How much cash can you save by going Behringer over BOSS pedals?
Fact: Most low-cost Behringer pedals are nothing more than close copies of more expensive pedals.
What that means is when when you know which pedal emulates a more popular brand, you can save a ton of money on pedal effects.
Here are a few Behringer pedals that closely emulate certain BOSS models. If you like BOSS (and who doesn't?) but are looking to save some cash, go Behringer.
BOSS: TU-3 Chromatic Tuner
Behringer equivalent: TU300 Chromatic Tuner
BOSS: MT-2 Metal Zone
Behringer equivalent: UM300 Ultra Metal
BOSS: CS-3 Compression Sustainer
Behringer equivalent: CS400 Compressor Sustainer
BOSS: RV-5 Digital Reverb
Behringer equivalent: DR600 Digital Reverb
BOSS: NS-2 Noise Suppressor
Behringer equivalent: NR300 Noise Reducer
BOSS: CH-1 SUPER Chorus
Behringer equivalent: UC200 Ultra Chorus
BOSS: BF-2 Flanger
Behringer equivalent: SF400 Super Flanger
When you're strapped for cash and need a pedal that's cheap and good, Behringer is pretty much the only name you need to know.
How much can you save? A lot. For a few of the above, the Behringer will cost $75 less than the BOSS version.
Collectible high-end Gibson electric guitars for 2014
I talk about cheap guitars a lot, but every now and then I talk about the expensive stuff. Why? Because there are a select few who do actually buy this stuff. Heck, you might be one of them.
This is obviously not all of the high-end Gibson stuff. Just a few of them. I picked the ones I personally thought were pretty cool.
With that said, here we go.
Gibson Collectors Choice 9 1959 Les Paul Believer Burst
I think flame top guitars are ridiculously overrated. However, if you're going to get one, you might as well get the best damned burst money can buy. And you really can't do better than a "believer" burst. This is the flame top that makes all other flame tops look like toys in comparison.
The rest of the guitar is built to '59 specs, and that's all you need to know. If you know vintage Les Pauls, you already know this guitar.
Would I personally buy this Paul? No. But there are those that like that super-highly-figured top stuff. This particular '59 is as good as it gets.
I've never played an L5, but I'd like to. Almost nobody carries these because Gibson doesn't make too many of them, and all command a high price tag.
The modern L5 is built to late 1950's specs. When you want something classier than a Les Paul, you get an L5.
My favorite part of the guitar is the trapeze tailpiece. It just looks cool. Well, the whole guitar looks cool, but that tailpiece (which does wrap around the side) is just a very classy touch; it's definitely meant to stay polished and shiny.
Gibson Custom 20th Anniversary 1965 Firebird VII Reissue
The Firebird is in fact my favorite Gibson electric guitar, and the Firebird VII reissue is incredible.
Why do I like this particular Firebird? For the same reason I like Fender Jazzmasters and Gretsch guitars with Bigby systems on them. This one has a Maestro vibrato system on it. And since the strings go straight to the tuning post after the nut, the tuning stability will be good.
Using a Maestro vibrato is similar to a Jazzmaster vibrato in the respect you have to get used to it, meaning it's not just a pick-up-and-play type of thing. But once you do get used to it, some seriously sweet tones come out of this thing.
Gibson Memphis 50th Anniversary 1963 ES-335
For some, this is the ES-335 they've been looking for because it hits all the right marks. It's the red guitar that's been seen thousands of times in the movies and on television. People know what this guitar is just by looking at it because it has such an iconic look to it.
The biggest complaint with early-60's ES-335 reissues is that the horns weren't right. This one does have the "slender horns" that made the original so great to begin with.
I'd personally get this one over a real-deal '63. Not just because it looks exactly like it's supposed to, but it has all the original-style electronics with two very important improvements: It's not buzzy, bongy, ringy mess of a guitar, and it won't fall apart.
Oh, there's a third reason as well. Compared to a real-deal '63, it's a bargain price.
Which would I personally buy if I had the money?
If I had the money and had to pick one, it would be either the Firebird VII or the ES335.
And to be honest, it would not be easy to choose which to go with.
The Firebird VII has the more trebly sound I like with the Maestro vibrato on it, and I would use that often.
The ES-335, while having no vibrato, is an insanely good-looking guitar, and is one of those axes that defined the rock and roll music genre because of the sound it belts out. A lot of people think it was the Les Paul that made rock what it is. No, it was the ES335 that had more influence. Way more influence. It was and still is the better guitar compared to a Paul. Maybe the Paul saw more stage time, but the 335 is what saw more studio time, and that's the one you heard more often.
Like I said, tough choice. :)
Recycled seat belt guitar strap? Cool!
The recycled seat belt guitar strap is something I'm seriously considering buying for basically two reasons.
First, seat belt material (yes, the kind that comes from a car) is made to last basically forever. It will not stretch and there it is extremely unlikely it would even fray.
Second, they are insanely comfortable as they are meant to smoothly go over your body.
Doesn't really get any better than that.
And by the way, it comes in 13 different colors.
I like the blue, but I'm thinking the darker burgundy color would go well with my red Jazzmaster. :)
Being a left-handed guitar player can suck sometimes
Did you know I'm left-handed? It's true. I play right-handed, but I am a lefty.
The left handed Fender Standard Stratocaster exists. Does Fender make a bunch of Strats in lefty? Of course they do, both for Mexico and American models.
Being a lefty player can suck because the selection of guitars available is very little compared to righty guitars. Every lefty knows that it's a righty's world when it comes to electric guitars or guitars in general.
Squier is actually one of the most accommodating brands for lefty players. For example, the lefty Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster is for all intents and purposes the best damned Tele a lefty could buy. Why? Because more often than not, a Fender version either doesn't exist, is priced way too high to be affordable, or simply isn't available anywhere.
Want to know the only lefty Telecaster that Fender makes with the ashtray bridge on it? That would be the American Vintage '52 Telecaster lefty - if you can even find one. The Squier on the other hand mentioned above (which also has the ashtray bridge) is available for lefty players right now. Squier saves the day once again. And yes, lefty players, if you love Teles, you will love that Squier CV. Go get one. Don't bother waiting for that Fender to appear unless you want to throw $3,000+ at Fender Custom Shop just to have one made.
Lefty Gibson guitars
I received an email recently from a lefty player asking about Gibson USA Les Paul models. Specifically, the Les Paul Studio Pro. When I did my research on it, there have been lefty players not only asking but outright begging Gibson to make a lefty version of the 2014 Studio Pro model. I swear, from what I saw out there, lefty players were ready to throw money at Gibson just to have one made.
The 2014 Studio Paul exists as a lefty, and that literally just happened this month as certain online music instrument retailers are taking preorders for them now. But as for the Studio Pro, nope. Of course, the one the lefty players actually want is the one Gibson didn't make.
Will Gibson make it? I've no idea. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. Gibson is not talking about it. Do they even care? I don't know.
On the Les Paul side of things, I tell lefty players not to buy Gibson. Instead I recommend to simply examine the other options out there. There are plenty of lefty options to choose from that have the Les Paul shape.
On the SG side of things, Epiphone has lefties covered with the G-400 PRO in cherry. True, it's not Gibson, but the price sure is right, it has the smaller pick guard and totally looks like a Tony Iommi guitar. The PRO model in particular plays and sounds as good as it looks.
What is available for lefty players that is cheap?
Squier and Dean pretty much own this market.
Squier has a lefty Telecaster and a lefty Stratocaster for a little more. Dean has lefty options that look decent.
Are lefty guitars that sell for less than righty guitars cheaper in build quality?
A common belief guitar players have is that "if it's cheaper, it must suck". Wrong. And especially wrong when it comes to lefty guitars.
Guitar stores don't like stocking left-handed guitars because they take forever to sell. With online retailers, same thing.
For example, this Honey Burst Left-Handed American Standard Stratocaster is just $900 new at the time I write this. Yeah, this guitar should be $1,200, but it's $900. Why? It's most likely a display unit that never sold where there's absolutely nothing wrong with it, but it's just got to get sold because now it's taking up space.
You can find really good deals on Fender American Standard left-handed guitars quite easily. You'll be surprised in a good way what you'll find. Sometimes it's better for a left-handed player to just go for the high-end stuff because a lot of it can be had for fire sale prices since retailers have a tough time selling them.
Cheap 12-string electric guitars
I was talking about Rickenbacker electrics and their 12-string offerings recently, so I decided to take a look at what was available for cheap electric 12-string guitars.
Why are 12-string electrics hard to come by?
The 12-string electric is not a regular seller, so you don't see them too often. You'll see 12-string acoustic guitars a lot, but for electrics, not-so much. Rarely, in fact.
Why is this? Mainly because not many players want one. That, and there are a few standard problems just about all 12-string electrics have.
Problem 1: It takes forever to string one up and tune it. It takes a bare minimum 45 minutes to do this right. As in detune, clip off the old set, give the body and fretboard a basic wipe-down with a polish cloth, install the new set, clip excess, stretch and tune. There's no way to do this fast.
Problem 2: It's not easy to intonate a 12-string. The 12-string electric is notorious for being difficult to intonate. You have double the amount of strings, and the octave strings are of a different tension for half of them, while the other half isn't. I'm not saying a 12-string can't be intonated, because it obviously can be. Just don't plan on it being a quick process.
Problem 3: Standard tuning or nothing. On a 6-string you can get away with changing tuning without having to intonate again for the most part. But on a 12, nope. You have to basically pick one tuning and stick with it because that's what you're going to intonate to. Standard tuning is the best option. If not standard E, standard D is the next best thing.
Is there such a thing as a "dirt cheap" 12-string electric?
In the under-$300 range, yes they exist. But I wouldn't buy one. On a 12, you are already battling intonation issues. With a dirt cheap 12, it's even worse because it's pretty much guaranteed the guitar will never intonate correctly.
In other words, you can go cheap with a 12. But when you go dirt cheap, that's just a waste of money and you won't enjoy the instrument.
A selection of (somewhat) cheap 12-string electrics
At the time I write this, this is the best cheap 12-string electric I could find. The immediate advantage is that the tuners are easy to deal with. They're all side-by-side and easy to figure out. And the fact this guitar is uses a regular stop piece is a plus as well.
The drawback is that yes, it will have intonation issues. You'll notice that the Tune-O-Matic style bridge does not have separate intonation for the octave strings.
Basically, what this means is that you'll be in tune up until around the 9th fret. After that, not-so much on the wound-string side (meaning strings 4, 5 and 6). The wound strings will be intonated, but the octave strings won't and will be slightly out. Then again, it would be rare for a 12-string player to hold fretted bass-side notes above the 9th fret unless using a capo.
We're already busting over the $350 mark here, but when you want a proper 12-string, you have to spend a little extra.
The advantages of the Danelectro is that the string saddles are easier to deal with, and the lipstick-style pickups will give the guitar are more vintage-style '60s tone to it.
I can tell just by the bridge setup that string changes would be easier on this compared to the Dean. I also personally think it's looks cooler than the Dean does.
Will this have intonation issues like the Dean? Yes. But again, it's probably true you won't be playing much if anything above the 9th fret.
Now we're in over-$450 territory. Yeah, I know. Not cheap. But in this instance, you do get a better guitar for the money.
While not as easy to intonate and adjust as the Danelectro, this one has the best tuners and best pickups. You also get more tonal control from the 4 knobs compared to 2 on the two other guitars.
Oh, and there's another advantage as well. In the way this guitar is made, neck dive is a non-issue. While there shouldn't be any neck dive on the other two guitars, the Ibanez has the least chance of that happening.
Given the choice between the 3 guitars, this is the one you could buy without trying it out first and be the most confident you'd get something good. With the other two, I can't say that. But with the Ibanez, I can, because Artcore is a damned good series that has known good build quality to it.
How do you get the best sound out of an electric 12-string?
There are two things that are required to make an electric 12-string sound good. Flatwound strings and compression.
Why flatwound on a 12?
Flatwound was the popular string of the era at the time the guitars were being made in the 60s. On a 12, they have a very specific sound to them that cannot be emulated with a roundwound set.
Unfortunately, a proper set of flatwound strings for an electric 12 is not cheap, and almost nobody makes them.
One of the few companies that does make an authentic new vintage-spec flatwound set for a 12 is Pyramid with this specific set:
Pyramid Gold 12 Light Electric Guitar String Set
Warning: You will get sticker shock when you see the price of that string set. But it's the only generally available 12-string flatwound set you can buy, and guaranteed to have that vintage-style 12-string tone.
If you want a cheap, extra-light-gauge set in roundwound flavor, you want RotoSound R30SL set.
If you want cheap, super-extra-light-gauge (which you may like because of the double amount of strings you have to hold down on a 12), again, RotoSound with the R30XL set.
I do not recommend 10-gauge roundwound on an electric 12. That exists, but remember, you're holding down double the strings you're used to. With flats, a 10-gauge set is fine because your fingers won't get wrecked. On roundwound, yes they will get wrecked unless you go lighter.
If you can't afford the flatwound set, you won't hear any complaint from me because it's a really expensive set of strings. So if you have to go roundwound to save a buck, that's fine. Just remember you can't get true vintage-style tone out of them. And no, that doesn't mean they sound bad. Round is just a different tone than flat, and that's just the way it is.
Why compression on a 12?
To accommodate for the weird voicing of a 12-string electric pickup.
Pickups on 12-string electrics can't be overly "hot" because they'll be noisy as hell and pick up overtones that will make the sound produced almost unusable. Combine that with the fact that on the bass string side you've got little octave strings "fighting" to be heard, and it's no wonder why a 12-string "rings dead" so quickly.
Do not be surprised if any electric 12 you play has little to no electric sustain to it. Note that I said electric and not acoustic. Acoustically, it will ring out fine. Electrically, it won't...
...and that's where compression saves the day with this pedal:
The Dyna Comp, while a bit "thumpy", works nicely with an electric 12. It has old-school electronics in it that suit the odd voicing of an electric 12's pickups.
Yes, I've mentioned the Dyna Comp several times before in other articles. But it's a damned good compressor pedal. If you want something better, get a CS-3 (another pedal I've mentioned several times). Either will be fine, but I personally think the Dyna Comp is better for the more-authentic "snappy"/"thumpy" vintage 12-string electric tone.
Is it worth it to own an electric 12?
That depends on what your musical desires are.
Nothing sounds like an electric 12. In the world of electric guitars, the 12 is unique, cool, interesting and can make sounds that 6-string guitars can't.
If you currently gig with a band at all, when you break out the 12-string, everyone pays attention. When people see all those tuner buttons on the headstock, it just looks impressive. And when people hear the 12, that's also impressive even when playing nothing but simple chords on it.
For songwriting, a 12-string is a damned fine guitar to own because it has such a full sound to it. And since you're basically forced to play just chords and no solos on one, it can arguably be said it's a better songwriting guitar.
For song styles, the 12 has what's best described as a cinematic quality to it.
In the end, if you think, "Wow. I could get cool sounds out of a 12...", buy one. You will enjoy it, as long as you remember a 12 is a bit of a pain in the ass to intonate and restring. The guitar is more inconvenient compared to a 6, but the sounds you can get out of a 12 make it worth it to own.