an observation about this forum

musicalbodger · #1 05-19-2010, 04:33 PM

For a while now whenever I log in to this forum I notice that there are always many more people checking out the "gear & gizmo" pages than any of the music/theory/practical based threads. Tonight it's 24 on gear & gizmos as opposed to 31 reading ALL the other sections. Yesterday it was 30 odd with only 17 reading the other sections. Is this a male "boys toys" thing, or do folk think that the gear will make them play better/improve their tone/save them from having to practice? I'm interested in hearing your comments on this phenomenon.

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #2 05-19-2010, 04:36 PM

The only thing I do is click on "new posts". If most of the new posts are gear-related, it's not my fault! And it's just window shopping for me. I'm broke.

henry b · #3 05-19-2010, 05:06 PM

I,m into the "new posts " too.

drobniuch · #4 05-19-2010, 05:06 PM

I don't know why U angry about it... probably some folk realy think that gear makes them better but who didn't think so when he was a newbe.. but some probalby realy pros looks for some new ideas..
In this times the toys realy make a diference..

p.s. I'm like BigDaddy the new posts clicker..

gadjo · #5 05-19-2010, 05:08 PM

Gear-talk is fun! Check out the 'smelly guitar' threads for example! I never seen one of those anywhere til i landed here.. by leaving my local guitar forum because of, well.. too much gear talk.

musicalbodger · #6 05-19-2010, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drobniuch

I don't know why U angry about it... probably some folk realy think that gear makes them better but who didn't think so when he was a newbe.. but some probalby realy pros looks for some new ideas..
In this times the toys realy make a diference..

p.s. I'm like BigDaddy the new posts clicker..

drobniuch, you misunderstand my post, I'm not angry about it, just curious at the imbalance between those interested in the gear and the music.

OK I get the point about "new posts" — I just tend to check out threads that look interesting.

Quote:

Gear-talk is fun! Check out the 'smelly guitar' threads for example! I never seen one of those anywhere til i landed here.. by leaving my local guitar forum because of, well.. too much gear talk.

Thanks for the head up on that smelly thread, I just posted on it.

BDLH — I'm not criticising, it just struck me as a large imbalance in a jazz forum. I could understand it on a general guitar forum, or maybe even the gearpage forum

. And as for being broke, that'll be pretty nearly all of us soon the way things are going.

brad4d8 · #7 05-19-2010, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henry b

I,m into the "new posts " too.

Me, too.
Brad

JohnW400 · #8 05-19-2010, 08:57 PM

I believe some other memebers think the same thing. I recall Fep brought it up once a whle back.

I often wonder if people are interested in the technical things I post. I almost never get a question here. Yet on a Jazz Forum in Spain that I post on I get follow up questions on the stuff I post. Sometimes I think about this before I post a technical response about some concepts here.

mr. beaumont · #9 05-19-2010, 09:17 PM

i think there's a lot of beginners here. that's not a bad thing at all, but they're getting things sorted out on all levels, and gear is a part of that--and they might not feel comfortable posting on more technical threads.

the other thing i see a lot of is posts concerning modes and approaches to improvisation i don't consider myself an expert in, nor ones I advocate for beginners, so I bite my tongue rather than come off as "stodgy old arpeggio playing mr. b."

but like big daddy, every time i come here, "new posts" is what i click.

GuitaRoland · #10 05-20-2010, 12:00 AM

It was a long time ago that I understood that my playing had very little to do with my gear. Don't misunderstand me, I have also been searching around, tested and bought a lot of gear that didn't make any difference. However I have a friend that never stops talking about gear, he can really tire me out and he is never satisfied with his tone or sound.

I have suggested that we should stop talking about equipment and have more discussion about music, he agrees but the next time it's all the same. What to do about that?

/R

bkdavidson · #11 05-20-2010, 12:44 AM

As for myself, when I joined I was looking for information about good pickups for jazz. When I poked around some more, I found quite a few questions I thought I could answer and have a few of my own answered. A couple months after joining, I began to feel I was in WAY over my head.

I do feel like I know quite a lot of jazz theory and have a knack for chord voicings and chord-melody arrangements, but honestly a lot of people on here scare the living daylights out of me. Also, all the chord-melody material had to be pulled for copyright reasons, so I can't get or post any of that anymore.

I feel lately that I'm best qualified to answer questions about gear. If a question about improv, theory, or what have you pops up, it seems to get the answer I would have given before I get to it, or I just feel grossly unable to help. Any questions I have I either don't know how to really ask to get the answer I want, or I just feel dumb; that I should already know.

steev · #12 05-20-2010, 02:26 AM

I think its important to keep up with technology and keep up with whats new, I live a little bit out of the way so dont have access to big music shops. Most of you would probably laugh but I recently bought a new tuner that clips onto your guitar and reads vibrations rather than a mic picking up sound, I thought that was pretty special.(been around for years I suppose)
To answer the question, yes boys love their toys but if you are about to invest in new gear you really need to research it especially if you tend to buy bigger and better (more expensive) as you progress. I just click on new posts as well>

musicalbodger · #13 05-20-2010, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitaRoland

It was a long time ago that I understood that my playing had very little to do with my gear. Don't misunderstand me, I have also been searching around, tested and bought a lot of gear that didn't make any difference. However I have a friend that never stops talking about gear, he can really tire me out and he is never satisfied with his tone or sound.

I have suggested that we should stop talking about equipment and have more discussion about music, he agrees but the next time it's all the same. What to do about that?

/R

Stuff his overdrive pedal in his mouth and his guitar in his hands

musicalbodger · #14 05-20-2010, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

i think there's a lot of beginners here. that's not a bad thing at all, but they're getting things sorted out on all levels, and gear is a part of that--and they might not feel comfortable posting on more technical threads.

the other thing i see a lot of is posts concerning modes and approaches to improvisation i don't consider myself an expert in, nor ones I advocate for beginners, so I bite my tongue rather than come off as "stodgy old arpeggio playing mr. b."

but like big daddy, every time i come here, "new posts" is what i click.

I was thinking more in terms of people reading threads not necessarily posting or replying. But you're right about a lot of beginners here and, as you say, that's great — wish it had been around 30 years ago!

Man, you're not stodgy, you're posts are pretty nearly always on the button. Check out how many times I write "as Mr B. said...". As for arpeggio vs modes approach I think it's horses for courses. I struggled with learning through scales & modes and now my ear picks out the arpeggios (on a good day

) but it is a long road that way and maybe arps are a better grounding for beginners, I don't know. I found I just couldn't cope with practising all those repeated 3 & four note patterns. zzzzzzzzzzzz
It just didn't seem musical somehow, but then I never had a teacher.

GuitaRoland · #15 05-20-2010, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicalbodger

Stuff his overdrive pedal in his mouth and his guitar in his hands

...and you believe that would help?

/R

musicalbodger · #16 05-20-2010, 06:56 AM

Quote:

...and you believe that would help?

/R

Roland, probably not, he'd probably want you to use a different pedal.

musicalbodger · #17 05-20-2010, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnW400

I believe some other memebers think the same thing. I recall Fep brought it up once a whle back.

I often wonder if people are interested in the technical things I post. I almost never get a question here. Yet on a Jazz Forum in Spain that I post on I get follow up questions on the stuff I post. Sometimes I think about this before I post a technical response about some concepts here.

JohnW, I think BKD may have answered your point about why many people don't reply. If most here are beginners, the posts may be over their heads or they may just be too embarrassed, or feel too stupid, asking simple questions. I don't know that there's an answer to that. If you don't ask you don't learn but maybe it's not just down to beginners insecurity, it could be that some people are here are a bit hard on those who find difficulty in understanding a concept or who just have misunderstood a concept.

musicalbodger · #18 05-20-2010, 07:08 AM

Quote:

I feel lately that I'm best qualified to answer questions about gear. If a question about improv, theory, or what have you pops up, it seems to get the answer I would have given before I get to it, or I just feel grossly unable to help. Any questions I have I either don't know how to really ask to get the answer I want, or I just feel dumb; that I should already know.

BKD - If you don't ask...
Whatever, just don't feel dumb, everyone has holes in their knowledge or they have some things that they've never been able to comprehend, it's a universal truth for most of us mortals. There aren't many who'd mock you for your ignorance and those that do aren't worth worrying about. Your acquisition of knowledge is more important.

derek · #19 05-20-2010, 09:45 AM

As men, I think that hunter/gatherer thing is in our DNA. This is one way it can be expressed. Plus, for many, the guitar is more than just a tool, it is a work of art and an extention of our musical personality. Part of the process for a ton of players is finding the fit and sound they like.

That usually means going thru a bunch of gear. Plus, unlike in decades past, there are SO MANY CHOICES. We have been conditioned to be consumers, and we are dutifully following that path. Finally, it is easier to switch guitars/gear than put in a lot of practice time.

liponguitas · #20 05-20-2010, 09:58 AM

Well, I found this forum by searching information about the jazz guitar I wanted to buy.I have to say I don't understand nothing about guitars and amps because I played classical guitar for several years.
But then I found what a great site this is! And I don't usually read nothing about guitars and amps.

In my opinion, there are lot of guitar players that worry more about guitars, and amps then learn and study. I think there are a lot of people that play guitar for one year or two but then understand that guitar is not only "show off" but requires a lot of study and they give up.

So Mr. Mathew, Mr.B, and all you people o really like to know more... I want to tell you...Please continue posting about the theory and practice...about jazz.I don't usually post because i don't know enough, I usually post asking doubts that i have... but i always read your posts!

Sorry for my bad English

liponguitas · #21 05-20-2010, 10:11 AM

Well, I found this forum by searching information about the jazz guitar I wanted to buy.I have to say I don't understand nothing about guitars and amps because I played classical guitar for several years.
But then I found what a great site this is! And I don't usually read nothing about guitars and amps.

In my opinion, there are lot of guitar players that worry more about guitars, and amps then learn and study. I think there are a lot of people that play guitar for one year or two but then understand that guitar is not only "show off" but requires a lot of study and they give up.

So Mr. Mathew, Mr.B, and all you people o really like to know more... I want to tell you...Please continue posting about the theory and practice...about jazz.I don't usually post because i don't know enough, I usually post asking doubts that i have... but i always read your posts!

Sorry for my bad English

mangotango · #22 05-20-2010, 10:31 AM

I'm in a slightly different position - I have two teachers, one for theory and one for guitar (yes, I know, but I'm just playing 30 years' worth of catch-up), so I tend not to go too crazy on the improv/theory sections - I don't want to get in the way of the structure of what they're doing. Like when I was a beginning golfer and trying to learn to hit it straight - magazine articles for advanced players on hitting a deliberate hook or slice were the worst thing for me

BUT

on the subject of gear - well, sound is so subjective and to paraphrase "Anarchy In The U.K." (and that's possibly the only time you'll see that particular ditty referenced on this site, though don't let me stop you searching

), "I know what I want but I don't always know how to get it". So picking the brains of other posters is one of the more useful things that I can do on here.

Besides....GAS, like misery, loves company.

bkdavidson · #23 05-20-2010, 03:37 PM

Quote:

BKD - If you don't ask...
Whatever, just don't feel dumb, everyone has holes in their knowledge or they have some things that they've never been able to comprehend, it's a universal truth for most of us mortals. There aren't many who'd mock you for your ignorance and those that do aren't worth worrying about. Your acquisition of knowledge is more important.

I know, right?! It almost makes me feel dumber for not asking, so I might have some new questions soon. I think some of it is the teacher in me. . . I have so many students that just give the "I don't get it" when they don't grasp some broad concept immediately. When I ask them what about it they don't get, they just say "I don't know, I just don't get it." AAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!!

It's so frustrating, but I feel like I'm in that boat now with some of my questions.

Banksia · #24 05-20-2010, 10:39 PM

I never read the gear threads on here - or on any guitar site. I'm already well-stocked with archtops and Strats and tube amps and that IS my sound. (Of course if I won the lottery I'm sure I could fit in a Benedetto.)

I read the theory threads here but don't usually reply because my theory knowledge has no structure to it, so my answers might be more confusing than helpful.

I use another, more Rock site and the gear threads are always the most popular. They (theoretically) have 10,000 members but, if anyone asks a theory question, it will only be the same 3 or 4 of us who answer. If you ask about a Boss BR600 or Ibz Steve Vai with DiMarzios, the thread will go on forever.

GuitaRoland · #25 05-20-2010, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banksia

If you ask about a Boss BR600 or Ibz Steve Vai with DiMarzios, the thread will go on forever.

I wouldn't want this forum to change in that direction. I don't participate in some forums, especially in Sweden, any longer. The reason is what's mentioned above.

/R