EPOCH6

This thread is for all musicians, not just guitarists.

When did you start playing? What was your first instrument?
What were the first songs you learned?
Did you take lessons and for how long? What was your teacher like?
When was your first performance? What gear did you have?
When did you start or join your first band? What did you play? How long did it last?
How have your gear preferences changed over time? What is your favorite gear now?
How much gear do you own? How much have you sold? What are you hoping to own in the future?
How have your influences and playing style changed over time?
What were your best / worst performances like?
Have you ever had any studio experience? Where at?
Do you still play? If you don't why did you stop?

__________________

Chula Vista

:-)

__________________

“The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well,
on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away
and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be.”

EPOCH6

When did you start playing? What was your first instrument?
2004, 11 years old, Robson Strat / 10W Amp combo, $100, Christmas present.

What were the first songs you learned?
Black Sabbath - Electric Funeral
Black Sabbath - Iron Man
White Stripes - Seven Nation Army

Did you take lessons and for how long? What was your teacher like?
Weekly lessons from age 11 to 17. Teacher was fantastic and became a lifelong family friend. Tailored his lessons to my musical preferences, taught me anything I wanted to know and a ton that all guitarists should know. Trained his students to play and learn by ear. When he moved away some years ago he passed down his entire vinyl record collection (hundreds of albums) to my buddy and I, who initially met through his lessons.

When did you start or join your first band? What did you play? How long did it last?
When I was 13 in 2006 I met another kid at school taking lessons from my teacher. We listened to the same kind of music and got along really well, we started our first band that week and are still playing together today, several bands later. The current incarnation of our band has been together for 6 years, plus or minus a few bass players and drummers. We started off playing thrash metal and have sort of moved more towards bluesy doom / sludge over the last year.

When was your first performance? What gear did you have?
Playing some Green Day cover at a grade 6 talent show, 11 years old.
Robson Strat and 10W amp.

How have your gear preferences changed over time? What is your favorite gear now?
My first chosen guitar was a BC Rich Mockingbird, lower end model. Spent my early years playing pointy metal guitars and solid state combo amps: BC Rich Warlock, LTD Alexi200, Dean Razorback (Slime Bee), 1985 Fender Katana (awesome rare guitar), Randy Rhoads Jackson V, all through a Line 6 Spider III 150 2x12.

Sold all of the above gear to put myself through university in 2011.

Spent the following three years making electronic music with a laptop, still playing in the band on the side, using the other guitarist's spare gear. In late 2014, post-graduation / employment, I went and saw John Fogerty's CCR Tour and relapsed back into the guitar game, started re-building my rig.

Current Gear:

2013 American Standard Telecaster - Ash Body / Maple Neck
Custom Project Telecaster w/ B-Bender / Brass Barrel Bridge / Two '60s Teisco neck pickups / American Tele pickup in the bridge

MESA Single Rectifier Solo 50 head
MESA Mark III 15W / 75W (1985)
Laney IRT212

Desired Gear:

Rosewood neck w/ ebony fretboard for project Telecaster
MESA Lone Star Special 1x12" 30W
More Telecasters

How have your influences and playing style changed over time?
In my earliest years I was taught primarily blues guitar, my lead style still reflects that a lot today. For most of my teens all I played was metal, was really into shred guitar for a while. Early influences were Zakk Wylde, Tony Iommi, Alexi Laiho, Ritchie Blackmore etc. Nowadays I've mostly reverted back to blues rock styles, although the band is still metal we're much bluesier these days. Current influences are along the lines of Joe Walsh, Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir, Duane Allman, Jimmy Page, Bert Weedon, Robbie Robertson etc.

What were your best / worst performances like?
Best performance was about half a year ago at a small dive bar, everything fell together, nobody slipped up, all of our gear worked, decent sized audience. Worst performance was a Halloween party. We were all drunk, wearing latex masks (which massively distorts all sound), and hadn't practiced before the show. We blew a circuit breaker, ****ed up half our songs, and were sweaty messes under the masks. Crowd were all hammered and didn't seem to care at all so we laughed it off, but holy **** was it bad.

Have you ever had any studio experience? Where at?
Only recently, currently in the process of recording our first professional EP at the Vancouver Art Institute. We've done amateur home studio EPs in the past but they're nothing special. These new tracks are turning out really well and the producer is a great dude, very talented.

Do you still play?
Yes, more than ever before, putting a lot of genuine effort into writing and performing these days. Really looking forward to the rest of the year.

__________________

LoathsomePete

When did you start playing? What was your first instrument?

I guess it would be the recorder back in first grade. I took up trumpet from grades 6-8 but dropped it pretty early on in grade 8 because our band instructor left to get his doctorate and the new guy was a dipshit. I had also picked up a Squier Strat a few months prior and wanted to focus on just that. I think that was 2002.

What were the first songs you learned?

Probably "Hot Cross Buns"

Did you take lessons and for how long? What was your teacher like?

When I dropped trumpet and took up guitar I did start taking lessons and it was probably the best decision I ever made. I am a little envious of self-taught musicians, but I work better with someone else when I can ask questions and get answers directly.

When was your first performance? What gear did you have?

Outside of the usual school band stuff my first performance with guitar was with the store I took lessons from. I think we did a rendition of "God Rest Ye Weary Men". As for gear, I honestly can't remember, but I think I was using a Peavey guitar.

When did you start or join your first band? What did you play? How long did it last?

Joined my first band at 14 and it lasted about as long as it took a neighbor to complain about the noise.

How have your gear preferences changed over time? What is your favorite gear now?

I never really had a preference back when I was younger, it was pretty much whatever I could get with the money I had. I never had anything better than a 30 watt solid state amp until a few months ago. I definitely prefer LTD and ESP guitars now over anything else I've played, although if I could get one for a good price I would still like to get a Gibson SGJ.

I've definitely had a change of heart about distortion pedals and now would just prefer to use amp distortion.

How much gear do you own? How much have you sold? What are you hoping to own in the future?

Right now I have my Blackstar amp head, peavey 412 cab, 3 electrics, 1 resonator, a banjo, and mandolin. I've sold A LOT of gear over the years, too much that I feel like listing but that said I've owned 4-5 amps, somewhere around 12 pedals, and about 5 guitars prior to the ones that I own now.

As for future gear... I'd honestly like to get rid of the 412 cab and either get a 212 or even 112. I'd really like to get a Gibson SG at some point, don't really care what model just so long as it's cherry. I think a Line 6 DL4 pedal would be pretty cool but I just can't justify $250 on a single pedal. Other than that I'm pretty content at the moment.

How have your influences and playing style changed over time?

They've stayed more or less consistent, although I've taken up more country/folk/bluegrass stuff over the years.

What were your best / worst performances like?

Never really played live show with a band

Have you ever had any studio experience? Where at?

Nope

Do you still play? If you don't why did you stop?

Yes, although The Witcher 3 has been consuming (too) much of my time lately.

__________________
Last.FM
101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

Frownland

When did you start playing? What was your first instrument?
I started playing guitar when I was eight years old. I had my dad's hand me down Ibanez G Series which I still have and play to this day as well as an acoustic Applause guitar. Kind of an Ovation ripoff with the round back, but I play it all the time still.

What were the first songs you learned?
One by Metallica was the first one that I learned all the way through, then I forget the rest. I had a volume of all these songs transcribed for guitar (they usually had guitar in them too) that I made my way through when I was learning.

Did you take lessons and for how long? What was your teacher like?
My dad taught me some basics for two or three years. There were some times when our planned practice hours was us just jamming some song I had learned. Then we just kind of stopped doing lessons for no particular reason, and I was self taught from then on.

When was your first performance? What gear did you have?
My first performance was at ten years old at my elementary school talent show. I played my Ibanez and used my dad's Marshall. It was an original piece that was a cheesy metal instrumental that a ten year old would love. I also did a bunch of acoustic performances at our church growing up.

When did you start or join your first band? What did you play? How long did it last?
My first band was Rest In Agony in middle school, but we never actually did anything but talk about the band since we lived far apart and only saw each other during the school time. Ended after a year of not doing anything. Then I started a real band called Wolves in Sheepskin where I started off playing just guitar but moved onto other instruments throughout the years. I started it with a mate when we were fourteen so it's been going for 6 or 7 years now.

How have your gear preferences changed over time? What is your favorite gear now?
I used to be an acoustic guy, but I really like feedback now. A nice amp and some good pickups to get some nice screechy feedback is golden for me. Although, I think that my favourite instrument to play these days is a full drum kit when I have access to one.

How much gear do you own? How much have you sold? What are you hoping to own in the future?
3 acoustic guitars
1 electric guitar
1 electric bass
1 tenor sax
1 clarinet
1 snare
2 cymbals
1 bodhran
1 slide flute
1 flute
1 homemade stringed instrument
1 didgeridoo
1 theremin
1 jaw harp
3 harmonicas

I haven't sold any instruments apart from a violin a few years ago, but I was thinking about trading my tenor for an alto one of these days. Me and the tenny have grown a little distant. One day I would like to own all of the instruments though, I have my eye on a ngoni.

How have your influences and playing style changed over time?
Started off playing lame metal and rock and roll (when I was being original that is), moved on to playing avant-garde ****. It just kind of happened I guess.

What were your best / worst performances like?
Worst: Wolves in Sheepskin were invited to play a party on the day of the party, and we were set up right outside of this guy's house without a proper stage or anything. Then we started playing and were still in our wannabe Captain Beefheart improvisations phase and we sucked.

Best: I played a solo fifteen minute set at my current college. Although it was meant for fifteen minutes I went for twenty or twenty five. Started off with a reading of Captain Beefheart's 81 Poop Hatch which went very well. Then I did a weird psychedelic guitar bit with a lot of delay pedal that the audience looked kind of impressed by. That track was eight or so minutes Then I did this song which scared them a little bit. I finished it with Zorn's Kivah on the acoustic guitar. I was on point that night, really gave a great performance imo even though it wasn't the best crowd for it (wonder if I'll ever find one of those).

Have you ever had any studio experience? Where at?
Nope. We just plop down the recorder and play at it.

Do you still play? If you don't why did you stop?
You bet I play, every day. I think I'm pretty much in my prime right now.

__________________

Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

Pet_Sounds

When did you start playing?

Before I could walk.

What was your first instrument?

Piano, but I've dabbled in pretty much everything else since. It's still the only one I'm any good at.

What were the first songs you learned?

"Hot Cross Buns" and "Chopsticks". "Norwegian Wood" was the first popular song I learned, about two years ago.

Did you take lessons and for how long?

Since I was about three or four, still going.

What was your teacher like?

She's my mom.

When was your first performance?

A recital of my mom's students back in 2005.

What gear did you have?

A 100+-year-old upright.

When did you start or join your first band?

Back in 2013.

What did you play?

Piano and keyboard bass (think Ray Manzarek). We didn't have a bassist.

How long did it last?

About three months.

How have your gear preferences changed over time?

I've only ever owned Yamaha keyboards, and I've had no reason to change.

What is your favorite gear now?

Yamaha P-105 (88-weighted keys, digital piano) with another Yamaha (61-key, organ keys) on a rack, both plugged into a Roland KC-60 keyboard amp.

How much gear do you own?

The above, plus an antique upright, two entry level microphones, an ancient accordion, a Kamaka ukulele (purchased in Hawaii, but it's quality, not tourist bait), three Yamaha recorders, a didgeridoo, an Echo harmonica, and a set of Ludwig drums with Sabian cymbals.

How much have you sold?

Two beautiful acoustic guitars. Nobody in my family wanted them, and I was too young for them. We sold them for a song at a garage sale. I still regret not keeping one.

What are you hoping to own in the future?

I'd love to get a decent acoustic (no idea what to look for, though) and a Strat. Also a Steinway grand, a Fender-Rhodes, a Wurlitzer, and a Hammond B-3.

How have your influences and playing style changed over time?

I'm 15, so they haven't changed a lot. Billy Joel and Ray Manzarek are my biggest influences as a pianist.
What were your best / worst performances like?

I recently won $100 for a cover of Bowie's "Life on Mars?". Never had a bad performance… yet.

Have you ever had any studio experience? Where at?

Unfortunately, no.

Do you still play? If you don't why did you stop?

Still going strong.

__________________
Everybody's dying just to get the disease

Malibu

When did you start playing? Doing what I do now at the age of 15. But I played some instruments at a young age.

What was your first instrument? Keyboard.

What were the first songs you learned? No idea, LOL!

Did you take lessons and for how long? What was your teacher like? For the keyboard, yes. For the music I currently work on, no. But my producer has taught me a lot & is also one of my best friends.

When was your first performance? Don't really remember.

When did you start or join your first band? What did you play? How long did it last? Started working as a solo artist on my first album at 16 with my producer. Not a band but it's definitely a joint effort.

How have your gear preferences changed over time? What is your favorite gear now? Not much tbh, my style has changed from the 1st album to the 2nd, and again with the 3rd album I'm working on. But it's the same kind of instruments.

How much gear do you own? How much have you sold? What are you hoping to own in the future? Not a lot, LOL! I'd love to have my own studio one day.

How have your influences and playing style changed over time? It's become more mature over the years.

What were your best / worst performances like? I try not to focus on the bad, but I feel my best is yet to come.

Have you ever had any studio experience? Where at? Of course! At my producer's home studio where I recorded my albums.

Do you still play? If you don't why did you stop? Yep, working on my 3rd album right now.

Overcast

.

Plankton

When did you start playing? What was your first instrument?

I used to fiddle around with my Grandmothers upright piano. She was an organist for her church and would always encourage my clammerings. The earliest I can remember of this was when I was about 6 or 7. Then, in 1982 I bought an Ibanez Les Paul Black Beauty knock off, which is now worth quite a bit, but I had later given it away because of some bad mojo.



What were the first songs you learned?

Iron Man, Green Manalishi, Round About, Crazy Train, The Trooper...

Did you take lessons and for how long? What was your teacher like?

I took one lesson in 1982. The dude was a prick, so I bought a Mel Bay book and never looked back.

When was your first performance? What gear did you have?

A talent show when I was in the Army in Germany in around 1987. I had my Ibanez LP, and a small Peavey amp. Me and another guy from the 60th Ord unit did a version of the Crossroads duel. If you've ever seen it, just know that our 'version' of it was very different.



When did you start or join your first band? What did you play? How long did it last?

In the mid nineties, I was introduced to Lloyd Doogan of the Doogan Bros band, who were well known around the south side of Chicago local scene, and we started doing 2 man guitar instrumentals around some of the bars and coffee shops. We were well received, and had a weekly spot at one of the coffee shops. Lloyd would record every time we practiced and he has probably over 100 cassette tapes of us. I grabbed some of it a while back and put some percussion to it.

SoundClick artist: PRD Collaborations - page with MP3 music downloads

A side project I had going around this time too, with the former singer from Zoetrope, was Monstrosity. We recorded one full album in my living room.

SoundClick artist: PRDMonstrosity - page with MP3 music downloads

The first actual full band that I joined, or rather formed, was in 2002. My neighbor was a drummer, so we would get together at his Mom's house (in her basement since it was huge), and jam. Here's our one and only recording of just me and Keith that I captured using a condenser mic through a hole I had drilled in the floor of my rented house to the basement where we practiced at.

SoundClick artist: PRD Collaborations - page with MP3 music downloads

After a few practices, we grabbed up my brother, and his bass player friend. My bro was on rhythm, I was on lead guitar duties.

SoundClick artist: PRD Collaborations - page with MP3 music downloads

We played Jimmy Buffets Cheeseburger In Paradise lounge, which has since moved out of Illinois, and had a horrible show due to putting all the amps in front of the drummer, so basically he couldn't hear the rest of us, and turned every song into speed metal. After that we gained Tommy Treje from the local band Beggars Day. We had one practice before he died of a heart attack.

So, we disbanded, but Keith and me kept on jamming and eventually found our way into Koncrete Pillo. We were steady gigging for a few years, playing with the likes of LYNT (Brian Corbin of Convoy's first band), Chaos Theory, and Machine Gun Kelly.



SoundClick artist: Koncrete Pillo - page with MP3 music downloads

Eventually, I had had enough of our other guitar players unprofessional behavior and left to join Beyond The Z, which has since disbanded, but was probably the most fun playing in a band I've ever had. We played all over the south side of Chicago for quite a few years.



SoundClick artist: Beyond The Z - page with MP3 music downloads

I found myself in a side project playing a few shows with a singer/songwriter for a while. We just called it the K|S|P Project, and made a few recordings, and played with the likes of Eric Mantel.

SoundClick artist: PRD Collaborations - page with MP3 music downloads

One other side project that was started, and never gained any ground was Loud Mouth Dog. Something that was in essence a studio only type of thing, since it was just me and a singer:

You're Not To Blame

Now days, I'm happy to just sit at home and strum away.

How have your gear preferences changed over time? What is your favorite gear now?

Just give me a string on a plank and I'm a happy camper. I just picked up a cheap strat though. It's been my knock around guitar for a few weeks, and I'm getting accustomed to it's nuances.

How much gear do you own? How much have you sold? What are you hoping to own in the future?

I have 12 planks right now, 4 amps and a multi-effects pedal.





I really don't sell anything, but I'll give things away if it's for a good cause. I've been wanting a good Telecaster, and eventually I'll snag a good Schecter with a Floyd Rose trem system. Probably a Hellraiser.

How have your influences and playing style changed over time?

I'm constantly influenced by incredible guitar players, especially the one's you find on the DIY sites like Soundcloud. My playing style really hasn't changed much in the 30+ years I've been at it. If anything, I feel I'm getting worse.

What were your best / worst performances like?

Best: Playing for a crowd of about 300 at a secluded location in the woods. I was on fire that day, really feeling it, and milking some tone out of my PRS, and there were some people trying to get to me on stage that had to be intercepted by my huge ex-con friend was there as my roadie.

Worst: Heading out in a snowstorm to play at the Penny Road Pub, I got a call from my daughter who informed me that her grandmother died, and there was nothing I could do. We were already halfway there, and it was a blizzard. I felt helpless, and stayed on the phone with her for a few hours until it was our set.

Have you ever had any studio experience? Where at?

For my personal stuff, no. However I was there for the entire recording of Zoetropes final album at Streeterville Recording Studio, which was Johnny Winter's favorite place to record. I was basically there as a creative consultant, but really I was just the driver for Pete, since he had no wheels.

Do you still play? If you don't why did you stop?

I'll play until my fingers can't do it anymore, which is realistically not too far off if I think about it, which I try not to.

__________________
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fiddler

When did you start playing? What was your first instrument?
My first instrument was a $5 beat up and damn near destroyed fiddle that I got from a yard sale that I restored and is currently valued at $400.
What were the first songs you learned?
Something to do with bluegrass, I'm sure
Did you take lessons and for how long? What was your teacher like?
Never really private lessons from an actual teacher but I did orchestra & band in school.
When was your first performance? What gear did you have?
Uh...middle school concert??
When did you start or join your first band? What did you play? How long did it last?
When I was 12, as far as I know they are still going strong but I have since moved away; fiddle
Do you still play? If you don't why did you stop?
I still play, there's a group on post I play with. Cool bunch of dudes, I reckon.