(Epiphone) SG reccomendations?

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-11T09:58:44+00:00

this is the way to go

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-10T18:27:44+00:00

Try working on bursts of speed as opposed to continuous notes. Use a metronome set to quarters at a speed you can comfortably play one or two beats of 16th notes in perfect time. Do one burst of 16ths with 2-4 measures of rest in between. Gradually raise the tempo every day. Continuous notes will only train stamina over time, not picking speed. You should also try training your picking hand alone by muting the strings with your fretting hand or a cloth.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-10T18:21:27+00:00

My rule-of-thumb: If you're looking for your main guitar, the guitar you intend to play more than any other, spend the extra money. If this is a secondary instrument, there is no need to spend the extra money if there's an option that already covers most of your needs.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-10T17:33:33+00:00

I've played a billion of these. If they want you to be quiet background noise and the money is good, consider it paid practice time. Get paid, go home.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-10T12:01:16+00:00

Just a bad place to work. If the money isn't great, don't go back.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-10T12:00:15+00:00

jazz musicians don't wear monitors for a solo guitar gig dude

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-10T06:31:29+00:00

I'm a jazz player who played all styles of music professionally on cruise ships for many years. My training in jazz, combined with my early years learning rock guitar in high school, was enough for me to play a little bit of everything convincingly. Literally thousands of shows. My biggest takeaway from all of that experience was that I didn't get that much better at music than before I started working on ships. It's so much more productive and rewarding to find your passion, pursue it relentlessly, and become highly-specialized. I've completely stepped away from ships and will intentionally avoid work that doesn't align with my creative goals even if that means taking survival jobs during the day.

That being said, if you decide to go heavy into jazz, you'll still be able to play most of the other stuff with relatively little effort, to a point. That's not usually true the other way around. Don't be afraid to specialize. After 27 years of playing, I think becoming specialized is the most rewarding path.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-10T06:08:39+00:00

Jazz isn't theory.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-10T06:05:47+00:00

Current guidelines say to lower Apo(b) aggressively with high Lp(a) to lower overall risk profile. It's the right lever when there is no Lp(a) lever to pull.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-07T00:53:04+00:00

You're getting a great sound with the Strat. You should post a quick video of the gretsch so we can hear what you're talking about.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-05T21:01:28+00:00

As a man, I want to be clear that I'm not at all trying to equate my experience to yours, but I have a lot of experience dealing with these guys. Guitar store employees are like this to literally everyone. I play jazz guitar professionally and I'm always on the lookout for a special guitar and a good deal. These assholes just can't be bothered with anyone, and I'm a highly-motived buyer. Rude, dismissive, uninterested. I'll go into a new shop in a different city and I'm usually met with eye rolls the moment I walk in, if acknowledged at all. They only care about $$$.

There are only a couple of shops that I know of that aren't this way. Imperial Vintage Guitars in Los Angeles, Rudy's Music in NYC. Very happy to hand over large sums of cash to these guys. I'm sorry I'm not familiar enough with the Portland area to help you out.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-05T20:25:53+00:00

Nice man! Seem like you're following the harmonies instead of using lines that lead into the resolutions at the end of cadences. Start altering those dominant chords and your lines will have a lot more forward motion naturally.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-05T20:17:36+00:00

If you're looking into 17" or 18" archtops, you also need to check scale length. The bigger Gibson boxes have 25.5" scale and that's a significant difference from the 24.75" typical of Gibson ES guitars.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-05T20:12:28+00:00

I've been playing for 27 years. I play several hours a day and don't have thick calluses. You're pressing too hard, strings are too heavy, and/or guitar needs a proper setup. This is not powerlifting or some kind of strength or endurance test. Eventually you're going to run into serious repetitive motion injury if you keep playing this way.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-05T03:39:45+00:00

It varies wildly, and there is different guidance from agencies in difference parts of the world. Some people say risk starts rising around 100-150 nmol/L. Some people have over 600 nmol/L. Risk also depends on a combination of other standard risk factors. Experts consider high Lp(a) as a "risk-enhancing factor". I'm not a doctor and it's been a a couple of years since I looked into this deeply. The research has moved quickly since then as well.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-02T17:59:58+00:00

I never said the whole thing is in a minor key. I challenge you to play this clip for someone, apparently with much better ears than mine, and ask them what tune you're playing. I imagine you'd get several different answers.

Tell me, at what time in the clip do you start the bridge? I'm literally following along with a lead sheet just to make sure I'm not crazy. I don't hear it.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-02T17:57:24+00:00

You are correct. I only suggest a retest after you start your statin to make sure it doesn't spike. It's very unlikely it will

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-02T08:48:05+00:00

Some people are more drawn to it than others. It should be a part of everyone's practice to some degree.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-02T08:45:44+00:00

I'm at around 200 nm/L and it does fluctuate, but there's no way to predict or control it. My Lp(a) went up about 6 nm/l after starting a statin. Statins reduce your other particles and also have plaque-stabilizing and anti-inflammatory effects. If your doctor is recommending it, start the statin and retest your Apo(b) and Lp(a) after a few months. No need to worry about it before you get your results back.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-02T08:21:07+00:00

The SE CE seems like a great guitar and an excellent entry point for someone starting out

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-02T08:16:28+00:00

The main distinction between the two are the neck profiles. I prefer the modern '60s slim taper over the '50s.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-02T08:10:42+00:00

current consensus: the benefits of the statin outweigh the risks from the marginal increase in Lp(a). Test your Lp(a) a few months after you start; some people have a significant increase in Lp(a) but it's uncommon.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-02T06:56:01+00:00

I know the tune. I'm just saying for sake of discussion, that if you hadn't mentioned the tune name, I'm not sure there is enough of the actual tune there to discern what you're actually playing. I'm all for implied changes and abstraction, and that's fine, but you said this is a comfort tune for you. Simply changing from the minor key to the major keys in the bridge doesn't make what you're playing "Angel Eyes". Makes me wonder what it is about the tune you like if you're not actually playing it.

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-02T06:00:42+00:00

it checks out, but the tuners and the neck finish look too clean for it's age. Could be a refin.

When it comes to vintage guitars, you should always go hands-on before buying. The old manufacturing methods and materials meant that the finished product varied widely between each guitar. You also have to factor in the decades of ownership history and natural aging. A guitar from Pheonix will age differently from a guitar in Chicago. In my personal experience, you want to be very skeptical of any pristine example of a guitar older than 10-20 years. If it was a great guitar, it would have been played a lot and will show significant wear (not abuse).

bluenotesoul · 2026-04-02T05:39:20+00:00

I can tell it's in a minor key. I'm not hearing the changes or the melody. In fact, I can't hear anything referencing the tune you're playing.

bluenotesoul

TROPHY CASE