****ing Hell HIAG, only you could get insecure and start ranting about the way a band sets up for a gig.
You’ve already told us that you started on instruments at the cheaper end of the market and conceded that it’s commitment and dedication which makes someone proficient
The thing is, when you learn to play an instrument, you usually go out and buy a cheap one to see if you get on with it. Yes the set up of that instrument can make it more difficult to play than one that's been properly set up and has better components, but it's a bit of a case of 'you don't miss what you don't know'. If you enjoy playing an instrument, then you usually get to a point where you upgrade it for something better. It's at that point you go 'oh wow, this is SO much easier to play than the last one'. So I don't necessarily agree that people give up because of cheap instruments. It's usually because they've not found any inspiration from playing and don't want to put the time in to learn.
You assume wrong’ish. I’m no guitarist though, albeit I can understand his rather simple point. A badly set up instrument of any kind could well put you off as a learner. That’s not to say you need to spend a fortune from the off, but to pretend he didn’t have a point was harsh all round imho.
I guy I know, who is a very good drummer, bought a lovely Yamaha kit a couple of years ago. The first thing he did was to ditch the heads that came with it and replace with new Evans heads that he preferred. The kit he bought is at the top end of the market?
The problem is people think a guitar is easy to play, they soon realise when learning, it's not going to sound quite like you imagined, and requires lots of hard work and practise. You are better off starting with an acoustic, then when you move to electric it's like wow, this is easy. It's not to do with the quality/price of the equipment as a beginner, for the reason they give up.
There used to be a guy I knew just like HiaG, used to go out and buy all the dogs bolloxs equipment, only problem was he couldn't play to save his life, it was a complete waste of money. He should have started with a basic £100 guitar and built up from there, but like HiaG you can't tell 'em.
A lot of that comes down to personal preference and the sound you like. Evans heads are top quality kit, I know because our drummer uses them and he is ****ing OCD about his sound It's the same with strings. I use a brand called Elixir coated strings. I like them because they are bright and punchy which is the sound I want playing Funk. But put a set of cheap strings on my bass and it will sound like bag of nails.
Most professional musicians have preferences for strings, drum heads, sticks, pick ups etc.etc. There really is no such thing as perfect straight out of the box instruments. In addition most instruments are packaged and shipped without being tensioned or tuned. If you’re new to any instrument, you wouldn’t have a clue to start with. Part of any music education is learning how to maintain your equipment which obviously includes tuning. I’m pretty sure HIAG will tune his guitar before every gig and possibly during a gig. To say that a cheap, untuned instrument stops people from learning is nonsense IMO.
You get it in all walks of life mate. People with all the gear and no idea. Same in Mountain Biking, Surfing, etc. Some blokes will spend ££££ because they think it will make them better, but they still haven't grasped the basics. I like these people because invariably they sell their expensive equipment to people like me at knock down prices on ebay
The one thing I know for sure, and I'd usally sit on the fence HiaG is talking total bolloxs about learners, which leads me to doubt his ability, it's all well and good doing licks, what else can he do. Not seen it or any solo vid of him, and until I do, I will take his experience with a pinch of salt.
I got my first real six string, down at the five and dime, played that ****er until my fingers bled. I think it was the summer of ‘69.
