A Mark In Time
Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: BrianT on December 28, 2013, 12:07:23 AM
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As a few of you know, I picked up an MK Stratocaster, but never having a guitar before i'm going
to try and learn a few basic chords.
So to do that i'm going to need a very basic amp, have been looking at this one any opinions?
http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/fender-fender-mustang-i-amp-v-2-2300100000-2300100000/10251246.aspx?path=314f1d0d592e69b93186149a8fa7a13ben02
Brian
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Personally Brian,
although I'm sure the Mustang MK I might be ok - only 20 watts, but personally I have got the MK II (40 watts) and also even an old Fender Champion (30 watts with built in effects) and they are really lovely and I love the sounds they both make.
Fender Mustang II -
http://www.pmtonline.co.uk/fender-mustang-ii-v2-230v-uk.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&gclid=CLrn57Cu0rsCFYbHtAod2QkAoQ
Fender Champion -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FENDER-CHAMPION-30-GUITAR-AMPLIFIER-NICE-CLEAN-UNIT-FRESH-OUT-OF-AN-ESTATE-LOOK-/291045755493?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43c3adca65#ht_422wt_1007
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Particularly given your taste in hifi, I would recommend a small valve amp. :)
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I'd say that was a very good choice for a first amp. They have a good rep and you won't need more amp than that until you start playing with a band.
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Personally Brian,
although I'm sure the Mustang MK I might be ok - only 20 watts, but personally I have got the MK II (40 watts)
Knopflerfan
As I do not need power at the moment, and 20/40 watts is double the wattage, put not much loudness increase
and if you have a Mustang MK 2, it must be OK. If I ever do need more power (wattage) I will purchase a head unit
and run the guitar though my tube amps @540 wpc and B&W 802D speakers ;D ;D ;D
Particularly given your taste in hifi, I would recommend a small valve amp. :)
Dusty
Yes I have a few valves (tubes) lying around, but I also have 2 solid state amps on other systems.
I'd say that was a very good choice for a first amp. They have a good rep and you won't need more amp than that until you start playing with a band.
Jake
I think it will work out for my use at the moment, Do you know of any band that needs a 61 year old geezer that has never played a guitar
in his life and has lost the dexterity in his fingers. ::) :lol
Thanks for your help guys, I have placed an order for one.
Brian
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For practice/use in the house a 5 or even a 1 watt amp is enough! Bear in mind that most valve guitar amps don't produce their best sound until they are "cooking" a bit and turning a 20 or 30 watt amp up to get into that zone is going to cause a reaction from other occupants of the house & even neighbours ! The Yamaha THR10 series solid state practice amps have very good reviews & I find my Blackstar HT5 combo pretty versatile, although it doesn't do a really clean Fender amp sound. I have a solid state Princeton Chorus amp for "clean" and because it's not a valve amp the sound is pretty consistent even at low volumes. A multi FX pedal is also a good investment if you are playing at low volume as you can create heavily overdriven (and other) sounds at sensible levels.
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I have also got as well as my Fender amps a VOX 'Lead' Amplug which is great for personal practice and getting in your own world!!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vox-AMPLUG-LD-Effect-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B001GGYF4E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388481056&sr=8-1&keywords=vox+amplug+lead
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Brian
it all depends on your max budget
if you can tell us the MK songs you like more it would help too
As the amp is being used as a practice amp, my budget is not very high, around $100.00 cnd
In my last post, I had mention that I had ordered the Mustang II (20 watt) amp, well it arrived today
looks nice and the 2 notes I can play sound good. (it's a little bright)
Having lots of problems with my left fingers placing them correctly and the strings really cut into my soft finger ends, hope to have better control as I practise.
As for MK songs, Romeo, Postcards, Telegraph, Seattle Etc. Not that I will ever be able to play any of them.
Thanks for your help Brian
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Personally Brian,
although I'm sure the Mustang MK I might be ok - only 20 watts, but personally I have got the MK II (40 watts)
Knopflerfan
As I do not need power at the moment, and 20/40 watts is double the wattage, put not much loudness increase
and if you have a Mustang MK 2, it must be OK. If I ever do need more power (wattage) I will purchase a head unit
and run the guitar though my tube amps @540 wpc and B&W 802D speakers ;D ;D ;D
Particularly given your taste in hifi, I would recommend a small valve amp. :)
Dusty
Yes I have a few valves (tubes) lying around, but I also have 2 solid state amps on other systems.
I'd say that was a very good choice for a first amp. They have a good rep and you won't need more amp than that until you start playing with a band.
Jake
I think it will work out for my use at the moment, Do you know of any band that needs a 61 year old geezer that has never played a guitar
in his life and has lost the dexterity in his fingers. ::) :lol
Thanks for your help guys, I have placed an order for one.
Brian
Brian, you are KILLING me!!!!
First of all... this was a funny post. :)
Secondly... so impressed that you bought an MK strat without knowing how to play. I want one too, but I wasn't daring enough!!! Well, thanks for the courage!! I will start shopping for one if:
1) I still have a job after February
2) the job I have is not the same job that has been robbing me and my family of my life over the past 2 months!!!
3) I get through my other goal of organizing my MK database (including acquiring new stuff!)
8)
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Brian, you are KILLING me!!!!
First of all... this was a funny post. :)
Secondly... so impressed that you bought an MK strat without knowing how to play. I want one too, but I wasn't daring enough!!! Well, thanks for the courage!! I will start shopping for one if:
1) I still have a job after February
2) the job I have is not the same job that has been robbing me and my family of my life over the past 2 months!!!
3) I get through my other goal of organizing my MK database (including acquiring new stuff!)
8)
Lis
I can be a funny person, when we met in Oct I was not feeling well
and all I wanted to do was hide in a shell, remember I fell asleep and misted my plane.
NEXT TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT!
I hope you do still have a job, so you can save some cash and meet up with me at a MK concert.
As for you job stealing you life, I'm self employed for 35 years my job HAS stole my life.
When your database is organized, please pass it on
The Mk start is beautiful even if you do not play like me, it so nice to own one
so get out there and purchase one, you will not regret it.
See you soon Brian
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Happy new year all!
Brian, persevere with some simple finger movements on the fret board to get both your wrist and fingers used to their 'new' role! also your fingers will gradually get used to playing the strings almost to the point where you will hardly have to press the string down to play the note/chords...
Lis,
Do hope things work out okay for you with regards your job and that you are able to pick up an MK sometime. Good things come to those who wait!!
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Knopflerfan and Brian, :D
Thanks for the encouragement!! :wave
Brian... I remember you weren't feeling well, such a bummer! But the show was so amazing, and I am glad you could hang out for a bit after the show -- definitely a fun time!! I will keep you posted on the database, and will be happy to share.
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As a few of you know, I picked up an MK Stratocaster, but never having a guitar before i'm going
to try and learn a few basic chords.
So to do that i'm going to need a very basic amp, have been looking at this one any opinions?
http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/fender-fender-mustang-i-amp-v-2-2300100000-2300100000/10251246.aspx?path=314f1d0d592e69b93186149a8fa7a13ben02
Brian
Hi, Brian! Although I am not the man to help you with an amp, I'm happy to hear that you finally got hold on a MK Strat :)
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Brian, persevere with some simple finger movements on the fret board to get both your wrist and fingers used to their 'new' role! also your fingers will gradually get used to playing the strings almost to the point where you will hardly have to press the string down to play the note/chords...
Knopflerfan
Iam doing 10/15 mins a day , just easy finger movements on the fret board.
Not ready to give in yet.
Brian
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Brian,
That's excellent - well done! little and often is the key. And if it's just not working put the Strat down and come back to it another time. The sound and general feel of the MK is awesome isn't it?
Here is a link to my 'Youtube' vids which may be of some help.
I am going to re-do them soon as this time I will use the SE00616 Strat which has the tremolo in use on it....
http://www.youtube.com/user/47005steve/videos
Regards
Steve
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A multi FX pedal is also a good investment if you are playing at low volume as you can create heavily overdriven (and other) sounds at sensible levels.
100% agree :thumbsup
I have a Vox Tonelab ST, and I love it. I can play at any hour (with headphones)without disturbing anyone, and I can have many different kinds of sounds :
http://www.voxamps.com/uk/pedals/tonelabst/ (http://www.voxamps.com/uk/pedals/tonelabst/)
Of course I'm sure that purists would say that it's not the "real" thing, but I think , modestly, that my recordings, in termes of tone/sounds, could easily be submitted to a blind test, compared to "real" amps :
https://soundcloud.com/jfstrat/sets (https://soundcloud.com/jfstrat/sets)
and I am proud of Ingo's comment about them :
http://www.mk-guitar.com/forum/guitar-discussion/hendrix-sounds/ (http://www.mk-guitar.com/forum/guitar-discussion/hendrix-sounds/)
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Brian, persevere with some simple finger movements on the fret board to get both your wrist and fingers used to their 'new' role! also your fingers will gradually get used to playing the strings almost to the point where you will hardly have to press the string down to play the note/chords...
Knopflerfan
Iam doing 10/15 mins a day , just easy finger movements on the fret board.
Not ready to give in yet.
Brian
I find the video where Mark demonstrates a C chord with his left hand, and then pensively remembers how, "...it's a battle just to get the fingers to do that..." quite funny!
All those motor skills rarely come naturally (except to 4 yr old freaks on YouTube grrrrr), you just have to keep "battling" and enjoying.
I find the easiest way to battle is with a good playable guitar (you got that) and nice sounds (the Mustang should suffice there too). Have fun!! :)
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Brian,
That's excellent - well done! little and often is the key. And if it's just not working put the Strat down and come back to it another time. The sound and general feel of the MK is awesome isn't it?
Steve
Steve
Thanks for the link, I enjoyed watching them, I spent a couple of hours today just playing around
and are finding it easier to control my left hand. More practise needed.
Iam doing 10/15 mins a day , just easy finger movements on the fret board.
Not ready to give in yet.
Brian
I find the video where Mark demonstrates a C chord with his left hand, and then pensively remembers how, "...it's a battle just to get the fingers to do that..." quite funny!
All those motor skills rarely come naturally (except to 4 yr old freaks on YouTube grrrrr), you just have to keep "battling" and enjoying.
I find the easiest way to battle is with a good playable guitar (you got that) and nice sounds (the Mustang should suffice there too). Have fun!! :)
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Flech
Have been looking for that MK "C" chord demo, if you have a link could you post it. Yes the Mustang is good enough for what I need at the moment
and as am not into effects yet, I do not need any peddles
Brian
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Of course you have the pre-set effects built into the Mustang too...
I personally never play the MK without a certain amount of delay added...
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Have been looking for that MK "C" chord demo, if you have a link could you post it.
Brian
is it about this ?
http://www.mk-guitar.com/?s=plumber&x=0&y=0 (http://www.mk-guitar.com/?s=plumber&x=0&y=0)
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http://youtu.be/i_7feGF9TA8
C chord ".. You gotta battle just to get that... " :)
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Without getting into the "difficult" chords, after over 40 years I still find "F" quite uncomfortable unless I barre right across the first fret. ;D
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I've just taken delivery of a 10watt Yamaha THR10C. it's promoted as "your 3rd amp" (after your 100w stack and Club sized combo) but it's quite loud enough for home use. It models 5 classic amp types & there are also bass & acoustic amp simulations. It has built in basic chorus, phaser, flange, tremolo, echo (they don't say "delay") & reverb, although they are not fully adjustable , but for such a small unit the sound quality is astounding ! Definitely recommended if you want a variety of amp sounds without the expense of buying half a dozen vintage amps!
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is it about this ?
http://www.mk-guitar.com/?s=plumber&x=0&y=0 (http://www.mk-guitar.com/?s=plumber&x=0&y=0)
http://youtu.be/i_7feGF9TA8
C chord ".. You gotta battle just to get that... " :)
Thanks for the links, the C chord does not look easy
Brian
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:)
You MUST enjoy the "battle" - much easier with a good guitar and amp :)
I'd suggest learning all the basic major / minor chords via songs you know, for instance you could play a folky strummy version of Sultans or some of other fave songs, then the directions / advice / possibilities are endless.
I'll personally never forget my own epiphany whereby after 'battling' with chords and scales since I was a kid (learning led zep songs via tab etc. with no real understanding of how music works) one day I was listening to Sultans (I was always a fan but not a mad MK nutter, I'd only had the DS albums on cassette!) and I remember thinking "why does every lick that Mark plays here sound different, fits perfectly and amazes me?"
So I studied the song, the chord prog, the licks, which led to an understanding of how to play lead guitar over rhythm chords melodically and bluesy, and eventually led me to throw away my plectrums (very good move) and continue learning things like the Walk of Life rhythm playing via a disused MKgiitarstyle website and Ingos website....
About two years in, I auditioned for a band, much to my surprise they liked my (still weak) playing - not stepping on 'ordinary' style guitar players toes is one of the benefits of Marks rhythm style. Years later I'm lucky to play reguarly with an amazing singer and a few bands. It's been a lot of fun + drama too of course!
Sorry for the long history, but I really enjoy that MK fingerpicking vid, because everyone has there own story / development and I particularly admire that Mark mentions "the chord is just sitting there.. it's a battle just to get that right.."
It's true, but if you love music, love the 'battle'!
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Nice reading... thanks Fletch!!
(And now I will have a look at the video, too!) :D