Funniest guitar misconception you've heard?

[X–Ray]

Originally Posted by cynic79

<snip>

For the first week I played guitar, I was convinced that the volume and tone knobs had an effect on the sound even when the guitar was not plugged in.

your honesty is embarras... i mean commendable

[gibsonguitar1988]

Originally Posted by smorgdonkey

Technique is in the hands/fingers.
Tone is in the gear and knowing how to tweak it.

Agreed. Glad to know someone agrees with me on that.

[X–Ray]

__________________

hilarity abounds...

when someone makes a commonsensical, logical statement in reference to something guitar–related often it is greeted as a gift from a sage or a pearl of wisdom, based on the personage rather than the merit/value of the statement

conversely, there is a disheartening and rampant world of urban legends, sacred cows, and hero–worshipping among many guitar players who shun reason–based examination or application of logic when it comes to tightly held mythologies



“Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom”

– Coleridge

[rockstar232007]

Originally Posted by X–Ray

__________________

hilarity abounds...

when someone makes a commonsensical, logical statement in reference to something guitar–related often it is greeted as a gift from a sage or a pearl of wisdom, based on the personage rather than the merit/value of the statement

conversely, there is a disheartening and rampant world of urban legends, sacred cows, and hero–worshipping among many guitar players who shun reason–based examination or application of logic when it comes to tightly held mythologies



“Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom”

– Coleridge

Precisely!

When one stops taking everything at face-value, and actually takes the time to get to know what's going on "behind the scenes", it's amazing how truly little most people/players actually know about guitars...aside from the fact that, they make sounds when you pluck the strings.

Science is a helluva drug!

[zontar]

Originally Posted by eric ernest

"Do you have a Pete Rose Tremolo?"

We don't have those anymore--it got caught betting on a concert.

[Lungo]

Someone asked me if I owned a "regular guitar."

I said no all my guitars are irregular.

I found out he was asking if I had an acoustic. Apparently a regular guitar is one that you don't have to plug into an amp.

[pedersenkirk]

Originally Posted by zontar

We don't have those anymore--it got caught betting on a concert.

To be fair, it was a good bet Axl Rose wouldn't show up.

[trumpetvest]

That the socket on your guitar is an "input jack"

[lespaul01]

That electric guitar is easy.

[hudpucker]

Knowing music theory will result in less "soul" in your playing (usually espoused by the proudly musically illiterate).

[rockstar232007]

"You can't "tap" on an acoustic guitar".

[Mattyboy]

Mine was from my Dad. As a little kid I wanted to play guitar & asked for one for Christmas when I was about nine years old. He says to me: "Mattyboy, to have the talent to play a musical instrument is something you need to be born with. Neither myself, or your mother have ever learned how to play musical instrument."

I was young and gullible, so I believed it for a long freakin time! Either someone fed him a total line of BS and he believed it just as I did. Or maybe we just couldn't afford it at the time. Who knows.

I'm sure there is some musical ability in genetics, but there's also practice!

[Serial]

"My Agile/Epi/whatever cheapo guitar sounds and plays better than Gibson Custom Shop guitars"

Yeah right. Dream on Mr high school sophomore who has never even seen a real GCS let alone played or heard one but knows everything about guitars from the Internet.

[Supernova]

Originally Posted by The_Nuge

Hi!

I've had someone (very ignorant) point at my guitar and ask: Is that an electric guitar? I then replied "yes", and the other person asked me to "plug it in". To which I then replied "I don't have an amp with me"... To which the response was: "there's a socket" while pointing at the 220V outlet in the wall . He was quite serious about it too!

Es

That's one way to look like Hendrix

[zslane]

Originally Posted by Mattyboy

...to have the talent to play a musical instrument is something you need to be born with...

Genetics provide a foundation for possible future talent (and by genetics I don't mean hereditary traits, but simply the fact that our DNA guides the blueprint for everything that we might become). But such predispositions need to be nurtured and trained to reach their full potential. And all that these predispositions really mean is that the brain just happens, out of sheer luck, to be wired in a way such that certain skills feel natural and express themselves almost without prompting, and that learning/improving is almost effortless (and therefore faster and more fun than for everyone else). It doesn't mean naturally gifted people are always better at the skill than "regular folks", but it does mean it comes easier to them (usually much, much easier, depressingly so).

Originally Posted by Serial

"My Agile/Epi/whatever cheapo guitar sounds and plays better than Gibson Custom Shop guitars".

Usually I see claims that someone has played some Epiphones that were better than some Gibsons. While that might be true in rare cases, the way they usually state their case implies it is commonplace, which is highly unlikely. But I'm sure for some it is a fun myth to believe in anyway.

[ImTheSlime]

"Those Epiphone Les Paul Juniors are kid-sized guitars" - worker at Guitar Center.

[Brians Evil Twin]

Originally Posted by Serial

"My Agile/Epi/whatever cheapo guitar sounds and plays better than Gibson Custom Shop guitars"

Yeah right. Dream on Mr high school sophomore who has never even seen a real GCS let alone played or heard one but knows everything about guitars from the Internet.

Thank God, finally someone who realizes that only GCS guitars are worth playing. Look at this poor fool trying to play the blues on a cheap Epiphone knock off of a Gibson ES-330:

In Performance at the White House | Gary Clark, Jr. "In the Evening" | PBS - YouTube

In Performance at the White House | Gary Clark, Jr. "In the Evening" | PBS - YouTube

Then the poor bastard goes on to try and play with a band. What an embarrassment for us all.

You Tube

You Tube

[HOT-BRIT]

The pickguard effects the tone

[HOT-BRIT]

Norlin era Gibson guitars are no good

[fancyfootwork]

Originally Posted by Brians Evil Twin

Thank God, finally someone who realizes that only GCS guitars are worth playing. Look at this poor fool trying to play the blues on a cheap Epiphone knock off of a Gibson ES-330:

Then the poor bastard goes on to try and play with a band. What an embarrassment for us all.

LOL at Obama bobbing his head!

[WhippingPost]

Originally Posted by fancyfootwork

LOL at Obama bobbing his head!

He was singing along, too.

[Pinkie]

BO is probably thinking when is the luau starting.
A "Harvard man sings the blues" will be his first CD.

[csplayer089]

Guitar strings will hurt your fingers and cut you.

[Serial]

Originally Posted by Brians Evil Twin

Thank God, finally someone who realizes that only GCS guitars are worth playing. Look at this poor fool trying to play the blues on a cheap Epiphone knock off of a Gibson ES-330:

Ummm-that wasn't my point if you read my post. I play and own lots of different brands of guitars-there's a huge difference between a cheap guitar and a Custom Shop level instrument and there are constant posts here and elsewhere with posters slagging GCS instruments claiming that their $300 kicks the crap out of the Custom Shop's guitars. Thats a ridiculous statement, sorry.

My nephew performed at that White House gig for the past two years. Was great two years ago with McCartney and Grohl.

[Serial]

Originally Posted by HOT-BRIT

Norlin era Gibson guitars are no good

Or that all 70s Fenders suck!

[X–Ray]

Originally Posted by HOT-BRIT

Norlin era Gibson guitars are no good

still pining over my Norlin Custom



(mid '70s)

[rockstar232007]

Originally Posted by csplayer089

Guitar strings will hurt your fingers and cut you.

Still. Not a misconception.

When I first really got serious about playing (around age 7), I played almost every day, for 4-5 hours strait, for about 3 months. By the end of the 1st month, the tips of my fingers looked like I had just stuck them in hot-coals. And, you could actually see the indentations/cuts from the strings.

I've also been cut/poked many times by breaking strings. Both on my hands and face. And, have almost lost an eye on more than one occasion.

Keep'em coming! Now, I know what the Mythbusters feel like!

[thickey1983]

Originally Posted by ImTheSlime

"Those Epiphone Les Paul Juniors are kid-sized guitars" - worker at Guitar Center.

Hahaha, guitar center; doesn't much surprise me

[BEACHBUM]

Originally Posted by thickey1983

Hahaha, guitar center; doesn't much surprise me

Then here's another one for you. I was standing in line at GC recently behind a young girl who had just finished taking her first guitar lesson. She asked the GC guy what strings she should buy and of course he hands her a $16 set of Elixirs. He then proceeds to tell her that because they are coated the Elixirs will keep her fingers from getting calluses. I don't usually butt in on things like that but I just had to chime in and ask him why on earth guitar players would want to prevent their fingers from getting calluses.

[pedersenkirk]

Originally Posted by BEACHBUM

I don't usually butt in on things like that but I just had to chime in and ask him why on earth guitar players would want to prevent their fingers from getting calluses.

"..because, uh.. that way she'll never be able to fret properly and have to take beginner lessons forever!"