GEAR TATS INTERVIEW

Guitarstuff4U:  So mr. Gear Tats, what made you decide to start the Gear Tats business?


Gear Tats: Well I grew up playing guitar in the eighties when Hair Bands were the rage and they had these amazing guitar players. All of those guitarists had great custom graphic guitars that I would drool over and dream about owning. I remember CC Deville had a bunch of cool guitars in one of Poison's videos, as well as Queensrych, Anthrax, Warrent, Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai, Vernon Reid,John Petrucci. The list is endless. They all had these amazing looking axes. A few times I attempted to do some customizing on my own but the results were always pretty bad. I've wrecked a few guitars in my day I'm sorry to say. Years and years later my friend bought a vinyl cutter was showing me some decals that he had made which got my gears spinning. This could be a way to make custom guitar graphics that would look great and were affordable to the average guitarist. 

Guitarstuff4U:  Where did you get all those cool designs? Did you come up with them or do you have a partner that does that?


Gear Tats:  I design all of the decals myself. I've been a graphic artist since high school, and even when I went to college for music I still kept up with all the graphic programs on the computer and studied art on my own. I've also done a few custom decals for clients who had a design in their mind that they really wanted which was fun.

Guitarstuff4U:   Any other designs slated to come out in the near future?


Gear Tats:  Oh yeah! It's really limitless as far as design possibilities. Not only will we be moving into multi-colored designs in the future but also designs inspired by customer feedback through facebook and twitter. We're really interested in finding out what people would like to see on their guitars and then giving them the best versions of that.

Guitarstuff4U:   Are specific designs meant for certain styles of guitar or can any design be put on any guitar?


Gear Tats:  We do have a few decals that are designed for specific body shapes like tribals, or a new line of pin-stripping we are about to launch. Others are designed to fit on most guitars but come in two sizes, electric and acoustic.  We are also looking at creating a few killer designs for Flying V's. We can't ignore those guys.

 Guitarstuff4U:  No you most certainly shouldn't, especially since it seems EVERYONE these days is playing a flying-V or some other non-traditional body style guitar.

Guitarstuff4U:  On the technical side of the spectrum, you say that Gear Tats are permanent yet can also be removed if you wish it, how does that work? I would imagine some kind of solvent would be involved, as you couldn’t just use water, instruments rarely get wet but I'm sure it does happen.

Gear Tats:  These decals are made from high quality sign vinyl which does have an adhesive on the back of it. It is designed to stand up to moderate use on indoor signs without fading of falling off. When it is removed from a surface it doesn't leave any residue behind that I have found. The only side effect I have noticed when removing a decal that had been on one of my guitars for a few years was that the surface was much cleaner where the decal had been.

Guitarstuff4U:   Were there any design you had that didn’t "make the cut" so to speak? and might we see those designs if things take - off for Gear Tats?


Gear Tats:  Yeah there were a few that didn't "make the cut" :). Mostly because of the learning curve involved with the decal creation process. The way that these decals are made involves removing the parts of the design where the guitar body shows through. Some of my earlier designs were very intricate and the time it took to remove all of those little bits of vinyl would have sent the price of them through the roof. Maybe down the road we'll introduce a Premier Line of GearTats that will include these amazing  designs for customers that want something a little more intense looking.

Guitarstuff4U: ok thats all we have for now Bassers and Guitar'ers, if you want to see more about Gear Tats you can view whats on stock at GEARTATS

Who's ready for the Thor Rune interview? I hope you ARE! here it is!

Guitarstuff4U: Just for info I play a Gibson Epiphone Les Paul with a Marshall MG-15 amp, whats your current set up for live play and /or practice (if you set up different for practice that is)?

Thor Rune: My live rig currently consists of an ADA MP2 tube preamp, and an Alesis Quadraverb 2 for effects and a Digitech DHP55 for harmonization. That all gets fed in to a Peavey Classic 50-50 tube power amp and a Marshall cab with Celestion G12T75 speakers. I use an ART X15 foot controller to change tones.
For home practice I recently picked up a Pod xt which is pretty convenient for jamming by myself or recording demos. Every now and then ill crank up my 5150 if I need a little adrenaline rush lol. Luckily I have very nice neighbors. Guitar wise I have a bunch, but live I normally rely on my Charvel Model 6 and my Steinberger. I'll bring out others occasionally for shits and giggles but those 2 are so versatile they can do everything I need.

Guitarstuff4U: which one has no head on the Neck?

Thor Rune: Yeah the Steinberger is "headless"

Guitarstuff4U: when you are practicing, how long do you usually play for? Are there any special thing you do while practicing that you believe make you a better guitarist?

Thor Rune: Marz always rags on me for not practicing enough lol. He's right too I'm really lazy with actual "practicing" (as opposed to rehearsing).
I would say the best thing to do to make yourself better is play with other musicians. No amount of practice by yourself can make up for that. I've met plenty of musicians who could tear it up in their bedroom but as soon as they have to actually play along with others they're lost.

Guitarstuff4U: Have you ever heard of / or use Guitar Pro? cause i agree with Marz that program is the bomb for guitarists

Thor Rune: Guitar Pro is an amazing tool for learning songs; there's such a vast library of tabs out there for it. I've never really used it for tabbing my own stuff though as I use Cubase instead. It's not nearly as powerful as Guitar Pro for creating quality tabs but it's good enough for my needs which is usually just working out guitarmonies and solos for myself.

Guitarstuff4U: "guitarmonies" i like that, and i totally agree if you don't jam with others, you don't get the whole thing about keeping time with others and learning to improvise. and learning to "shred" as people call it nowadays doesn't necessarily mean you can play a song beginning to end. So, then what would you recommend to someone like me who can't "solo" but still can play a good rhythm get better at soloing then, scales? I know some but not enough.

Thor Rune: Scales are good to know for theoretical and harmony purposes, and scale runs are a good way to get from point A to point B in a solo, but relying on them can make solos sound rather predictable and linear. I'd say the best thing for writing tasty solos is to try singing what you want to hear... or humming if your voice sucks like me ;). The point is to think melodically, chances are if you can't sing it you're overplaying. As far as improving your soloing technique there's nothing wrong with learning other peoples solos and figuring out what they do so that you can incorporate their tricks in to your repertoire. One of the best ways to learn parts is to use something like VLC player, which lets you slow down songs without changing the pitch. That way you can learn the tricky parts at a slow speed and work your way up to full speed. A lot of players are too focused on trying to play everything super fast right away instead of worrying about playing cleanly and articulation. Start off slow until it "clicks"; when that happens playing at full speed is way easier and it'll sound a lot better because you're aware of every note and nuance in the part.


Guitarstuff4U: Does everyone in the band contribute to writing songs? or is it more like KISS is set up where only one or 2 or 3 of you write?

Thor Rune: As for the writing Marz does pretty much all the writing. Kingdom Earth was pretty much written by the time I joined the band so that concept was all his idea.


Guitarstuff4U: OK this one's going to be easy compared to the rest of these questions, lol. this is a simple one, what brand strings do you use both on stage and off?

Thor Rune: Let's see... I use either D'Addario or Dean Markley strings. I used to have to use special double-ball end strings for the Steinberger but I got an adapter that lets me use regular strings with it. The special strings were getting quite hard to find and kinda pricey.

Guitarstuff4U: what about your gear when it comes to maintenance, for instance do you change your own strings? take your ax to the shop? DO more than that maybe? such as adjustments to the bridge or neck( just for info: I strongly recommend all new and mid level guys take their instrument to a qualified "shop" for such adjustments)

Thor Rune: I do all my own guitar setup unless it requires fret dressing or some similar alterations. I think every guitar player should at least be familiar with what's involved with setting up their guitar even if they're not comfortable doing it themselves.

great Thor, and thanks for your answers and taking the time to talk with me and I'm sure all your fans will appreciate it

check below for the video for "Crop Circles" by The Worshyp!!


Visit The Worshyp here The Worshyp or at their facebook page : The Worshyp @ Facebook

Pick your PICKS!

this was originally written by Ted Drozdowski and appeared in Gibson Lifestyles page

The guitar pick might seem like the lowliest piece of gear in a six-stringer’s ensemble, but the truth is it’s a mighty device that needs to be reckoned with. Any player who’s never explored the sizes, materials, sound-producing qualities and other subtleties of the plectrum should consider becoming pickier about picks.

The history of the pick dates back at least to the Egyptian empire. Drawings of instruments being played with quills and other early picks appear on walls of the pyramids. Turtle shell, bone, ivory and stone were all used for pick construction early in the plectrum’s development. Today the materials employed for pick making are much more varied – and far less dangerous for reptiles, elephants and whales. And they all have an impact on sound and playability.

Here are 10 tips to keep in mind when picking the right pick:

Size Matters

The typical guitar pick is slightly more than an inch-and-a-quarter long and an inch-and-a-quarter wide, but they run as small as the size of a fingertip and as large as more than two inches across. Les Paul used the latter, in a triangle shape, for the last decades of his career. The big picks were easier for his arthritic fingers to grasp. Jazz players often prefer smaller picks, which promote string contact with the fingers. That creates a warmer more muted tone. Most rock, country and blues players go for the standard-sized pick, which is large enough to grip solidly, avoid accidental finger contact with the strings and can be turned or palmed easily to grind the strings or to allow a quick switch to finger-picking.

Material Issues

Today picks are typically made of plastic: nylon, polyethylene, celluloid and other varieties. Derek Bailey, the late great British improviser, made his own picks out of dental material used for making crowns and caps. Shell picks are rare but still available, and picks are also made in bronze and steel. In general, the harder the pick material the brighter and more biting the tone produced. A problem with metal picks, with the exception of fingerpicks, is that they tend to chew up the surface of pick guards, guitar tops and fretboards.

Skinny or Wide

Generally speaking, thin picks are great for strumming acoustic guitars while thicker picks, usually identified as medium gauge and heavy or extra heavy, are appropriate for electric instruments. Using a thin pick to play with a super distorted sound helps turn tone to mud, for example, but thin picks can accent the ringing individual notes of chords on acoustic guitars.

Durability

Thinner picks tend to rip and tear more often, and wear out faster. A bout of power strumming can wear the tip off a thin pick mid-song, which subsequently interferes with picking accuracy, tone and attack. So be sure to get a gauge that’s going to be right for your playing style.

Stylin’

The kind of music you play is also a factor. Heavy sound? Heavy pick. Black metal guitarists are more likely to have super thick picks of 1.5 millimeters or greater between their thumbs and forefingers. Those are perfect, also, for digging into the kind of heavy gauge strings that respond best to low tuning. Jazz players who play flat wound strings often prefer heavy picks, too.

Numerology

Often music stores have a display that offers picks according to size. Here’s a list of standard measurements for different gauges: thin picks typically are .44 millimeters or thinner; mediums range from .45 to .69 millimeters; heavy picks go from .85 to 1.20 or bigger; and extra heavies tag in at 1.5 millimeters or greater.

Branding

Here’s something most working players don’t consider when selecting picks – they offer a cheap way of self-promotion. Plenty of pick makers will put your own or your band’s logo, name, contact info, website, etc. on their products and most often for less than you’d pay for picks at the local guitar shop. Fans seek them as collectibles and they’re a cool visual calling card.

Oddball Shapes

Manufacturers have tried all kinds of frills in pick design, from shark-tooth-like cutaways to tips of different materials to holes for supposedly easier grip. Don’t be distracted by these oddballs. Ultimately they offer no advantage over the conventional V-shape.

Grip

It may seem obvious, but harder, less flexible picks are typically difficult to grasp and keep in place. Hard nylon has a tendency to slip more often than softer plastics, and thicker picks are more difficult to control than medium models. The trade off is finding the pick that stays between your fingers best and gets to the core of the tone you’re looking to crank out of your amp. Some picks have a special high-friction coating to aid grip. Others offer a flexible middle that allows improved grip plus a means to vary attack by applying different degrees of finger pressure.

Technique

How you use a pick also affects your choice of plectrum. Down strokes employed by the likes of Metallica are best done with thick picks. Circular picking requires a more flexible pick. Ditto with alternate picking and sweep arpeggios.

get some picks here! https://www.hotpicksusa.com/
or you can go directly to Amazon with this link Picky picks

Marz Nova (The Worshyp) interview!

hey listen up all you guitar freaks and geeks, strummers, pickers and finger pickers!
Guitar-stuff-4-you.com has lucked into a short lil interview with singer/guitarist from one of the best new metal bands of 2011. His name is Marz Nova and I was lucky enough to chat with him the other night about his set-up and the debut album(Kingdom Earth) that's available RIGHT NOW!! at iTunes, Amazon.com (both physical & digital) Napster, Zune market as well as their web store  http://www.theworshyp.com So here we go, enjoy! Firstly a little info on the band (lifted directly from their facebook page http://www.facebook.com/theworshyp (god bless copy and paste! heh)

The Worshyp are a Heavy Metal band based out of Toronto, Canada. The bands founder Marz Nova named the band The Worshyp as a salute to how heavy metal fans love, and almost worship, their music as if it were a religion. The name has no ties to any real organized religion. In the spring of 2010 Marz recruited Danish guitarist Thor Rune as well as bassist Mig Diablo & KK Devina both from Peru and former band members of Ex Iron Maiden Vocalist Paul Di'Anno. The band's chemistry is based on strong vocal melodies sang over driving guitar riffs set to today's lower tunings.

In asking Marz for any helpful input he might provide (him being a practicing musician) for the website www.guitar-stuff-4-you.com, Marz had replied,

"I have taught guitar for years. The biggest mistake that I see is that people do not understand how to practice. For me playing what you know how to do is just rehearsing. Practice is learning something new. You should always practice with a click to make sure your meter is perfect. Also practice very slowly. Don't speed anything up until you can do it perfectly. I only practice about 90 minutes per day but I use that time very wisely. I practice what I cannot do. I see improvement with every session. Hope this helps"

I found this to be so helpful that I went on and asked a few more questions.
as our conversation went on, I mentioned the fact that I use GuitarPro to help figure out and learn new songs

Guitarstuff4U: Being a teacher is there any kind of lesson out there that fans might use to learn to play?

Marz Nova: "Personally some of the most helpful lessons that I could recommend are Doug Marks' Metal Method lessons. Especially the theory lessons. There's also tons of stuff on YouTube that is really helpful. I highly recommend learning by ear and checking it with tab, however there is a pile of incorrect tab out there."

Guitarstuff4U: Yah I've run afoul of incorrect tabs too , though i think some of those reports are generated by people who don't know the song is recorded tuned down, so when it doesn't match they think the tab is bad. have you ever used Guitar pro? or seen it?

Marz Nova: "Yes, I love Guitar pro. It's the best bang for your buck out there in my opinion."

guitarstuff4U: Yah, GP is the stuff all right, I've learned a lot of songs with it.
Any way I play a Gibson Epiphone Les Paul cherry sunburst (Jimmy Page) and have like 4 amps but really only use the Marshal MG15 whats your current set up?

Marz Nova:I am currently switching gear. On Kingdom Earth I used a Marshall JCM 900, Gibson SG Supreme and a Jackson Kelly. I have 2 Jackson Kelly's for live and I am thinking about picking up a couple of King Vs. I use a Traynor 100 Watt head and 4x12 Tranor Cab for live. I used a POD XT LIVE but am switching to a Roctron Prophecy II soon. On The new album (Evil Abounds) I used both a Krank and a 5150 head, and a Marshal 12x4 cab. I used a couple of Jacksons and a 1980 Les Paul Standard for axes.

Guitarstuff4U:  I had a friend that let me play his Charvel, the one with the Strat style body , had the tremolo system and all. Ever tried  a Charvel?

Marz Nova:  I had an 80s Charvel and Thor still splays one. Nice guitars.

Guitarstuff4U:  sounds like a damn sweet set up man, this has been so interesting to me having heard your new stuff, and now knowing what went into the songs...(this was where Marz informed me that what i heard was actually off the Kingdom Earth cd!  my bad Marz heh)

Marz Nova:  That is our debut album, that was released back in January. Kingdom Earth. No one's heard anything off of Evil Abounds yet.

Guitarstuff4U:  Marz I want to thank you for taking the time to talk to me and for accepting and answering my messages at Facebook!

Marz Nova:   No problem at all. Evil Abounds won't be released until first quarter 2012. I think you'll really dig it. Peace

  Every one who wants a copy of The Worshyp's new CD can get one in January at iTunes, Amazon.com (both physical & digital) Napster, Zune market as well as their web store  http://www.theworshyp.com
  I have to say I really dig their new T-Shirt, the design reminds me of concert T's from back in the late 80's.
If you havent ever heard The Worshyp, you can check out this video from their YouTube channel

You can also view this interview and more at Guitar-stuff-4-you.com just click on the link for Interviews-Reviews-Media in the "Music" section, see ya in the funny pages!

Goal for the day accomplished!

2 new pages up at the site, I got the second effects page up with pics and info on the BR-80 and the Morpheus Drop Tune pedal, along with some tuners (tried to keep those on the common side). The other page is a short how-to guide for the changing of strings with example pics.also posted on this blog earlier If Im not mistaken. I also managed to get the allmost-mebbe done logo for the page up on the home page slider image menue bar. any comments ? feel free, I would love to hear good and bad.

new update for guitarstuff4you.com

OK anyone who has kindly looked at my page and anyone else that might be interested. I’ve gotten the next pages up dealing with strings and cases. The next page will deal with other accessories such as straps and tuners and capos , things like that. any one with an idea feel free to post up here, on facebook, or send a tweet on twitter I’m on all 3