5 definitions by Ian Davis
An individual who, in the beginning, saw the universe in all of its splendor, absorbed the knowledge and wisdom into his infinitely powerful being, and acheived a state of ultimate undestanding. He then proceeded to pick up a guitar and play. With his first notes he created the Earth and sky. With his first dyads he created fire and light. And with a mighty A7 chord, he created Man. These acts were followed by joining the Yardbirds, followed by the greatest classic rock band of all time-Led Zeppelin.
by Ian Davis January 6, 2006
A beautiful sounding guitar invented by a man of the same name. The Les Paul Standard model features a rounded C-neck made of mahogany, rosewood fingerboard, maple top, mahogany body, twin humbuckers, and is indeed quite heavy. However if it is too heavy for you, try getting a decent strap which some people apparently fail to do. I have a Les Paul Vintage Mahogany and the thing doesn't have the maple top, neck and body SOLID MAHOGANY, one of the HEAVIEST woods used in making guitars as you well know, and with a strap this thing is light as a feather. Even without one, I'd be able to play easily if I didn't have to struggle to keep hold of the guitar with my right hand. And for all you who say these guitars sound muddy-try actually messing around with your settings for awhile and/or get a decent amp. Let me give you an example of my setup.
Gibson Les Paul Vintage Mahogany -> MXR ZW-44 Overdrive (Gain-10, Tone-8.5, Output matched to clean channel volume) -> Boss BF-3 Flanger (Manual at 12:00, Resonance 2:00, Depth 3:00, Rate 9:00, Standard or Ultra mode) -> Boss DD-6 Digital Delay (Effect Level 6:00, Feedback 1:30, Delay Time 8:00, 300ms mode, or just matched to tempo) -> Fender Princeton Chorus non-DSP (Treble 8.5, Mids 5.5, Bass 10, Gain 7.5, Limiter 0, Prescence +5, and my chorus settings are Rate 2, Depth 5)
Trust me, tweak a Gibson Les Paul and you're gonna get a good sound out of it. These guitars are crystal clear, not muddy, and get an INCREDIBLE distortion and overdrive. If you want a warm, thick-as-hell, creamy overdrive or clean sound, the Captain Crunch of classic rock sounds, an incredible metal (new or old) distortion, or screaming leads from hell, the Les Paul is gonna work out FANTASTIC. If you want a brighter, thinner, tighter sound, get a Fender Strat.
Gibson Les Paul Vintage Mahogany -> MXR ZW-44 Overdrive (Gain-10, Tone-8.5, Output matched to clean channel volume) -> Boss BF-3 Flanger (Manual at 12:00, Resonance 2:00, Depth 3:00, Rate 9:00, Standard or Ultra mode) -> Boss DD-6 Digital Delay (Effect Level 6:00, Feedback 1:30, Delay Time 8:00, 300ms mode, or just matched to tempo) -> Fender Princeton Chorus non-DSP (Treble 8.5, Mids 5.5, Bass 10, Gain 7.5, Limiter 0, Prescence +5, and my chorus settings are Rate 2, Depth 5)
Trust me, tweak a Gibson Les Paul and you're gonna get a good sound out of it. These guitars are crystal clear, not muddy, and get an INCREDIBLE distortion and overdrive. If you want a warm, thick-as-hell, creamy overdrive or clean sound, the Captain Crunch of classic rock sounds, an incredible metal (new or old) distortion, or screaming leads from hell, the Les Paul is gonna work out FANTASTIC. If you want a brighter, thinner, tighter sound, get a Fender Strat.
Some Les Paul players are Ace Frehley, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton (Cream era), Duane Allman, the list goes on...
by Ian Davis January 6, 2006
Classic rock is a style of music that arose in the late 50's/early 60's out of the then-popular blues genre. It was mainly derived from British teenagers who attempted to emulate the blues movement in the U.S. but created a whole new style all their own. Classic rock is known for its warm, overdriven guitar sounds, unique drumming patterns, melodic vocals, and simple yet innovative chord progressions. 90% of classic rock is based off the I-IV-V chord progression, and yet it all sounds different-quite an accomplishment if you ask me. Some of the best music in the world falls in the classic rock genre. In the 70's, classic rock began to progress and sound more modernized, with bands such as Journey, later Pink Floyd, and Boston spearheading the movement. Classic rock is not to be confused with southern rock.
Some well-known classic rock bands are Led Zeppelin, Cream, AC/DC, Jimi Hendrix, Dire Straits, Queen, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, ZZ Top, Journey, Boston, Foreigner, etc...
by Ian Davis January 6, 2006
The god of thrash. Personally my all-time guitarist. Unlike little teenybopper bands around now like Green Day and My Chemical Romance, Dave Mustaine's band, Megadeth, plays a little thing called music. He was kicked out of Metallica after writing a large portion of their better music (a lot of stuff off Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning) but never received credit. Metallica is an awesome band as well, but in my eyes Megadeth will always be superior. Dave Mustaine is known for being one of, if not THE, best rhythm guitarists of all time. He can write symphonies of complex low-end riffing and put in screaming melodies and incredible lead breaks in the same 10 seconds. His playing abilities are also OFF THE CHARTS as compared to other rhythm guitarists. I myself would give a kidney, leg, and maybe an eye just to have his right hand.
Did you go to that Megadeth concert last night? Dave Mustaine's hands were FLYING when he was playing that 3rd solo in Hangar 18!
by Ian Davis January 6, 2006
1. An stringed instrument consisting of 6, 7, or 12 strings (most commonly these, though there are rarer variations) derived from the lute. The guitar is traditionally tuned in perfect fourths, excluding the B to G string interval, which is a major third. Guitars are amplified either through resonance of a hollow or semi-hollow body (which, contrary to popular belief, does not require a soundhole) or the use of magnetic pickups which in turn send an electronic signal to a guitar amplifier. Guitar is found in almost every style of modern music imaginable, and some older European world music as well. Guitar has common applications in jazz, rock, blues, metal, classical, ska, punk, alternative, pop, reggae, funk, and countless other musical (and in some cases, nonmusical) stylings.
2. An instrument which can either be used for good or evil.
Good-In the hands of one pure of heart, the guitar becomes a living, breathing, extension of himself. Through countless hours of practice, studying one's theory, and tapping into his or her own musical center, the guitarist becomes adept at playing and can inspire any emotion in a listener with a single lick.
Evil-In the hands of a corrupt heart, the guitar is a terrible thing to behold. Though it is an unfortunate thing, guitar is mostly used for evil nowadays. An evil guitarist will usually not take time to learn to play, and will use the guitar mainly to try and get girls to like him or play senseless excuses for music with 2 power chords to further propogate the evil music movements we have now.
2. An instrument which can either be used for good or evil.
Good-In the hands of one pure of heart, the guitar becomes a living, breathing, extension of himself. Through countless hours of practice, studying one's theory, and tapping into his or her own musical center, the guitarist becomes adept at playing and can inspire any emotion in a listener with a single lick.
Evil-In the hands of a corrupt heart, the guitar is a terrible thing to behold. Though it is an unfortunate thing, guitar is mostly used for evil nowadays. An evil guitarist will usually not take time to learn to play, and will use the guitar mainly to try and get girls to like him or play senseless excuses for music with 2 power chords to further propogate the evil music movements we have now.
by Ian Davis January 8, 2006