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To my mind and skill/tool set guitar fettling / maintenance is quite binary.
Fretwork of any description, anything to do with the nut, any ungluing = give it to a luthier
Everything else = easy, adjustable (mostly) reversible including electrics, acoustic bridges, strings, hardware etc.
This means that the stuff I am happy doing is probably what's useful 90% of the time. The other 10% requires expensive tools and practice.
Having said that I want to make my own guitars and it feels like a cop-out to just buy a neck so one day when I've got more time etc etc..
Does anyone else have a Trio pedal ?
I'm loving mine and would love to hear of anyone's tips, tricks etc.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50598219922_b626ca66cb_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50598219922_b626ca66cb_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2k6c6Y7 ]IMG_3296[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85556236@N06/ ]markwsf[/url], on Flickr
I'd be happy to invest in a Japanese Strat, my acoustic is an 80s Sigma-Martin dreadnought. Sanding the neck is one of the things I've considered, it's got plenty of meat in it and needs the truss rod far too tight to get the relief right. Taking a few mm off the head end and sanding flat with the truss rod tight would help both issues.
Edit: just had another look at it, this thread is motivating me.
There's a good video on That Pedal Show where Mick and Dan get their fave guitars fixed up. Mick ends up sanding the fingerboard on his Strat and suddenly it's playable again. Worth a watch.
markwsf - I had one of the early Trios - without the looper. It was probably the difficulty of setting it up with a looper that made me sell it again, so you're one step up. I currently either loop or just noodle to Youtube backing tracks...
I did some work on my bass yesterday - much better now
And for those of you lefties - Andertons are doing a run of Danish Pete Telecasters
I currently either loop or just noodle to Youtube backing tracks…
I'm having fun playing over the recent Paul Davids track that he had those ten guys do a short solo. You can download a long version of the backing track free from his patreon site.
I think I learnt a lot for working on the stuff the assorted guys laid down. Chris Buck even does a guide on how to play his solo and includes a tab for the bits I couldn't work out. Always good to try to copy someone elses technique and see what you can steal.
I'm a bit late to this party. Hardly ever look in the Chat forum. Primarily a bass player but started many years ago on guitar and still occasionally pick it up. Used to play Bouzouki and Mandolin in a folk band but spent the best part of the last twenty years playing bass and backing vocals in a Grunge/Alt Rock covers band. Do most of my own set ups and repairs unless it requires the skills of a proper luthier and tinker with basic amp repairs.
Any thoughts on audio interfaces to use on a Mac with Garage band? I’m thinking of setting something up to record me playing so I can hear where I need to improve.
Was thinking about something like this
Behringer UMC22 Computer Audio Interface https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FFIGZF6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_Wj.RFb5411HQP
Alternatives?
That Berry unit looks fine for what you want.
I've got one of those Berhingers, it seems pretty good but I've nothing to compare it out. It works as both the audio "in" interface, but also as a connection to speakers instead of the laptops headphone out jack.
I tend to use the USB connection from my amps though (a Katana and a Yamaha THR, both of which are connectible this way), and I'd recommend that way if your amp allows, to start with at least just because it's so simple.
Behringer UMC22/UMC202 are fine as simple interfaces.
Though I prefer the Steinberg UR22 that Behringer copied for these models.
I had a UmC202 and a UR22 to compare and sold the Behringer.
Nicer preamps, less noise, midi in/out and he option to power from a supply as well as usb.
I'm also going to jump in at this late stage. I've been lurking this thread for a while.
I'm a wannabe bass player. I borrowed one when I was young and loved booming along to Rage Against the Machine songs but I never stuck with it. I always said that as soon as I had the space and the free time I'd get back into it. It only took 20 years and a global pandemic for that to happen.
Through my job I always get offered big discounts for companies that I have no interest in but just as the first lockdown started I got an email from Fender! 20% off absolutely everything on the website so I knew it was time to dive in. I now have a beautiful 70's style Mexican Jazz bass exactly like this...
I went straight back to learning RATM tunes and I can fumble my way through most of them. The biggest difference in 2020 is that it's more fun. When I used to play on my own in my bedroom it used to be so boring. I'd hit dead ends all the time and had no one to ask questions to or I'd run out of stuff to practice.
Now with an amp, my own living room, YouTube on the big telly and an elderly neighbour who is deaf as a post, I'm having loads of fun with it. I'm still clumsy and inconsistent and nowhere near playing with a band but I might get there eventually. I'll be looking for proper lessons with a local teacher in the new year to see if I can make actual progress.
This thread has got me looking at guitars now. I've never played one but I've kind of fallen for this....
£1007 with my discount. I won't be buying it because I literally can't play a thing on a guitar. Something for the future maybe.
@shakattack RATM have some awesome bass lines! Get stuck in mate!
Yeah they're amazing. I think I love them even more now than when I was an angry teenager. I had tickets to see them this year on the surprise world tour but we'll have to wait.
There's some really good tracks to play along to on YouTube. I can't do any of them 100% yet as there's always one detail like a fast tricky fill that I can't nail yet.
One of my mates who rides is also a good drummer so my short term goal is to get good enough to meet up and mess around and have some clue what I'm doing. I've been learning chord shapes and scales so I can plod along to a backing track. I've never played with another person yet.
Depending on what you're after - I got one of these little USB mixers...
https://www.andertons.co.uk/benringer-xenyx-302-usb-analog-mixer-302usb
It works as a mixer and as an in/out device and it runs off the computer's USB power. So I can use it to run my computer USB into my speakers, or I can run a mic or guitar into my computer too.
The excuse I got it for was something I've not tried yet- which is to be able to take a line in (like a backing track) and a guitar in and then mix both out via USB to the computer - which'd let you put both out onto a track, or Youtube or whatever. Not sure, it seemed important at the time. In the meantime though, it seems great for the money...
@sharkattack just get jamming with your drummer friend, you can't beat it for getting a feel going. Even if you just stick to some simpler riffs that you are more confident with.
As Jordan says, playing along with a drummer is great. If you're a long-time bedroom guitarist (which I was until about ten years ago) you won't realise how awful your timing is, even when you think it's great. Playing with a live drummer and really listening to the groove is a great skill to have - regardless of the notes you're playing.
And, needless to say, drummer/bassist bands like Royal Blood manage to make it sound pretty good... 🙂
(Randomly, my pal Alex, who I met through mountain biking, works for Fender and worked on both the Tom Morello Strat and makes basses for Royal Blood. Small world!)
Hi @chipps we have met once. I came to your house maybe fifteen years ago with my ex wife who was meeting your OH about something. We had a good chat about bikes, the mag and music. I remember you showing me a loft or something where you were working on amps(is that right?) I was very impressed/envious of that set up, do you still have it?
Thanks both - mixer vs just interface 🤔
@jordan - I still have a room full of disorganised music-related stuff, if that's what you mean... 🙂
(Randomly, my pal Alex, who I met through mountain biking, works for Fender and worked on both the Tom Morello Strat and makes basses for Royal Blood. Small world!)
Yeah it is a small world. I just found this picture on the Barefaced website,
Go on there Chief! I now want something similar in the garage.
One of the main reasons I want to level up my ability is so I can justify buying all the cool gear that goes with it but don't tell anyone.
My mrs. actually really likes that Strat and she never passes comment on anything. I wonder what she'd say if it arrived in the living room. I could hide it behind the J bass for a while.
Timmy C - that guy that rides bikes with Hans Rey, right? 🙂
@chipps I am very comfortable in rooms full of disorganised music related stuff..I'm sat in one now.........and there's a bike in here too just to balance things up. 🙂
The very same. I remember buying the Battle of Los Angeles whenever that came out (1999?) and the thank you section in the liner notes mentioned loads of mtb manufacturers. It was my 2 teenage obsessions colliding but I was pre internet so couldn't find any other info.
They're in the UK next year you should invite him for a ride/interview/jam session.
There's a good mention of mountain biking in Duff McKagan's autobiography too. I think it was Dave Cullinan who lived near Duff and who took him out riding in his drug-addled years and helped put him on the path to fitness and recovery...
Taylor Hawkins, Foo Fighters drummer is another mountain biker who has had drug problems in the past.
If anyone is in the mood for some RATM, here is us doing a cover of Killing in the name from a few years ago. Not really doing it justice I know but it was fun.
Nice one. Such a mint song.
Junior's teen band's version of Killing in the Name of at 17:25. He's on bass for that song.
They did a good job of that! Nice one!
Taylor Hawkins has played drums at Hans's Wheels For Life gala dinner thing... Sooo LA 🙂
Just had a couple of hours playing the landlord's 63 Telecaster. Totally original. Never even had the scratchplate taken off or the neck removed.
No finish on a lot of the back of the neck. He claims he was told it was from the first batch of maple neck Teles brought over.
The feel is stunning, the bridge pickup sounds fine, not too certain about the neck pickup though. Conditionwise it would be described as lightly worn on the front with some belt buckle damage on the back but it is so playable.
Fingerboard is a touch worn but as John has neer been a lead player and not a big bender of notes the frets feel in really good condition.
Pics tomorrow.
Sobering experience playing something that is probably worth above £15K.
If it's a 62 with the original wiring there will be next to no treble on the neck pickup and the tone pot will mix the pickups in the middle position, I think, the dates they changed to modern wiring must be on the Net somewhere to confirm.
Good to know thanks. More time with it tomorrow.
Quick PSA.....
This could be an error, as it appears far too good to be true, but PMT are advertising the black version of the Orange Rocker 32 for £499.
https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/orange-rocker-32-2x10-valve-combo-amp-in-black
That's ridiculously cheap.
I recently paid £15 more than that for the Rocker 15. The 32's are normally up around the £800 mark.
Too big and heavy for me, but I'm considering getting one just to flip it on Reverb....
The practice continues. I bought a Blackstar Flybass amp plug
for using with the headphones.
I’ve finally got to a full speed Come as you are bass line on Fender play. I was struggling to keep up at half speed 2 weeks ago 🥴
It feels like the daily sessions are paying dividends.
Just need my new Yamaha TRBX304in Factory Blue to turn up now.
for using with the headphones
Anyone got recommendations for decent headphones for plugging into an amp or multi effects?
I have a pair of Technics over ears that distort very easily and even my £300 Sony WH1000xm3 headphones struggle with distortion
I’m using some oldish sennheiser hd 449s without issue.
This could be an error, as it appears far too good to be true, but PMT are advertising the black version of the Orange Rocker 32 for £499.
A good amp at the old price but that is very impressive.
As you say a loud amp.
Re headphones My old Sennheiser HD465 are still going strong. I prefer them to Shure as you can replace the lead if it gets crackly... (Never has.)
Talking of Amps I've been playing with the DT25 a heck of a lot lately. With the V2 software I can use it as the original 2 channel amp with 4 amps to choose one of in each channel and a digital 'spring' reverb.
But I have an iPad app now that lets me configure 4 different modelled amps with a valve in there per channel and assorted different reverbs. The really cool thing is being able to programme the all valve power amp as Pentode or Triode or Class A/Class AB and adjust the Negative Feedback Loop for major sound control.
Its still not exactly progammable as the knob positions control the sound, so if you have it set up as a mellow breaking up Bassman and then switch to a Boogie or Soldano the knobs are all in the same position so things can get a bit 'interesting'.
I run the quieter amps on ChA and the high gain on ChB but it still is open to error.
Really love this but 25W is damn loud in the house. A good pub gig size though.
The iPad control screen for programming the amp opportunities.
https://flic.kr/p/2k7BBdm
For the 4th day in a row I just nearly bought a bass. Haven't had a bass for 15 years, switched to guitar and never regretted it, but suddenly I just... want... a... bass. Resisting... Well not really, in fact I totally tried to buy it but teh webstore doesn't like firefox so I didn't complete and now I've backed off.
I mean, really what I need to do is put new strings on my lovely MIK tele so I can play that without getting lockjaw but, I waaaaaaant.
Specifically, one of these, a very cheap Ibanez:
Short scale so should be less stress on my busted wrist, PJ pickups like my old mexi Fender, and rather handsome if you ask me.
@oldtennisshoes feel free to drop me a PM if you want some pointers/direction on moving forwards. I don't have many bass students these days (it's one the lowest uptake instruments of all apparently)
PSA: GuitarGuitar appear to have just chopped £100 off the TC Plethora X5 price to £339, which is quite tempting, having missed out on the one on here recently.
Any other not-black Friday (whenever that is) bargains spotted?