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The height at the 17th is fine too. I think I'd be looking for a high fret somewhere now. On a rosewood neck they sometimes just need tapping in with a soft hammer rather than filing, on a varnished neck where varnish has crept under the fret they won't tap in and need a file. Work from the outside in when tapping.
Yep - it's a coated maple fretboard.
Levelling bar, special files, an some fret rubbers ordered.
Gonna polish those frets good and proper!
Levelling bar, special files, an some fret rubbers ordered.
👌🏼 One thing you might also want to consider is one of the slotted rulers that people like Crimson sell. They fit over the frets so you can check the fretboard level with out the strings on and adjust the truss road accordingly. Checking it with strings on and truss rod tensioned show problems but not necessarily the root cause.In a bad case it could even be a slightly buckled neck.
To save buying one you could just get a cheap 24 inch steel rule and grind out where the frets are.
Oh, just to establish my guitar related problem solving skillset: last night I was working on She Sells Sanctuary. A nice chorusy slightly crunchy guitar sound that cleaned up a treat on the volume knob and a Gretsch 6120 with Filtertrons courtesy of the JTV.
All sounded fine until I kicked in my Flashback 2 delay. The MASH function wasn't working right and the sound generally seemed 'wrong' especially when I had the dotted eighth and quarter notes running. First up I was worried that the oversized and modified pedal topper had damaged the MASH sensor, out with the allen key and off it came. Nope.
Then I was worried that the software had corrupted and so I re-installed the latest firmware. Still didn't fix it.
So I thought I'd take it off the 'board and have proper look. It was only when I pulled the lead out of the 2nd stereo out instead of the mono out that I realised I plugged it into the THR wrong and was getting half the panned echo stereo image.
That's 30 minutes I'm never getting back.
It's great song though and the guitar tone is NAILED!
Genius 🤣
Ordered a decent 600mm steel ruler. I'll just Sharpie where the frets are and grind the ruler down. Only Gibson/Epiphone and Fender/Squier in the house, so can have one on each side!
Check the sharpie marks, you may get away with just making wider slots on one side giving you an uncut side for checking the frets/ relief.
It always feels wrong having to cut the rounded end off the rule to get it to fit betwixt nut and bridge.
As part of the PJE Macon deal my Gibson LP DC Special has to go. Now in classifieds, £400 for a USA Gibson is a bargain IMO
As part of the PJE Macon deal my Gibson LP DC Special has to go
Hopefully will go to a good home!
I've been trying to learn some Soundgarden on my acoustic. Finding it quite tricky but I only started on Saturday evening so will hopefully improve given some more practice 🙂
Oh, my, lord.
Had our first band practice in 7 months last night!
Practice rooms haven't been open since November. I'm very glad they survived 😊
First 2 hours were ropey as hell and VERY loud. Then we got it out of our system, and the second couple of hours sounded surprisingly good.
My ears are ringing today though 🤘
Ace 🙂
Sanding sealer, primer, and matt black coats nearly done.
Trying to decide whether I can be bothered to put a matt clearcoat over the paint, or leave it so it will 'relic' a bit quicker.
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Nice colour. matt clear sounds OK.
10% thingy for ivormairants if anyone is feeling spendy 🙂
AZEB10
Sanding sealer, primer, and matt black coats nearly done.
Nice! I'd put a matt clearcoat over it.
I'm trying to run before I can walk so having a go at learning Yellow Ledbetter this evening. I figure that if I try some harder stuff then it'll improve how I can play easier stuff 🙂
Finished a few coats of matt clear lacquer. Weirdly it came out more satin than matt 🤷♂️
Fitted neck and hardware, but pickups and socket aren't soldered in yet.
Looking quite stealthy.
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Nice, @ajantom - I have a body that I ordered last year from guitarbuild.co.uk and was going to do a Candy Apple Red on... manage to cock up the gold middle layer and ended up having to sand it back and re primer it. Just went with plain Dakota red nitro instead. Decided not to bother with a clear coat as I'm bound to just sand through a corner and have to start again, so I'm going to try to bolt it together - though I'm moving house in three weeks, so the clock is ticking... 🙂
Just dug this out of the spare room, thought y'all might like it. I stripped it down a long time ago and somehow it just never got rebuilt, probably something to do with the fact that I'm a completely shit guitarist.
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I used to have 2 of these, it's a MIJ Hot Rod Reissue strat from '91. The body cracked in the other one (at one of the trem posts, nasty) and this one had a randomly denty neck so I combined the two and swapped all the original silver hardware for black, just because I like the contrast (and the stock machine heads were absolute crap- good enough for a floyd I guess)
The wiring plan was demented. I never actually finished it properly and now I have absolutely no idea what I was doing. Coil taps and phasing on a push/pull, and a kill switch, and I don't bloody know. It's all conventionally wired now, the little DPDTs aren't connected (especially the one that's vanished) No they're not all tone pots. I do like the Gibson pickup switch on the bottom horn though, first time I'd ever carved a guitar body and that was some scary shit but it was just fun to use.
These were HSS originally with a pretty nice Dimarzio humbucker (where I got my taste for coil taps) and shitty 90s fender single coils but I got this double fat scratchplate made and swapped it to a Duncan Distortion and a 59. (the 59 is a custom shop- you couldn't get a 4 wire 59 at the time without special ordering so I had it slightly overwound to match the Distortion better. SD used to do this sort of thing for free- you just had to pay RRP and postage and they'd ship it straight to you like 6 months later with a little certificate.
Nice that it has a proper Floyd.
Some of the MIJ strats had the Fender System bridge which is a Schaller.
They were/are ok bridges, maybe not quite as good as a Floyd. However, parts for them are really hard to get. And the thumbscrew adjusters parts on the bridge body have a bad tendency for disintegrating threads. So you need to helicoil them.
Sadly the pole spacing is different from any other bridge so you can't put a Floyd on (unless you get a special one from GFS in the States). The headstock end locking mechanism is different too.
That sounds a bit like my first home build guitar I built with my dad some 30 years ago! I'll try to find a photo!
Random Gibson SG clone body with a random mail order neck (7.5 to 9.5 radius) into a Floyd floating bridge with twin SD trembuckers! Six way rotary switch like a PRS. Oh, and custom paint job too.
Looks amazing but plays like crap. Neck and body were not design for the floating bridge, locking nut never locked, and the action was always comically high given the radius of the neck and the flat bridge.
It's like the maxed out Vauxhall Nova of the guitar world. But I played the crap out of it regardless (mainly because I didn't know any better) 🙂
I've bought a new Epiphone acoustic in an N+1 sort of way. Too early to say much about it, it needs a few weeks of playing in and a set up to do it justice. But the strings! They sound reasonable but the gauges feel awful. 15, 23, 30, 34, 44, 54. Is it just me and my fingers that think a 23 steel B-string is ridiculous?
at one of the trem posts, nasty
It's surprising what you can repair with a big drill bit, a suitably carved dowel and some good glue.
Edukator
Free MemberIt’s surprising what you can repair with a big drill bit, a suitably carved dowel and some good glue.
The problem was that Fender'd removed too much wood- very thin at the bridge and had gone really deep in the pickup recess, so there just wasn't much strength in it- it cracked right through the body so there was a loose chunk of wood about an inch across, and some collateral damage in the web, so it needed a bunch of repair but also a lot of strength added.
So we did that- I was working in a guitar shop, our luthier removed the whole broken part, routed a letterbox and put a fat bridge of good wood right across the back of the pickup cavity supported in the strong wings of the body, better than new- but it lost a fair bit of pickup space and needed refinished... so I stuck the second best parts on it and sold it to another maniac, who was planning a single humbucker conversion (I'm guessing this was about 2000 so maybe it was a Delonge thing, never saw the finished built)
This one hadn't cracked yet so I put more strength into it and switched it to lighter strings to stress it a bit less. Though putting it in a case with no strings on for 15 years made that all a bit irrelevant 🙂
I’ve bought a new Epiphone acoustic in an N+1
An Inspired By Gibson one, with solid woods? My Hummingbird sounds every bit as good as the Gibson Songwriter I have here too. Bonkers good for £800ish
A Peter Frampton Texan with all solid woods. Sound wise I don't think it's in quite the same league as current Gibsons and Martins with a comparable body. It's a jangly strummer rather than super warm sounding. In fact my old plywood Sigma Martin has more bottom end, but that's been drying out for 40 years and has very light bracing.
I bought it mainly for the neck. It's a thin C which is very close to my standard Strats and Telecasters, the string spacing is identical at the 41mm nut and 51mm at the bridge, 1mm less than my Teles. It's Telecaster scale lenght, my podgy fingers don't fit as well in Gibsons beyond the tenth fret. I wanted the neck, I don't think I'd have bought it just for the sound, I'd have bought the inspired by Gibson J-45 or Hummingbird as you have, Rickon, if sound were the priority.
I first played a Frampton in a shop in Berlin back to back with a Martin D18 or D28, I can't remember which, I didn't know whether to be disappointed by the Martin or impressed by the Epi. Going through the guitars in that shop it struck me that Gibson was deliberately holding the Indonesians back on two points - Nitro and bracing, let them use nitro and lighter bracing and blind tests would get complicated.
Nitro and bracing, let them use nitro and lighter bracing and blind tests would get complicated.
Totally agree. So annoying using poly.
I took home a Inspired By EJ-200, and the bracing and panels were so thick it robbed the high and low end away. You had to play it so hard for it to vibrate enough to sound good. It sounded lovely when strummed hard, but fingerstyle got totally lost.
The Hummingbird is very different, feels light, and you a feel the vibrations at low volumes. I removed all the electrics, which made a good difference too.
Anyone any experience of Rickenbacker bass’
I have the chance to buy a 4003 in jetglow (black & white) for a decent price. My plan is to sell it on if I don’t get on with it, but like a P Bass, it feels like I should at least own one once! I’m a sucker for the case and case candy too.
Fret levelling and crowning done. Plays a lot better. Still one or two minor buzzes, but for my first time levelling im not fussed.
Will be polishing them up this week to a nice shine, and then dropping in my Brandonwound wide range pickups.
Squier to Sire!
Well done. A couple of other possibles:
A string with a slight kink in it.
I've a Tele with big vintage brass saddles with no grooves and the Zitar effect sounds like a buzz on some notes.
Anyone played the new Epiphone 339?
Yep. I've got one 🙂 What would you like to know?
Finished...soldered all the bits in, set up the neck relief, saddle heights and the intonation.
Little bit of buzz in the low E, so might need to do a bit of fret leveling.
Sounds so nice, the neck P90 has plenty of growl, and the mid position is a good mix.
The bridge pickup is a bit gutless (it's only a cheapy), might upgrade to something nicer at some point.
Here it is next to it's sibling (built last year)
Nicely done @ajantom 🙂
I'm still trying to make my fingers make some nice sounds come out of my guitars. It definitely doesn't come naturally but I'm going to keep trying.
@rickon - what are you thoughts?
I guess my question would be if it feels like a "proper" guitar? That's quite vague. I've generally found standard Epiphones to be a bit plasticky/dead with necks that don't feel right. Always found the customs to be better - comparable with a standard Gibson
Sorry, I was a bit late to reply!
The new Inspired By series is phenomenal. They feel and play just like the Gibsons.
I've always thought Gibsons to be overpriced, and after owning a Gibson SG Standard, and some of the new IBG range I firmly believe it.
The ES-339 feels incredibly well made, the frets are well finished, the pickups sound lovely, clear and like nice humbuckers should.
The setup from the factory was actually spot on, no fret buzz at all, and it was super low.
The real revelation is the rounded C neck. It's so fast to play. The poly gloss coating feels lovely, totally non-sticky and fast.
Switch and knobs are non-scratchy. And it's fitted with Grovers that hold tune really well and have no dead space.
If you bought a £2k Gibson, I doubt you'd be able to tell the difference in feel or tone.
Even the Kalamazoo headstock is lovely. And it's really nice they're not using the big E on the pick guard.
I've tried the Epi 'Inspired by' Firebird and it is really sweet - but golly it feels long. Very well made though. If I was in the market for an LP that is definitely the range I'd check first.
On another point Dave Simpson has Blues part 4 up now.
Been steadily working my way through them.
For a significant celebration - any reason not to go for an AMERICAN ULTRA STRATOCASTER®
It seems like a solid no-nonsense choice.
Looks like I'll need to see if Guitar Guitar has one of those Epi 339s in stock. A pal works there so I generally get £100 off or whatever which makes it a pretty attractive proposition. Though maybe not after Covid.... I'm guessing it just comes with a gig bag?
You mean the Warmoth Stratocaster copy, Oldtennis shoes? Fender have put a Warmoth Shredder neck, the Wizard on here,
https://www.warmoth.com/guitar/necks/backcontours.aspx
on a Strat. And put some noiseless pickups in. I've got a Wizard neck on a Tele and quite like it. Comfortable block saddles, two point trem, there's a lot to like there.
I’m guessing it just comes with a gig bag?
You guess wrong!
It comes with a cardboard box.
If you want a case, you'll have to shell out that £100 you saved!
Ok quick poll time, where do you get strings and picks etc from -other than Amazon? I'd like to support a UK retailer ideally not an Amazon shop or ebayer.
Ok quick poll time, where do you get strings and picks etc from -other than Amazon? I’d like to support a UK retailer ideally not an Amazon shop or ebayer.
My local (to work) guitar shop, Marvel Guitars in Timperley
http://www.marvelguitars.co.uk/
if you like rotosound strings... made in ingerlend!!
£5 a set + the dreaded
https://www.axetec.co.uk/guitar_parts_uk_080.htm
Strings Direct - they stock the pure nickel wrapped Daddario EPN110 I like. LGS don't stock any pure-nickel wraps.
any reason not to go for an AMERICAN ULTRA STRATOCASTER®
It seems like a solid no-nonsense choice.
Kind of. Have you played one? The funky cut and the heel joint feel pretty out there.
It’s nice but if you want a really modern guitar then IMO get a modern guitar. If you want the Strattiest Strat then the AmProIIs get great reviews and are a bit more traditional.
But I’d want to play a few before deciding.
edhornby
Full Member
Ok quick poll time, where do you get strings and picks etc from -other than Amazon? I’d like to support a UK retailer ideally not an Amazon shop or ebayer.
Hi Ed....hope all ok with your lot. 🙂
Either of my local shops, tbh. Louandy's in Colne or ProSolo in Burnley.
Both cheaper than Andertons or PMT etc on strings, ProSolo cheaper on MXR pedals and accessories too.
No, I've no idea how they do it either.
It's the LBS thing all over again. They give me great trade-ins and proper setups on new guitars, which ends up cheaper even if their headline price on new guitars is a few quid more expensive.
If you want the Strattiest Strat then the AmProIIs get great reviews and are a bit more traditional.
Or get a Limited Collection Japanese Fender.
Nitro, USA Custom Shop pickups, flawless finish and build for a few hundred quid less.
Be quick if you find one......
edhornby
Full MemberOk quick poll time, where do you get strings and picks etc from -other than Amazon? I’d like to support a UK retailer ideally not an Amazon shop or ebayer.
Like everyone else- I go into my local guitar shop, play all the guitars, try out all the amps, maybe try on a strap or two, then after 10 hours in the shop I buy exactly 2 picks.
Had my first jam in a rehearsal room the other day - went better than expected!
However, did find it a bit of a lottery about the guitar amps they use.
So, I just ordered one of these:
It's so small I'm going to mount it on my pedalboard! Be handy as I normally walk to the jam so taking my other amps doesn't work. Prefer to have my own amp so I can dial in the amp and pedals beforehand.
Found a guitar shop knocking them out for £79 new which is a little less than a used one on eBay so I can't really lose!
Wowsers! That Boutique one looks great. A couple of then could make for a cheap stereo or wet/dry rig,
Now you've got me thinking! My 4*12 is mono/stereo switchable. Though you get 2x8 ohms instead of a single 4 ohm so wouldn't get any extra power (the power output is impedance related)
Though you get 2×8 ohms instead of a single 4 ohm so wouldn’t get any extra power
Yeah, but wet/dry!
Maybe even go for a lower gain version for the second one.
Wet/dry/wet is for true champs
I keep a tab of my 'music' spending
It eye watering as an overall figure
but at £20 a week over my lifetime since I started playing at 19
Seems like a really reasonable hobby
Wet/dry/wet is for true champs
So I've heard. Must stop looking at That Pedal Show. I do prefer the new logo.
Thanks all for the tips on strings and the like - I like Rotosound 10s on my tele so that's a bonus
As per the strats, Pete makes a good point about the Japanese ones but definitely go and try lots because that's a fair whack to lay out and details like neck carve and heel joint make a difference - also gives you a genuine reason to play all the cool stuff in the shop as you are going to actually buy 🙂
The Ultra's and AMII are poly finish and noiseless pickups whereas the Americal Original are nitro with the 65 pickups and 6screw bridge, depends on what you like really.
(PS Hello Pete, yes we are all well thanks, hope you and Sue are doing ok)
I keep a tab of my ‘music’ spending
It eye watering as an overall figure
but at £20 a week over my lifetime since I started playing at 19
Seems like a really reasonable hobby
Wow. ~£1k / yr. Not at all unreasonable for a hobby I guess, and less than I spend on bikes. In that vein, my guitars are extremely good value for money since I've probably spent no more than £250/year over my playing 'career' (lol).
Having said that, some of those years I've barely picked up a guitar. In the last 12 months barely a day has gone by where I haven't played.
Perhaps I need to buy more guitars? I'll have one of those new Epiphone 335s. Or maybe a Thinline tele.
I was up the hill today where I leave the Harley Benton T-type I mentioned a few pages back and a first generation Mustang II. Here's a chuggy take on Sharp Dressed man with an "British 90s" levels of gain.
Here's one Simon has already done with the same pickup but a clean Fender amp model. You inspired me to spend more time than I should have, Simon. 😉 I must have listened to one bit 20 times before I think I twigged what was going on.
You inspired me to spend more time than I should have, Simon.
Jolly good 🙂
I still need to find some time to learn the rest of the song. I'm dreadful for just learning an intro and then moving onto something else!
I always feel a fool singing Jagger so there's no incentive to learn the whole song. It must be quite hard to sing and play at the same time, the time signature isn't easy and then placing the vocals awkward. I'm stil trying to place the vocals on Pinball Wizard. I can remember them now but on a couple of occasions they run over the bar. Sharp Dressed man is really easy to sing, Gibbons keeps it simple when he's singing.
I can't sing at all so all of my covers will be instrumental only 🙂
You've just reminded me I was going to try the intro to Pinball Wizard!
Nailed it 😉
None of the Youtubers I looked at before having a go gets it right from the point the strumming starts after the initial run down the scale, and Townsend never plays it the same way twice, so I guess anything goes.
Edit: now seen your vid, you've got the run down, now it gets interesting - keep going. Townsend is up there with the very best of the fast strummers with interesting strumming patterns.
I keep a tab of my ‘music’ spending
It eye watering as an overall figure
but at £20 a week over my lifetime since I started playing at 19
Seems like a really reasonable hobby
Guitar gear seems to hold its value very well.
If you take into account money back through selling gear and the accumulated value of your collection I suspect that it'll effectively cost a lot less than that. (Modern digital amps excluded - they lose value.)
This is true. The guitar I spent £120 on 25 years ago (MIM Strat) is worth three times that now.
You could almost argue that’s a solid investment.
Guitar gear seems to hold its value very well.
If you take into account money back through selling gear and the accumulated value of your collection I suspect that it’ll effectively cost a lot less than that. (Modern digital amps excluded – they lose value.)
Thats a great point actually - I sold a lot off stuff during the pandemic and reinvested.
As I'm getting older i've made a conscious decision that I will get rid of everything but 2 guitars, an amp and my pedal board when i'm 60 - 4 years and counting
That old VOX organ guitar of mine has comfortably outstripped inflation.
The buying price was way too low. And I think the selling price was way too high. Got to have got it right for once.
@plumber have you found a second L2M yet?
Why does age make any difference?
This is true. The guitar I spent £120 on 25 years ago (MIM Strat) is worth three times that now.
Also true that what it's worth is a hypothetical figure and only really important if you're looking to sell or if you need to replace it. I have a Rickenbacker 330 that's probably worth quite a bit more than I paid for it, but it's going nowhere in the foreseeable...
Why does age make any difference?
I'm feelingless like I need enough gear to fill out the NEC these days.
I have the Boogie still in storage but a Boogie MkIV with the 1x12 EV has to be loud to get the power amp distortion.
I should sell that now they're going for silly money and buy another small valve amp.
My 25 watt valve combo is loud enough for most gigs I'll ever amble through again and if I need more a powered speaker like the Line6 L2m will more than suffice.
More often than not I have to turn down my 20W THR if anyone else is in the house trying to do other stuff.
TBH really a Line6 Helix or Helix LT with a powered FRFR speaker is pretty much the ideal on any level other than old school nostalgia for me.
Guitars are different though. Really want one of those mega cheap Harley Benton Teles to play with. They seem to be the current equivalent to entry level Yammy Pacifica's back in the late 80s.
EDIT. Just trying to think of any indoor pub gig I've made noise at over the last 20 years where the DT25 at full volume wouldn't be pushing the levels of what is legally acceptable with the rest of the band making sound as well.
I've considerably slimmed down my gigging rig over the years. Used to be such a hassle, there was always a buzz, or a dodgy lead.
Now I have a smallish 1 x 12 cab, small head (and I'm looking at those Vox MV50s, so even smaller!), one guitar, and a Tech21 Flyrig instead of a pedal board.
Especially now as I play keys and guitar in a band, so in addition to the guitar stuff I have a stand, keyboard, laptop, and a few other bits.
I even went for a while in my old band of DI-ing a Line 6 Pod and relying on a monitor for stage sound, which was great 90% of the time, but not so good if the venue's monitoring was crap 🙁
I had one gig at a large Bristol venue, in front of about 3000 people where the monitoring was so bad no-one could hear what was going on. It was intensely embarrassing, and I may have told the sound engineer he was a see you next tuesday. Not my finest moment!
I'm a sax player (who guitars on the side) and I can state with authority that no band member other than the guitarist likes a big guitar amp 🙂 if you really insist on a amp with a ton of headroom then please don't crank the amp during the gig (and be careful with the volume on the guitar also) because it's the reason that the horn players overblow and the keyboard player can't hear anything out of their monitor and the singer loses their voice..
[and breathe] I know that lots of guitarists appreciate this too, but ThatPedalShow do create a false position using SuperReverbs and TwoRock 50w and Plexi's and cranked AC30s even though they caveat it during the videos.
Sometimes the monitor mix is a nightmare on gigs but often as not it's a result of some kit issue (dodgy patch bays, those unintuitive digital desks that are suited for DJ in a bar not a proper venue, worn out wedges, odd acoustics in the venue that create deadspots) rather than just an engineer that is rubbish. The majority of engineers I've met are decent, hardworking and underpaid.
[EDIT]
Ajatom that's not a pop at you, just a general thought
Sometimes the monitor mix is a nightmare on gigs but often as not it’s a result of some kit issue (dodgy patch bays, those unintuitive digital desks that are suited for DJ in a bar not a proper venue, worn out wedges, odd acoustics in the venue that create deadspots) rather than just an engineer that is rubbish. The majority of engineers I’ve met are decent, hardworking and underpaid.
I know that, I've done a fair amount of sound engineering in the past, including a spell as the monitor engineer for a band.
I've had to use my fair share of shite kit!
I know quite a few people who still work (well, they've not worked for the last year:-( ) in live sound, and most of them know their stuff and are really conscientious.
It's the ones who can't be arsed that annoy me.
We played at Boomtown a few years ago on one of the medium size stages (1500ish crowd) and the engineer appeared to be having a nap during our gig!
Well, fitted my Brandonwound Wide-range pups in the Tele deluxe. The Brandonwounds are lovely. Gonna pop a 500k pot on the bridge, and a 0.022 cap to brighten it up a little.
Still can't get the fret buzz away with a normal/low action.
I get fret buzz from the 9th fret up.
I've a little relief, and a high action at the saddle, and the action at the first fret is about 0.7mm.
I've levelled the frets twice now - and wondering if I'm doing it wrong!
I'm getting the fingerboard totally level, as measured by a notched engineering ruler, and levelling with a levelling beam from Crimson, with some 350 grit double-sided taped to the beam, and finished with 2500 grit on the other side.
Then polished with 3000 - 10,000 mesh, and a final polish with felt on a dremel.
What could cause the frets past the 9th to be higher than each other?
Rickon,
I'm not an expert, but is there a neck shim in there? might be worth taking it out if it is, otherwise I'd take it to a luthier. I'm not an expert so might not be 100% correct
Got the wee Vox MV50 today.
Soundwise it's pretty decent. Sounds great with my Les Paul, a bit meh with the Strat.
A 3 way tone control might have helped.
Volume wise it's definitely got some grunt. Plugged it into one half of my 4x12 at 8 ohms (so 25W output) and it would be loud enough to be heard over a drummer. And a metal drummer at that, none of you namby-pamby stuff!
Not quite sure if the sound quality holds up at high volume.
Doesn't clean up well with the volume pot on the Les Paul. Neck pickup is a P90 with a tone rolloff mod on it so normally works really well.
Will do some further testing to see how it takes pedals and need to try it out in a jamroom too.
Will also try running the line out into the power amp section of my Orange OR100...
So, potential is there.
£79 though!!!!
I get fret buzz from the 9th fret up.
I’ve a little relief, and a high action at the saddle, and the action at the first fret is about 0.7mm.
Is the buzzing worse when you bend a sting. Has the neck got a twist in it? When you measure you action do you capo at the first fret and measure the action at the 13th? I have 1.4mm on the top E measured that way and it looks huge with the fingerboard camber but in reality it is quite low.
It sounds like you have done everything right and I’m at a loss to suggest anything more than the excellent advise already offered here by others. Maybe that action at 1st first fret is a bit high, mine is probably a lot lower than that, but it is an LP style guitar...
Actually, thinking about it what happens when you capo at the first fret? Can you lower the action and get i5 feeling better? If so it sounds like it could be that nut being a bit high.
Got the wee Vox MV50 today
Do did mine 😎
£79 is a proper bargain imo. Even if I don't like it (and I do so far) I'll be able to sell it on at no loss.
The gain on full is really heavy, and running it through my 1 x 12 8 ohm cab, it's definitely loud enough to gig with.
Surprisingly good clean tone on low gain/high volume too. The single tone control gives a good range, and the mid boost on the back is a nice idea.
Sounded really good with my homebuilt Musicman/Tele mashup with it's active EMG pickups.
Tele wasn't quite as nice, sounded ok, but they're quite cheap pickups, and heavy gain isn't a Tele's forte anyway.
Next up is trying out my PRS, and my Tech21 Flyrig 5 for some reverb and see how it sounds playing with the tone and gain on that.
Also I'll try it through my 2x12 cabinet, which (I think) is 2 X 8ohm speakers wired in parallel, so 4ohms. Which should be very loud!
Which model amps did you go to? I like the idea of the boutique one as I mentioned above.
I got the high gain one.
Gain range is actually very usable across the whole spectrum.
Portability is ridiculous:
The power supply is bigger!
I wonder if any of the good PSUs like Voodoo Labs or whatever could power it.
Actually, thinking about it what happens when you capo at the first fret? Can you lower the action and get i5 feeling better? If so it sounds like it could be that nut being a bit high.
I reckon you could be right. I've got a couple of spare tusq nuts, I'll sand down the current one and see if I can lower the saddle action and increase the relief a little.
I'm keen to get it right, not just so I have a Tele that plays awesome, as well as sounds awesome, but so I develop my skills!