Guitarists of Singletrack…

I have played continuously since 1979. You people must know something I don’t. I have two fender electrics, a squier which I love and a mid 70’s tele not so much (it used to be great but it’s sat in a case for too long. Also an old school Newporter which is my daily driver.

I also have several other acoustics, mandolins, one uke which was an embarasing present…

I have a solid state AC30 moulding away in an outbuilding. During the first lockdown I bought a Vox cambridge 50. It’s more than adequate for any rehearsal or small gig that is possible now, unless you’re a ‘shredder’ which I personally consider to be viewing music as a sport, and therefore irrelevant.

I have been doing an online collaboration with a musician who plays on at least a dozen albums that I own, each of which has subtleties that new gear gear cannot provide.

unless you’re a ‘shredder’ which I personally consider to be viewing music as a sport, and therefore irrelevant

So, having recently sourced a 12″ speaker 🙂 I now find that I’ve actually gotten myself another DIY project.

Namely: building a 1×12 cabinet.

From what I’ve read so far online, it seems that an open-back cabinet is fairly flexible in terms of dimensions, so I think I’m going to make one of those.

Vague plan so far is:

* Back/sides from 18mm ply
* Something in the region of 550x400x300 mm
* Floating baffle from 12mm ply

Has anyone built their own cabinet in the past? Any helpful suggestions?

Built my own 1×12 a couple of years ago.
Reclaimed hardwood for the body and back, ply for bits of the back and front.

Sounds very nice, semi-open back works well.
Bit heavy with use of hardwood though.

I’d like to make another, but lighter. Use 12mm ply for the main body, and then 8mm for other bits.
Try to make it really lightweight. Maybe try out a 10″ speaker instead of a 12.

That looks really nice, you did a great job there! The sloping face is a good idea. And is there a drawer in the bottom of the cab?

I expect mine might look a bit less polished, mostly because I don’t have a router or similar for cutting the baffle: a jigsaw and a steady hand will be as good as it gets 😂. I might end up covering it in some tweedy-looking cloth and get an opaque grill cloth to hide the worst of it.

Still, so long as it holds the speaker it’ll be ‘reet I hope. And will allow me to play the MV50 through something other than headphones.

It’s a 2 part compartment for a small amp head (DVMark 50) and cables.

I didn’t use a router – think I cut it on a powered fret saw, though might have been a small band saw.

Very nicely done, Ajantom. The cab makes a surprising amount of difference. I see you’ve used a seventy 80 which works well in an open cab IMO. I’ve got an Orange 112 closed back with a Vintage 30 because vintage 30s are supposed to work better closed, I’m not convinced. Junior uses his Vintage 30s open, and they are louder, brighter and less directional which works better live.

Good looking cab there. 👍🏼

If you’re building a cab, make the rear in a couple of sections so you can make it closed back or remove them for semi- or fully- open back.

In fact, talking of cabs I was in the rehearsal room last night.
Testing out using my mini Vox head cable tied to the pedal board.

It didn’t sound that great, however the only cab was an MG or AVT 4×12 (i.e. cheap Marshall). The amp sounded a bit congested/honky, and with limited tone controls I couldn’t get a great distortion sound out of it.
It wasn’t helped by using the OD pedal – sounded better just using amp gain than low amp gain + OD pedal (even with the gain all the way down) – a congested sound.

However, I’ve used those cabs before and thought they were garbage. I plugged in to the AVT head (100W I think) and while there was a bit more oomph, it still had the same choked/honky sound.

The wee amp was loud enough to play over a heavy hitting drummer whaling away with double kicks etc. And that was through an 8 ohm cab so at 25W.

I did look in a different room on the way out which had higher quality gear – Orange and Marshall valve heads with the good 4x12s, so going to book that one next time and try it out.

I’ve got two of the MV50s now ☺️ bought the MV50 AC + 8″ cab bundle from DV247.

Been A-Bing the High Gain and the AC, and I think the AC is more to my taste, though the High Gain has a nice sound it’s a bit heavy for most of what I play.

I’ve lent it to our singer/lead guitarist to have a play with, otherwise I’ll probably sell it on.

They are amazing for their size. I’ve put it through a 4×12 (Vintage 30s), a 2×12 (GT12-75s), a 1×12 (70-80), and the 1×8 Vox…
…Great sound out of all of them 😎

The little Vox 8″ cab is amazing too. Really big sound out of such a teeny cab. Would defo be enough for a small venue, with a little bit of the amp DI’d into the mix.

This my minimalist pedal board now…MV50 AC + Tech 21 Fly Rig (boost, plexi overdrive, reverb, tone, and delay). Can just go straight into a cab 😎

Thats a sensible looking pub-gig pedal board. 👍🏼

Been A-Bing the High Gain and the AC, and I think the AC is more to my taste, though the High Gain has a nice sound it’s a bit heavy for most of what I play.

Funny you should say that 🙂

I “accidentally” put an eBay bid in on an Orange Micro Dark… so now have two little amps, the High Gain MV50 and the Orange Micro Dark.

It has been interesting to compare and contrast them, albeit just through headphones currently.

As someone commented up-thread the Orange is fairly noisy/hissy — the Vox is silent by comparison, which is nice.

I kind of prefer the Vox’s response to attack: the Orange has quite an aggressive bite when you hit the strings a bit harder which I don’t get on with all that well.

But the Orange is a lot more versatile, and I actually like its gain sound quite a lot more. The Vox is a bit fizzy to my ears, although I would like to hear it through a cab to really judge it.

Got a good deal on a 10″ Jensen 35w speaker, so decided to build a little lightweight cab for it.

All reclaimed/reused wood.

18mm ply sides, 9mm front and back, pine edge strips.

Lap joint corners (cut on the table saw) and then doweled for extra strength.

About 2/3 done.

Help!

Trying to record a bass line onto a choral arrangement of a Queen song. I’ve got a pitch issue

Can an amp change pitch? I’m using an Ashdown Electric Blue 180 mic’d with a P100 condenser mic into a Scarlett Solo onto audacity.

Basically the guitar sounds flat. I’ve checked and double checked the tuning and intonation, but it still sounds annoyingly flat.

I’ve tried it with two different guitars but it’s just as bad.

If I DI it it sounds much better. Played direct against an MP3 of the backing track its fine too. I’ve checked the DAW playback speed and that seems fine.

WTF is going on?

Got another mic to try?

Also I assume you checked the sync source on the interface and software settings, might be worth just doint the old change a setting then change it back to reset.

I’ve done a full restart and factory reset. I’ll try again in the morning.

I’ll try a different mic as well, and switch off the bass roll off feature. It’s changed somewhere since last month… I recorded another piece then and it was absolutely fine.

Help!

Trying to record a bass line onto a choral arrangement of a Queen song. I’ve got a pitch issue

Can an amp change pitch? I’m using an Ashdown Electric Blue 180 mic’d with a P100 condenser mic into a Scarlett Solo onto audacity.

Basically the guitar sounds flat. I’ve checked and double checked the tuning and intonation, but it still sounds annoyingly flat.

I’ve tried it with two different guitars but it’s just as bad.

If I DI it it sounds much better. Played direct against an MP3 of the backing track its fine too. I’ve checked the DAW playback speed and that seems fine.

WTF is going on?

The amp/mic can’t change the pitch.

Only thing I can think of is some kind of mismatch on your sampling rate. E.g. if audacity is set to 48khz and the Scarlett is set to 44.1khz or vice versa.

Only thing I can think of is some kind of mismatch on your sampling rate. E.g. if audacity is set to 48khz and the Scarlett is set to 44.1khz or vice versa.

Good spot. The Solo is set to 48khz and the project rate on Audacity was indeed 44100hz.

Odd really because I do a load of vocal recording and never noticed a pitch problem before- I’ve got “relative pitch” and my accompanist has perfect pitch so one of us would have noticed.

I’ve set Audacity to match. Hope this helps ‘cos it sounds really dull via DI!!

I’ll try that later on, gotta go out now.

Can anyone explain why oiling my fretboard, with Lemon Oil 65, or with plain old mineral oil, causes it to go squeaky-clean like feeling? So if you press your finger across a fret it skips across the fret, instead of sliding?

The fretboard in question is Indian Laurel.

I’ve since removed the oil with some lighter fluid and it’s back to being normal.

From memory the lemon oil isn’t suitable for all neck woods. Can’t remember what ones aren’t but worth checking

Thanks for sharing the cabinet build, @ajantom.

Your workshop looks ace 🙂 and it’s very interesting to see work-in-progress shots like this. The pine strip facing to hide the edges of the ply is nice.

Cheers, it’s my workshop at school. Being a Technology teacher has its perks 😆

I’m talking pics as I go along to use it as an exemplar for a diary of making for my GCSE students.
They’re always crap at documenting their practical coursework.

I’m liking these cabinet builds 🙂

I’ve had another YouTube lesson with Angela Petrilli this evening. I really like her teaching style and I think I’m improving. This was recorded straight after playing along with the lesson.

From memory the lemon oil isn’t suitable for all neck woods. Can’t remember what ones aren’t but worth checking

Yeah, lemon oil isn’t good for finished necks – like Maple. Too acidic!

But should be totally cool on unfinished wood. Given the hype surrounding the Dunlop 65, I was expecting some improvement in playability, but it made the wood feel awful!

Dave Simpson recommends the Crimson Guitar stuff over lemon oil.

I like the Shimano mineral oil, mainly as I have a big bottle of it. seriously.

Also, I’ve found those foam magic eraser foam blocks pretty good for cleaning grimy necks

I’m impressed by the joinery on display here. I fell tempted to have a go at making a pedalboard like a Rauch.

Did a bit more in the cab after work today…

Undercoat of black, going to spray it with black satin later.

Leaving the plywood front and back natural, probably give them a light oil.

Test fitted speaker and grill. Needed to laser cut some rubber strips to make the clamps hold/fit properly.

I feel that the speaker cover lets it down a bit… A different option?

Two reasons for it…

Cost – £3 for the grill vs. about £15 for fabric.
Trying to get the whole build under £50 (£35 speaker, £3 grill, £3 clamps, £4 for the feet and Jack socket + a can of satin paint)

Toughness – I’ve made this as a beater cab to chuck in the boot for band practice and small venue gigs. I’ve had cones damaged through fabric covers before.

Heaph0an toanz: I just want a couple of great clean / crunch tones to listen with headphones. I had an epiphany a couple of years ago where I played a proper Fender Deluxe and the amount of extra feel I got was insane and everything I’ve played before / since pales in comparison. Unfortunately I don’t get to play a cranked valve amp very often, certainly not at home. I actually really love my THR but it doesn’t take all pedals so well and I want to try something else that I can use with a looper + some pedals to create some sounds. I’m very much just a bedroom guitarist with no real aspirations beyond my house. Maybe I’ll do some recording one day.

I’m torn between a Helix and something like a Strymon Iridium with a couple of new pedals. I have mixed feelings about going full modelling – I’ve had a few multi-FX over the years* and I’d always been underwhelmed (probably an unfair comparisons since the Korg AX-1000G/ Zoom multiFX/POD 2.0 I’m thinking of are all > 20 years old, but I have been more recently underwhelmed using an iRig HD + BIAS FX). I think the million amp/cab/IR permutations of the Helix is honestly a turn off, but I like the various FX pedal options (by all accounts the modelled delays/reverbs/pitch shift etc are very good on Helix).

So, how best to be a tone snob with headphones?

@eddiebaby

PlaN change. I’m getting a fill blown helix. I needed a few bits to go with the Stomp and wanted a Variax in so it just made sense to go down that route.

Have you got this yet? I’m possibly looking at the stomp or LT and wondered what you thought?

Superficial

For me the closest you can get in headphones is either the boss waza headphones or tube amp into captor x

https://www.andertons.co.uk/boss-waza-air-wireless-guitar-headphones

Id go with the former if you don’t already have a tube amp

I’m totally happy to use my helix or stomp on their own or with pedals

Not bought mine yet. Realistically looking at what I have and what I need I think I’m going Stomp because a) ITS SUPER CHEAP and b) sounds great, plus I have a Hall of Fame 2 and a Flashback 2 to go in the effects loop and do a bit of the heavy lifting so I’m sorted for any situation that will arise at home and “recording” and certainly at the level of minimal live playing I do. I do play through headphones a lot even with the THR as I use the altered tunings in Variax and you really to need to block out the acoustic sound of the guitar when you do that.
I’ve also got my eye on a Revival Drive Compact so that should cover me for everything other than powering/controlling my Variax.
I love the Helix sounds ive tried. I’d go Stomp rather than Stomp LT as the £200 difference would go towards a Morningstar Midi unit to make the Stomp really versatile.

On a side note.
I’m playing 90% of the time through just the THR10II currently.
Occasionally the miniboard comes out, but if I’m doing my usual playalongaFloyd or Thin Lizzy I can get close enough with that as long as I can get use the speakers, if I have to use headphones then it sounds bad unless I can run it through Guitar Rig on the Mac and the latency does my head in when I do.
So guitar>polytune>Spark Booster>

Apologies for talking about music but I’ve just heard Chet Atkins version of Vincent and was wondering how difficult it would be to play if i could get hold of the tab? or i could be dreaming as I’ve only been playing 18mths.

wondering how difficult it would be to play…

I’ve not heard it before, but it looks pretty hard! As well as some very fast picking & chord changes, there are quite a few harmonics to add difficulty! That said, if you know your way around a guitar and are prepared to practice, you’ll be able to get most songs down. I’ve been playing years and although I am better overall, my rendition of, for example, Sweet Child O’ Mine is no better than when I was a relative noobie (just now I understand the chords and scales involved and can improv/noodle over it much better).

’m torn between a Helix and something like a Strymon Iridium with a couple of new pedals. I have mixed feelings about going full modelling – I’ve had a few multi-FX over the years* and I’d always been underwhelmed (probably an unfair comparisons since the Korg AX-1000G/ Zoom multiFX/POD 2.0 I’m thinking of are all > 20 years old, but I have been more recently underwhelmed using an iRig HD + BIAS FX). I think the million amp/cab/IR permutations of the Helix is honestly a turn off, but I like the various FX pedal options (by all accounts the modelled delays/reverbs/pitch shift etc are very good on Helix).

I have a Helix floor and I have have to say I have still not really got to grips with getting the tones I like out of it. Some of that might be down to the cheap Headrush FRFR I use with it. However I also find when recording I often use the dry signal through Guitar rig 6 to get the tones I want for recording. Sounds like I am a big Line 6 fan but I also have a spider 240 with 2 x 12s and I often find myself using that instead for just noodling around. That and because its got built in wireless I can just plug the transmitter in and not worry about cables.

I am sure if I played with the Helix more I could get want I want out of it. Or even if I just bough some better presets. I was going to get the Fractal FM3 but at the time it was such a long wait to get one I bought the Helix.

Hello! Been out of the loop a little moving house this last (what seems like) month… Now in a much, MUCH smaller house across town, which means that all my music gear, which used to have its own room(!) is now stacked in the corner of the living room – currently still behind a pile of boxes… It’s no longer just a case of flicking a valve amp on and grabbing a guitar.

So… suggestions for a home practice amp? I know there are lots of THR fans here. Anyone tried the Positive Grid Spark (I see they’re in stock/on offer at the moment)?

Ideally, I’d like to eventually get a new Vibro Champ reissue, as I’ve tried an older one and it was incredible. A 5W valve amp with reverb and tremolo should be ideal for living room noodling once we’ve made some space, but for now, I’m after a desktop solution. I did have a Line6 Amplifi, which was OK, though I ebayed it and now it’s being returned as it apparently doesn’t work any more… Hmm…

On the louder music front, got back in the rehearsal room with the dad-rock band last night. Something very good about playing a little louder and with an actual band… Though our rehearsal room is next door to one where a double bass drum metal band rehearses. We get two hours of quiet working-out before they come in. Then it’s earplugs-in and volume up for well-known tunes, with no room for quiet contemplation…

Decided (after some deliberation!) to laser cut a grill from aluminium effect acrylic.