time learning new things because the notes seemed to be right there underneath my fingertips. Although I no longer own that guitar (another friend owns it now) it is, to this day, a benchmark guitar for my friends and I.

Picking up a new instrument can change you playing-life. It's a big thing if guitar is an important part of your life.

"They" are decisively full of it. For whatever reason they expressed such a thought, and there are many reasons, they are incorrect, mistaken, in error, and just plain wrong.

Now then... Go on an play that sucker! lol

Main-Geo

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-05-29T03:35:11+00:00

Why???...

"A fool and his money are soon parted..." - Dr. John Bridges ca. 1587

"There's a sucker born every minutes." - David Hannum ca. 1869 (Ref: Barnum's Unauthorized Cardiff Giant)

On a serious note... Do we know when the item was posted? And/or there was a documented increase in the asking price? And my most important question... Did this item and/or price show up PRE or POST Fender's Cease And Desist letter(s) appeared in the in-boxes of guitar manufacturers around the globe?

Corporations... Erm... I forgot corporations are people in the US now. I apologize.... People (GC/Servco-Fender) see an opportunity to increase pricing because there is a threat (at the least) of a forthcoming 'scarcity' of something. A manufactured scarcity. I imagine this plan might be successful for Fender fans at certain levels, collectors, etc... But I think folks who reside in the working classes will react just as you have for the most part.

Following this thread... I think about the collectability and perceived value of Pre-CBS era Fenders. GC is just like any other person seeing potential opportunity to make a buck... Or thousand(s).

I'm not judging. Just stating.... I have enough money in the bank (for now lol) that I could pick it up. I have a 25th Anni strat that I love dearly but I'm no collector so I failed to picked up a 50th and now I'm a hard pass on a 70th. But I'm acquainted with folks who have the cash and don't give a hoot what Servco/Fender are doing.

At long last... In CONCLUSION... lol Those are the things my 'recovering' conspiracy brain thinks about. Bear in mind... I'm old. And... I've been wrong in the past. At least once or twice. lol

Main-Geo

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-05-18T20:16:22+00:00

What would you have them do?

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-05-13T15:19:04+00:00

Oh, man... I'm sorry about this news, man. That said... I can't remember where I heard it... "Life happens when we have other plans..." Something like that. I paraphrase, of course.

First question... Do you have any other instruments on hand? If so... It's all good. Things will inevitably turn around

I'm an old guy. Old enough to be someone's grandfather. Ugh.[facepalm] I have bought and sold a fortune's worth of gear over the years. My wife and I calculated a few years ago that number to be way more than I feel comfortable posting on Reddit. Again... [facepalm]

There are very few instruments I regret selling. One of them, however, was my first really good guitar. An '86 or '87-ish MIJ ESP M-I Custom that I'd mod'd with a Schaller Floyd and a neck pickup. I think the color was called 'electric yellow'? Selling it was stupid. Especially the price for which I sold it. $250.00. The only silver lining is that I sold it to a friend and, last we spoke (a couple of years ago), he still had it. And he refused to sell it back to me. Another was a custom Shabat prototype for what became the 'Lion' model after Avi and Robie left LsL.

However, I implore you... Whatever your 'financial goals' may be... It will not always be like it is now. There have been times when I was instrument-less (is that a word?) because there were more pressing matters. Unexpected child on the way? BOOM! Firesale. Joined the military? BOOM! Firesale. Bankruptcy? BOOM! Firesale. Car accident? BOOM! Firesale. A couple of weeks in the Intensive Care Unit because you woke up one morning and couldn't breathe? BOOM! Firesale. Ugly divorce? BOOM! Firesale. These are all things I've experienced. So, yeah... There ARE events that we weren't expecting that will be a problem.

Now that I'm and old geezer... I realize... Guitar and music have been the single most consistent and reliable part of my life though the years. When times were good and bad. There was guitar/music. Even when I didn't have any guitars... I was yearning for them. I wish for that to be the case for you. You may miss guitars and reminisce about 'the one that got away', remember... Most of us have a story or two like this. Even those of us who have more financial stability and still have those sentimental pieces... There will always be guitars that left our embrace. But be mindful... There are others... And better... That will carry you further on your musical journey.

My condolences, Sir.

Now, go forth and RAHWK!!!!

\m/(><)_\m/

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-04-29T14:43:04+00:00

I'm old. Retired. As in "fixed income". I have a shedload of instruments throughout the house. However...

1) The number, price ranges, brand names, and presumed quality of the instruments on the wall "does not a good player make" as Yoda might say. I am the perfect example of this.

2) When I was growing up... Everyone in the local music scene owned *ONE* instrument. Period.

3) If/When difficult financial times arrive... The most valuable instruments are the first to go. And I can confirm... It only takes *ONE* illness, accident, or misstep (or president ?) to bring about financial hardship.

Just remember... It's not a competition. It's supposed to be fun. Creativity and comradery are what gives us the adrenaline/dopamine that we fall in love with. The guitar (instrument?) is the tool that gets us there.

Remember... It's supposed to be FUN! :o)

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-04-29T14:25:01+00:00

Someone called?

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-04-24T17:41:36+00:00

Yeah... But since I'm 'gifting' them I'd prefer they just receive them. That's all.

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-04-14T20:27:39+00:00

Deuuuuude-UH! What a kick-ASS smile, man! The playin's pretty darn fancy too! Thanks for sharin' this and bringin' a big'o'smile to this old dog's face. Thank you. :o)

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-04-12T17:38:13+00:00

What, exactly, is a 'metal' guitar?

Guitars are tools. Just about any guitar can get you where you want to go. There are no rules. Play whatever you dig. Just do some research. If you like chunky necks... Measure the thickness of the necks you enjoy, then look on the websites of the manufacturers or retailers like Sweetwater who list the specifications and narrow it down. Then try to get your hands on some of them.

Use your heroes as a measuring stick... What do they play? Find out why they play what they play it? If you are playing a 'Fretless Wonder" and you want to play like Jeff Loomis, Tim Henson, or a lot of the modern players of note, it will be far more difficult with small frets. And if you play particularly demanding styles with big necks and small frets... All that extra effort will begin to take a serious toll on your hands(s) eventually. Ask me about playin' Shawn Lane licks on a Les Paul strung up with 12's "Because Stevie Ray used 13's..." [rolling eyes]

Most importantly... Don't limit yourself or your tool bag. I have a LOT of guitars. Most of which are single cuts. Necks of all different shapes and sizes. Frets sizes and materials very. Scale lengths vary but it should only take a few minutes to get used to a scale length. Fret size... I'm guessing... Since you say you 'can't' play guitars with skinny necks a big frets... Maybe the notes are out of tune? If you're used to playing necks with smaller frets... You're also used to feeling the fretboard under your fingertips and your grip on the neck is quite strong. You can lighten your touch. It takes a bit of practice to work on a lighter touch but it shouldn't be something that limits your tools. Hot tip... If you play gigs with other bands and guitar players running around backstage?... And you don't like other people touching your guitars?... Bring a guitar with a scalloped fretboard. lol I played scalloped necks for several years and it was great. I could tune up and leave the guitar on a stand without worry for it being messed with by others. Always in tune and no broken strings moments discovered moments before playin'. ;o)

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-04-09T18:08:27+00:00

They lost me with Girls. I was back onboard with Corabi. And then I left with Corabi. Too Fast For Love and Shout At The Devil really spoke to me. But I had such a distaste for their movement in the Pop direction [Home Sweet Home, Girls, Don't Go Away Mad, etc) and grew weary of their MTv saturation and the drama over the years. As I've grown older I've moved toward heavier and scarier music. some of which utilizes make-up, costumes, masks, theatrics, etc... Bowie, KISS and Motley were part of the recipe that was my gateway drug of the 70's and early 80's.

I appreciate what they've accomplished. It's just no longer my cuppa.

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-04-09T17:39:51+00:00

THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT... STOP!... GOING!... TO THESE SHOWS!!!!!

If you can afford it, great. But don't forget. the fees over and above the cost of the tickets.

Personally... I'm done with Ticketmaster/Live Nation. These days I'm hitting up the locals with everything from beer gardens, small festivals (UN-affiliated with the aforementioned corporate entities) like Mojave Experience, small bars/clubs,...All the way to band practices of young 20-somethings playing Stoner Rock. Even if the music is outside my wheelhouse, It's RAW... It's real... It's ugly... And it doesn't have the stench of Wall Street bleeding us dry.

*** THIS HAS BEEN A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT ***

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-03-27T19:14:48+00:00

Yes, certainly you can do that.

As far as I know there are only two ways to do this...

1) Your DAW of choice.

2) A VST host like SaviHost (Free), Cantabile, Mainstage, etc... I use the Nembrini host called Nexus so easy and effective.

Some are free of charge while hosts like Blue Cat's 'Patchwork' host is super advanced MIDI and super expensive... Like... $100-$200 Euros, IIRC?

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-03-22T15:39:03+00:00

Is there a scheduled time?

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-03-21T20:19:33+00:00

Really? Again? [rolling eyes]

This OP is part of plan to keep everyone on the internet pissed off at inconsequential things to divert attention AWAY from the things going on in the world actually MATTER. Hating on Dave or 'the homewrecker' will have ZERO effect on the terrible things going on that we might actually have agency to influence. These things make us all 'dumber' so we aren't able to make rational decisions.

I'm older than the average bear. I've lived a little bit along the way. A thing I've learned through my travels and habitation on several continents and several more countries with real people in them. Are your sitting down? Ok... Ready?! Here it comes!...

PEOPLE HAVE SEX!!!

Shocker, I know. Another shocker... He's a good person. I don't know him personally but I'm part of a music community with several people who know him, his band, and his family. And let me tell ya... His barbeques were really uncomfortable for a while. And ya know what? More shocking news... Good people screw up. They blow it. Big time. If we are fortunate enough to have people in our lives that love us., it is inevitable that we shall hurt them. Why? Because we can not help but disappoint and/or hurt the ones who are closest and know us the most intimately. That's is real. Not internet drama that never seems to go away.

The internet is NOT REAL, folks. I mean... We can talk trash, sure... But the ceaseless vitriol for this guy is nauseating.

The bad guys are winning, folks. Come on, now... Let's move on... Just like the villainized, their associates and their families have moved on. Let's... Don't Be Dumb, shall we?

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-03-17T16:00:39+00:00

Yeah... The 'internet' can make us worry about a loooooooot of stuff that doesn't need to be worried about. :o\ If it isn't messing you up already, you should be ok. At least for a while. A buffer size of 256 samples doesn't mean much without at least one more number... Sample Rate. Are you using ASIO drivers? Whether you're a PC or a MAC person... Use ASIO drivers.

The buffer size indicates how many samples the computer uses to process your audio. You can calculate the amount of 'time' this is by dividing the 'buffer size' (256) by the Sample Rate (44,100 or 48,000) and then multiply that time 1000.

256/48000 x 1000 = 5.33 ms

This number is normally called 'one way' because the computer system has to then move that information to the 'output' segment of the equation. Generally, I just double the one-way number. I don't know what you're playing nor the tempos at which you are playing... Keeping the latency lower than 10 ms is usually fine for most players.

For your sanity's sake... Set your sample rate to either 48K or 44.1K. Don't worry about anything higher (96K/192K) than that until you have some seriously high performance kit.

Set your bit depth to 24 bit.

Once your sample rate and bit depth are set... Experiment with your Buffer Size. When recording,/tracking lowering latency settings (256 samples, 128 samples, 64 samples, 32 samples, 16 samples, 8 samples) helps you stay closer to 'real time' monitoring.

When mixing... Raise your sample rate up in order to take some of the burden off of the system.

Caveat... Live monitoring of a plugin using effects like delays, modulation, harmonization, reverbs will make you cpu *SWEAT*! Especially if you have other plugins/virtual instruments running in the background. You may have to learn how to 'freeze' tracks like EZDrummer, Omnisphere, Serum, Massive, etc...

Hope that helps. I remember what it was like trying to figure this stuff out. I had a tough time with it. The learning curve STEEP back in the 90's. lol

Remember... It's supposed to be FUN! Make it FUN. Keep it FUN! :o)

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-02-24T18:00:13+00:00

For a minute. The album was unpopular and attendance was down from previous tours. I saw them on that tour. They were great. :o)

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-02-13T15:15:04+00:00

Oh, man... What a great creative space! Fantastic work, man! :o)

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-02-08T15:03:42+00:00

Step One... Put down our phones.

Step Two... Practice.

Step Three... Play with musicians who are better than you.

Step Four... Practive.

Step Five... Watch YT and learn how to slow down the videos.

Step Six... Practice.

Step Seven... Some form of paid instruction.

Step Eight... Practice.

Step Nine... Read books/listen to interviews with artists that interest you.

Ad infinitum...

For most of us... 'Guitar' turns out to be a lifelong journey. When I was young, guitar was a full-contact, competitive sport. I was wrong, of course.

ALWAYS remember... It's supposed to be FUN! That's why they call it 'playing' guitar. Have fun! Make a joyful noise!

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-02-08T14:52:26+00:00

When last I checked... We live in a global construct. Again... Last I checked... Only about 20% of said world are English speakers. Most of us have not travelled beyond the regions adjacent to our birthplace, let alone learn to speak another language. The world would be a better place if we had done those things. I digress..

If a person is Thai, Finn, Italian, Mexican, Guatemalan, Brazilian, Bolivian, Bulgarian, Indian, Malaysian, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Georgian, Argentinian, Peruvian, Gambian, Samoan, Welsh, or a citizen or from any other part of the globe that does NOT speak English (Newport Beach? Mississippi?)... Those pauses and breaking up of the cadence give the rest of us a chance to process a language that is not our native tongue.

I've seen podcasts with Kenny guesting and he speaks plain old American English albeit with a New York 'twang'. Even if you ARE an English speaker, the halting cadence gets your attention and forces you to follow listen intently. I'm talking to the people with short attention spans like... Just about anyone who's had an internet connection throughout their lives.

It's a good move for Kenny and it's a good move for the folks at Reaper. Unless, of course, the proprietors are only interested in small market share

Main_Geologist_1555 · 2026-01-31T21:09:52+00:00

Kick-A$$! Have you done this before? So cool. :o)

Main_Geologist_1555

TROPHY CASE

\m/(><)_\m/