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Alternatively just use a modelling amp. With a bit of patience you can imitate a vast range of amps and pedals. We've had experienced blues players (with rigs costing several thousands) poking around junior's Fender Mustang V head and cab loaded with Vintage 30s, and complimenting him on his sound.
seosamh77 - Member
i also prefer compound radius fret boards as wellcan't say I've ever tried one, what's the benefit?
fair comment on the amp btw. a host of pedals is unlikly to improve a poor amp (at low volumes.)
POSTED 6 HOURS AGO #
There are a few but like most things its about what you prefer the feel of.
Being able to run a lower action without worrying (as much) about fretting out on bends.
I'm not going to write a lot on it. I like compound raise boards but then I play rock/metal and don't really play my acoustic much at all. Here's a decent looking write up - http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Neck_Building_and_Repair_and_Setup/Compound_Radius_Explained.html (if its crap, I haven't read it)
I don't like a high action and I don't like scalloped frets either but that doesn't make either of them any better or worse than a low action. It's how it feels to you.
Have you considered getting a setup done by a good tech? A good tech won't let you leave till you're delighted with what they've done. It'd give you a good idea what to aim for next time.
CaptainSlow - Member
Have you considered getting a setup done by a good tech? A good tech won't let you leave till you're delighted with what they've done. It'd give you a good idea what to aim for next time.
Only thing I wouldn't do(at this moment) are the fret leveling/adjusting the nut(mind you I've got an old battered 1992 korean squire strat I could practice on with that). The rest I can do and have experimented more than enough, that I know how it feels to me, so I don't really need anyone else to set up.
The fret levelling only becomes crucial with low action, and I've raised the strings up far enough and have enough relief, by choice, that the fret levelling is fairly irrelevant.
The nut, I'd really only adjust that if I was having problems in the open position which i'm not.
Basically, nah, setting up a guitar isn't difficult, I don't really need someone to tell me things I can do myself, and I highly doubt I'd be happy, even with the greatest setup at low action. Plus i'm the same with fixing bikes, I'd much rather teach myself.
Whilst we're on about guitars, I'm looking for a small pre loaded effects (rather sounds, like clean strat/tele and such) I used to admire Line6 Pods, are these still worth it or is there something else?
I'd only use it for home and headphones, nothing more..
My nut files cost 80e IIRC, use them twice and they pay for themselves. Not needed on my Mexican Strat though, the frets didn't need touching either. IME it's the pick ups and electrics that are poor on the MIMs. The bridge pick up is aggressive and the wiring bizarre - no tone control in the bridge only position. I'll only do anything about it if I play it anywhere other than at home.
Aye I don't see any major problems with the leveling or the nut anyhow, so i'm happy with them.
aye the pickups in the mim aren't the best I don't think, for clean tones they are fine, mild distortion/od they are ok, but there's a certain level you go beyond and they just don't play nice imo (though in saying that, I do find rolling the tone back solves the problems to a point). I think I will swap them out at some point in the future. I'm not too crazy about too much OD/distortion though, so they are fine for my purposes.
tbh I'm torn between swapping them out, or just buying a les paul style guitar with good humbuckers for overdriven stuff and keepind the mim as is for cleaner stuff..
furry muff seosamh, t'was just a thought.
Bikebouy - depends which pod you're after. I've had both the HD300 and HD500. Both sound good if you're willing to put the time into tweaking them and have a decent means of listening to it.
Line 6 released their next gen unit the Helix recently and it is a massive step up. If you're after line 6 kit I'd look at that if budget allows or the fire hawk (I think thats what its called).
If you've got helix cash though there are other options... 😉