Neck Wood

The neck is an equal partner with the body in terms of the overall sound of the guitar. In general, the more thick and dense the wood, the brighter the tone. To achieve the sound you want, you might choose a straight-grain wood or a highly figured maple or mahogany.

Pick Problem

Don't you hate it when you are having a quiet session and in one moment of carelessness, you drop your pick in the guitar hole! Never stick your hand in there and reach for it; you'll just mess up your strings. Turn your guitar upside down and shake it!

Stay Well-Rounded

While it is important to spend a great deal of time practicing and performing the guitar, keep in mind that the guitarist is an artist and not just a guitar playing machine. The final outcome of a person´s music consists of what they are as a person. Barney Kessel used to recommend reading poetry and Jim Hall enjoys art museums. Take some time to be a well rounded, educated person and your art will be all the better for it.
-Jeff Sherman

Stay Humble

In the process of learning, keep in mind that the ego is a double-edged sword. The ego can propel us to want to do well (in this case play the guitar well) but at some point it can actually prohibit the learning process. We sometimes don´t want to embarrass ourselves or admit that we do not know something. It is very important to keep a very humble approach to learning the guitar and to continue to put ourselves in learning situations. Playing with better players is a great musical environment to grow in.

Optimizing Guitar Playability

Playing guitar is a highly personal experience. Every player has different needs, and that is why setting up your new guitar becomes a matter of personal taste.

Ultimately what you are trying to achieve is:

1. Good Action (the least possible distance between the string and the frets without buzzing or rattling of the string against the fret).
2. Balanced, even, electrical output on each string in all pickup positions.
3. Smooth, accurate tuning action and the ability to stay in tune after bending a note or using the tremolo.
4. Last, but certainly not least, killer Tone!