Playing your electrics unplugged...

[Shadowy_Man]

I almost never play unplugged, but I did the other day because of this thread and discovered my 5420 has quite bad string buzz unplugged. But it's completely non-apparent when plugged in. Weird, you'd think that kind of thing would be picked up by the pickups.

 

[Ktone]

Looks like I’m in the minority but if there ain’t no gain, I’m not play’n!

 

[Maguchi]

My apologies, Guys... A bit off topic momentarily, but what do you mean by :



A+!

Your mileage may vary.

 

[hcsterg]

Your mileage may vary.

OK. Thanks @Maguchi ! Google Translate says : Votre kilométrage peut varier. Does it means something like "more or less" ?

A+!

 

[Rob_Brindley]

I play unplugged a lot of the time! Pretty much everywhere you sit in my house, there is a guitar within arms reach. Whenever I'm watching TV or just chilling out, I usually have a guitar in my hands. I live in a terraced house so I can't really crank the volume up with the amps and when I'm so used to playing live, anything less than stage volume just doesn't cut it for me.

 

[Ricochet]

One time I recorded my electric unplugged with a cheap cassette player with one of those build in mic’s. Almost sounded like an acoustic. Not a very good one, but good enough for a demo or two.

 

[hcsterg]

Your Mileage May Vary meaning you might get different results

Thanks Danno : I understand now.

A+!

 

[Maguchi]

Your Mileage May Vary meaning you might get different results

OK. Thanks @Maguchi ! Google Translate says : Votre kilométrage peut varier. Does it means something like "more or less" ?

A+!

Probably more like, you may have a different opinion. Or as @Danno says, "you might get different results."
Cheers,
Magoo

 

[LongJohn]

Condo life requires headphones, so there are times when it is just easier to play unplugged.

 

[jdr1014]

I play unplugged quite a bit, but mostly if I'm just playing for a few minutes, like if something pops into my head to try and quickly figure out how to play ......before I completely forget it lol!

 

[Teledriver]

I almost never play unplugged, but I did the other day because of this thread and discovered my 5420 has quite bad string buzz unplugged. But it's completely non-apparent when plugged in. Weird, you'd think that kind of thing would be picked up by the pickups.

This is actually pretty common, I believe. It is the sign of low action, generally a good thing. Most times I have to turn that little part of my brain off that wants to immediately fix it. What I usually do is just play softer....which also can lead to shortening your life-span (play an electric unplugged and softly).
Just remember- it goes away with electricity. That's my mantra, "Don't you know Muddy Waters invented 'lectricity?" -Willie from 'Crossroads' movie.

 

[Shadowy_Man]

This is actually pretty common, I believe. It is the sign of low action, generally a good thing. Most times I have to turn that little part of my brain off that wants to immediately fix it. What I usually do is just play softer....which also can lead to shortening your life-span (play an electric unplugged and softly).
Just remember- it goes away with electricity. That's my mantra, "Don't you know Muddy Waters invented 'lectricity?" -Willie from 'Crossroads' movie.

It does have very low action. Thanks for your thoughts

 

[Danno]

I prefer low action so I basically got as low as I can till it buzzes and then back it off ever so slightly.

 

[dmunson]

First thing in the morning I always play unplugger for a half hour or so. Sort of a warm up. And the 5622 is perfect in those cases.

 

[Bertotti]

I bought an Ibanez ag75bs years ago to satisfy my Electric and acoustic desires. Played unplugged a lot but all it did was create gas for an acoustic so in came a little Martin Gas cured, noooo, next came the 000-18GE’37 sunburst. Now I play acoustic almost exclusively. Traded the AG in for a Nighttrain. So I went opposite. Electrics are sorely neglected.

 

[tartanphantom]

It's extremely rare for me to play an electric unplugged. That's what acoustics are for, and I have several of those at hand.
In fact, I tend to do 80% of my songwriting on acoustic (electric tunes included).

 

[Synchro]

I used to, all the time, but in recent years, I’ve started using an amp, almost all the time. Part of it is a matter of practice; you practice playing the guitar, but when you use an amp, your technique has to be clean, or it will come through the amp.

When I play unamplified, it’s almost always on a Thinline Tele. These are not acoustically loud, but perhaps have a bit more resonance than a solid-body.

 

[loudnlousy]

Because of her illness my wife spends a lot of time in her bed sleeping.
So playing through an amp at home was not an option for me during the last years.

I bought a Positive Grid Spark to remedy this situation but playing with earphones is not working for me.

So I am noodeling unplugged and it is only half of the joy.
I blame my loss of chops during the pandemy a lot on this fact.