h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi
Yeah, the Silmarillion is hard to read! It took me ages to get into it but it's worth it because then everything in the Lord of the Rings/Hobbit fits in. You have read Hitch hikers guide then? I have read books 1-4.
I think I may point out though that the dolphins left three glass bowls with a spoken message inside them. They were given to Arthur Dent, the girl who figured it all out (her name has slipped me for the minute!), and a weird guy called Wonky the Sane or something like that! Just a thought to add to that entry.
You sound really interesting!
Anyway
See ya
Dolphin girl

To be honest with you, I've only read "So long and thanks for all the fish!" once, and it didn't all sink in. I still can't work out how the earth suddenly came back into existence again, after suppossedly being blown to bit's by large yellow things the size of office blocks, hanging in the sky exactly the same way as bricks don't. It's all gone right over my head. But it's been a while ince i read it, so maybe if i read it again it'll make more sense. If it's supposed to make sense at all, probably the same sort of sense that can make a trilogy of 5 books.... anyway, the elusive girls name who worked out the dolphin message was Fenchurch, i think. But it could've been someone else.
I'll have another go at Silmarillion, coz last time i tried it just turned my mind to putty, and i was on holiday at the time, which didn't help my concentration.
Remember, in times of despair, always remember God's last message to his creation: "We Apologise for the Inconvenience"

It just came back - the Earth that is - otherwise there wouldn't be another book. Don't look for anything deeper or it'll make your head hurt!

Anyway, what I really wanted to know was how long have you been playing guitar, what you think of REM, Simon and Garfunkle, Paul Weller, Frank Zappa, Morcheeba and a whole load of other people I'm into but nobody else seems to be and, most importantly, where do you stand on Gibson vs Fender?

Ok, so i've been playing the guitar for about 3 years now, since i was 11 or 12. Through that time, i've been mostly self tought, with a few lessons here and there. But here's what's reaally important, Even though i've never played a gibson, i think they are a superior guitar to fender due to their better looks, and greater sound. You pay good money for a top of the range Les Paul, and really show it off, but spend as much on a fender, and it will still look like one of those you can buy for a hundred quid (or bucks, whatever your currency is). Ok, as for those artists you mentioned, REM are reputedly good, but when i went to listen to my brothers 'Green REM' album, i found that it was scratched beyond hope, and so that ended that. I find Simon and Garfunkle a bit to 'folky' for my tastes, although from what little i've heard of Paul Weller, he's just amazing. Frank Zappa is a bit before my time, and i've never even heard of the last one.... However, i'll tell you a few of my favs: i) Joe Satriani, a true master of instrumental guitar, ii)Brian May, harmonic genius and solo guru, iii)Jimi Hendrix, needs no introduction.... And some tunes that always get me going are: Misirlou (pulp fiction theme) by Dick Dale and his Del-tones, and Sabre Dance, by Dave Edmunds. My mind is generally open to most types of music (well, at least once per artist) except that i have a fundamental hatred of Dance + Rave music. But anything from Eric Clapton and SRV to Ritchie Blackmore and Lemmy (i know he's a bassist, but who cares?) will turn my ear.

It's true - Gibson are way cooler. They look better and they're played by cooler people. The only thing I will give Fender is that the Strat style neck makes it a lot easier to play. I've got the Epiphone copy of the '57 Les which is a fine looking bit of kit, but doesn't suit my dodgy finger joints too well. Still, if I win the lottery I'll trade up to a Gretsch or Rickenbacker.

I can't believe I forgot to mention Clapton - that man's a god. REM can be tricky. I think you have to get into them in reverse: Out of Time and Automatic for the People were really popular but we purists preferred their earlier work which is dense and hard to get in to. I think guitarists tend to have a soft spot for Document but it's not their best work so it's hard to know where to begin.

From what you've said, I think you'd like Zappa. He was prolific (about sixty albums) but his best stuff was always done on stage. Some of his top songs are just too slow in the studio versions. He just got up and played and some of his solos go on longer than a lot of other groups

It's always been my burning ambition to own a Les Paul, and the one chance i had, last year, when my father offered to by me a good guitar (coz he got a new job) i blew it and got the total opposite: an Ibanez Jem 555 Steve Vai, (which is pretty amazing). I like the look and sound of the Les, but because of the bulky neck, i thought it might be hard work for those high-end solo's (if i ever get round to learning one all the way through). I'm gonna awit around, and get a Gibson Les Paul sometime in the future (i hope). As for Frank Zappa, i'll try a find a few of his albums, or get some mp3's off the internet and have a listen, he sounds pretty good from what you said.
Oh, and your right, gibsons are played by cooler people, like Slash, Joe Perry, Mark Knopfler, Gary Moore, Jimmy Page. But don't forget, fenders are played by Hendrix, Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ritchie Blackmoore, Yngwie Malmsteen and Jeff Beck.

Ibanez make some great guitars - and you don't have to pay an extra hundred pounds just to have Gibson or Fender written on it (but that's another debate!)
The high-end solos have always been a sticking point - you can get an SG or Flying V but they're both pig-ugly! Speaking of pig-ugly, how 'bout Telecasters? They look stupid, the neck's about three miles wide but you can get a good bluesy sound out of a Fender - go figure!
Had a thought about Zappa - Steve Vai played in his band for a while on "stunt-guitar". I remember seeing a video of some amazing dueling at a gig which I think was in Spain. I guess that's the one to look out for. (I don't have a copy to hand - I've moved house four times in the last three years so I don't know where anything is, myself included!)

Yes, i've always been suspicious of the Epiphone and Squire, coz they seem every bit as good as the top of the range Gibsons and Fenders, but are much cheaper. I don't know exactly, but i've heard it's something to do with wood quality. However, i've also heard that the build quality of say a top of the range Epiphone is better than a bottom of the range Gibson, even though the price on the Gibson is higher (I could be wrong). But everyone wants the Gibson name (or Fender), and will sacrifice the extra qualities for that elusive name tag. I'll look out for that Zappa/Vai Gig thing. Coz that would be pretty amazing.An your right about the tele's, (though i've never played one) they look terrible, but have got that nearly unique tone that is perfect for those bluesy licks. I particularly like the Sabre Dance, which is played on a tele. And another thing is that i've only ever seen a tele with 2 pickups at the most, most of them have one. This doesn't give all that many tonal options. Yeah, Ibanez are a great guitar, but i'm still saving my pennies for a Gibson Les Paul Classic. But it'll have to wait, a long time...

It's not what you've got- it's what you do with it. hee hee there's a fun cliche oft bespoke by those less endowed.
But I am no extravagant guitar owner, just a cheap Ibanez electrick and a Samick acoustic. My favourite guitars are Gibson SGs and Fender VIs. I don't mind Les Paul's but I find strats to be quite boring in shape and to play (in guitar stores, y'know).
As for songs I play all sorts of stuff but I like bands like Monster Magnet Beatles Spacehog Sparklehorse and Superchunk.

Euuuugghhhh SG's - yuk, sooooooooooo ugly. OK, so they wanted something where you could reach the 24th fret but why did they have to pick a double cutaway batman prop?

What's wrong with batman props. I agree that they can look ugly when used by a band like kiss but they are cool to play.
Actually I think they're probably an acquired taste, but my first ever guitar was an SG that an uncle gave me and that's my excuse.

some great Zappa albums to get you going are, Joe's garage,
shiek yerbootie, hot rats, or go for the lame compos like
strictly commercial. By the way, guitars suck, guitars suck no matter what, the drums are the best instrument ever, long live mitch mitchell, ahem.

Oh Dear, a drummer..... Anyway, thanx for the advice

oh dear, yet another person, from the conveyor belt of the ten a penny guitar people,
too many guitarists,
too many notes,
nice drums, mmmmmm

Yeah, but I'm a GOOD guitarist, (especially for my age...)

Well actually my main instrument is the Berimbau, which is rocks! ! ! and I also play bass and some weird percussion instruments, but guitars are heaps of fun besides where I am most people have given up on guitars and want to be DJs.

I meant Berimbau rocks, not IS rocks. It's actually gourds and sticks and wires. . . from Brazil.

Hmm, I play bass as well, though I don't really like it that much, I was pressed into it by my schools music department. I've never heard of that Brazillian thing, sounds like a laff...

It's an instrument that accompanies a martial art/dance style called Capoeira. There is quite a lot about it on the www. you should be able to find samples if you're interested. do a search under "Music Capoeira" or something.