I'm a vocalist... When I first started playing, it was the bass, simply because there was no one else that wanted to play with us and well... Someone had to. When I branched out into guitar (and keep in mind, I started as a vocalist, was told many times by everyone around me I couldn't be a vocalist, so learned to be a drummer, then a bassist/vocalist....) it was only to have fun and experiment. I honestly can't say that I wanted lead, or rythm... I was just having fun. When I decided to be serious, and actually try to learn? Well... That's because I have a vision of what I want from what I truly want to create, and living where I do... Well, it's hard to create what you want with other people when there isn't anyone. So I started learning in order to be able to make the songs no one wanted to help me make. I don't think I really wanted to learn rythm or lead... I wanted to write songs... I will admit, I never imagined myself as a lead guitarist, but I love writing a rythm part and finding the melody that goes with it. Anyway, I didn't envision myself as rythm or lead when I started, I just wanted to write songs.

I prefer a hard tail myself

Fairly certain my first electric guitar was a Washburn that I ended up giving to my ex-fiances little brother when we split. Honestly, I've never owned a 6 string worth more than $100, but I have a couple 7 strings I love that I invested decent money on. I can certainly say, the difference in playability is astounding. I wish I had been more serious about guitar to begin with, I would have had a much better time learning.

I feel you bro. 2019, for me, ended with my cousin (who was more my little brother and best friend) killed himself. Shortly after that I lost a woman I loved to a heart disease, followed a week later by my youngest nephew getting shot. It's a terrible place to be, inside your head, when loss happens... I can say that I threw myself into music full heartedly more than I probably ever have before or since, creating the best songs I was ever a part of. My only advice is to not over do it. It sucks, but you need to process the pain, otherwise it will keep staying inside of you, waiting for you. So sorry, for your loss. I'm just a stranger, but feel free to reach out if you need someone's ear. And don't be afraid to use that negative energy to create something.

I have no clue where I would even begin to start on a pedal board...