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I have this stand, which I rate. It’s for 3 guitars but they’ll sell you an extra headstock adaptor (not expensive) if you want more than three. It comfortably fits 3 electrics + my acoustic and would fit 5 guitars at a push.
https://www.thomann.de/gb/hercules_hcgs523b.htm
That looks pretty ideal @Superficial Thanks.
@chipps I tried a Strandberg Boden Standard at a jam night and had a couple of issues. Firstly everything at the moment sounds pretty feeble in comparison to the Tele and secondly although I love headless guitars and have tried a few fanned fret guitars in the past this felt a bit wierd at the dusty end of the neck as the nut was a right angles as normal so there was a lot more angle on the higher frets. The only multiscales I've tried before had the nut angled so the wierdness was spread more evenly along the fingerboard.
I'm sure you get used to it but it felt strange.
I've had a Hohner Steinberger in the past (sold it on here, actually... quite fancy one again though) and played a real one back in the day, but haven't tried a fan fret jobber...
I think it depends on the scales. The 7 and 8 string ones have the nut angled at there's a big difference between the top and bottom scales, but apparently the six stringers don't really have that much difference in the scales (25 to 25.5) so it's not needed. (The seven is 25.5-26.25 and the eight is 26.5-28in...)
This was one of my favorite songs in 1991 when I first picked up a guitar. If you told me then I’d improve enough to learn the solo in a couple of days it would have blown my mind.
Not perfect but pretty close and the best “take” I could get in a free half an hour this morning.
If anyone is interested, tone is just guitar into a mid boost into a cranked fender tweed blues deluxe. Not quite tube screamer into cranked Marshall but close enough.
Excellent!
Schwiiing! Nice one. Time for me to start recording a few things.
Thanks for posting that Trio+ @chipps. It's exactly what I need. Due to shoulder surgery bike riding is going to be of the agenda for many months. So, I want to start recording some shit. I'm going to buy the Trio+ but I'd also like a suggestion for an inexpensive but decent audio interface. I was thinking something like a Focusrite Scarlet. Has anyone any experience with that? Or recommendations for something similarly simple and budget?
I have the Scarlet 2i2 and it's great. Only thing is it needs USB power so I can't just plug it into my ipad without an adapter power supplies.
I also wish it had a SPDIF in/out but that us a but fancy.
The Scarlett comes with loads of software downloads too.
My Scarlett yesterday:
Has anyone any experience with that? Or recommendations for something similarly simple and budget?
We have a couple of the Behringer U-Phoria - the dinky one UMC22 and the boy has the big brother (UMC404HD) both work well for guitar and vocals.
Both are used with Garage Band.
Is the software for the Scarlet worthwhile? Or not really an improvement on Audacity? I use Audacity for work right now, for narrations. Not used it in anger for music, just kind of played around with a USB mic recording some guitar.
Ableton Lite is the big draw. I use Garageband and Logic though.
I’m going to buy the Trio+ but I’d also like a suggestion for an inexpensive but decent audio interface
Watch out on the Trio. Digitech don't exist anymore.
Good point @eddiebaby. Though Digitech did get bought by Cort in April. My Trio+ was secondhand from Reverb - though I coincidentally saw a new, boxed Trio+ in a shop today.
I've been on the lookout for a Jazzmaster for ages now, but there's slim pickings for new guitars, even at 2022 prices, and they don't often come up used. Nevertheless, I check ebay/my local shop's website/Reverb when I'm having my morning coffee most days, looking for the 'right' one.
Sure enough, one came up just today in my local shop that looked perfect. I wanted to do a bit of research about the exact model before I called them for a deposit. By the time I'd decided I wanted it (and, indeed, that it was underpriced, and that I'd be getting a mint pickguard), it'd sold. sadtrumpet.wav
It got away. Here's the pictures anyway:
https://richtonemusic.co.uk/fender-jazzmaster-60th-anniversary-daphne-blue-nitro-w-hard-case-2nd-hand/
Blue. Block inlays. Painted headstock. Nitro finish! PV65 pups. Upgraded bridge. It's like an offset dork's dream guitar!
I know no one cares, I know I'd be a better person if I didn't care. But I'm annoyed.
Very nice. I can see why you're upset.
Keep looking.There'll be another out there.
My GAS continues as my Tele will be getting a new neck next. A couple of months time Ill get a new body and then put on the new neck, pick guard, pickups and locking tuners that I fitted to my American Pro II Tele and restore that to its original spec (I'll leave the Gotoh compensated saddles on there.
All I'll need is a control plate and neck plate and a bridge and I'll have two Teles.
The new neck:
https://guitaranatomy.com/product/telecaster-rosewood-and-roasted-flame-maple-guitar-neck-gloss-21-fret-jumbo-with-abalone-markers/
Will the two Teles be different? Having never owned two of the same guitar, I struggle to see how they could complement each other. You going for a different sound?
One for 5 string Open G probably, playing it a lot on the Tele and the JTV especially as I can just detune it with a tap of a button.
They will sound different. I currently have Twisted Teles in place of the V-Mod 2s but although I love the neck pickup the bridge isn't quite there for me. I have a set of Bootstrap Palo Duros coming as the bridge pickup is supposed to be very close to the Broadcaster so fingers crossed that'll be OK.
If they are too similar then I can always sell the Am Pro II.
The feel will be different for sure with the rosewood board compared with the maple.
I'm picking up the Tele or the JTV most of the time and the Strat is looking a bit sad in the corner so I'll probably strip the EMGs and locking tuners off that and sell it on.
Got a bunch of pedals, a pedalboard and stuff to get rid of now that are gathering dust since the Kemper arrived.
just got one of these yesterday https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_bm_75_trans_red.htm
it's a brian may alike guitar and i have to say it is great (apologies no pictures of it yet).
haven't played it much through my amp yet so cannot really comment about the different tonal options yet but i did like what i heard when i was trying it through my mustang lt-25.
it is really nicely made and a nice weight to it and everything feels solid on it nothing feels cheap.
am well chuffed with it (and my previous hb purchase too the fusion iii hss pro guitar that is also awesome for the money).
Incoming this week
Keeley Halo
Strymon Conduit
That HB looks great. Very pretty design and nicely different to the usual boring Strats and Teles.
Keeley Halo
Strymon Conduit
Very nice. I'm trying to avoid any new pedals. I'm going to cut it to Compressor, OD and a delay although I have a Trelicopter I really like and my Flashback 2 is great with the MASH feature. The rest are all going aling with the GT1000 Core.
The last two times I played outside I just went Kemper and a Volume pedal. The other stuff is just for home. No-one is going to notice it live other then me, but the compresser and Polytune3 will end up on the board I'm sure.
I got one of these on Sunday and it’s amazing for the money. It’s like a cooler les Paul. (Although sounds wise it’s almost halfway between a les Paul and a tele)
That's a lot of guitar for the money. Is the chambering noticeably lighter? Great colour too.
I went from a Behringer UPhoria interface to a Scarlett 212 v3. The Behringer was really good, but the Scarlett sounds cleaner, is better made and has the "air" toggle. I tried the software but none of it was any better than what I have been using. I'm a long term Reaper user and can't be arsed to learn a new DAW 🙂
singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/guitarists-of-singletrack/page/63#post-12428150
It seems lighter than my old episodes les Paul, but it's been a few years since I sold it, so can't say for sure. It's light though, and I think I prefer Laurel to Pau ferro feel wise even if Pau ferro looks nicer. Laurel feels smoother to me
Rock on Ceepers ! There's a few things I've learned thanks to Youtube that I could only dream of playing in my youth. I think I learned faster back then but didn't have the tools we have today.
Delirious with The Rona fever yesterday and somehow managed to order this which turned up today
https://flic.kr/p/2nsxrSZ
Good lord, both the Mustang and the Jazzmaster are gobsmackingly beautiful, good eye folks.
I went to the Haydock Park Guitar Show recently and walked away with one of these:
Having tried and been disappointed by A LOT of genuine Gibsons recently, this just blew me away.
It's delightful and scratches an itch I've had since stupidly selling the pre Wilkinson Vintage SG.
After setting it up, I honestly can't fault it. It sounds like the apocalypse.
Having said that, out of the eight guitars we own between us, the one getting the most time is the Squier Bullet Mustang.
Seriously, if you have a spare £100, just buy one.
I smoothed and waxed the back of the neck, fitted some brass saddles from Northwest Guitars and some shorter saddle screws (I'd missed the fact that a couple were touching the strings).
It still feels a bit toylike, but plays and sounds amazing.
Honestly, everyone should have one.
not mine, but same as mine, still love it as my first proper bass. If I was confident I'd like to replace the pickguard with a pearlescent white to make it like it's £600 more expensive Fender sibling,
Seeing the number of single coil guitars on here make sure you guys don't do what I did recently: Plug in Telecaster, roll up volume, neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. ****, they're just gonna have to put up with it. It was just a dumb decision, I was going to be standing there for a while and took my thinline (broadcaster type pickups) which is light rather than my usual somewhat heavy swamp ash Tele which has stacked N3 noiseless pickups.
My old Squier Vintage Modified Tele II with P90's hums like a bastard if you select individual pickups.
I usually wait for the keyboard player to start making psychedelic helicopter noises before I lurch into my five chord repertoire.
One of this bloke’s tunes popped up on shuffle earlier today, and I wondered if anyone here had come across him, I’ve seen him play, and he’s just amazing live.
Yes. Huge Legg fan. The mags used to be full of him
@RustySpanner just wondered if there is a good bridge upgrade for the bullet mustang (i have a black one with white scratchplate). when i changed the strings on it it was a bloody nightmare trying to thread the strings through the bridge saddles lol.
would like to upgrade it to body through like a tele one day when funds allow but the guitar is very nice for the low cost for sure.
hope you are well also 🙂
Hiya!
Have a look on the Squier Talk website, there's a huge thread on there about modding the Bullet Mustang.
https://www.squier-talk.com/threads/bullet-mustang-show-and-explain-your-mods.120709/
I kept the bridge plate on mine, just added some brass saddles and a couple of shorter M3 screws to stop them touching the strings when intonated for 11's.
Hmmm. Starts thinking about a Mustang body to put the new neck on...
610mm scale length, Eddie.. .
Having said that, out of the eight guitars we own between us, the one getting the most time is the Squier Bullet Mustang.
Seriously, if you have a spare £100, just buy one.
Dammmit I don't (didn't) need another guitar.
Oh well, short scale Fender(ish) guitar itch sctratched 🙂
Traditionally yes.
TBH I'm also looking at jag bodies too.
Really love the tele shape though so I think I'm probably going to stick with a Tele, but maybe a Thinline.
https://www.boobooguitars.co.uk/collections/guitar-bodies/products/tc-body-526845
Of course what I really need are better ears and new fingers as I've spent 3 days working on Pedal Steel bends on the Tele. Ouchies.
Or a Tele with a B-bender or G-bender. There are ones in the US that don't add to much weight.
A friend of mine has a Brent Mason Tele and while it was a bit pricey he sold 2 or 3 of his others and now plays nothing else, apart from his acoustic.
Having ordered a black Squirt Mustang firvtge princely sum of £17 from GAK, I've been googling them.
They seem to get glowing reviews apart from bridge, tuners, and nut.
I'm wondering about doing a few mods (because why not!) Think it would look cool with a black bridge, black tuners and a black nut 😎
I might even look into a black scratch plate, though I could laser cut one myself at work.
^ oops that should read £117. Beer has been drunk
Jesus! At that price you can afford a lot of beer....
Seems that THIS what I want
https://www.andertons.co.uk/guitar-dept/electric-guitars/best-electric-guitars-under-500/squier-paranormal-offset-telecaster-in-butterscotch-blonde
@Superficial Very processed. VERY 80s. Very nice. Sure I heard that recently somewhere... 🙂
Anyone interested in an American Professional II Strat in Miami Blue with maple fingerboard? Mint condition. Has Schaller locking tuners on it plus the ones I removed.
Currently has the David Gilmore EMG pickup set in there but I'll put the stock VMod -2 pickups back in.
Comes with a hard case and has all the documentation with it.
£1200.
Need to sell a guitar to pay for a Baritone.
I would... but I already have an AM pro 1 (fantastic Guitars) and I just got a gretsch, and I'm in a position of 2/3 out before 1 in
Aye, nowt wrong with it but I am using the Tele all the time at the moment and I really fell for a Chapman Bea Baritone yesterday.
Like you no more in until something goes.
I'll stick the JTV for sale as well and see which goes first.
That Strat looks lovely. Really like the Miami Blue (As do you, I know). £1200 seems like a bargain in today's used guitar climate, but alas I don't need another Strat.
Strat owners - how close is the trem arm to your volume pot? On mine, if the arm is over the pot, I can barely get any down-wiggle. Is this normal? Guitar is a 90s MIM. 6 bolt Trem. I think I just maybe need a new trem arm with the 90° bend a bit further out?
I removed the volume pot, and wired the other two as volume and tone like a Nashville Tele. This means the tone control works on the bridge pickup and makes it a little less nasty when used on its own - which happens when I accidentaly hit the selector when strumming.
On mine, if the arm is over the pot, I can barely get any down-wiggle. Is this normal?
is the small spring completely squished or missing?
you can also drop a ball bearing on top or under it to get some more clearance.
Strat owners – how close is the trem arm to your volume pot?
The question I'd ask is how is the angle of the bridge plate relative to the top of the guitar?
Once your action is right unless you are going for full rockstar trem up bends the general advise is along the lines of baseplate parallel to guitar top when the springs are tensioned right.
This gives a bridge roughly aligned to the sting plane that is claimed to improve tone and sustain yet gives room for wiggle and moderate dive bombs and upbends.
Of course you can try the Carl Verheyen / Jeff Beck method for an even more 'refined' method.
Strat sold with no effort or haggling. He collects it tomorrow.
And this is on the way to me.
https://www.chapmanguitars.com/product/ml3-bea-baritone/
Ooh, that's nice looking 👍 and a very decent price.
My Squier Mustang arrived, along with new scratch plate and Tusq nut.
Had a play stock, and it's a bloody good guitar for just over a ton. Amazing even.
The humbuckers sound good, lovely neck feel and shape, fret ends all nicely finished, no high frets, even the intonation seems pretty good.
Action is a bit high...but I've sorted that with the new nut.
Fitted the new Tusq XL nut, it's a but shorter, so lowered the action to just the right height.
Fitted the new black scratch plate, and a couple of my preferred knurled black vol and tone knobs.
Just waiting on a black bridge with compensated brass saddles, and some black locking tuners.
Apologies for crap pics
Before:
So far:
Looks great!
Mine had a few machining marks on the back of the neck near the headstock, but as with yours, the frets were fine.
Fretboard drank lots of lemon oil, but looks better now.
Which tuners have you gone for?
They seem to be the only real weak spot left now....
Yeah, I need to oil the fretboard, it feels very dry.
No marks on the back of the neck or headstock that can see. Couple of teeny dings on the edge of the headstock.
Bought some Wilkinson EZlock tuners. Got them on another guitar and like them... only £25 a set too.
If it was a pricier guitar I might have gone for Hipshots or Gotohs, but they're nearly as much as the guitar cost!
Here's a question...anyone got any tips on getting over plateaus in their playing? I feel like I've been wallowing about in the intermediate swamp for years and, since moving, I don't even have a band to push me anymore.
I've thought about in-person lessons or online courses, both of which I've tried in the (in some cases distant) past. Had a free trial of True Fire over lockdown, the structure of which I enjoyed, as I like being able to sit down, open the computer and be told what to do for 30mins without having to wade through YouTube. Of course, with lessons this would presumably be similar, except there would be someone to push me/be disappointed when I don't practice. Any thoughts? Similar experiences?
@ajantom very nice looking beast. What colour pickguard did it come with?
EDIT: D'Oh! Just realised its the white one in the top pic, I thought it was a reflection when I saw it on my phone.
I like the look and sound of the Mustang when I heard Chris Buck plugging one.
@andeh For me it has been having the THR 10 ready to go and sound good at a moments notice and the WAZA Air headphones for when even the little THR is too loud.
Always playing with a drum track or a metronome and then simply listening to YouTube lessons and working to understand a bit more theory.
And crucially I record myself a lot and anaylse as best I can as to what does or doesn't work and then try to correct the problem.
Finding practical applications for theory has eluded me for ages.
Playing a lot in open G for a couple of weeks was good as you can't do the same finger shapes you are used to, DADGAD is the same.
I'm not good, but I'm a heck of a lot better
Not playing after a few beers also helps to avoid bad habits.
Dont drink and djent guys!
Strat owners – how close is the trem arm to your volume pot?
Three quarters of an inch resting, and about half an inch with a full tone dive. American Performer.
Yeah, I need to oil the fretboard, it feels very dry.
I highly recommend Monty's stuff for the neck. Either the relic wax if you want to darken it up or the instrument food
@andeh, if Truefire was working for you why not spring for a subscription? I've considered it and will probably give it, or JTC Guitar a go in the near future.
Alternatively, the best thing for pushing my limits has always been writing and recording. Inevitably I will come up with an idea that is just out of reach of my technique and be forced to get it down to a high standard to capture a decent take.
The biggest driver with this though is ultimately having something to work towards which keeps you motivated.
I'm currently working on Eugene's Trick Bag and it's definitely improving my familiarity with the less stock arpeggios in that piece, i.e. all other than the Am and Dm which will hopefully result in me being more comfortable incorporating those shapes in my improv. But I may get bored before nailing the whole tune cause the last bit is insanely hard to maintain accuracy due to the large jumps. Having fun with it though.
Three quarters of an inch resting, and about half an inch with a full tone dive. American Performer.
That's useful info - mine is way closer than that. Thanks.
The question I’d ask is how is the angle of the bridge plate relative to the top of the guitar?
Once your action is right unless you are going for full rockstar trem up bends the general advise is along the lines of baseplate parallel to guitar top when the springs are tensioned right.
It's only recently I have tried to start using the trem - in the past I've always used it without the arm in, so I've always had it set up with the bridge pinned down against the body (I.e. not floating). Now I've set it so it's almost floating but still rests back on the body (i.e. can bend down but not up). Obviously if I set it up floating it'll make this particular issue worse.
is the small spring completely squished or missing?
you can also drop a ball bearing on top or under it to get some more clearance.
I'm guessing this is the answer. I never had a spring or BB. Bought used so I don't know what it 'should' have. The arm has always been quite floppy so I use plumbers' tape on it to keep it where I want it. Perhaps the answer is to throw to detritus into the hole and see what works!
https://fendercustomersupport.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-us/knowledgebase/article/KA-01901 is a pretty good guide to see if everything is setup ok
Oh my Lordy!!!!!
That is all.
Finally got my hands on one of the Epiphone 'inspired by Gibson' ES-335's. These are rare as hens teeth in left handed. Reassuringly, the neck and feel aren't quite as nice as my Gibson LP, but still really nice. Sounds great though.
I think I mostly need some structure. I do the classic sit down and play through the songs I know/mess about with effects/maybe do a scale or 2, which definitely isn't helping. Maybe I'll give True Fire another spin. I think I'd mostly just like to increase my general musical and fretboard knowledge.
I've never been good for sitting down and learning a solo note for note as, oddly, I don't really like/know the kind of music that has complex solos. Learning a Fall track isn't really a challenge. I've been trying some classical stuff and fingerstyle, but it feels more like training muscle memory than expanding my understanding. Music theory is haaaaaard 😞
Buy a looper pedal. Just order one now. The most basic one will be fine.
I've got a Boss RC-10R which I use quite a bit. Great when I'm in the right mood.
Great combo Benman. I love my BOSS amps and effects.
A fellow lefty
If you like guitars (of course you do), loud guitars and you’re in Derby, come see my band Agent Utah Saturday (25) at Horse&Groom off Kedleston rd.
It’s loud and it’s rock. Evh, Gibson, PRS, Chapman - all there for your Guitarists of Singletrack Geek Out 🙂
Say hi.
Finished murdering out my Squier Mustang...
Black tuners, scratchplate, control plate, nut, and bridge.
Just debating on silver knobs (like here) or black knobs. Think I prefer the contrast of silver.
Excellent!
Did the tuners require any drilling or are they just a straight replacement?
Do you have a link for them?
Much appreciated!
And does anyone have a decent beginners guide for refinishing bodies?
So many out there, a few recommendation would be priceless.
Once again, thanks in advance....
anyone got a rough guide for waxing / polishing a neck. My Squier Mustang bass is stock finish but I fancy a go at refnishing it. Fine sandpaper followed by wax as per links above or is it more complex, will I get all gummed up with the varnish or lacquer or whatever is on the neck from the factory.
Did the tuners require any drilling or are they just a straight replacement?
Do you have a link for them?
No drilling out the holes for the actual tuners, just a 1.5mm but needed to drill little holes for the screws on the back - the originals lock in pace with a small tab on the underside that goes into the wood. All looks very neat.
They're Wilkinson EZ lock tuners. Got them and the bridge from Northwest Guitars.
https://www.northwestguitars.co.uk/wjn03-ez-lok-tuners-for-right-handed-guitar-1-19-ratio/
Cheers!