How many of you use actual instruments; Guitars etc?

[I'mNoGuru]

My own stuff (always what I consider to be HipHop) is often sample based but I'll regularly lay down a bassline on my 4-string and have been known to mic up an acoustic guitar when I thought it'd be of value to a track; and I sometime run my sh#t strat copy through an old Line6 POD.

I'm not a great guitarist to be honest but I've just booked a course of jazz guitar lessons starting in the new year and I'm buying a (much) better electric on Wednesday with my (surprise) Christmas bonus. I'll also be trading in my 2 PODs (have the bass one as well) and buying a small modelling practice amp; probably the Blackstar BEAM.
Hoping that I'll soon be able to lay down more 'live' instrumentation, moving my stuff in a kinda new (if subtle) direction for me.

So just wondered who's making beats and using (I suppose - more traditional) instruments to do it?

 

[Grow-a-brain]

i was always a BIG synth guy but lately ive been getting into more re-amping and live percussion and I find it often brings a very polished sound to the mix as far as frequency balance and depth. Here is a Hip Hop song that uses cheap bongos and shakers as well as a live clap layered under everything. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFgQpMl4ACc some indie rap for you.

 

[cestmoi]

I do!
I use guitars, a bass guitar, occasionally I record my MicroKorg as well. One time I even recorded an african instrument called the kora.
What I find on many occasions is that it's pretty hard to combine let's say a guitar recording with the electronic sound, it has to feel nice and organic, this I find kind of hard to pull off. I had huge problems with mixing my bass recording as well, but that is because I only recorded my bass through a line in channel of my sound card, that obviously sucked big time.
You can hear a couple of stuff here:
https://soundcloud.com/jiszlai