I have a guitar question(this is going to sound like I am stupid)

R

rca2000

Super Member
But I do NOT know much about Musical instrumnets, or the like, and so, I thought I would ask some of you all.

The question is about Guitars(I know very little about them and cannot play a guitar at all, but the AMPS, that is something I have fixed a number of, both tube and SS, they are not much of a problem for me).

Anyway, I was wondering, how come some guitars have two handles, instead of one, it seems that a palyer can only play one set of strings at a time, so why two handles, with two sets of strings?

And, what is the little handle, near the pickup area of an electric guitar, and why do guitar players twist it, every so often? does it tighten the strings, to enhance the response, or what?
 
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I'm not following you on what you are calling "handles". However, the small one you refer to is used to bend the pitch of the strings. It's sometimes called a "whammy bar" or a "tremelo bar".
 
Jack--
Trust me, please, when I say I have no idea what you are talking about, in spite of the fact that I have played for over forty years, and have even made a (very)modest living as a studio guitarist. At first I thought perhaps you were referring to a whammy bar, and then the volume knob, but then the two sets of strings phrase threw me into absolute confusion. I'm not trying to be funny, nor, heaven forbid, sarcastic (sarcasm, I have long thought, is a sophmore's first attempt at irony). I'd genuinely like to address your question seriously. Any chance of a photo or a diagram? Or perhaps a more detailed description? It's the two sets of strings phrase that really has me puzzled. Are you talking about a 12 string guitar? Help me so I can perhaps help you.
 
If I understand what you're asking about the "handles", I think those are usually models with a six-string on one neck and a twelve-string on the other. One would suppose for the convenience of not having to physically switch guitars when the player wants to go fom 6 to 12, but I've never heard of anyone (at least not an earthling) talented enough to play them simultaneously. Now, some of the actual musicians on the forum will probably tell you the real facts.
 
Lawdie! Maybe that's it--a double-neck! But they're practically so rare (relatively speaking) that it never struck me. That's the question. Ok, Jack, does it have two long sticks coming out of the body?
 
BTW, tentoze, I have a dj promo cd of Hiatt quoting Virgil, where he says, "sounds right to me."
 
CortR said:
BTW, tentoze, I have a dj promo cd of Hiatt quoting Virgil, where he says, "sounds right to me."
Click to expand...

Dang me, that sounds pretty collectible to a Hiatt lover like me!!!
 
tentoze said:
Dang me, that sounds pretty collectible to a Hiatt lover like me!!!
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'Toze: I have a DJ Promo CD of John Hiatt that has "Cry Love", "You Must Go", "Walk On", a live acoustic version of "Thing Called Love" and a "John Hiatt Interview" that Capitol released in 1995. It's suppose to have some video on it too, but I never had any luck getting that part of it to play. Will be happy to make you a copy of it if you want. (Wonder if it's the same one as Cort's?)
 
CELT said:
'Toze: I have a DJ Promo CD of John Hiatt that has "Cry Love", "You Must Go", "Walk On", a live acoustic version of "Thing Called Love" and a "John Hiatt Interview" that Capitol released in 1995. It's suppose to have some video on it too, but I never had any luck getting that part of it to play. Will be happy to make you a copy of it if you want. (Wonder if it's the same one as Cort's?)
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:yes:
 
Same one, Celt. He quotes it again on a DVD of Sessions @ W 54th which (I think)
Thatch still has. Us Hiatt fans got to stick together./ I'd be happy to dupe it for you, tentoze. You know a bunch a stuff I'm curious but ignorant about.
 
I found John Hiatt via my Rosanne Cash albums in the early 80's. She did many covers of his songs and I loved each and every one of them. Started buying his albums like "Bring The Family", "Slow Turning" and "Perfectly Good Guitar". There were many before and after those releases and I need to investigate them too.
 
CELT said:
I found John Hiatt via my Rosanne Cash albums in the early 80's. She did many covers of his songs and I loved each and every one of them. Started buying his albums like "Bring The Family", "Slow Turning" and "Perfectly Good Guitar". There were many before and after those releases and I need to investigate them too.
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PM me with a wishlist. I've got most of em.
 
Celt--you want some early stuff let me know. I'll dupe 'em. Also have a live off the board 1st Little Village performance (Austin Opera House) that has Ry's best solo ever on "Lipstick Sunset". It'll take me a couple weeks. I'm laid up here in the hospital again (40 years of juvenile onset diabetes will tell) and I want to clean it up through Sawpro. PM, bro.
Cordially,
Cort
 
CortR said:
Same one, Celt. He quotes it again on a DVD of Sessions @ W 54th which (I think)
Thatch still has. Us Hiatt fans got to stick together./ I'd be happy to dupe it for you, tentoze. You know a bunch a stuff I'm curious but ignorant about.
Click to expand...

I find out every day that I know less and less.............what little I know is all up for sharing.


:)
 
Yeah, guys, that is what I meant.

So it's "neck", not handle, OK, that makes sense, I suppose. yes, that is waht I saw, on a video, (more than one, actually), It may have been "find your way back" by Starship, or "pretty woman", by VH, but I think it was one of those two.It just looked funny, two "necks" on one guitar!
 
Ok, the Starship nails it. You are talking about about a double neck which some folks find a convenience. Personally, the damn thing is so heavy and awkward I fear it will twist my spine. It has something of the same relation to a six string as a baryton did to a cello--not too many folks want to mess with it.You have two fretboards/necks bolted to a single body The visual cool factor is prime, here. Technically and practically, it's a PITA. I have never seen a strudio man use one. There is, I submit, a good reason for that.
 
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