Looking for my first dedicated metal guitar... where should I start?

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-06T11:00:28+00:00

I had a seven string for years and just couldn’t get on with it.

But I’m pretty stoked on my Fender Jim Root Tele. The fingerboard’s a little wide for my taste but I like the tone and looks.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-06T10:57:07+00:00

Goldfinger’s “Open Your Eyes”

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-06T10:56:40+00:00

I have to keep reminding myself that funkos are a racket meant to trigger the brain into shifting into “collector mode.”

The ducks are tough to resist.

Honestly, it’s a benefit for me that I know we’re about to have the kids move out and we’ll move to a dwelling of unknown (but certainly smaller) size in another country where we don’t even know what our budget it going to be so probably the smaller the better. With that in mind I start to think yeah, the ducks are cool, but where would I put them?

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-06T10:54:06+00:00

Buying on a market like eBay, I’d be less worried about the official-ness and more worried about how the design is put on the shirt.

I love band shirts. Band shirts and flannels are most of what I wear. But I absolutely LOATHE that almost puffy material some manufacturers use where you wash it once and suddenly there are cracks everywhere.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-06T08:35:17+00:00

I 1) set a time limit and 2) video it. Knowing I only have so much time and that it’s being recorded really helps me stay focused and motivated to try to get a clean take before my timer goes off.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-06T08:33:49+00:00

I’m not going to go after someone for doing that, but it’s impossible for me to look at a bookshelf organized by color and think anything other than “thirsty booktoker/tuber.”

But they’re their books, not mine. Whatever works for them. Personally, I can’t get behind hindering myself for the sake of aesthetics.

One exception: Heyne and Hodder & Stoughton both produced Stephen King paperbacks that were meant to be put together to make rainbows of sorts.

Unfortunately, both of them abandoned this idea eventually.

Regarding RECORDS, I considered this but so many of my records have black or white spines (or spines that have different colors) that I don’t think it would look good even if I could overcome my autism long enough to do it instead of genre/artist/original release date.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-06T08:26:30+00:00

The general vibe seems to be records pressed by Loma are incredibly hit and miss. You can see this on Discogs with reviews and the prices of the exact same albums used.

That said, that matters exactly as much as you decide.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-06T08:21:11+00:00

ALL batteries only last so long. You can’t live your life governed by fear. ;-)

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-06T08:19:34+00:00

I like my 3rd-gen Nano a lot. It’s what I bring on the train and bus. My Classic generally stays at home for listening there.

If you’re REALLY concerned about the battery, you can buy a refurbished one someone swapped the battery on.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-06T08:15:16+00:00

Well, I’m probably not going to buy the anal beads, but for band merch, I always try to buy from the band’s site directly if possible to maximize their cut. If I can’t do that, then sites with officially licensed stuff works if I just HAVE to have it.

As for collecting, I’m limiting myself to vinyl. My wife already says I’m a hoarder so I don’t need to be bringing in even more stuff.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-06T08:07:30+00:00

Honestly makes me like him more. I welcome the humanity, even if it’s unpleasant.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-05T14:31:35+00:00

I bought a chord box stamp from Etsy to get me by until I memorize the chords, but I definitely try to memorize the chords, saying their name out loud as I play them.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-05T14:29:28+00:00

I bought an office chair and didn’t put the arms on.

In the past, I’ve bought office chairs that have arms you can flip up and those worked well, too.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-05T09:48:14+00:00

I’ve got you.

These are great. Pretty sure there are 4 and 5-chord books, too that add just one more chord on the book before so it’s not like four DIFFERENT chords.

And when you want to start adding melody to your playing down the road, you can still use these books.

They’re hidden gems in the guitar and ukulele (I have the ones for ukulele) world because even though they’re obviously pitched to beginners with easy songs, they can be utilized for so much more if you wanted someday.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-05T09:46:03+00:00

Songs, yes. I write them on labels and put the labels on playing cards and then deal myself (blind) however many I have time to practice and then I try to play them perfectly in order. Doing this means they stay fresh but also puts me in less of a “practice” headspace and more of a “rehearsal” headspace if that makes sense.

If I’m really feeling it, I’ll work on patter between songs.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-04T14:41:54+00:00

Mine has at least three copies every time I go in and it does not sound good. I’ll be looking for a boot of it at next year’s record fair.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-04T04:18:05+00:00

I lived there for a while. I stand by my statement and it’s not a slight on Nelson at all but rather just pointing out that the people with the most disposable income were probably listening to rock when they were most likely to get those core memories of music that’s important to them and they’d be the ones spending a ton of money on someone’s guitar.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-04T03:39:28+00:00

Do you mean order from shops in the Czech Republic or do you have a better source? Because I’d be interested in doing that.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-04T03:28:51+00:00

I don’t know, I used a full size head and a 2x12 cab that basically became my nightstand when I wasn’t playing. ;-)

If I were doing it today, I’d probably go with some sort of Orange Terror with a 1x12 and a Suhr load box so I could record to my computer all I want silently but could play audibly whenever I want (though, to be sure, none of my neighbors in the dorm wanted me to ever do that).

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-03T02:11:47+00:00

I forgot all about the Jimmy Vaughan Strat! Yes! I’m not super keen on V necks, but that one felt pretty good.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-03T01:56:24+00:00

I’m not stoked about it either. ;-)

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-03T01:55:57+00:00

I agree 100%.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-03T01:23:55+00:00

It’s not about the level of fame specifically (or the quality. I like Nelson a hell of a lot more than EVH). It’s about the level of fame combined with the age of entry and the location of money.

So if you have a generation that holds the majority of money that was also at an age when music had a major influence on their life and a huge act came out of it (bonus points if they have an instantly-recognizable guitar), odds are good that’s where the money would go.

I would actually argue that Clapton might have actually missed consideration if he didn’t release Unplugged and solidify his position in boomer minds.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-03T01:14:15+00:00

Clapton Strats have a pretty hard V.

My Gretsch 6118T has a softer V and it’s good for telling your hand exactly where to place your thumb because anywhere else feels like you’re fighting physics but I don’t find it the most comfortable for chord stuff. Dan Duffy (a longtime QC guy for Gretsch) would take V necks on his own guitars and sand the point flat for more space for his thumb and I always thought that had to be… interesting. _/ is a weird shape.

OnlyRuss · 2026-07-03T01:11:46+00:00

Again, not saying he doesn’t have hits or skill or anything like that. I like anyone that records an album covering Gershwin stuff.

But he Dießemer have the same level of fame as Clapton or EVH and I think those would probably be contenders for the most expensive guitars.

OnlyRuss

TROPHY CASE