The Guitar Shop Podcast: Ep 4: "Guitar Shop 101" -(<Back)
Guitar Shop 101 Quiz
1. The scale length of a guitar is the distance...
a.) ...from the tip of the headstock to the end of the fingerboard.
b.) ...from the nut to the saddle on the sixth string.
c.) ...from the nut to the center of the 12th fret, times two.
d.) ...from your guitar to the nearest guitar shop.
2. A classical guitar typically has three nylon strings and three steel strings.
True or False
3. On your electric guitar always adjust your pickups...
a.) ...as close as you can get them to the strings.
b.) ...to where they sound the loudest.
c.) ...by regularly de-gaussing them.
d.) ...after you understand all of the parameters related to pickup height.
4. Which of these products are okay for cleaning the finish on your guitar?
a.) Guitar Polish
b.) Windex
c.) Lemon Oil
d.) All of the above.
5. Applying a capo to your guitar:
a.) Makes tuning your guitar easier.
b.) Decreases the volume of your guitar.
c.) Changes the key of your tuning.
d.) Makes you look cool.
6. On steel string acoustic guitars, bridge pins can do more than hold your strings in the bridge, they can enhance tone.
True or False
7. With electric guitar amplification, distortion is:
a.) the squaring of a sin wave.
b.) usually created by an electric circuit in the amp or effects pedal.
c.) sometimes caused by a damaged speaker.
d.) all of the above.
8. When restringing a guitar:
a.) always knot the string around the tuning key to prevent slippage.
b.) try to run the string in a straight line from the bridge to the tuning key post (spindle)
c.) try to prevent the string from crossing the nut at too sharp of a
downward angle on it's way to the tuning key. No angle would be best.
d.) triple your estimated time of completion to allow for unforseen frustration.
9. When plugging your electric guitar into an amplifier, always:
a.) make sure you are wearing rubber soled shoes to prevent shock.
b.) use a shielded instrument cable.
c.) put your amp on "10" and your guitar on "0", then turn your guitar up to
a comfortable volume.
d.) be sure the guitar and amp are the same wattage or they won't work
together.
10. When shopping at the local Mom 'n Pop guitar shop, it is customary to:
a.) plug in an expensive guitar and show off all of your licks to the
employees.
b.) try out gear then buy it online for a lower price.
c.) say "this doesn't have a tag, it must be free.
d.) be polite and respectful, please, we're here 300 days a year
Answers:
1. C. If you thought it might be from the nut to the saddle, that does not account
for the saddle being farther from the nut for the thick strings. It is the distance
from the nut to the center of the twelfth fret, times two. For a Strat this is:
12.75" x 2 = 25.5".
2. False. All of the strings on a classical are nylon, but the D, A, and Low E are
nylon wrapped with a thin winding of metal (bronze, nickel, steel, etc).
3. D. This is a bit obvious, but there is an optimum height for pickups based
primarily on the strength of the magnets and the type and guage of strings on
your guitar. Unless you are well beyond Guitar 101, leave this to your local
guitar tech.
4. A. Home cleaning products are too harsh. They can leave residue or even cloud
some finishes. Oils should only be used on unfinished wood surfaces like a
rosewood or ebony fingerboard, and then only once a year or so.
5. C. Although I have seen some people make capo-ing look cool, it is primarily a
way to change the key of your song. If you are playing a song in G without a
capo, then place a capo at the second fret, you transpose up one whole step to A
if you play the same chords moved up two frets from the new open string
position.
6. True several companies are making replacement bridge pins from materials
ranging from ebony to bone to brass. These materials alter the way vibrations
permeate from the string holes, creating brighter, warmer, or even more metalic
harmonics and overtones.
7. D. Yes, all of the above. Technically speaking, distortion is the squaring of a
nice, rounded, sin wave. Wanted distortion is generally created by an effects
pedal or a circuit built into an amp. But many, including Pete Townsend of The
Who have deliberately cut or tear their speakers to make them sound more
distorted.
8. D. is the obvious answer. For the beginner, restrings are a daunting task. The
technical answer is B. All too frequently we see the string on a Gibson Les Paul
or a Martin acoustic, wound around the outer part of the tuning key post, pulling
the string at a very unnatural angle to the side. As your string goes straight up the
neck, it should continue as straight as possible to the tuning key, and that is
typically the side of the post away from the edge of the headstock where the
respective tuning key button is. as for A. and C. , neither you or a repairman
wants to undo a jumble of knots at the tung key post. And most guitars have a
pitched angle to the headstock to make sure you get downward angle over the
nut. Proper angle assures good sustain without the strings rattling in the nut slots.
9. B. There are a few basic things to consider when plugging into an amp like
"don't be standing in a puddle of water" and "make sure the amp wasn't left on
"10" and then blows out what's left of your hearing". On this list it is the use of a
shielded cable that is essential. We do get the occasional "loud hum" problem
from a guitarist, only to discover they were using an unshielded speaker cable for
their guitar. The two look the same, but are typically labeled on the rubber outer
jacket of the cable as to whether it is instrument or speaker.
10. Okay, this is tongue-in-cheek, but please, support your local Mom 'n Pop retail
stores. Thanks.