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Posted by: Pavel Feb 21 2008, 08:37 PM

Here is the link: http://digital.premierguitar.com/premierguitar/200803/?folio=74&fm=2

The last question will possibly make a lot of people think of how they approach guitar. I personally have a lot of experience similar to Rusty's when i meet people who talk too much and don't play at all and call themselves "guitarists". Also i meet a lot of people who only talk gear and don't practice and again call themselves "guitarists".

What's your experience?

Posted by: Guitarman700 Feb 21 2008, 08:41 PM

Wow. his response to that last question made me sit back in my chair and really think about this passion we call guitar. that man is a genius.

Posted by: Iluha Feb 21 2008, 08:47 PM

Most of my friends are over analatycal, allways comparing themselves and other players to famous players, saying stuff like "That's this guys lick, and that sounds alot like that other guy!" I try to calm them down though constantly telling them to not think too much who they sound like and just play what's in their head, I think it's finally starting to get through to them but it will take some more time

Posted by: DeepRoots Feb 21 2008, 08:54 PM

wise words- nice share Pavel cheers man

Posted by: Zephyr Feb 21 2008, 09:13 PM

I agree, I've actually grown to hate the word, "guitarist". I hate when people spend so much time working on technique and "mastering the guitar" that their work becomes just plain unmusical. I think we should all just be referred to as musicians, because I think that a lot of guitarists today forget that that's what they should be aiming to become, rather than just "guitarists".

Posted by: Tjchep Feb 21 2008, 09:38 PM

I agree with you on the last question in there.

I just got over that, I always thought I didn't sound good because of the amp or because I didnt have a $2000 guitar, nah, after I realized it was all in my head and fingers, I instantly started to sound better, and was way more confident in my playing.

But I still do change my amp setting around a bit for recording or somthing to cut through the mix more, but thats about it.

I think the only time you should have good gear (besides a good feeling guitar) is when you've practiced your ass off and can nearly play anything you want to, otherwise it will just take away from your practice time with experimenting and such.

Posted by: SLASH91 Feb 21 2008, 09:38 PM

What a great article!

Posted by: botoxfox Feb 21 2008, 09:53 PM

Cool interview. Thanks for sharing.

Posted by: The Uncreator Feb 21 2008, 10:41 PM

Great interview, Rusty is a wise man

Posted by: Pavel Feb 21 2008, 11:46 PM

See i joined GMC a year ago, and now when you look at my lessons back than, they sound much worse than lessons i do now, and i never changed my gear or amp setting - it's all because of practice and i was really happy a few days ago when a lot of you commented my last lesson and noticed big improvement in both my tone and skills - it was really a punch for me and i'm glad practicing gives results

So - just as Rusty said - you better practice, and talk less about styles, what is importing and what is not - just practice and show the world what you can be



EDIT: just to add something, a few days ago one guy called me and asked how to set up his new Ibanez 6-string...he wanted to tune it down to B - no comments at all. Than a few days later he said how great his guitar is and the only thought i had was: "What is the use use of a great guitar if you can't play..." - so gear is not important, just the practicing.

Posted by: Iluha Feb 22 2008, 12:23 AM

Well gear IS important, but only when you become very experienced, a great musician can get a good sound from any guitar, but to really express himself and get the exact sound he wants he will need high edge gear, it's like my guitar teacher told me once: "I'd prefer hearing an experienced player playing a 200$ strat copy than a full of S*** player playing a 4000$ custom strat"

Posted by: Pavel Feb 22 2008, 12:51 AM

Yeah exactly That's the point! Your teacher said it right m8!

Posted by: Tjchep Feb 22 2008, 12:56 AM

Hah, I remember when I took guitar lessons from this guy, I told my friend that came to lessons with me how much better my guitar is than my teachers (which it was).

But the funny thing was, me and my teacher were playing on the same amp with good settings and my friend comes out and say's " I though your guitar sounded better than his ".

I really blew back then. Like worse than now .

Posted by: steve25 Feb 22 2008, 12:58 AM

Yeah i agree, sometimes i find myself getting too far ahead of myself with wanting gear, but i haven't gone over the top. This year though i'm determined not just to practice more, but to practice more seriously. I think my problem is the opposite to the norm, i improvise way too much and try to make my own stuff too much. I'm not good enough yet and although i don't really know how i'm going to get better yet i'm not focusing enough on other stuff like techniques and stuff. So a few weeks ago i set myself a new practicing schedule which i've stuck to so far

Posted by: Muris Feb 22 2008, 01:01 AM

+1 Beginner needs to have beginner's gear,pro needs pro stuff.
Everything else is just wrong.

And yeah,less talking,more practicing!

Am still talking,aren't I?

Posted by: Pavel Feb 22 2008, 01:02 AM

You're allowed to talk! You have enough skills in your bag to spend some time on the forum

Posted by: Tjchep Feb 22 2008, 01:03 AM

One thing I might add to what muris said.

If a begginer has the best gear in the world from the get go then what does he have to look forward to when he gets more experience.

No better gear, nothing to reward himself with.

Thats why I'm glad I'm not rich, working for stuff is way more fun.

Posted by: Pavel Feb 22 2008, 01:15 AM

Fully support you there m8. But than you really know the price of your property

Posted by: RIP Dime Feb 22 2008, 01:54 AM

I totally agree! I like guitar playing when it's music.

Posted by: mattacuk Feb 22 2008, 11:35 AM

Fantastic thread Pavel ! That was a really cool interveiw, Rusty really knows the score. I totally agree alot of guitarists spend too much time over anaylising or playing with gear. I just like to plug in and practice for hours, im not fussed about how expensive my guitar is or how much gear I own

p.s Rusty Listens to buckethed? cool

Posted by: Pavel Feb 22 2008, 07:02 PM

If you ask Buckethead, maybe Rusty is on his playlist?

Posted by: mattacuk Feb 22 2008, 07:49 PM

I have no doubt , these super skilled players seem to have a really keen interest in each other Rusty appeared along adside buckethead and Yngwqwie in a shred special I have at home. It was really interesting to read about both players side by side

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Feb 22 2008, 07:58 PM

I find millions of that kind of people. You know that I have a band and we play modern rock/metal and I know lots of new metal style guitar players that are most worried about having the newer guitar, pedal, amp or whatever than of playing good.
I have the same though with the "bands". I hear a lot of people saying that there are too many bands, lots of bands and that's why it's difficult to be known. But how many of this bands take it serious? How many bands spends hours and hours composing, recording, doing the rehearsals, practicing each musician alone, playing live often, trying to contact important peolple to make their band more known.... etc etc... what do you think?

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Feb 22 2008, 08:08 PM

Very few, if you count that in - chances of "breaking through" is all of a sudden very high!

Most people don't understand what is required - the skills and the haircut isn't merely enough!

Making it with a band isn't very different from starting a business or whatever - because what you are doing is creating and advertising a product which is to be sold (whether you like it or not ). And even those who understand it don't know how to create and advertise a product - this is of course difficult.

Many people don't like the idea of their music being seen as a product - and therefore deliberately never take it out of their bedroom. Which is...

...pretty cool as well! But it all depends on what goals and visions you have.

PS Awesome topic Pavel!

Posted by: The Uncreator Feb 22 2008, 08:13 PM

^couldnt agree more, There are so many things that go into being in a successful band, Im sure some of our instructors can tell us all the stuff they had to go through, I mean you gotta make sure your music is solid, recording and mixing/ mastering is decent, and then you gotta gig a lot, promote your band, its gotta be tiring!

But im betting its worth it

Posted by: mattacuk Feb 22 2008, 08:14 PM

Well I wish all you guys working hard all the success you deserve I myself am aiming to just have my own act locally

Posted by: Pavel Feb 22 2008, 08:24 PM

Kris - good point about "product". See, i am myself now in progress of creating this very "product" and as long as i find it average - i'm not even trying to advertise it

The approach and spirit is not enough - you have to also put time, money and hard work in it. But hopefully each of us makes it to their goals.

Gabriel - good job with your band so far and good luck in the future

Posted by: Mark. Feb 22 2008, 08:36 PM

Cool article
I just cant figure out who inspires and motivates me more Rusty or Pavel
But I dont have to think about that, I got to practice...

Posted by: Pavel Feb 22 2008, 08:45 PM

Well, i'm motivated by Rusty so if you're motivated by me than it means you're motivated by Rusty as well
Thanks a lot man! Being somebody's motivation means a lot