Guitars, guitars, guitars

IDMG · 01 Oct 2014, 20:02

Does the mixer have a USB out?

KingOfIreland · 02 Oct 2014, 00:42

Well, if you use something like an M-audio fast track you can listen to the monitor output without the input lag, but you'd have to do any effects post-recording or put up with the 100ms lag or so. The cheapest way would probably be to get a second hand pod/roland cube, line 6 spider with modelling, I think. It's not ideal, but yeah.

As for finding out what guitars suit you: Just go into a guitar shop and ask to test various models until you find something you really like.

ankhtahr · 02 Oct 2014, 03:45

The mixer has a USB out. I had considered using the Insert of the guitar channel for effects.

Maybe it's possible to reduce the latency through ASIO (Windows) or JACK and a realtime kernel (Linux).

IDMG · 02 Oct 2014, 08:48

Quote from: ankhtahr on 02 Oct 2014, 03:45
The mixer has a USB out.

ASIO4all and an 'acquired' copy of Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5 or Schuffam Amps S-Gear.

KingOfIreland · 02 Oct 2014, 12:59

Oh, sweet. That's perfect then. I've considered getting one of the phonic mixers with a USB out myself recently, mostly for drums and live recording purposes. I hadn't even thought about just using it to replace my recording interface (because I am stupid, it would've occurred to me as soon as I had it, I suppose).

Honkytonk · 06 Oct 2014, 17:09

I took my Garrison AG-200 to the surgeon today to be fixed (some rather major structual damage resulting from a broken straplock and a nice metal-tipped corner of a speaker). I've never felt that sad driving away from something before. I've had the damn thing 8 years and it's more than just an inanimate object to me.

I hope he makes it ok.

ankhtahr · 29 Oct 2014, 16:59

So, a while of playing around with the friends guitar, and I've already started creating a wishlist.

Currently on the wishlist, and to be bought in that order:

Ibanez GRG-170DX, because I need a guitar of my own that doesn't suck as bad as this friend's guitar

Vox VT20+, because I also need an amp, and that way I can experiment a little. It seems to have received some decent reviews

Boss ME-80, because I just can't afford to spend so much money on different separate pedals, so this has to suffice at first

Epiphone Les Paul Standard, might move to the top and replace the Ibanez. I've enjoyed the sound of the humbucker in the friend's guitar, but that might just be the quality of the pickups. I'll need to try them both and decide then.

Oh, and I've picked up a Digitech Bad Monkey overdrive pedal. I love it already.

Lummer · 30 Oct 2014, 01:51

I got a new bass this weekend! This is A Good Thing, seeing as the only band I play live in these days is a band where I am the bassist and up until Sunday I didn't actually own a bass. But now I do, and I really like it. It's nice not to have to rely on borrowed equipment. I also got myself a bass amp: A Hartke HA3500 head with a rack case. I got both the bass and the amp for absolutely bugger-all nothing-money, so I'm happy. I seem to have a nose for bargains on gear. Anyway, here is the bass, along with my beloved War-Tele:

The bass is a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz, and it plays and sounds far, far better than it has any right to at such a low price. Seriously solid instrument.

Thrillho · 30 Oct 2014, 01:54

That Telecaster is glorious.

KingOfIreland · 31 Oct 2014, 03:19

So I've just spent 50 of my well earned euros on a tanglewood strat copy.

Obviously, it's reasonably okay but needs a few mods like decent machineheads and a better bridge, so I'm going to do that as soon as I have enough money, but my main complaint is that it's just not versatile enough.

I also happen to have a load of switches and two danelectro pickups lying around.

EDIT: First pickup is already in. Tools used: hammer, chisel, screwdriver, testicular fortitude.
Pics will follow soon. Same goes for the hole in the scratchplate I'm about to make.
It plays beautifully, the neck is straight, the tuners have been replaced at some point and the frets are pretty much faultless apart from a slightly lifted one I'll tap in later on.

Don't need a router for a plywood guitar

The scratchplate hole is a bit off, but fuck looks, I now have a middle pup humbucker.

Tomorrow I'll do the second and wire the circuitry so I can drop both pickups in and out and maybe have them all switchable to series.

IDMG · 01 Nov 2014, 08:58

Quote from: Lummer on 30 Oct 2014, 01:51I also got myself a bass amp: A Hartke HA3500 head with a rack case

I have one of those. They're surprisingly loud for 300w solid staters.

Lummer · 02 Nov 2014, 01:36

I played a show in Helsingborg yesterday, and the opening band provided the backline. The bassist had the most ridiculous setup. Not one, but TWO Electrical Guitar Company basses, a Trailer Trash pedalboard full of uber-high end boutique stuff and a to top it all off: A Verellen Meatsmoke Head with a a TecAmp 6x12 cab. The cab was 1800 watts. EIGHTEEN HUNDRED WATTS. It was insane. Needless to say the dude's tone was godlike, more or less.
I didn't dare borrow the Meatsmoke so I stuck my humble Hartke. I don't know if it was the cab, but even at WELL below 1, more like 0.5 on the master volume it was still waaaay too loud.

IDMG · 02 Nov 2014, 13:57

Partially I think the "Hartke tone" doesn't hurt with the "fucking loud" aspects. His cab might have also had really sensitive speakers.

KingOfIreland · 03 Nov 2014, 14:43

1800 watts is ridiculous.

But is it five pickups ridiculous?
SHE IS DONE.

Now for a possible respray and redoing the circuit some more

brew · 06 Nov 2014, 14:28

With that many pickups, do you have any problems with magnetic string pull?

KingOfIreland · 06 Nov 2014, 21:54

I don't really seem to have. I had to lower the pickups anyway, because they were way too high to begin with. It's also got light strings on it, so no big deal

Lummer · 11 Nov 2014, 14:22

I can't really imagine pickups like that having nearly enough magnetic pull to mess anything, even when there's five of 'em. That problem usually only arises with high-output stuff. That said; I haven't ever really experienced any issues in that regard, and believe me when I say I have a history of using high-output pickups.

Anyway; I did a thing with my Metal Zone!

https://soundcloud.com/doktorlummer/metalzone-mods

Detachable Felix · 14 Nov 2014, 15:04

Just picked this up. It's the sexiest acoustic I have ever played.

KingOfIreland · 14 Nov 2014, 15:28

Quote from: Lummer on 11 Nov 2014, 14:22
I can't really imagine pickups like that having nearly enough magnetic pull to mess anything, even when there's five of 'em. That problem usually only arises with high-output stuff. That said; I haven't ever really experienced any issues in that regard, and believe me when I say I have a history of using high-output pickups.

Anyway; I did a thing with my Metal Zone!

https://soundcloud.com/doktorlummer/metalzone-mods

Remind me to get one of these.

KingOfIreland · 19 Nov 2014, 11:56

So, the top amp is a one watt hand built little monster with more beautiful sounds than you can shake any number of sticks at.
Also, can you say Jensen alnico eight inch speaker?

This thing is such an improvement over my already stellar (Hey, 80 euros, I'm not complaining) valve junior that I don't know how I ever did without it. It's just perfick.

But it gets better.

It has a line out (after the output transformer, so it's all cool and nifty sounding still) which I'm currently sending through the valve jr. which drives the big 1x12 cab. This means I can either overdrive both input stages together to create the gainiest, most evil crunchy cereal's worth of tone this side of, I dunno, let's say a tiny terror, or basically play clean at the highest possible attainable volume for the valve junior (ie. I can play louder than the drummer with my dinky little amp) and just adjust gain and tone on the top amp.

Or y'know, record/send it through to a DI/normal shit.

Patrick · 20 Nov 2014, 15:03

My dad finally figured out what was wrong with my Twin. Turns out it was simply a bent pin on the V4 power tube.

Yeah for a couple dudes who aren't dummies we sure are dummies

celticgeek · 22 Dec 2014, 07:54

My daughter and son-in-law are visiting, and he had this great T-shirt:

How may guitars do I really need?
Just one more.

Patrick · 25 Dec 2014, 17:14

Turns out my amp ain't fixed after all.

Fuck.

KingOfIreland · 26 Dec 2014, 03:34

I've always wanted a twin, but you're really bumming me out on the idea, Patrick

Patrick · 27 Dec 2014, 09:49

To be fair my dad even admits he doesn't 100% know what he's doing

Lummer · 04 Jan 2015, 01:37

oh hai

IDMG · 04 Jan 2015, 15:30

BAT Pharaohs are good squishy

Lummer · 05 Jan 2015, 06:06

This thing is just awesome. It is just Doom in a box.

ankhtahr · 20 Jan 2015, 16:49

I... I fell in love with a bass. After playing around with my friends guitar I feel like maybe playing bass suits my playstyle better than playing electric guitar. A guitar is still on my wishlist, but currently this beauty has risen above everything else:

An affordable 5 string bass made by Harley Benton, the house brand of the German music store Thomann. And when I say affordable I mean "220€ for a neck-thru-body 5 string bass with active pickups" affordable. It (and the four string version too) has very good reviews, and it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

Detachable Felix · 20 Jan 2015, 17:16

That is truly beautiful. Can you play a 5-string? They take some getting used to

ankhtahr · 20 Jan 2015, 17:22

I never played a bass. But I'm a classical guitarist, so I guess I'll get used to it relatively quickly.

Patrick · 22 Jan 2015, 09:55

1. Playing bass is sick as fuck, do it.
2. 5-string basses aren't SO different, they just have a wider neck and an extra string.
3. Playing electric guitar with strictly your fingers is sick as fuck, do it.

ankhtahr · 22 Jan 2015, 10:09

I'll buy the bass as soon as I have the money to spare. And then I will follow your advice No.1. Until then I'll follow your third advice. The only picks that I actually liked so far are small 0.96mm celluloid teardrop picks:

But usually I'll just play the way I was tought. With my fingernails:

Thirteen years of classical guitar have left their impression on me. I actually can't imagine not having long fingernails on my right hand anymore.

KingOfIreland · 22 Jan 2015, 10:18

Quote from: Patrick on 22 Jan 2015, 09:55

3. Playing electric guitar with strictly your fingers is sick as fuck, do it.

This is my modus operandi.

I'm like a shitty Mark Knopfler!

So I got addictive drums 2, it's fun.

Also I bought a new mixer. It can output ten channels separately to my PC through firewire simultaneously, which makes recording much less of a hassle than my M-audio fast track with a broken line input did.

This coupled with the line out on my amp and hopefully some new condenser mics in the very near future makes it beautiful.

Oh, and here's the first recording of my new amp and the modded strat I put images of here recently.

There's a big muff on the rhythm guitar, but the lead is purely the strat through my amp with all pickups switched on and at max volume.

As always, the recording is slapdash because I'm lazy, but it gives you a good idea of the sound.
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/tuathal/first-take-mistake-2[/soundcloud]

I also got one of those fancy guitar racks

Detachable Felix · 22 Jan 2015, 12:43

I am a big fan of your set-up, Phil. (Y)
Gonna be doing a bunch of recording today because I have an interview for a sound-engineering degree, so expect some pics of my current recording setup

Patrick · 22 Jan 2015, 14:14

Remember to not overthink everything, and to take breaks during mixing!

KingOfIreland · 23 Jan 2015, 00:54

If anything, I underthink everything! Like Gareth, I almost never do a second take and mostly I don't even bother practicing before recording something :p

It's something I need to work on

brew · 23 Jan 2015, 18:10

Does anyone have any experience putting a tremolo bridge on a Tele? I want to assemble a Warmoth Tele (it's a new body, so not everything has to be strict Tele specs) but I'm not sure what my best tremolo options are. I mostly care about tuning stability while being able to bend a couple semitones down, like MBV.

Patrick · 23 Jan 2015, 23:16

They make a Bigsby specifically designed for stock Tele pickups

IDMG · 25 Jan 2015, 13:18

If you care about tuning stability you're gonna have a bad time. I guarantee you MBV tunes after every song.

KingOfIreland · 26 Jan 2015, 00:41

The planet waves locking tuners work really well for eliminating tuning instability! My dad put them on his strat and now you can fuck with it all day and never need to tune.

I'm considering getting some for my tanglewood if I ever get around to replacing the bridge on that

Patrick · 21 Feb 2015, 03:08

I found that good tuners, not even necessarily locking ones, do wonders for improving tuning stability. Even (especially?) with a tremolo unit.

brew · 23 Feb 2015, 17:46

I've actually gotten Grover locking tuners since that post for my MIM Strat, and they've helped a ton for tuning stability. Certainly to the point where I'd think most decent tremolos would be good enough.

I still haven't figured out which tremolo to get. It seems Warmoth doesn't actually do a tremolo rout for a Tele body if you request a Tele bridge pickup rout. It's only available for a humbucker rout. Has anyone tried putting a Tele bridge pickup in a humbucker slot? I see stuff like this but is that the correct angle?

KingOfIreland · 24 Feb 2015, 10:19

That looks about right to me. Why not keep a tele bridge on and go for an x-trem bigsby clone from guitar fetish though? I've heard good things about them and you can get roller bridges from them for teles too if I'm not very much mistaken. As a bonus, if you ever get tired of the tremolo (which is surface or tail mounted) you can just switch to strings thru body again.

brew · 26 Feb 2015, 13:54

I'm more into heavy rock stuff so I didn't consider a Bigsby style (though I haven't actually ever tried one before). I'm more into using it for pitch bends (like shoegaze, not divebombs) than the subtle stuff though. Maybe that would still work.

There's also the Stetsbar, which is a lot more expensive. Anyone ever tried that?

KingOfIreland · 28 Feb 2015, 10:48

I gots me some new toys!

Expect more acoustic stuff and maybe even some improved vocals from me soon.

Here's my first ever recording with the mics. As usual, just improv'd a little thing so don't expect brilliance. Also need new strings and to figure out these particular mics a bit more, but it's miles better than what I used to have even with no real work done on it.

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/tuathal/condenser-one-master/[/soundcloud]

wlewisiii · 12 Mar 2015, 19:35

So.

I'm 51 years old. Recently divorced. And here is my midlife crisis:

It's a Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Special. Basically a Tele body and bridge with a Jazzmaster neck & neck pickup. the little 10 watt Peavey was a gift and I'll be adding a reverb pedal when it gets here.

I've only been playing for about 3 weeks. I can play a handful of chords and that's about it so far but it's still a hell of a lot of fun.

KingOfIreland · 13 Mar 2015, 01:08

Oh man, those VM series squiers are great. Great choice! Good luck with your mid-life crisis!

Honkytonk · 20 Mar 2015, 15:20

Got to say I love Peavey amps, my Rage 258 is a wee beastie, and that Tele looks a cracker, always liked the Jazzmaster's neck. Here's to many fine years of enjoyment for you wlewisiii!

My Garrison's second round of surgery is over and I'll be collecting it again on Monday. Have had the first 12 frets replaced because they were looking like this and the buzzing was becoming unbearable(watching someone pull your guitar apart is painful, but the luthier gave me this as a momento)...

Been using a hand-me down that's been sat about getting underused and I am actually falling in love with it a bit. Lyon LD-7 M (Indonesian Washburn). It's got a cracking resonance to it. Not the best guitar in the world by any means but I really like the action and tone, and it ain't bad looking either.

I've got a bit of time over the next couple of weeks so really want to catch up on my recording. Got lots of songs written down on receipts and the back of setlists that I need to compile.

wlewisiii · 21 Mar 2015, 01:23

Thanks for the good thoughts. I got my reverb pedal the other day and before work today was doing the overdrive, reverb, drop d & power chords thing for kind of depressed surf punk sound. Lol! Lots of fun.