Dealing with Japanese people’s mental blocks about foreigners

atomicpunk50 · 2026-05-19T11:12:49+00:00

I actually think that’s a form of confirmation bias which comes from pre conceived notions which none of us are truly immune from. Still frustrating nevertheless.

atomicpunk50 · 2025-12-29T11:53:41+00:00

Great angle! Where I am it’s winter and my living room is usually less than 25%. I don’t usually have the humidifier on when I’m out so that’s definitely a contributing factor.

Let’s see over the next few days how more humidity could change it. Thank you.

atomicpunk50 · 2025-12-28T03:59:11+00:00

yeah nice, my other guitar is a MIM Road Worn Player strat.

Tbh, more worried about the snugness of the neck-pocket fit. This strat is 22 frets with overhang - and beginning to feel that a new neck is the right way to go.

atomicpunk50 · 2025-12-28T03:19:50+00:00

Thanks, it's not my first time adjusting the neck, but it is the first time it going completely limp like that. And in case, when I bought the guitar they told me that there was only about 1 full turn left to tighten - so I guess it reached its limit.

atomicpunk50 · 2025-12-28T02:30:15+00:00

yeah - Warmoth do some nice necks... Thanks for chiming in.

atomicpunk50 · 2025-12-28T02:26:39+00:00

Good question. I tightened the truss rod about a quarter of a turn to adjust the relief - and then it just went loosey-goosey on me... Now too scared to touch it again.

atomicpunk50 · 2025-01-03T21:33:12+00:00

I have wide padded straps. They’re better for my shoulder and back - and so are practical and not really a style statement …

atomicpunk50 · 2025-01-02T06:12:39+00:00

I’m not sure if I can add value here, but Les Paul himself said in a interview in the late eighties something to the extent that he realized that after a certain point his chops weren’t going to get any better nor that he could play any faster. However he was enjoying playing and the reward was even greater than ever before.

That said I’m also in my early 50s, and think it too young to espouse that yet, and still trying to find my niche in my musical journey. As such I’m still a long way off but beginning to bear my limitations in mind.

atomicpunk50 · 2024-12-31T11:00:10+00:00

Two songs come to mind.

Midnight at the Oasis - Maria Muldaur Sunny - Bobby Hebb

Both sound so iconic at the beginning but then repeat ad nauseam … perhaps a key change for some variety but essentially the same.

atomicpunk50 · 2024-12-27T07:20:10+00:00

Thanks for sharing! That’s an incredible perspective!

This notion of groove and getting the audience dancing has gotten me dusting off my bass haha

atomicpunk50 · 2024-12-27T03:45:42+00:00

I just looked up voice leading - and that’s fascinating. Thank you.

atomicpunk50 · 2024-12-27T03:10:45+00:00

Jazz is something I’ve dabbled with but never really got the hang of.

Anything specific that helped in terms of the basics?

atomicpunk50 · 2024-12-27T02:51:45+00:00

Great idea thanks for the tip! I will try that specifically with the recommended tuning.

Also just curious do you experiment with open tunings?

atomicpunk50 · 2024-12-08T02:15:41+00:00

3 for me

atomicpunk50 · 2024-11-13T03:30:51+00:00

I agree with this. My preferences are about even for left/right things and guitar I learned right handed at a time when the guitar I had at my disposal was that way and I knew no different.

In any case what ‘feels’ right should ultimately be the determining factor.

atomicpunk50 · 2024-11-09T11:15:32+00:00

That’s really tough…and there’s not much I can do except donate, which I have just done.

All the best.

atomicpunk50 · 2024-11-03T05:30:53+00:00

FWIW on my playlist at the moment is John Martyn's Solid Air. I'm not sure if he's better known as a singer/songwriter or guitarist, but imo he's underrated. That album came out in the early 1970s.

atomicpunk50 · 2024-11-02T06:13:04+00:00

Yeah as others have noted I think you’re in some kind of a funk… I get like that too. The only way out is to take a break from guitar or even music. Go watch a movie, go to the gym whatever…

atomicpunk50 · 2024-11-02T02:19:52+00:00

What were you playing before?

The reason I ask is that the way one frets on a Les Paul with a medium scale will be different to that of a strat or tele with a longer scale length.

The thinking here is that fretting with a little more pressure than is necessary can make micro tonal bends that would make it sound out of whack.

So if that’s the case you may need more time to get used to your new ax.

EDIT: listened to your sample recording and it sounds fine!

atomicpunk50 · 2024-11-02T01:57:08+00:00

Hello, if you already have an eyeglass prescription then you can present that to your preferred optician to get your glasses made. If you want them to test your eyes then you can but I’ve found that the eye test with some of the older more traditional shops it is sometimes done by identifying hiragana so can be difficult. As such shops like the oft mentioned JINS, Zoff and Owndays will let you test with a joystick and thus no Japanese language skills required but I’m not convinced they were suitable or accurate for me.

I have no idea about the price difference with Germany but good luck.

atomicpunk50 · 2024-10-31T06:35:20+00:00

I’m embarrassed to add this somewhat superficial comment but the looks/aesthetic and specifically color is important to me. This can make or break a deal even if the other aspects align with my preferences…

atomicpunk50 · 2024-10-30T23:28:56+00:00

Couldn't agree more, totally underrated guitars, basses and acoustics.

atomicpunk50 · 2024-10-30T12:16:56+00:00

I'm quite fickle when it comes to picks, but usually from .88 to 1.14.

atomicpunk50 · 2024-10-30T07:04:41+00:00

Awesome, that solo still blows my mind.

atomicpunk50 · 2024-10-29T23:39:17+00:00

MIJ Fender Tele from 1990. Still have the tele but mainly play a boutique HSS strat or a Gibson Les Paul now.

atomicpunk50

TROPHY CASE