I've also noticed that sudden 100-0 mph deceleration....I now practice acoustically (on my gigging guitar, which is a hollowbody) almost exclusively, that way when I add volume and reverb and chorus or whatever, it is a pleasant suprise, and I am encouraged and stimulated....instead of the alternative.

JC

Agreed. I do exactly the same thing, and then when it's time to plug into the rack, I go "..aaaaahhhhh....", so very tasty.

One thing to suggest when you experience the de-celeration: slow down! Play less and make each note count...

The worst account I can think of was a Jazz jam I attended some 2 years ago. I sounded OK but decided to go for a real hard lick to show off or something (It turned out worse than intended to say the least) but un-be-known to me Nigel Clark a well respected Jazzer of the Scottish scene was in the audience, and came up for a tune right after me. So anyway it then became a brown trousers occasion without realizing it. I played a simple blues thing and he came out with a blistering interpretation of 'Nardis' by Miles D.
The clincher for the evening however was that embedded in Nigel's improv' was the very same lick I had tried to pull off, with that Kind of "Well your almost there kid" kind of smile directed at me. But the thing with these guy's is that they know they were there once too and that smile wasn't out of ego but I found a kind of deeper encouragment in it. Because even 'Coltrane' practiced his licks. Jazz is great like that. If you have a valid and honest question to ask a guy like say Sonny Rollins or Steve Vai they will give you a valid and honest answer back. I'm reminded of an an interveiw with the classical guitarist 'John Williams' - when asked "What kind of string do you play?" his repley was "Nylon ones."
8-{>

I tend to favor certain sounds but I make a point to change my sound almost every time I practice so I don't get too comfortable. Plus I recently bought a Boss GT-5 and an Alesis Q20, so I usually try out a new patch at each practice session (the novelty hasn't worn off yet). I also alternate guitars a lot, so one day I might practice on a floyd-rose electric, and the next day on a nylon string. So even though I always come back to a select few sounds and guitars, I'm not a fish out of water when I suddenly want to play something different.

Hi Gary, you made me think of something. I never sound bad on acoustic! I'm at times tone-dependent on the electric but I never have that same problem on acoustic. I never go for any lines that requires a lot of sustain on the acoustic but I've fallen in love with the compressor on my AX2 so when I move to a non-compressed sound it loses that horn feel. It also happens when I switch my humbucker to single coil -- DEHORNED!

I like to practice on acoustic so that when I go back to electric I it feels so effortless. I live for cheap thrills. Then again I usually string my main electric with D'Addario Chrome 13's so it's not much of a difference. Plus when my students complain about string-bending being too hard no their fingers (with 9's and sometimes even 8's!) I can hand them my electric and let them have a crack on that. What is my point? I have no idea. I was just sitting here playing Chris' Cool Rock Chords lesson on my acoustic. Cool lesson, BTW. One area where I need some work...and fingerpicking...and walking bass lines...and what are these strings for anyway?

Ah yes, I once put flatwound 13s on my Strat a long time ago. They stayed on for all of about an afternoon. The guitar sounded huge when I played this chord: over and over. I tried to fret a couple of notes, but, alas, to no avail. Enter Wire Cutter. ;-)

I had to file away at the nut for a bit to get the 13's to fit in there on my Godin but I really like them. As long as you don't have to do any 1 1/2 step bends on the G string... I first used them for an alternate-tuning song with some low notes (too cheap to buy a 7-string) and then got used to them.

Gary '10s are for sissies' Regester

Concerning the 13s, I found that it was easier to avoid unwanted 'bends' but also harder to note. Then, I slackened all the strings on my Strat 3 half tones and got a very nice compromise. A transposing challenge, however, when you are not playing alone. Works nicely also on my Takamine acoustic.

yeah that is a good idea. When I do use larger strings I too tune down anywhere from 1/2 step to 1 step....great when playing alone and not too bad when playing with others....just keep telling yourself the song is in another key ;-)

Wimps! your all wimps. tighten those strings back up and play like MEN!!!

We'll all visit you when you end up at the Center for Washed Up Manley Guitar Players after you blow out a tendon ;-)

A
peace guy's
Only joking - go with what works and find your own path.

LOL -- heck we know you're just teasing. We love ya Sam!