Remember the Jemsite list for 10 Things I Wish I Knew About Guitars (Before I Bought One)?

A few members came up with their own lists.  Here's one that I found particularly enlightening (and entertaining!) It's by Jemsite member Kotornut (Louie), who came up with this list with his pops while they were talking guitars and perusing some of the cooler features of Jemsite.

Here's what they gave us!

1. Save money now and get a better guitar and more satisfaction later on.
2. Play everything regardless of what's "cool" or not.
3. Amps are as much of a part of the electric guitar as the big sound box on an acoustic is.
4. Decide what your style is and let yourself decide what gear to use not your friends, a forum, guitar teacher or even your guitar hero.
5. Playing better is sounding better.
6. Don't discount the comfort of a guitar in your hands and on your body while playing, just because another one looks "cooler."
7. Is the guitar easy to tune and stays in tune (basic but important)
8. Gold hardware wears off anyways (from my dad, the Gibson Jazzbox player).
9. You will get tired of every color after a while (even swirls).
10. Does the electric guitar have sustain, tone and good harmonics unplugged?

When I asked Jemsite members to post some of the things they wished they knew about guitars (before they bought one), a few members came up with their own 10-point list.  I'm posting a few that I found particularly entertaining.

1. Just because a guitar looks and sounds cool doesn't necessarily mean you will because you buy it.
2. The secret to being an accomplished guitarist is actually playing, not reading about playing,posting about playing or watching others play.
3. If you practice things that are hard for you, it makes everything else you play seem easy.
4. If you practice things that are easy for you, you have just wasted good practice time.
5. If you buy the same guitar back 5 times and still don't bond with it, chances are it is just not for you.(recent experience)
6. When you finally find that holy grail guitar,buying 4 more exactly like it doesn't necessarily mean you will have 4 times the enjoyment.
7. Although it sounds cool,having 20+ guitars is
   
   • A lot of maintenance
   • 20+ pickup choices
   • A lot of string sets
   • 20 more choices than I probably need when deciding what to play
   • Still has nothing to do with being a better player.
8. I know tone is in the hands,unfortunately you can't hear it without a guitar and amp.
9. There is no "magic bullet","ninja scroll" or "top secret formula"to be a guitar master,only practice and hard work.
10. There is a secret to getting along with bandmates and other musicians-don't be an a*****e.

The Guitar Hero series on Jemsite features interviews with guitarists and musicians who may not have star status YET, but their current situations have shaped them to be who they are--determined, fond of their craft, and heroes in their own right.  Perhaps you'll see in these upcoming entries the next Jimi Hendrix, Melissa Etheridge, or Duane Allman.  Or perhaps they'll become household names by doing what they do best---doing their thing.

Jon Jinright knows music. That is, he knows the ins and outs of the music biz.   Jinright is what you call a mixer--someone who knows the tricks and techniques of producing music for the industry, and for making it sound its best.  Still, don't just call him a producer--he's so much more then that! He's a musician, a music businessman, a teacher, and himself still a student (always learning from his own students and some of the Grammy greats he's worked with.) And he's also our new Guitar Hero.

First of all a big sorry for the long delay before this last part, but the new year greated me with a rather severe influenza and it took some time to fully recover and get back with all my work and gigs.

But now let us dive into the final topic of this series: Effects.

Effects are an integral part of guitar playing today. Of course there are some guitarists who believe that effects are sent from hell and you should not use them. One of them rock legend Angus Young of AC/DC, who only uses his guitar and vintage modified Marshall Amps. However this is as always only half the truth. The subtle effects you hear in his playing come from a huge rack of different amps, microphone placement and several effects via the PA or via the recording equipment in the studio.

The Guitar Hero series on Jemsite features interviews with guitarists and musicians who may not have star status YET, but their current situations have shaped them to be who they are--determined, fond of their craft, and heroes in their own right.  Perhaps you'll see in these upcoming entries the next Jimi Hendrix, Melissa Etheridge, or Duane Allman.  Or perhaps they'll become household names by doing what they do best---doing their thing

For our third interview, we've take on Allyson Crawford, a newbie bass guitarist who's reshaping the way guitar femmes everywhere mix guitar, glitz, and female empowerment with her rock appreciation site Bring Black Glam! and her own spicy style.

Tell me how you started playing guitar, how you got involved with it and with the type of music you like.

One day into adult life, I just became obsessed with the idea of owning a bass. My husband bought me a cheaper starter for Christmas and I realized that it was near impossible to learn without some guidance. A month later, I enrolled in private lessons. That was 13  months ago. I’m just now at the point where I sort of “get it” on a grand scale. Playing guitar takes a ton of skill and  much more dedication. Anyone who is a true practioner has really put in the time – and has some talent. I like 80s Metal. Actually, like is probably not the right word. I’m obsessed with 80s Metal. The big guitar solos and pounding bass lines define the genre.