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Cool cheers 🙂
I might dig out my Powerball to do some wrist/forearm exercises too.
How many strings before it stops being a guitar and becomes a harp? 🤪😅
I just assumed he was bigging up his new mandolin.. 😀
I just assumed he was bigging up his new mandolin
This is going to sound like I have too many instruments (maybe I do?!), but I also have a Mandolin and a Bouzouki 😆
I'm going to count up all of my guitars + sundry stringed instruments now...
Electric guitars:
- PRS SE Zach Myers vintage sunburst (heavily modified).
- ALP AD-80
- Custom Tele/Muscicman Axis mash-up
- Hohner SE-400
- Larrivee LS-2
- Jedson 'Les Paul'
- Aria Sinsonido AS-100S
- OLP MM1
- Modified Strat kit build (built in effects and midi-output).
Acoustic guitars:
- Takamine F400 12 String
- Washburn Monterey Custom Studio 12 String
- Epiphone SST Classic
- Yamaha APX-4
Bass guitars:
- OLP MM2 (Stingray copy)
- No name 70s bass - set up for 2 string slide bass 🙂
Other:
- Kala Baritone Ukelele
- Ozark Bouzouki
- Russian Mandolin (bought in the USSR by my dad in the 70's)
Nice collection. An 8 string should fit in just fine...
Yes, it should feel at home 😉
I feel quite undergunned now.
I did have fun at the weekend doing pickup swaps.
Much easier in the Variax with just using mouse clicks in Workbench HD 😁
Much easier in the Variax with just using mouse clicks in Workbench HD
I've been on the lookout for a decent second-hand Variax for a while.
Got an ebay alert set up for local sales.
This is going to sound like I have too many instruments (maybe I do?!), but I also have a Mandolin and a Bouzouki 😆
I had a mandolin years ago, and always wanted a bouzouki as well. God only knows why!
Just the two acoustics here, and have never owned an electric so that needs to change this year..
I've asked kind of the same question on here before, but I want to get my Strat re-fretted. It's got teeny frets that are flat in places causing notes to lose their sustain etc.
But what are the chances that a tech will do a terrible job and make it worse? It seems like the sort of job I could do badly but is it straightforward for a half-decent guitar tech and is there any advantage in getting a well-known pro to do it?
Ooh, Eddiebaby doing pickup swaps!
I've decided that I'm fed up with the hum my P90s make. So I can't decide whether to go Kent Armstrong's new noiseless HP-90 pickup from WD Music (not a real P90 and a straight swap) or DiMarzio DP209 (which is a Super Distortion in a P90 cover) from Andertons. The DiMarzio is a coil split humbucker so I'd probably need new pots (which I was thinking of doing anyway). What would be the forum's recommendation? Given that the cost would get me halfway to the Squier Contemporary HSS Strat that has been raved over by those who've played it.
@Superficial
IMHO it's a job worth paying someone decent to do.
Bit more involved than something a standard guitar tech could do.
On the other hand I know someone who got Manson's in Exeter to refret their guitar, assuming it'd be a sterling job (they build Matt Bellamy's guitars) and he got what could best be described as a Friday afternoon job.
We think they let an apprentice loose on it.
I'd go by word of mouth. Find someone by recommendations.
I did my first full refret recently, Superficial. I did a guitar that was almost worthless so had nothing beyond a bag of frets to lose.
I recommend doing the same. I got better at getting the old frets out as I went along. I started at 20 on the basis I never use it. One really didn't want to come out, it eventually yielded to heat, bending the neck back and brute force but a good few wood chips came with it.
I got better at pre-shaping the frets. I was lucky with the first two then had two attempts at the third by which time it needed glue to hold it tight. I worked out they needed slightly over bending and inserting with a tool with a radius very slightly tighter than the neck then a final tap down with a copper hammer.
When I sanded the finger board I wasn't careful enough to avoid a very slight round at the edge which required a bit of Araldite to fill later. It's not easy to remove over 1mm in places, get the right radius and never angle the block beyond the radius required.
I'm delighted with my first attempt but know the second will be better. A pro who has done hundreds would hopefully do better.
Ben at Crimson had a series of videos on refretting an SG (and yes I am a Crimson fan).
Just be aware that Ben at Crimson likes to use traditional tools (he has a second business selling antique tools) which is fine but usually requires much more skill and experience than modern specialist tools.
For example, Been uses (and sells) traditional three sided fret crowning files. He is a very experienced and skilled luthier and therefore is very good with said tool. But it is a million times easier and safer to use a modern shaped diamond crowning file, no skill required!
But it is a million times easier and safer to use a modern shaped diamond crowning file
Agreed. Always assuming it fits the fretwire you are using, there again he is a perfectionist in his videos and does seem to be trying to make his viewers into Pro builders even if it is inappropriate to their needs.
Just in case you’ve got a mani-esque itch to scratch...
‘Excluding vat‘
https://www.thomann.de/gb/rickenbacker_4005xc_af_90th_anni.htm
She's here!
Just had a play.
Set up is amazingly good out of the box, no fret buzz, neck looks spot on, low-ish action, intonation seems good, fret ends are all well finished.
It does need a fret polish and neck oil through. Doing bends you can feel the frets are a bit scratchy, and the fretboard feels/looks a bit dry.
Awesome!
First time on fan frets, feels surprisingly normal.
The width of the neck is weird though 😆
I know a few people on here play Tele's. Has anyone done the 4-way switch mod, which adds the additional position with the pickups in series? Is it a noticeably different sound to the normal middle position?
Or should I just get a Les Paul...
That 8 string looks lovely. I struggle with accurate fingering with 4 fat strings though. I’d have no chance with that 🙈
Just seen the price of the 8 String.
That is a total no brainer. Good call.
Just seen the price of the 8 String.
That is a total no brainer. Good call.
Yeah I know. I own more expensive shoes!
I bought a b-stock one for £128, and they seem to have forgotten to charge me Vat on it 🤨
According to the website, for purchases under £135, Thomann invoice you the Vat before finalising the sale. But as I paid by PayPal, they didn't do this.
I was expecting the UPS guy to hand me a vat invoice, but nope, just dropped it at the door and left.
So we'll wait and see if anyone works out what has happened. I'll keep schtum until they do 🤭
I’ll keep schtum until they do 🤭
And we'll do the same as long as you let us borrow it. 😉
Woke (early) this morning and after bleeding the central heating the house got toasty and outside looked awful so I set about the guitar. Strings off, thorough clean and oil of the fretboard new Ernie Balls on to replace the D’Addarios that have been on there for a couple of months and then tweak the truss rod, action and intonation.
Damn! Does anything feel better than fresh strings on a well set up guitar? My mood would be even better if I didn’t find 2 of the new strings had the ball ends missing from the ends. Luckily there was enough length to twist in a couple cut off the old strings. First time that has happened to me.
Anyway a quick ride out for an hour and then a shower and some playing.
Have revisited Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here this afternoon. I desperately need some lessons so could really do with covid ****ing off! Did try using Chipps's Ditto Looper so that I was playing the solo over the chords but my timing is awful and it sounded even more dreadful that when just on it's own!
Sounds more than good enough to me Simon.
When recording the backing chords to the looper can I suggest a metronome app for your phone or tablet?
I was OK on short sequences but found I was prone to wander a bit over more than 8 bars.
Someone on here recommended the Soundbrenner app that has a great free version. Crank the volume up loud or stick a little bluetooth speaker on it to get it even louder and away you go. Timing and rhythm needs as much practice as playing the right notes.
Even when not recording loops have the metronome running at a pace you feel comfortable playing the piece at. You'll soon notice the places where you slip away from proper timing.
Thanks, I'll try and give it a go 🙂
I tried practicing with a metronome for the first time last week. Very distracting! I really struggled with it at first but could see the benefit once I locked into it.
Yeah, personally I couldn't play along with a metronome as it was too CLACK - CLACK - CLACK for me. It was an old school wind up one mind.
I ended up buying a drum pedal (Mooer Micro Drummer) and that's brilliant. Having a more authentic drum loop seems to absolutely fine in not being distracting. 🙂
@simondbarnes sounding pretty good there! Chapeau for posting up, you're a braver soul than I am 🙂
I was bored, so I made this. Zebrano and flamed maple truss rod cover for my PRS SE. I never liked the plastic one it came with.
That's nice. 👍🏼
Good shout. If you have an iphone or ipad I suppose a Garageband loop would work.
If you have an iphone or ipad I suppose a Garageband loop would work
Better still, the virtual drummers in Garageband. They're fantastic to play over and really easy to tweak the drums to whatever you want
@benman Yup, I've got a 4-way switch in the tele I built. Very simply, just do it. There's definitely enough difference in tone to warrant the faff - it's great for leads.
Better still, the virtual drummers in Garageband.
Never even tried them before. Excellent advice. Thanks.
There’s definitely enough difference in tone to warrant the faff – it’s great for leads.
It's not the same as they are virtual pickups but I've been trying that on the Variax. Also interesting what a difference playing with pickups and pot and capacitor values can do. Not the real world sounds but definietly more for the tone palette.
Currently having fun with tunings and killing strings with the flick of a switch. Going from Standard Tele to 5 string Open G instantly.
Ooly works if you are playing loud or through headphones as the acoustic sound of the strings clashes so much with the pitchshifted sounds.
All fun and just another excuse to actually not bother learning to improve my playing. 🙁
I so want a JTV-59 and its all you guys fault 🙂
Haven't really posted stuff to my You Tube Channel for ages so thought I might start chucking some stuff up. This is a pretty awful attempt at a 2 camera angle video. The wide shot is me playing live and the close up shot is miming. Probably need better camera (using iphone) lights, ideas etc. and definitely video editor, iMovie 10 is awful. Might try my hand at a review video as they seem to get a lot of traffic. Alos note the slightly clickbaity thumbnail 😉
also
Excellent! Really loved Devil went to Georgia. You’ve got some real Paul Gilbert faces going on there. 😁
Good to see and hear the Descendant in action.
Love it 🙂
I know a few people on here play Tele’s. Has anyone done the 4-way switch mod, which adds the additional position with the pickups in series? Is it a noticeably different sound to the normal middle position?
Or should I just get a Les Paul…
I have done this - I followed a youtube video - my selector goes bridge , bridge/neck (parallel), bridge/neck (series), neck - I know some have the "new" position as position 4 - if that makes sense
It sounds different - a bit fuller - some say its a bit like a humbucker - it was not too difficult to do - it was my first attempt at soldering
Here's another demo I've been working on.
Me on guitar and organ...
https://soundcloud.com/tom-harrison-322574521/silly-games/s-cIWpLcDczCc
I spent some of lockdown trying to recreate a childhood love of mine..Alien Sex Fiend 😉
Blimey thats is scary!!!
Best Pedal Show for ages. because they aren't focussed on tone but ar looking at phrasing. Worth a listen I reckon.
Continuing the vague Tele theme, this came home with me last night.
Nice!
Genuine or Relic? Looks great, what does it play like?
2020 Vintera Roadworn with some added road miles by the previous owner (purposefully, not just abused).
It’s a lovely guitar and a definite keeper. Will get it properly set up at the weekend - I think it could do with a gentle fret level to make it perfect (that’s been true of most new guitars I’ve had including the new MIM player Tele I returned before buying this used one).
Mmmm that Tele is lovely. I love my Baja Tele but I may have to give it a nitro finish. Fender are onto something with the option of nitro on the Mexican guitars.
EDIT: like this one
It's a Jason Isbell (I had to google him) signature model. Looks absolutely lovely although it's £1,339 which seems like American money (This one's a MIM).
EDIT2: JTFC when did posting images get so difficult?
I think I'm down to 2 Telecasters now
78 completely modded to 70's brass heaven before I got it
2014 Custom shop
Both lovely
Hey guys
Can anyone recommend a smart phone mic please?
Nothing too expensive, its just for messing about with as a first foray into recording myself.
Oh and while I'm here does anyone use a looper app ? Is there such a thing ??
ta
Whilst we're on the subject of recommendations, I'm currently on the lookout for a set of open backed headphones for quiet practice. I'm a bassist though, mainly playing a Dingwall five string, so something that has a reasonable reproduction of low frequencies would be desirable.
As I've got reference cans already, these will just be for this purpose. Open backed is my preference as I find them less fatiguing than close backed cans. I was think AKG K240's as they're pretty cheap, but if anyone has anything they could recommend that'd be ace!
Looks absolutely lovely although it’s £1,339 which seems like American money (This one’s a MIM).
I think it was the cost of the health implications of finishing in Nitro that started Fender moving a lot of production to Mexico thanks to California's workplace standards rules.
“If the first audio they downlink is from the descent, we probably won't be able to hear anything over the sound of the rover screaming.”
Can anyone recommend a smart phone mic please?
Nothing too expensive, its just for messing about with as a first foray into recording myself.
It's not a microphone but I just got an iRig HD. You can plug into a phone or laptop and use the supplied software to play through digital amps and pedals and stuff.
I've been using it to practice with Yousician and record myself with Garage Band.
Yousician is also great for any bass players who are wondering. I haven't tried the guitar lessons yet. It's like going to the gym and grinding away on it has progressed my playing more than anything I've ever done.
I’m looking for a gain/overdrive pedal (I think).
I've a Princeton ‘68 modified 12W tube amp which starts to break up with a hottish tele bridge pickup at 3-3.5 (which is plenty loud in the house).
id quite like to have it sounding like 6 or maybe even 8(! I’m not a turn it up to 11 kinda guy) but not annoy the neighbours/sheep.
so more grit than screamer.
I'm completely clueless wrt pedals I have a (now redundant) boss tremolo and looper. I’ve had a Marshall and Boss overdrives in the dim and distant past, but I’m not wanting full on distortion.
I've been looking at the EHx Soul Food and East River Drive... I did say I was clueless....
sub 100£.
oh, couldn’t quite make/justify the stretch of 1k+ uplift for the Gibson so I’ve ordered the Epiphone LPS in Tv yellow. Due next week....
Soul Food is EHX's take on a Centaur
East River Drive is their go at a Tube Screamer.
The JHS show has a really nice video explaining the types overdrive and what they sound like.
...another thought, have you considered getting an attenuator to stick between the amp and the speaker? They let you run the amp high enough to break up, but drops the signal before the speakers, so you can get that broken valve tone without broken windows.
@andeh: thanks, watched the video. I enjoyed it, but still none the wiser... 🤷🏻♀️
@sniff: maybe it’s just me but I couldn’t get the dials to work (obvs mines a non magic iPad 😢).
I think to avoid buying loads of pedals that don't do what you want I think you need to have a clear idea what you want and also a clear idea of what sounds you currently have.
For example, a tube screamer is known for adding mid frequencies to your sound, and I think Marshalls have a similar sound with their amps. So if you play a P90 pickup guitar through a screamer into a mid heavy amp you probably won't get a sound you like!
But a flat response pickup into a clean amp would sound pretty sweet with a screamer!
I have a TC Electronics MojoMojo for fattening the sound and boosting the level.
Paul Gilbert likes them and he has a tad more cred than me. It can have a lot of variation in drive levels but has a very effect bass and treble EQ section.
I was just going to answer the question on mics by pointing at Justin Guitar, but he's just updated his website in the last day or so and the bit I remember seeing about the types of mics he uses seems to have disappeared. Still it's worth looking at Anderton's section on recording mics. There are things like the Rode NT USB mic which should work with a phone.
@metalheart you need to click and drag up or down. Sort of works on Android phone but get a bit confused by scrolling up and down the screen
A modest windfall and I treated myself to a Fender Player Series Jazz bass. I already had a Modern Player Series which has twin humbuckers and can be dialled for a really nice growl and thump, but I wanted something a bit brighter. When it arrived it clearly needed a bit of setting up, and it had a few sharp fret edges and a bit of fret sprout, but that's all been whisked away with a bit of careful filing. However, the strings were dire. Really wooden, very little volume and I spent a good hour or so swearing at the amp for not giving me what I wanted. SO, a set of light D'Addarios and I've just spent a blissful couple of hours exploring what it can do. The difference is night and day. Tomorrow I'll be getting the action where I want it, as I keep stumbling and missing strings here and there. Pity the neighbours.......
Nice buy. Your neighbours will be in my prayers tonight. 🙂
Ooh, let us know what the Epi LPS is like. Those have got some great reviews... (I don't need another guitar! I don't need another guitar!)
Happy to lend you a drive pedal or two from my er, extensive, impulse-buy, lending library if you want, @metalheart 🙂
Electric guitar on The Repair Shop tonight
a new episode, or Hot Chocolate's bass?
Happy New (Bass) Guitar day to me
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https://shop.fender.com/en-GB/electric-basses/jazz-bass/vintera-60s-jazz-bass/0149633304.html
Bought at a couple of months old, from someone who liked the idea but couldn't get into it, at a significant discount.
Nice one @oldtennisshoes. The P bass looks a bit jealous to me..... Moved to the side, no longer favourite? 😀
Ha ha, the p bass is my daughter’s short scale squire that she got for Christmas so she can play along with me. Annoyingly she picks it up and plays better than me with zero practice - although she does already play Cornet, Flute, Piano and Uke.
My other bass is the blue Yamaha next to the telecaster on the wall; another great bass, but I wanted to try a proper jazz bass. And if I don’t get on with it, my son will play it.
That's lush. I bought a Vintera at the start of the first lockdown but I settled on a 70's sunburst.
Student discount gives 20% off absolutely everything on the Fender website. Worth it if you know someone who can hook you up!
I'm keeping a lookout for a decent used P bass. I think between the 2 they'll be all I ever need.
I wanted something I could string up B/E/A/D as an experiment but I've been told it's hard to make them work well for various reasons. Don't really fancy a 5 string.
@Andeh: thanks for linking that JHS vid. Whilst it didn’t really make me go yeah, that’s what I want, it did the opposite and help me eliminate some. I was tempted for the Wampler Klon copy but price/availability meant I ended up going for the EHx Soul Food after all. It’s not delivering what I was after (which isn’t a surprise all things considered) but I’ll need to try it with my hotrod 52 tele and Tokai LP.
@chipps: your offer came after I’d already ordered. Thanks all the same.
as for the epi, it needs a proper set up (intonation of low E&A is off) and I’ve not really had the time to play it (all work and no play makes mh a dull boy). The neck is fat and the epi strings need replaced (turn yer fingers black). But I need to try when when I feel inspired. If not, I’ll let you borrow it 🤪 it took me around 10 years to get to love my hr tele... 🤷🏼♂️