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Original message:865 days 23 hours 36 minutes ago

+ 3

Member: Marc Olson

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What are the best guitar brands and types for someone who plays an Arena Rock style?

Reply:865 days 23 hours 18 minutes ago
Member: Xarkzila

+ 1

3122
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LOL... There is no "best" brand or type. Your guitar has little to do with what you play, except that you probably need one to play something. What you play has little to do with your guitar either. It's in your heart and your fingers, not in your guitar. Though, having an instrument you LOVE to play is certainly a help, and how you set it up and tweak it will benefit the final sound.

With electric it's probably more about the pups you use than the guitar itself, as they will affect the final sound more than anything else. Aside from your fingers which is really where it all is.

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"The music industry is a cruel and shallow money trench. A long plastic hallway where theives and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side..."
http://www.cleargravy.com

Reply:865 days 22 hours 33 minutes ago
Member: Gamblore

1
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ask a stupid question...

Reply:865 days 20 hours 8 minutes ago
Member: shanejohnson2002

+ 5

1898
WebCred

You know "arena rock" is a kind of silly genre to get into, simply because you would actually have to book arenas for it to be legit...

Why don't you just go with the old standby of a les paul, strat, or tele? Any of those guitars into just about any amp will almost always sound good.

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Reply:865 days 19 hours 29 minutes ago
Member: johnny cox

+ 3

856
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I did not know that "arena rock" was a genre if music I have not heard that term since the late 80's. Maybe you should be more specific

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Reply:865 days 18 hours 32 minutes ago
Member: Zombre

Forum Moderator + 2

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hehehehe Start with Garage rock first, then slowly keep graduating...

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Reply:865 days 17 hours 50 minutes ago
Member: shanejohnson2002

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1898
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Taking Zombre's idea a step or 2 further...

Why don't we just lose the whole sub-genre thing and play some rock? Personally I don't give 2 flaming dumps if you're a metal guitarist, or a punk guitarist, or one of the endless combinations of "insert genre here" / Rock guitarst...

If you're good at the instrument, or even if you're not good but have a knack for composing catchy stuff...then you are probably someone worth jamming with and / or listening to.

Long live Rock!

;)

(I know this had absolutely NOTHING to do with the original topic...just felt like saying it.)

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Reply:865 days 2 hours 49 minutes ago
Member: inablackout

+ 2

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rock is rock and metal is metal. i agree that all the sub-genre stuff is kinda pointless, death/black/hardcore/shred/metalcore/hatecore/power/progressive, its all metal to me.

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I wanna ROCK!!!!

Reply:865 days 2 hours 47 minutes ago
Member: inablackout

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wouldn't "arena rock" bands have consisted of nugent, frampton, aerosmith, ac/dc and the like. either way its still rock and roll to me

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I wanna ROCK!!!!

Reply:865 days 58 minutes ago
Member: shanejohnson2002

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Yeah and i've heard the same genre applied to Boston, Audioslave, Creed and Bon Jovi. The only common thing I can see is anthemic melodies, soaring vocals and driving rhythms.

AND the fact that all these bands actually book and sell out arenas...

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Reply:864 days 11 hours 28 minutes ago
Member: ibzRG

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4576
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Precisely

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Reply:865 days 41 minutes ago
Member: johnny cox

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856
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The band that comes to mind when I hear "arena rock" is KISS

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Reply:865 days 11 minutes ago
Member: Zombre

Forum Moderator + 1

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hehehehe

I call metal rock, too...

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Reply:864 days 22 hours 3 minutes ago
Member: Sullivancountychops

+ 2

325
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Maybe Marc plays arenas? Never used the term myself, but I would imagine that any band that plays the big arenas would deserve that title or use of genre.

With that said, your brand of guitars would be almost endless. Pick and choose what you think would be played in an arena. You certainly have many pups to choose from. Like Xarkzila said pick your pickups. They come in many variations. If you have a guitar that is bone stock, chances are someone has played it in an arena, but usually most arena rockers either modify them or pay someone to modify them to their taste.

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Reply:864 days 20 hours 56 minutes ago
Member: Richey

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2440
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The first band that comes to my mind when I hear someone say "arena rock" is Journey. hahahaha I don't know why.

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Reply:864 days 4 hours 8 minutes ago
Member: inablackout

1190
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lol. how late 70's/ early 80's of us all.

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I wanna ROCK!!!!

Reply:864 days 3 hours 20 minutes ago
Member: 4815162342

+ 1

1
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Cheap Trick, Heart, Boston, Foreigner, Journey, Kansas, Queen, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Styx, Survivor... "arena rock" bands... its just another genre someone came up with to define these guys...i say we just stick to "Rock" and "Rock n' Roll"!

Reply:864 days 3 hours 7 minutes ago
Member: johnmarkh

[voted off the island, Show comment] - 5

Reply:864 days 2 minutes ago
Member: ibzRG

+ 2

4576
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Arena rock... : Flying V's, Explorers, LP's, all superstrats/shredder axes ...

Not very specific as you see...

The only advice is what NOT to use: "special-sound" guitars like hollows and probably ricks and danelectros. Depending on the overall setup, single coils (tele,strat) can rip too, although they are not so common at all in this "genre".

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Reply:863 days 23 hours 59 minutes ago
Member: shanejohnson2002

+ 1

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hmm ok lets discuss your point, since I'm an ass and you're obviously trying to push Les Pauls (or similarly equipped guitars) as the only "legit" arena rock guitar...

Journey - Ok, they use les pauls. One point for you.

Kiss - Les Pauls, yes. but also: SG's, Washburns, First Act customs...

Jimmy Page - Used les pauls...IN ADDITION TO: Danelectros, EDS doubleneck, Telecasters, Stratocasters, Ouds, Neys, Sitars. Oh and I believe, last time I checked anyway, that teles and strats have single coils...

AC/DC - True, angus plays an SG. 2 humbuckers, like a LP. But Malcom plays an old Gretsch with all but the bridge SINGLE COIL removed. That's right..SINGLE COIL.

Queen - Brian May's Red Special? 3 SINGLE COILS (and a buttload of switches).

Boston - Plays a goldtop les paul. WITH P-90 SINGLE COILS.

And no, I personally don't believe any one style of guitar is suited to any one style of music. Just because that's what the status quo uses, does NOT mean there are no other options. Country = Telecaster? Tell that to Montgomery Gentry, or Brad Paisley (Who plays an es335 a LOT these days). Jazz = big hollowbody? Bill Frisell. Robben Ford. Metal = sharp, pointy weapon-looking guitar? Kirk Hammet now swears by Vintage Strats. Iron Maiden used strats.

And those are just 2 examples in each that I can think of (and I KNOW there's more) that are not limited to the definition that the status quo requires.

So who's the ass now, chief?

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Reply:864 days 2 hours 5 minutes ago
Member: Adam Martin

+ 2

2
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I would suggest sneaking into Brian May's house, and stealing his Red Special. This may or may not get you shot/arrested, so it's a bit of a gamble.

Good luck.

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Reply:863 days 23 hours 59 minutes ago
Member: Zombre

Forum Moderator + 1

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heh Get a Flying 'V'. Seriously, they're the coolest damn guitars ever...

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Reply:863 days 23 hours 58 minutes ago
Member: shanejohnson2002

- 1

1898
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V's rock! too bad they're so hard to sit down with...although I guess if you're playing "arenas" you won't be sitting down too much ;)

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Reply:863 days 23 hours 45 minutes ago
Member: Zombre

Forum Moderator 0

2572
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Actually, I'm gonna get a 'V' this year. I don't know why, but I'm lusting for one....

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Reply:863 days 22 hours 38 minutes ago
Member: shanejohnson2002

- 1

1898
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Do you know which kind you're going to get yet? The Gibsons are just classic, but I've played on some pretty awesome Jackson and Ibanez guitars.

My favorites are probably the Ibanez Rocket Roll V's from the 70's (I think), back when the whole lawsuit thing was going on, and Jackson's older King V's.

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Reply:863 days 23 hours 41 minutes ago
Member: Zombre

Forum Moderator - 1

2572
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Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to be an ass, big apologies if I offended anyone!

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Reply:863 days 23 hours 24 minutes ago
Member: johnny cox

856
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I understood the post question and I suppose it was a legitimate question but what baffled me was arena rock STYLE. I guess when I saw that it took away from the question about the instruments.

My gear recommendations:

Plug in, turn up and spank the plank

Reply:863 days 23 hours 1 minutes ago
Member: Xarkzila

3122
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Since we're all "asses" for answering this post, maybe I should point out that the question was answered in that there is no "best" guitar for this purpose, as you've all managed to confirm. And that the "best" guitar for this purpose, if you MUST have an answer, is the guitar that suits you the best regardless of the make or model. No guitar has a purpose, the player has a purpose!

There was little need to get caustic johnmarkh... In fact the only negative, and inflamatory post in all of this was yours!

Let's play nice.

My gear recommendations:

"The music industry is a cruel and shallow money trench. A long plastic hallway where theives and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side..."
http://www.cleargravy.com

Reply:863 days 22 hours 57 minutes ago
Member: johnmarkh

- 1

162
WebCred

"special sound guitars"

the lp doesn't have its own sound too? every guitar has its own sound. when i think of one of those rock guitarists i picture an lp in their hands...not really a sitar.

we all knew what the poster wanted. it's like if i started a thread and asked what should i get to sound like jimi hendrix. you guys are saying...violin piano...yada yada. when we all know we picture hendrix with a strat.

i know i'm coming off as the dillweed here, but try to think if this person came up to you in person and asked. (especially an obvious beginner) what if this is a little 10 year old kid asking...and you're telling him "that's a pretty stupid question" then you rant off on how its the way you play it and how arena rock is a ridiculous name for a genre and a bunch of hoo ha that this kid is giving you blanks stares about.

let's treat people decently instead of going all 'i know the history of rock and roll and the models that every guitarist from that genre plays' yada yada...

bring on your -1's

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Reply:863 days 4 hours 28 minutes ago
Member: inablackout

1190
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well seems pretty obvious that he must know something or he wouldn't have asked about "arena rock" inparticular

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I wanna ROCK!!!!

Reply:863 days 1 hours 29 minutes ago
Member: johnmarkh

162
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well it seems pretty obvious that he doesn't know enough to answer his own question

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Reply:863 days 22 hours 40 minutes ago
Member: shanejohnson2002

1898
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*sigh*....some mens you just can't teach.

It's all good...I think everyone should go chillax somewhere, down a beer or 2 (KILLIANS IRISH RED!!!!!) and play some freakin' guitar ;)

I'll bring the beer.

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Reply:863 days 22 hours 35 minutes ago
Member: johnmarkh

+ 1

162
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yeah...i should have specified just the first two...

i was really going to mention that shane was being pretty straight forward and light hearted.

oh....i didn't read some of one of your posts. you can shove off.

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Reply:863 days 20 hours 56 minutes ago
Member: johnny cox

+ 2

856
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This post has brought out a lot of things

Laughter

sarcasm

anger

apologies

reconciliation

I have enjoyed all of it.Dr. Phil would be proud. Maybe he should log in and finish it off.lol

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Plug in, turn up and spank the plank

Reply:863 days 19 hours 35 minutes ago
Member: shanejohnson2002

1898
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Yeah I am never that serious, because there's not a whole lot in life that actually IS that serious. Marriage, taxes, your kid, death...THAT's serious.

BTW...and I know this wasn't brought up but I'm going to mention it anyway...a good discussion is cool every now and then, and I don't take away "webcreds" (which to me are kind of silly anyway...) from anyone...I only give them.

So...in conclusion:

Rock = awesome...Metal = awesome. Guitars = awesome.

Continue rocking.

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Reply:863 days 19 hours 3 minutes ago
Member: Zombre

Forum Moderator - 1

2572
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It was me. I turn people evil. Sorry about that, lol...

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Reply:863 days 18 hours 2 minutes ago
Member: ibzRG

4576
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It's just that everyone here seems to have their own images and bands to associate to the term "arena rock", and every band had a different most-used guitar in a way that very diverse guitar models are all well represented... While I undertand your objection to the replies johnmarkh, even if everyone here suggested a specific guitar you'd still get a dozen or half of different options.

My picture of arena has V's in it, because that's what Schenker uses and Scorpions is the only arena concert I've been too.

Besides, I think arena sound depends more on the number of cranked Marshall stacks you use than on the guitar you plug into them...

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Reply:863 days 13 hours 56 minutes ago
Member: shanejohnson2002

- 1

1898
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mmmm Scorpions....

While I don't necessarily believe in the whole "arena" thing as an independent genre, I suppose I would picture it like this:

2 guitars, one probably a LP or SG, and the other a strat or tele...just to get that difference in sound. Either a massive wall of cranked stacks, or a massive wall of speakers that aren't hooked up to anything, and the "real amp" being miked behind them. Billy Sheehan on bass. No alternatives there, sorry. A singer that can really get the crowd going, and that the women throw underwear at. A drummer that really knows his stuff but is especially good at keeping a driving rhythm going solidly, and feeling the changes / turnarounds.

Hmm...Almost described Aerosmith ;)

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Reply:863 days 13 hours 55 minutes ago
Member: johnmarkh

162
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a flying V has humbuckers too. we can still point him in some direction so he knows what to look for at the guitar shop.

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Reply:863 days 9 hours 58 minutes ago
Member: ibzRG

4576
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True. Even Iron Maiden use strats with hotrails on them, and the P90s mentioned by someone don't sound much like traditional single coils and I don't think May's guitar sounds very singlecoil-ish either, so yeah humbuckers... but, there are more guitars with humbuckers than you can shake a *insert favourite pointer here* at and you can't say any specific one is more suitable than any other.

Anyway, I think we scared the original poster away :/ with all that talk :P

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Reply:862 days 16 hours 49 minutes ago
Member: shanejohnson2002

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ok wtf? seriously...why go down a list deleting webcreds just because you disagree with someone?

Bah the whole webcred system is stupid anyway. Somebody that knows nothing and puts out nothing but humor can get a million, and a guy who genuinely tries to help can scrape along and barely get any. I've seen it happen at other boards with similar systems.

Besides it tends to separate people and give them a reason to be condescending. "I don't have to listen to xxxxx, he only has 13 webcreds. Here I am with my mighty 200. All hail me." Some guy could be new to the site but could be a gold mine of musical knowledge and experience, and get totally ignored and treated like a noob because he has 0.

Why not just let everyone's words and actions speak for themselves without a rating system?

sheesh.

end rant.

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Reply:862 days 16 hours 15 minutes ago
Member: johnny cox

856
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Amen to that shane. Even though I have more web creds than you I listen and enjoy your comments and I dont feel that I am better than you. I have just been here longer than you. One thing I know is that the original post has brought out a lot of stuff from the members. I hope that Mark Olson is not hiding under a tree somewhere calling us a bunch of arrogant jerks and if he is I am equally guilty. Come back Mark.

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Reply:862 days 14 hours 50 minutes ago
Member: shanejohnson2002

1898
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For real...Mark just found himself in the middle of a pretty polar issue. I remember on old g.com, how there were ENDLESS threads about "certain guitars for certain styles".

As far as the web creds thing goes, I wasn't talking about anyone in particular. Especially here. Honestly, I imagine if I saw 99% of you guys in a bar we'd probably get along great. Seriously. I've just been to a few other boards before where similar systems tend to make the asses more ass-like and the noobs can't get a word in edgewise.

Meh it's all alright I suppose.

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Reply:862 days 55 minutes ago
Member: ibzRG

4576
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Every ranking system that goes more up than down and has no objective criteria and no top on the ladder is prone to become unfair.

Maybe we should rate member's replies like their videos and blogs : 0-100, and then the member's cred is the mean of the scores, not the sum of them. There are always ways to indicate how much one has been active without incorporating it in their credibility...

You should file a petition! Good luck if you do... jason and the guys feel very strongly on their cred system

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Reply:859 days 10 hours 37 minutes ago
Member: Craig Robinson

+ 1

430
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I guess to answer your question I would say pick your favourite guitarist and play whatever he/she played. you won't sound like them but it'll make you feel good. I like a lot of guitarists that play LP's but I'll never own one again cos they are too heavy for me and I get a simialr sound out of a Wolfgang.
So I guess most bands in the 70's-90's used either a strat style or les paul sounding guitar.

have fun

CR

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Reply:859 days 3 hours 14 minutes ago
Member: inablackout

1190
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Ahhh just like the old g.com. remember folks argueing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even if you win your still retarded.

I would suggest an axe with a bucker in the bridge and a single in the neck, like an older ibanez or jackson. IMHO the bucker will be good for the rhythms and the single will sound better for the leads. IMHO

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I wanna ROCK!!!!

Reply:859 days 2 hours 13 minutes ago
Member: johnmarkh

+ 1

162
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haha...i just wanted to see the reaction.

webcred and rep always made me giggle.

-1 because you have an opinion, +1 because that was funny, -1 because that's not the answer i wanted, +1 for having good taste in women...

so...the music portion of this is what? it's ridiculous to even care.

i mean...uh...

omg i might make 7 dollars over the course of 4 years and in another 3 i might see that 10 dollar check....yes!

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Reply:858 days 21 hours 36 minutes ago
Member: ibzRG

4576
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xaxa! +1 for not caring ;P

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Reply:858 days 46 minutes ago
Member: Chris

132
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Woweee, finally some fire on the set! And Zombre in the middle - what a shocker!

Ya know, I saw this topic and thought I would get the answer to this -apparently new- genre. As one poster said, since you have to play arenas to for it, I would assume that means you would have to be popular. Since the only other place besides here that Ive even seen the term is on Comcast -"Arena Rock" is one of the channels, and that channel plays 70's rock, Id have to say that.

On which guitar plays which type of music, this doesnt matter much in the beginning, but styles (genres) do lend themselves to certain axes. As much as Ive tried to get the feel of SRV and Jimi on my Wolfgang, I never get as close as when I play my buddys' strat. Ultimately, genre/style does comes down to the player, but if you're buying a guitar blind of what you will be playing, I expect some disappointments.

Chris

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"Free your mind, and your ass will follow" -- George Clinton

Reply:856 days 20 hours 5 minutes ago
Member: jg76aries

45
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Def Leppard!!
And/or Queen!!

Oh, you were asking about what GUITARS are best?

The Les Paul is always a good choice. Ibanez. Strats are ok too for that kind of stuff.
But mostly anything Gibson is usually a safe bet for that style of music.

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