Sometimes just trying everything is better than owning the single best option. As in, they enjoy the process of owning a Flying V for a few months because they always wanted one, then move it on for something different when they realise how impractical it is.
I always wanted a Cannondale with a Lefty. Deep down (OK, not that deep) I know it'd be terrible but I'd like to tick it off the bucket list!
The amp blew up last week mind,
Sounds like the Egnator was the better deal. 😉 Teasing apart, why did you let the Egnator go? Nice clean tones and plenty of gain if you're that way inclined. And a good pedal plaform.
Wrong end of the stick Ed....I received the Egnater....which promptly blew up last week. I actually used it on tour in ski resorts last winter....which even for someone with 15 years experience as a pro, was something of an eye opener in terms of "rock n roll excess" 😳
Andertons have sent me a label to print out for them to send a courier tomorrow to collect my bricked Ditto X4. Lovely people to deal with.
They did howeverask me to log a service ticket with Music Tribe - the website for all things TC Electronic, Behringer and more - to see if it could be sorted over the phone.
Dear god that site is a pain and the service guy didn't seem to have read the original info I submitted. Even when I pointed out it was bricked and wouldn't restart he seemed to feel that updating the software would solve it, despite the fact that nobody on the internet with the same problem had cured it that way. He even said I needed a Windows machine instead of a Mac despite the fact that they do a Mac version of the updater with exactly the same method of using it listed.
It really sucks dealing with them even though the product they sell seems by and large pretty good.
@chiefgrooveguru
You got a nice shoutout on That Pedal Show Q&A today. 👍🏼
@eddiebaby Cool! When in the show? An ill wife, two small children, a baby and a business is leaving me very short of time!
@chiefgrooveguru
Just after 15:30. A guy is asking about open baffle cabs for a wet/dry rig.
Hope your wife perks up soon.
Brilliant, thank you!
I’ll have to post up there regarding the questioner’s open baffle idea...
Madame didn't flinch when I said I'm going to the guitar shop later. Main thing on the list is a Maxon OD-9, the "greenbox" is the stomp box I use most on my Mustangs so I thought I'd try the real thing with my tube amps.
So had the chance to make the comparison? I’m assuming the green box is a tubescreamer.
Nope, out of stock and the shop has nothing else to order from the Maxon supplier so I'll be patient unless one comes up second hand. I'd rather buy new given that some year model tubescreamers from Maxon and especially Ibanez had duff chips in or other issues. The "Greenbox" stomp box model in the Fender Fuse software is their take on the tubescreamer but it's a bit agressive for my taste - too coarse grained.
I always liked the ‘tubescreamer’ in GuitarRig but I’m getting pretty close with the Texas drive in side A of my Strymon Sunset. Sounds good into my DT25 amp or my Iridium.
@chiefgrooveguru
Just seen one of your cabs is in the raffle on TheFretboard. Nice one. Just about to enter.
@chipps
Just noticed on my Snake Oil pedals classified that you asked about the Strymon Sunset.
I think it is pretty epic really.
Even my clean sound tends to go through a TC MojoMojo as I like what it does on min8mal gain but theSunset jacks it up to another level. The three sounds on each side are good in their own right but are really designed to work well together. Only having the two channels plus the one favourite seems a bit limiting but via MIDI the world is your oyster. Full on fuzz is just out of reach into a clean amp but the clean JFET boost and the treble boost do get things a bit rowdy and the Texas (aka Tubescreamer) is pretty impressive.
I run mine into a Line6 DT25 for my dry sound and with a just on the edge of breakup sound I can get it easily to get nasty in a variety of flavours.
The wet side is running into an Iridium in the effects loop of my Plethora.
This lets me bang the compressor in before the Iridium or not as the case may be.
Wet/dry is working well for me. More so than simple stereo.
The good thing is if I hit one switch and mute the dry side and another to disengage the Iridium I am running into an 800W Stagesource FRFR that works with the acoustic/resonator sounds on the Variax.
I just need to get the MIDI switching sorted as soon as I get some spare cash. I’m currently using my POD HD500X as a midi controller that is bigger than the pedalboard.
My pedalboard neatness alarm is going off!!! 🤣
Its silent and sounds great, but yes I agree totally.
Just really need to sort the power supply and the what will do the midi switching and then spend the £450 or do on board, power, cables and patch bay. Definitely having the expression pedal off board and will need to find a way to get a wah off board too. The Ditto X4 has no place on there either. Maybe one of the new little Dittos but for wet dry that doesn't really work as I'd want a stereo pedal after everything.
@eddiebaby Interesting rig! I've been going through all sorts of pedalboard mutations in search of the 'perfect' setup - but what I've ended up with is three different, loaded, pedalboards and a want for a fourth... I've joined a 'dad rock' band this summer, which only really needs a Marshall and a tuner, but it hasn't stopped me from shopping for alternatives... as well as realising that at home, I like other different noises...
1. The huge/ambient/top shelf job... Three or four drives, then Strymon Deco, El Capistan, TC Flashback2, Strymon Flint and a Walrus Slo reverb... all on a giant bit of plywood with cowboy tooled-leather style tolex box sides. Mostly going into a home made 18W Marshall-style head from Ampmaker. Wiring and power on that one was interesting... Ended up with a Strymon Ojai and another power unit too. I've not tried moving it anywhere yet, I doubt it would fit in the boot of the car either... 🙂
2. The metal shop - EHX LBX2 lunchbox head, 2x10 cab, with a 'minimal' board of tuner, mini/cheapo chorus, delay and noise gate, plus passive volume knob all in the FX loop. Noisy (hence the attenuators) but sounds hrrrrock!
3. What I had all along, Boogie Lonestar Special, two channels and boost is all I really need, but I've still added a TC Nova Delay, tremolo and chorus in the FX loop, plus an extra boost and Klon-style pedal in the front end.
4. I looked at the Plethora, but ended up going for the Boss MS-3 for amp switching and potential for three external loops... It actually has some great drives in it too, so who needs an amp? Not really sure what to do with this one at the moment... Might run it, four cable style, into the Boogie, but that then does away with my 'simple' outfit (the one with the eight pedals... Oh, OK...)
I play guitar but haven't the foggiest idea what the latter part of this thread is about!😶
I play guitar but haven’t the foggiest idea what the latter part of this thread is about!😶
Unnecessary toys innit?
As I’ve said elsewhere though the thing I play through 99% of the time is a Yamaha THR10 II. 😁
I have a MK1 thr10. Love it.
Ah - I’ve a question re the THRII.
Mine doesn’t have the “mode” switch (classic, boutique, modern) so to use all models needs the remote app.
Is it possible to set up presets 1,2,3 with one on each mode so that the amp then stays on that mode as the amp model is changed? This would be great to be able to use all 15 amp models just from the amp controls.
I’ve tried this but it just defaults to “modern” when I change the amp model dial. How do you get it to “lock” on to each mode?
I’ve never considered that. When I wake up properly I’ll have a fiddle.
Not really noticed that before. As far as I can see you can't get it to stick as say'Boutique'. I've got so used to selecting the amp group via the app and then tweaking via the physical control. Until you save the preset its stays with in the amp group.
What is annoying is that almost certainly there is the same functionality in that part of the amp as the bigger models but there isn't the selector switch
I think the only hope is to open it up and have a fiddle. Bit risky unless you have THR10 wireless to look at.
In fact probably risky even if you do have one to hand.
Is it possible to set up presets 1,2,3 with one on each mode so that the amp then stays on that mode as the amp model is changed? This would be great to be able to use all 15 amp models just from the amp controls.
I don't think so, although I've got the 30W version with the physical switch. IME it's best to think of the amp controls as being 15 discrete amps, of which 5 are accessible via the front. Three different clean amps, three crunches etc. The amp category is a bit meaningless.
When I change amp using the dial it jumps back to whatever category (modern/boutique/classic) the switch is set in. Might be different when there isn't a physical switch locking it to one category I suppose. I can see that's a bit annoying - I never really use the app so I can see it would be irritating to use an app just to switch amp. The app is easy to use, just not as easy as physical buttons.
Here's someone who hacked the (original) THR10 open. It seems way too deep for me to want to have a try (and I'm usually quite up for tinkering).
https://www.instructables.com/id/THR10-Effect-Loop-Modification/
I’m not up for hacking the PCB, even if in the easiest case there are a few points for the switch on the 30 that just isn’t fitted to the 10. I’m sure someone will do it and post how they did it sooner or later.
It looks like the mode switching is just via the app then. Whatever mode the amp was last set to is the mode that the amp defaults back to as soon as the amp model knob is turned, regardless of which mode the amp was in at the time from the preset.
Totally a first world problem I know !
Great thread!
Just dug my old spanish acoustic out of the attic, turns out that its totally borked. Now to find something new!
Anyways, I really wanted a TC Electronic Polytune Clip, but they are all out of stock. Anybody know where I can find one? I bought a Korg Pitchclip 2 instead, but I am fully prepared to return it! 🙂
Andertons are showing no new stock for 3 months on PolyTunes.
I ended up getting the pedal version.
@elwoodblues the tuning app's are pretty decent these days, so I'm sure one would tide you over for a bit.
Yeah, I know that the apps are pretty accurate, I just like to have the right hardware. I have a feeling that TC will release a new version, but the surge in demand from all the Covid-bored hobby guitarists caught them off guard.
The pedal won't work on the acoustic as it has no pickup.
I've just received the new Ditto looper (with the memories) that I ordered the day they came out on July 7th... I think that it's been the same cases as with push bikes. Everyone went 'What shall I do now? I know, buy stuff!' - er, guilty... 🙂
The Polytune clips are great. I have one, though it's VERY easy to misplace - on headstocks, in pockets, on the sideboard... If you just have one guitar and it stays on there, you'll be fine though..
Hiya all.
I fancy a new amp.
Specifically, I fancy a versatile, 20 watt(ish) valve amp for home use and playing out with mates (at some unspecified time in the future...).
Current amp is an Orange Crush 35RT and I love it, sometimes.
The clean channel is wonderful, rich, harmonic, takes pedals well.
The dirty channel is great for the very, very metal tonez I rarely use, but there's some odd stuff going on with that channel at lower gain settings, say up to halfway. Some random, high frequency artefacts that are frankly annoying the gravy out of me.
I've tried a Blackstar HT20 MK2, loads of features but it sounds bland compared to the Orange.
Don't like the Marshall DSL40 and I've already got a little Champ 600 which does the Fender thing very well at lower volumes.
Love Vox but even the AC15 weighs too much for me to schlep about regularly.
Almost decided on the Orange Rocker 15. It seems perfect for what I want, lightish, sounds great, switchable power output for home use.
I just have two questions.....
1.
Anyone recommend something else to try?
I've tried to find a H&K Tubmeister Deluxe 20 head to demo locally but no joy.
I'll try a Laney Supercub and their LT20 but I have bad memories of Laney build quality from the 80's.
2.
Do I buy the Orange 15 watt combo or push the boat out and buy the head plus one of CGG's lovely Barefaced cabs?
And if so, which speaker would compliment the Orange?
CGG, your experience and opinion would be most welcome!
Ta in advance. 🙂
@elwoodblues
I’ve just remembered there is a PolyTune app that works great for my guitars. Still bought the pedal as well.
@chipps
So that’s three loopers you have now? 😁
I’m running a Line6 DT25. Modelling front end into a highly configurable valve power amp. Loud and lush.
Rusty - you could try the 20w JCM 800 or JMP that Marshall do under their studio range.
Being single channel you could argue the JCM isn’t versatile but it responds so well to the volume, the clean you get from it is beautiful.
Also, check out a EVH 5153 50w. Small footprint, very versatile, amazing cleans with lovely crunch and more gain that you would ever need. Don’t bother with the smaller variants, the 50w is the sweet spot.
Failing that, buy an AxeFX or kemper etc 😉
Hi folks.
Selling up the pedalboard except for the PolyTune and the MojoMojo.
Message me if you want any info. All under 5 months old. Mint and in boxes with appropriate PSU and manuals.
Oh and the DT25 valve amp.
How about a Fender, Rusty Spanner? They do the Bassbreaker head in various wattages. They take pedals well and sound nice on their own to my ears when turned up. Andertons has used one in some pedal coparisons. I played the range in a local shop before buying the 45, they all have the same name but slightly different sounds. I did a comaparison with some mates, a Marshal JCM 100, the Bass Breaker 45, a Rockerverb and a Mesa Dual rectifier. The Bass Breaker ended up as the stage amp for their band for a couple of years - they went back to the JCM having blown up two Bass breakers (replaced under guarantee) running them flat out. The smaller ones are more reliable according to the shop.
The greenbox saga suite:
I found a Maxon 808 second hand. Madame is in so I've only used it at volumes the Bassbreaker 45 is clean so far (the bassbreaker into 4x12 Greenbacks is really loud by the time the power valves start to crunch). It sounds remarkably like the Fender "greenbox" model on the Fender Mustang Floor. This is a good thing but I expected it to be less "digital model" and the first impression is that it isn't. Maybe a bit tighter, I was aware of every fluff in my playing.
@RustySpanner have you looked at a Vox AC10?
It’s Much lighter than an ac15 and it is plenty loud enough for home use - I can’t play mine cranked if anyone else is in and I regularly use it on the edge of breakup with a drummer.
It’s got a useable digital reverb and is pure Vox top boost tone. They take pedals well for more gain. Vox plus a Rat is a classic tone combo
Hiya!
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Had a trip to PMT in Salford yesterday and tried loads of amps.
I've ended up with another Orange, a Rocker 15. 🙂
Preferred it by far to everything else, I just have a thing for the Orange house sound.
It's light, loud and sounds amazing.
Can turn the power down for late night use and it takes up very little room.
No reverb though so I had to buy a Fender Tre Verb pedal to go with it. 😃
Anyone fancy an Orange Crush 35RT in black, immaculate, about a year old?
I've taken the home working as an opportunity to go through my music stuff, sell off what I didn't use and invest in some better home recording gear
Genelec 8020 monitors
Behringer XR18 mixer
Beatstep pro midi thing
Ableton Live update to 10 DAW
Cables
Result - I'm still a shit guitarist who cant write songs but my desk looks cooler to me and I'm having a lot of fun
Anyone else offloaded gear
Just things I don't like, notably a Marshal AS 50 acoustic amp, artificial sound, not as much clean power as you'd expect from a 50W and the anti-feedback thing was useless. I just use a Fender Mustang electric amp on the "British Watts" setting and low gain, or plug direct into my PA which has chorus, delay and reverb.
Anyone else offloaded gear
Just putting another ad together. Got rid of a couple of OD/Distortions at the weekend.
Excuse the newb* question - how often do people change strings? A Google search suggests every few weeks but that seems crazy.
*I've owned a guitar for about 30 years but still can't play so definitely still a newb 🙂
Three top e-strings in the last week on my Tele, all Jan Akkerman's fault, a succession of bends on the e-string wears them thin in a few days and they break. The E, A and D on that guitar are still the originals after a couple of years. In short I change strings when they break except for guitars used on stage which get new strings before performing.
Greasy fingers kill the sound in the short term but can be cleaned.
Rust means you need to take your guitar to the guitar shop, give it back to them and never neglect an instrument again.
Playing, bending and whammying loads will affect the strings but if you are happy with the sound who cares?..
except for guitars used on stage which get new strings before performing.
Always my wife's pet hate with her guitarists in the 70's who didn't know how to pre-stretch strings and spent the first 30 minutes out of tune.
I suspect you know how to do that though.
Depends how much you play and how sweaty and dirty your fingers are and if its an acoustic or electric. Acoustics are much more sensitive to string wear. For me acoustic strings lose their magic after a week but I'll play them for a month. Electrics can last 2-3 months easy.
I suspect you know how to do that though.
Big bend, retune, big bend, retune... till it stays in tune does it for me.
Indeedy. Maybe even the pull away from the fretboard at the 12th fret, but always respecting the elastic limit. Thank you John Hooke.
For me acoustic strings lose their magic after a week but I’ll play them for a month. Electrics can last 2-3 months easy.
A week? Blimey.
In short I change strings when they break except
I can't remember the last time I broke a string, I don't really do big bends
but if you are happy with the sound who cares?..
Very good point 🙂
Ta for the input. I think that rather than regularly fitting new strings I'd rather save the money up and buy a Jazzmaster 🙂
Pre lockdown when I was a full time pro, then usually 3 or 4 gigs tops per set of strings. High profile gigs (few and far between for me) restring per gig. I gigged 6 guitars regularly....get through just under 50 sets of strings a year usually. Not restrung anything since lockdown!!!
get through just under 50 sets of strings a year usually
I suspect that I will get through fewer sets than that in my lifetime 🙂
if you're playing at home and your hands are clean then they last better, I have dry hands and it seems to make the strings last longer but the trade off is that I seem to be unable to grip a bloody plectrum ! I'm going to try a wooden pick, if anyone else uses one please recommend.
get through just under 50 sets of strings a year usually
Wow that's impressive. And presumably fairly expensive / environmentally questionable?
I don't subscribe to the 'change strings every month' thing - unless you exclusively play one instrument, you'd be changing strings all the time. I'm no pro but I probably change strings every 2 months for the guitar I play most (my Baja Tele, since you asked) and less for the others. Having said that, I changed my acoustic's strings recently for the first time in, oh, a year or so, and it did instantly sound a lot nicer...
I too have dry fingers, I lick my finger then rub finger and thumb together till they feel tacky then grab the pick before they dry completely. Not a good idea in Corona times I know. It works with most picks, I usually play with the Fender EXTRA HEAVY originals.
I'm not really sure how 'environmentally questionable" it is?! It's just part of the job!! If I didn't change them that often then they'd break anyway! Stage lights/sweat/changing temps and humidity all wreck strings....it's not the same as sitting in your bedroom and playing for 30 minutes, this is 2 hours plus on stage.
I did a tour of ski resorts last winter prior to lockdown, vast majority of gigs were outside.....coldest was minus 9 on stage.....I broke 3 strings in 2 songs at one point!
I change whatever strings are on a new guitar I've bought to slinkys and then never change again until they break or if I'm modding pickups or something
I hate the sound of new strings.
When I was gigging 3 times a week for years I never changed strings umless they broke which was I think 2 g strings over 3 years, never wiped them down.
They just seem to last for years with me. I did lend a few guitars to a work mates son and they would come back absolutely dead. very very strange
I use 1mm Dunlop pics and if I’m sweating I usually have a couple I’ve stuck a red hot needle through a few times to give a bit more traction.
I've joined in the clearout.....
Just got rid of an Orange Crush 35RT, a Palma plywood classical, a Behringer tremolo pedal, an NYC Big Muff Pi and a Vintage SG.
On the other hand, I've ordered a Big Muff Tone Wicker. It'll take up less room on the board...🙂
Changing strings depends very much on how much i'm gigging. Right now i'm on the same set since just after the covid stuff started cos i can live with the crappy sound. But if my band are playing regularly they get changed a fair bit. Worn strings snap and standing on stage changing a string 3 songs in whilst everyone looks bored and the rest of the band get impatient is no fun whatsoever.
Nice interview with EVH about the early days.
https://www.musicradar.com/news/there-are-no-rules-eddie-van-halen-the-last-guitar-mag-interview
Maybe even the pull away from the fretboard at the 12th fret, but always respecting the elastic limit
I use the off centre pinch method up and down the string. Thumb and forefinger about two inches apart. Never really need to changle my strings.
Which is weird because i use my fingers. They don't get grubby like some peoples do and don't really rust.
Regarding picks, I find jazz 3 carbons nice and grippy. Lots of ridges on them..... And they're carbon! 👍
I need some advice regarding gear, I've been playing about 11 months and have now found a drummer and a bass player. We're currently getting a set together The Who, Squeeze, Free, Santana and other great works and also working on some original stuff. At the moment we're looking towards some outdoor gigs so need to know what gear is essential, drummer has full kit and bass player has a 35w amp, I have an electric and acoustic with a pathetic practice amp.
Hit me with some wisdom on gear because once we hit superstardom I probably won't want to mix with the little people 🤣😊
There's two ways to do it.
If you're playing a gig that has a full PA (that has enough channels/mics/power/speakers to amplify all the instruments), then you don't need very powerful amps for your instruments - just enough to hear yourself on stage (this can be supplemented by foldback monitors - wedge shaped PA speakers pointing back at you). You might get away with the amps you have.
But if the gig just has a PA for the singer and requires you to make up your own sound, then you'll need more grunt than practise amps. Outdoors requires more power than indoors too (no walls to bounce the sound back on). Essentially, you need to be a similar volume to your drummer.
While there's a few variables there, you'd be looking at around 50W for the guitar amp (through a least 1 12" speaker), and 200W for the bass amp - with a couple of 10" speakers or a 15".
Mind you, with the modern way things work I'm not sure there are that many people that even use foldback monitors these days - it's all in-ears. Individually adjustable mix so no competition about which instruments need to be higher in the foldback mix.
If you are looking at running your Electric and Acoustic then you can have problems as both need different amp solutions.
For my Variax the electrics go into a valve 25w thats loud enough for a small pub gig and the acoustic sounds go into a powered pa speaker that has a mode for acoustic guitar input.
If you only have one amp for both then consider some of the modelling amp/FX units from companies like Line6 and Roland and then run that into a FRFR (Full Range Flat Response) powered PA speaker.
That way you can set up a bunch of presets for electric and acoustic and switch between them as needed.
Yes, I had a bit of a purge early lockdown - sold a fair number of guitars:
John5 Squier Tele
EVH Wolfgang
Gretsch 5240T hollowbody
Squier 51
and my lovely PRS Swamp Ash 25th.
Bought loads of pedals instead. (Actually @eddiebaby... I now have er, four - maybe five - loopers. I did sell a Ditto though) and also bought a 5150 Lunchbox 2 amp, which sounds very fun (passive volume control and noise gate in the FX loop for the win)
And now, like many people on here, I'm looking at one of those Barefaced cabs... 😉
I do still have a hankering for an(other) Explorer for some reason. Obviously playing too much hrrrrock!
Just the 5 loopers eh?
I've only got three. Well one dedicated and 2 in multiFX.
I'm just about to do a big clearout of amps and pedals ready to move back to a simpler a setup.
I'll post a message here when they are in the classifieds.
If there's a JC55 or maybe 120....or a Vintage Pro Reverb in there, let me know!
Two (I think...) Dittos, a big BOSS RC-50 (the three channel one) and an Akai Headrush. Wait, there must be more - I do have a TC Flashback X4 but that's been on loan for a year and who knows if I'll see it again.
I had a big simplification last year - down to only using a Blues Jr, one guitar, a Flint, tuner and overdrive, but it's been creeping up again as I've joined a 'dad rock' band (which arguably only needs a two channel amp) and the justification is there for more gear (or getting more back out of the cupboard).
As Tom-B says, let us know when sales are pending 🙂
I use keyboards to create stuff to play along too and would like to get a bit better.
Is there the equivalent of Justin Guitar for Keyboards ?
Cheers
Bazzer
Noone is using IEMs unless you're bringing your own PA and sound engineer to every gig, and I doubt that is likely for Twinw4ll
You clearly need a new amp @chipps I've really never liked the Blues Junior!
I do, don't I? 🙂
I ended up buying a new ply cab and speaker to re-house the amp in, to see if I liked it better. It's OK, but it's not really amazing. I found after rehearsal, that I had the treble on zero and still found it too bright. And the reverb is great, if you keep it under 1.5...
I do have several other amps, but I'm currently exploring the world of mid-power heads to see where I end up...
Yep been through all of that myself, as have many others I know. Much better to just buy what you're trying to make a Blues Junior sound like in the first place was my take away!
A better buy is a secondhand Peavey Classic 30....not stupid heavy, or stupid loud, but sounds like a Blues Junior should!!! They're dirt cheap second hand
My recommendation to those looking for gigging amps is to get a second hand Marshall DSL50 head (£300-ish) and a 1960a 4x12" (£200-ish used) or 1936 2x12" (£150) if the 4*12 won't fit in your car.
The DSL50 has been around for yonks and it is just "right". Enough pre-amp gain and tone control to work well at any level from rehearsal room to an outdoor gig and with a totally perfect right down the middle "rock" sound with 2 channels. The Marshall cabs are ubiquitous for a reason - they just work and the two are designed to work together.
So, £500-600 and you'll have a pro level rig that you could sell for exactly the same money 10 years from now.
I also have a 1936 2x12 cab, which is great, but I don't think I'm ever going to play anywhere big enough to justify it (or have room on stage for it!) but I think it was £150 ten years ago and it'll go for that if/when I sell it again. (It's currently a suitable stand for a JCM800 head...)
Gigrig G3
£1100 for a box that makes no sound of its own
and yet one of the most desirable toys I've seen in a while
Ordered a G3 Atom as that has everything I need
If anyone is interested I have some effects and bits in the classifieds under the Technology classification.
Amps will go up later this afternoon.