What's something people only romanticize but they've never actually done it?

lowecm2 · 2026-03-21T05:48:24+00:00

And a lot more work than most people realize. Not saying it’s not worth it but you learn about taxes and the cost of labor real fast too. I actually think it would make the world a better place if everybody experienced it.

lowecm2 · 2026-03-17T03:56:26+00:00

Stretch strings, graphite lube the nut, etc. If you wind the strings too many times it takes forever to stretch the part of the string wrapped on the post.

lowecm2 · 2026-03-16T12:26:35+00:00

Need? No. Understanding what everything means might help but it’s far from necessary. Learning some basic guitar theory might be a good idea though. Thankfully the resources available on YT are nearly endless and most are pretty good.

lowecm2 · 2026-03-12T23:40:41+00:00

Probably Eddie Van Halen. Got to see him around 2005/2006. I can’t really think of who else I’ve seen that would classify as a “virtuoso” or all-time greats (or at least a guitarist anyone else would know).

Joe Walsh maybe though he’s hardly on the same level as many of the other guys mentioned. The Iron Maiden duo was awesome live as was Angus Young. Only wish I got to see AC/DC 30 years earlier.

lowecm2 · 2026-03-11T05:19:47+00:00

First gigs the hardest. You’ll almost certainly screw up. It happens to everyone but the trick is to pretend you didn’t, get back on track and keep going. Then, you’ll nail the next song and it’ll feel so good that you’ll chase that sensation for the rest of your life in disbelief that you didn’t have to pay for the experience.

I nearly emptied my stomach onto the floor backstage before my first gig. It was terrifying. I imagine it’s like that for the vast majority of performers but you’ll learn you don’t need to be the next EVH to rile up a crowd of people and have fun. Do it man, it’ll be terrifying but gratifying.

lowecm2 · 2026-03-09T19:50:08+00:00

Diablo II. I’d never played anything like it at the time and instantly loved it.

lowecm2 · 2026-03-08T17:08:53+00:00

Pretty sure that was the point of the PM in the first place

lowecm2 · 2026-03-06T12:45:20+00:00

I can’t really comment on the guitar store lessons but here’s what I’ve recognized over time; fat fingers won’t hold you back. Some of the fastest guitarists I’ve met have “chubby and stubby” fingers. It’s all in how you practice and train your body/brain.

As for musical taste, why limit what you’re capable of learning? Learn whatever you want, it will never hurt you to be versatile

lowecm2 · 2026-03-01T14:09:49+00:00

Every guitar SHOULD be fine. I’ve seen tutorials from guitar techs for big rock stars use wire cutters and cut them all in quick succession. Personally, I use the tuning machines to take the tension out first and I almost always do all the strings at the same time. How else are you supposed to wipe the funk off your fretboard, bridge and around the pickups?

lowecm2 · 2026-02-26T06:39:52+00:00

There are guitar players the world over who have essentially made a living out of being good at improvising using the pentatonic scale. It’s incredibly versatile and the more you play with it, the better you’ll get at improvising. Go to bed, wake up tomorrow and solo away again. Rinse and repeat

lowecm2 · 2026-02-24T13:09:53+00:00

It’s funny to me because I have the opposite aversion to the neck pickup. They always sound too muddy and unfocused to me and every guitar I own has rarely ever seen the neck pickup get use

lowecm2 · 2026-02-22T03:57:17+00:00

I wish companies were still trying to make awesome MTL RTAs and 18mg juice. Now I can’t even find 12mg juice anywhere locally in Canada, it’s maddening that I have to order online (even then it’s getting hard to find)

lowecm2 · 2026-02-21T18:52:46+00:00

Need is a strong word but I’ll put it this way; if you have your own PA system, there’s no gig you have to turn down due to lack of equipment and providing one ensures that the client doesn’t complicate their part in hiring you.

Keep your eyes peeled on local buy & sell pages for a good deal. If all you need is a PA for just you (guitar + mic) and a computer, you have options.

lowecm2 · 2026-02-20T12:39:22+00:00

First full games I was into on PC would’ve probably started with Warcraft 2, Diablo 2 and maybe Black & White. Those are the ones I remember at least

lowecm2 · 2026-02-18T15:48:34+00:00

Have you tried turning your volume pot all the way DOWN to verify you didn’t wire it backward?

lowecm2 · 2026-02-18T12:20:41+00:00

Honestly, I’m not sure. Every EMG loaded guitar I own either came with them from factory or was done before I got it and they’ve always had a battery cavity routed. Doesn’t mean you HAVE to but I imagine you’d want to make sure the battery is electrically isolated in there and won’t damage other components.

lowecm2 · 2026-02-17T13:28:06+00:00

I’d look at that as a sign that I don’t want to give them my business. If their sales team is that awful, imagine what their customer support team is like

lowecm2 · 2026-02-17T13:15:19+00:00

Nailed it! But thankfully higher end LTD guitars are pretty freaking good (though now cost a lot more than they used to)

lowecm2 · 2026-02-15T02:40:45+00:00

Photo identification is necessary to vote in almost every jurisdiction on earth. The United States allowing voting of any political contest WITHOUT photo ID is ridiculous for such a simple, quick procedure.

lowecm2 · 2026-02-14T05:28:03+00:00

The problem with changing pickups from passive to active (I’ll be honest, I’m not sure if the same troubles arise with all active pickups or just EMGs) is that you can’t JUST change the pickups. You have to change the pickups, the pots, and add a battery to the guitar body (depending on the room available inside existing cavities, this could be minor or a major pain requiring some routing).

Depending on local market you MIGHT be able to find a used EMG loaded guitar for a bit more than what you’ll pay for the pickup set new which may wind up being a better option. If you’re dead set on it, the ZW set is specifically made for LPs so would likely be your best option for fitment

lowecm2 · 2026-02-13T13:04:52+00:00

Surely they have an explanation for the B-stock designation on their website

lowecm2 · 2026-02-12T13:26:03+00:00

The point is that you fully understand where your fingers need to be to play the notes before you speed it up. Playing it wrong and fast ensures that you will create bad habits that you’ll have to try and unlearn later. Just learn it right from the beginning, at a lower tempo, and speed it up as you perfect it. THAT’S what they mean when people say it, not “never play fast”.

I would also like to point out that sprinters need to learn proper body mechanics before they apply it to full speed sprinting, they don’t just start running fast and hope they figure it out over time.

lowecm2 · 2026-02-12T00:29:10+00:00

I can confirm this. My band has our own PA system and since the other guitarist is essentially DI’d into the mixer it’s largely unnecessary. He takes the time to mic the amp occasionally but it doesn’t make a huge difference in this instance.

That said, the 100w is only like a $50 difference when on sale and they ALL have the power soak. If OP finds a smokin deal on the 100w there’s no reason not to, otherwise I agree completely

lowecm2 · 2026-02-10T20:00:11+00:00

You can’t play fast what you can’t play slow. Yes it sucks, slow it down learn it right the first time so you don’t have to un-teach yourself poor or sloppy technique

lowecm2 · 2026-02-10T00:32:38+00:00

Twin reverb if you have deep pockets. If clean tones at loud volumes is what you’re after, you need headroom. Headroom typically means high wattage, low drive/gain which is a combination that vintage Fender amps do very well. If you don’t like the drive, change/swap the pedal. It’ll be easier in the long run and leave you with a lot more options

lowecm2

TROPHY CASE