Gearhead

[MikeA]

UX2 confirmed in Wichita and on truck for delivery today. Ya-Hoo!

It got here around 2-pm. The VOX footswitch works but it is a bit stuborn....or maybe I'm just not stomping on it cleanly. Seems to take a stomp and hold for an instant rather than just a quick press.

And, the Silver Bundle of effects that I got with the Toneport DI are not all available with the UX2 device. I may have to get with the Line6 folks and see if that bundle ONLY is activated for the TonePort DI. There should be a way to "port" them over to the UX2. Surely, they wouldn't make you repurchase the software Effects.

Haven't tried the mics yet, but guitars work great through it.

[WalshFan88]

UX2 confirmed in Wichita and on truck for delivery today. Ya-Hoo!

It got here around 2-pm. The VOX footswitch works but it is a bit stuborn....or maybe I'm just not stomping on it cleanly. Seems to take a stomp and hold for an instant rather than just a quick press.

And, the Silver Bundle of effects that I got with the Toneport DI are not all available with the UX2 device. I may have to get with the Line6 folks and see if that bundle ONLY is activated for the TonePort DI. There should be a way to "port" them over to the UX2. Surely, they wouldn't make you repurchase the software Effects.

Haven't tried the mics yet, but guitars work great through it.

Sounds interesting Mike!

[WalshFan88]

I'm starting to porn over old Marshall amps again. See, I started on a Marshall, then got a Valvestate stack that I still have. Old habits die hard. I'm getting back into heavier AC/DC, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Guns n' Roses type stuff which was all Marhall. I'm trying to decide if I want a JMP 2204 or a JCM 800 2204. The JCM is your GNR sound and 80s hair band amp and higher gain. The JMP is more AC/DC and Aerosmith. Zep was mainly Plexi SuperLeads but I can't afford an original Plexi or JTM45 and I want an original. 70s/80s amp.

I got the Fender Twin Reverb to play Eagles stuff (Walsh and Felder) through since they never recorded with Marshalls. Joe in the James Gang days played live through Marshall stacks but started making the switch to Fender I guess around the time of his solo albums and then went all Fender in the Eagles. James Gang studio sound are Fenders though. Champ I think. Funk 49, Walk Away, and Rocky Mountain Way were recorded through a tweed 50s Champ. Life's Been Good was a blackface 60s Twin Reverb. I believe most of him on Hotel California (album) is a tweed 50s Deluxe like Neil Young used. Joe and Felder both recorded their electric parts through that same amp according to Felder. I believe The Long Run is blackface or tweed Fenders too.

[MikeA]

Amps are like addictive drugs. But then so are pedals and guitars. Someone got them a good racket going in the music business because once you get started, there is always SOMETHING! I have the very basics in amps now with the VOX AD30VT and my Fender Acoustasonic Jr. Of the two, the Acoustic amp is worth a lot more as far as value, but if I had to choose between the two for the type of playing I do now, hands down it would be the VOX.

I was wrong about the "bundle" of effects for the Toneport. I figured that the Toneport UX2 was just a different model of the Toneport DI. It is. But Line6 isn't missing a beat. In Their FAQ, they "say" that the bundles are hardwired into the interface and cannot be transferred. BS! The only thing in the hardware is the serial number or some digital code. The effects and amp models are SOFTWARE VST files!

Oh, and though I was able to drive my condenser mics with the Toneport UX2, it is not sending the signal through to my DAW either as a separate track or as a mixed signal with the Instrument. I haven't given up on that yet. It could be my DAW not pulling the signal since Line 6 said that the signal from both instruments (mic and guitar) were sent on separate USB channels.

[WalshFan88]

Amps are like addictive drugs. But then so are pedals and guitars. Someone got them a good racket going in the music business because once you get started, there is always SOMETHING! I have the very basics in amps now with the VOX AD30VT and my Fender Acoustasonic Jr. Of the two, the Acoustic amp is worth a lot more as far as value, but if I had to choose between the two for the type of playing I do now, hands down it would be the VOX.

I was wrong about the "bundle" of effects for the Toneport. I figured that the Toneport UX2 was just a different model of the Toneport DI. It is. But Line6 isn't missing a beat. In Their FAQ, they "say" that the bundles are hardwired into the interface and cannot be transferred. BS! The only thing in the hardware is the serial number or some digital code. The effects and amp models are SOFTWARE VST files!

Oh, and though I was able to drive my condenser mics with the Toneport UX2, it is not sending the signal through to my DAW either as a separate track or as a mixed signal with the Instrument. I haven't given up on that yet. It could be my DAW not pulling the signal since Line 6 said that the signal from both instruments (mic and guitar) were sent on separate USB channels.

Yup they are very addictive!

Glad you are getting things going with the UX2.

[MikeA]

I can record two mics, but I can't record a guitar and a mic though the docs specifically say you can. I read some stuff on the Ableton software that tells how to do it and you have to set up two input sources and then arm the tracks before it will record both inputs. You can't do that with Audacity....it is strictly a one input DAW. I can mix the signals with a board, but I really wanted to eliminate the board from the path.

So, I can use my condenser mics to grab an analog signal from in front of an amp. That works just fine. But unless I want to use my pencil mic to pick up the amp and the large condenser 992 for vocals, I am restricted to laying down a track first and then double tracking the vocals later.

I have about 12 megabytes of Miles singing that I recorded. I might upload one of the cuts to the "Sound Bytes". The kid is 4 years old and knows lyrics better than I! He has his own ideas about "producing" though <LOL>

Oh, part of my problems with the mics and the UX2 was that I was using too "new" a release of Gearbox and a set of drivers that were not compatible. I backed off about two releases and it interfaced the mics just fine as long as I'm not trying to use a guitar and a mic at the same time. The interface picks them up fine and plays them through my monitor amp, but the DAW will not recognize the mic....just the guitar.

[WalshFan88]

I can record two mics, but I can't record a guitar and a mic though the docs specifically say you can. I read some stuff on the Ableton software that tells how to do it and you have to set up two input sources and then arm the tracks before it will record both inputs. You can't do that with Audacity....it is strictly a one input DAW. I can mix the signals with a board, but I really wanted to eliminate the board from the path.

So, I can use my condenser mics to grab an analog signal from in front of an amp. That works just fine. But unless I want to use my pencil mic to pick up the amp and the large condenser 992 for vocals, I am restricted to laying down a track first and then double tracking the vocals later.

I have about 12 megabytes of Miles singing that I recorded. I might upload one of the cuts to the "Sound Bytes". The kid is 4 years old and knows lyrics better than I! He has his own ideas about "producing" though <LOL>

Oh, part of my problems with the mics and the UX2 was that I was using too "new" a release of Gearbox and a set of drivers that were not compatible. I backed off about two releases and it interfaced the mics just fine as long as I'm not trying to use a guitar and a mic at the same time. The interface picks them up fine and plays them through my monitor amp, but the DAW will not recognize the mic....just the guitar.

You should upload it to Sound Bytes!!!

[WalshFan88]

I just got done installing new Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates in my SG. "The" guitar I started on back in 2007. It's a Gibson SG Faded, the cheapest Gibson you can get short of a Melody Maker (which I'm not fond of). I got it back in 2004 the first time I thought I'd learn. It just took me 3 or 4 years to get around to it. :hilarious:

But anyway, I had these Duncans out of the guitar I put the WB's in and my SG was stock and needed some better pickups and since it didn't cost me anything, I put them in. WOW, huge difference. Watch for a video of it in the next few days along with another PRS video of course! :hilarious:

[MikeA]

I've always liked Billy Gibbons' sound with ZZ-Top. I had SD Lace pups in my Frankenstrat and had thought about putting a Pearly Gates in the bridge.

Ticky has an SG here on the forum. And I have a Faded Brown LP. I need to get my LP to a luthier and have him fle off the ends of all the fret wires. That is the only complaint I have about the neck on the guitar. Like the fat neck but the wires are just too far out and make the neck uncomfortable if you are moving up and down the neck fast.

I'd do it myself but for not having the right set of files for the job. I guess I could take a disk sander to it <LOL> <NOT>

[MikeA]

Oh, I got my Father-in-law set up and tweaked so that he is able to record without sacrifices of chickens! Strange. The tweak would have and should have been an easy one. There are two settings buried deep inside of Audacity. One is to allow already recorded tracks to play and the other is to play what you are currently recording (software playthrough or something like that). Anyway it is that second setting that needs to be turned off to KILL hearing what you are playing as you play it. That is when the latency kicks in and you hear yourself play about 350ms after you've played it! Impossible to play along with a pre-reorded track with that setting turned on.

Okay, so I made that setting change and then Audacity was playing back at a fraction of the speed it was recored at....and it was trying to record at that speed! I KNEW that had to be something weird about AUDACITY and its performance with Windows-7 because I had the same software release installed on my XP machine and it was NOT a problem. Fortunately, the folks at Sourceforge keep several old releases of their software on their site so I downloaded and installed a version about 2 generations back.

That solved his problem. Today, I need to post a problem report to Sourceforge about their BETA release that I had initially installed for Clair.

Everwhich....this solved all of Clair's issues.

One interesting thing I'd never noticed. With Clair's Silvertone plugged in (acoustic with an active pickup), you can record your vocals through the freakin' guitar <LOL>. You get a really cool REVERB in your vocals with this! I don't think my Piezio Pup in my Seagull will do this but the next time I plug it in, I'm gonna try it! The downside is that with such a sensitive pickup in that Silvertone, there is a chance of picking up audio from whatever source you are listening to while recording!

[WalshFan88]

Oh, I got my Father-in-law set up and tweaked so that he is able to record without sacrifices of chickens! Strange. The tweak would have and should have been an easy one. There are two settings buried deep inside of Audacity. One is to allow already recorded tracks to play and the other is to play what you are currently recording (software playthrough or something like that). Anyway it is that second setting that needs to be turned off to KILL hearing what you are playing as you play it. That is when the latency kicks in and you hear yourself play about 350ms after you've played it! Impossible to play along with a pre-reorded track with that setting turned on.

Okay, so I made that setting change and then Audacity was playing back at a fraction of the speed it was recored at....and it was trying to record at that speed! I KNEW that had to be something weird about AUDACITY and its performance with Windows-7 because I had the same software release installed on my XP machine and it was NOT a problem. Fortunately, the folks at Sourceforge keep several old releases of their software on their site so I downloaded and installed a version about 2 generations back.

That solved his problem. Today, I need to post a problem report to Sourceforge about their BETA release that I had initially installed for Clair.

Everwhich....this solved all of Clair's issues.

One interesting thing I'd never noticed. With Clair's Silvertone plugged in (acoustic with an active pickup), you can record your vocals through the freakin' guitar <LOL>. You get a really cool REVERB in your vocals with this! I don't think my Piezio Pup in my Seagull will do this but the next time I plug it in, I'm gonna try it! The downside is that with such a sensitive pickup in that Silvertone, there is a chance of picking up audio from whatever source you are listening to while recording!

Glad to hear you got it all sorted out. :) I hope to record a couple videos this evening.

[WalshFan88]

Well I just ordered a new Brad Paisley signature overdrive pedal - and this one WILL wait until Christmas if I have to lock it in a safe! :hilarious:

Now you are thinking... Brad Paisley?! What?!.... I am not a huge country fan but I really dig Paisley's playing. But that is beside the point. I have watched YouTube demos and listened to soundclips and it can do an EXCELLENT Classic Rock/Blues overdrive. I think it will become my main overdrive to use with my band as it seems to have those qualities that would make it great for Eagles songs. It's very versatile. Has a tone knob, gain knob, and level knob PLUS a mid scoop, mid boost, and flat mid control and a presence control to brighten things up or give you more clarity. And face it, the pedal artwork is awesome! :hilarious: I can't wait until Christmas to plug in and rip some Joe!

Anyone who is interested (and no, I'm not getting commission!) can go to http://wamplerpedals.com/paisley.html and pick one up for about $200. Now I'm sure all of you are shocked by the amount of money for a pedal, but afterall I am a "Gearhead" and I find this to be the best sounding overdrive for Eagles type stuff. The demos didn't even play any Eagles songs but it's one of those things where you can just tell. The demos were all surprisingly done with a Fender Twin Reverb so I should have no problems getting that exact same guitar tone.

You can find YouTube demos by searching for "Wampler Paisley Drive".

[MikeA]

"Shocked"? Me? LOL

I've been watching pedals for a while. You ever buy anything off of eBay? I didn't see any of those listed but sometimes, you can stuff "new' off of eBay considerably cheaper than what you'd pay retail for stuff.

I'm trying to find out if upgrading from GearBox to PodFarm would be worth $49.99. I really think that they are about the same as far as effects and amp models go. But the next upgrade is PodFarm II Platinum which sells for $299.00 and I don't need that THAT badly <LOL>. I'm just a bit disappointed that i'm losing all those effects and amps that were in the Silver Bundle that came with my old TonePort DI. Apparently, I can't use them with my UX2.

The thing is, I don't use them that much. Most were over the top screaming distortion models that didn't sound that good to me. I mean, they would be fine if you were playing "Metal" and all you were after was "Hate and Discontent"....wait, that's PUNK isn't it? Whatever...I'm not into either Metal or Punk so those models don't suit me.

I'm looking for a warm tube overdrive sound for most stuff I play. I can get that out of my VOX amp, but I get a closer "record what you hear" sound from the Digital Effects than I get from my VOX when I mic it and recording direct loses something too.

[WalshFan88]

"Shocked"? Me? LOL

:hilarious::hilarious::hilarious: ROFL!

[WalshFan88]

I've been watching pedals for a while. You ever buy anything off of eBay? I didn't see any of those listed but sometimes, you can stuff "new' off of eBay considerably cheaper than what you'd pay retail for stuff.

I'm trying to find out if upgrading from GearBox to PodFarm would be worth $49.99. I really think that they are about the same as far as effects and amp models go. But the next upgrade is PodFarm II Platinum which sells for $299.00 and I don't need that THAT badly <LOL>. I'm just a bit disappointed that i'm losing all those effects and amps that were in the Silver Bundle that came with my old TonePort DI. Apparently, I can't use them with my UX2.

The thing is, I don't use them that much. Most were over the top screaming distortion models that didn't sound that good to me. I mean, they would be fine if you were playing "Metal" and all you were after was "Hate and Discontent"....wait, that's PUNK isn't it? Whatever...I'm not into either Metal or Punk so those models don't suit me.

I'm looking for a warm tube overdrive sound for most stuff I play. I can get that out of my VOX amp, but I get a closer "record what you hear" sound from the Digital Effects than I get from my VOX when I mic it and recording direct loses something too.

Yep I buy pedals on eBay quite a bit. Pedals, pickups, etc. I got an Explorer guitar from eBay not to long ago.

The Warm Tube OD (overdrive) is good. I don't like heavy distortion, I like more than just a tube driver type thing, but I don't want a real high gain Metalish sound. I go for that 70s hard rock distortion (think AC/DC, Aerosmith, Zeppelin) or just classic rock in general (Eagles, Stones, Beatles). I like a good medium gain to low end of high gain overdrive that I can tweak depending on the song. The Paisley is a medium gain distortion. I like more than just a clean bluesy sound, but I'm not one of those that pile on 10 distortions and it sounds like crap. I know those types personally - and I find their tone to be utter crap. LOL! They of course think it's the best tone ever!

[EaglesFanatic]

Originally Posted by WalshFan88
I can't wait until Christmas to plug in and rip some Joe!
That's what I have in mind....only not the way you mean....know what I mean?:hilarious:JK

:hilarious: :hilarious: :thumbsup: It's funny how you can twist words around to mean completely different things LOL

[WalshFan88]

:hilarious: :hilarious: :thumbsup: It's funny how you can twist words around to mean completely different things LOL

No kidding. And with a mind like mine it happens quite frequently! :hilarious::hilarious::hilarious:

[MikeA]

I don't see any place for misinterpretation in Austin's remark. He's just wanting to start up his coffee maker and have some coffee.

[WalshFan88]

I don't see any place for misinterpretation in Austin's remark. He's just wanting to start up his coffee maker and have some coffee.

:hilarious::hilarious::hilarious:

[WalshFan88]

Me either. I'd like to start it up and have some JOE too:angel:jk

:hilarious:

[WalshFan88]

OK, after a long debate I'm putting this up... But first, a story about how it got started.

My best friend since like elementary school came back from college on Thanksgiving break and he's big into doing YouTube videos and stuff and wanted to shoot a video of us playing guitar. Now he does NOT play. He wanted me to play my best on the video and he will just move his hands and make noises, but I thought that would be unfair to him for me to outplay him. Sooooo, I decided to play my worst. And that's exactly what I did! :hilarious: I haven't played that bad since I started! Just purposely messing up, playing detuned, wrong notes and chords, and out of key solos and being funny. Stupid-funny, which is what all of his videos are. We are planning the Sequel when he comes back over Christmas! It will be a hoot. Here is part 1. Enjoy! :D We played (butchered!) You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC, Cat Scratch Fever by Ted Nugent, and Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I couldn't do that to an Eagles song. Next time he's doing lead and I'm playing rhythm. He will play the same electric and I'll play the same acoustic.

NOTE: There are some adult words in this video - so no children around when you play it. There are mentions of sex, drugs, and rock n' roll! We just wanted to make a so-stupid-its-funny video for his page. We succeeded! :rofl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6WXWxy5nRE

PS: This is a joke and something for laughs - not to be taken seriously LOL! We were just goofing around making a funny video! It was fun!

[MikeA]

Take away one and you have more time for the other two!~ Liked that.

[WalshFan88]

Take away one and you have more time for the other two!~ Liked that.

That was a Steven Tyler quote.

[MikeA]

I think I am going to audition "Reaper". "Audacity" is okay. It does a good job recording a single track and is very easy to use, but there are things that it just doesn't do that the "big names" like "Pro-Tools", "Ableton" and "Cu-Base" handle.

"Reaper" is a fully functional Shareware product that I've read a lot of good things about. The thing is, it doesn't work like Audacity where you just click on "record" and take off ripping down audio signals. You have a lot of flashy "arming" things you have to do, a lot of settings telling each track where the signal is coming from and what device the output it to go to (speakers, out to a effects loop, a midi sequencer....whatever).

It is a full blown DAW in the ball park with the "biggies". The big difference is that where you'll pay THOUSANDS for Pro-Tools after you get the plug-ins you need, or Hundreds for the upgrades you continually have to purchase with Sonar-7 or some of the others, REAPER costs $40 (or maybe $60 now depending on which version you get). That's for the personal home use version. It's $260 I think for a Commercial Use version. They are the same version of the software it's just that the Commercial License allows you to legally sell mixes you've used REAPER to record.

I probably don't need a new DAW but it'll be either fun or frustrating....but it will be interesting to see if I can conquer it.

[MikeA]

Well, first impression of "Reaper" is good. It has a small footprint on my PC-XT system. About 4mb download and installs fast. I selected the ASIO standard with my UX2 and it immediately found it. Record and Playback were no problems from the Interface.

To record a track, you first have to create the new track and assign inputs to it and outputs as well. But before you hit the "record button" you do have to "arm" the track. In that way, you can overdub a track that you've already recorded. It also has an impressive list of effects you can assign to a track. I tested it with a chorus effect and it worked fine.

It took a little hunting and pecking to figure out how to save the result as an MP3 file. There is an option under "FILE" that you choose called "Render". Since I already had the LAME drivers for MP3 downloaded and installed, it gave me no grief when I told it to render it as MP3.

I've only scratched the surface though. When I get a little more time, I'm going to try to set up the UX2 to send both a mic and guitar signal to the DAW and see if I can get vocals and instrument to come in as separate tracks.

[WalshFan88]

Well, first impression of "Reaper" is good. It has a small footprint on my PC-XT system. About 4mb download and installs fast. I selected the ASIO standard with my UX2 and it immediately found it. Record and Playback were no problems from the Interface.

To record a track, you first have to create the new track and assign inputs to it and outputs as well. But before you hit the "record button" you do have to "arm" the track. In that way, you can overdub a track that you've already recorded. It also has an impressive list of effects you can assign to a track. I tested it with a chorus effect and it worked fine.

It took a little hunting and pecking to figure out how to save the result as an MP3 file. There is an option under "FILE" that you choose called "Render". Since I already had the LAME drivers for MP3 downloaded and installed, it gave me no grief when I told it to render it as MP3.

I've only scratched the surface though. When I get a little more time, I'm going to try to set up the UX2 to send both a mic and guitar signal to the DAW and see if I can get vocals and instrument to come in as separate tracks.

Great Mike! Be sure to put up some clips when you do! I have a PRS video coming in the next day or so! ;)

[MikeA]

Not quite ready for clips with Reaper...not yet. But I'm getting close.

What I've found is that I can use Gearbox or NOT use it. Either way, the UX2 sends it's audio signal to Reaper. Without it of course, the signal is unprocessed. That's fine if you want to use VSTs and other tools within Reaper to process the signal (i.e. add effects to). Or if I want to mic an amp into Reaper and use that as the raw signal. But if I want any of the digital effects, or if I want to process two mics or a guitar and a mic, I have to go through Gearbox.

The trick with it so far as I've found, in recording two simultaneous tones, is to set the UX2 in Gearbox to use the Guitar and Mic. That's a separate selection in the software. What it does is send one of the inputs through "send 1 and 2" and the other one through "send 3 and 4". That's the key. You have to configure your tracks in Reaper to pick which "send" you wish to use.

But once you have it selected, one tone or channel is recorded to one track and the other goes to the other track. This is WONDERFUL! Something I've never had before. I can now strum away on a guitar and sing and have each signal separated in Reaper so that I can change levels to balance the two inputs. Or I can go in and add reverb to the vocals without adding it to the guitar.

Reaper, compared to Audacity, is like comparing STEREO to MONO. So much more control over what you are recording.

And, reaper will handle as many tracks as you have inputs to send it!

I'm going to have to continue playing with it to see if there is any trouble in editing tracks. Lets say I'm going to town on a solo and mess up in just one spot. I've got the whole thing recorded but that one missed note or sequence of notes has trashed the entire pass.

Well, what I'd want to do is go in and "silence" that messed up part and record another track that just contains the part that I cut out. I'd then position it in exactly the right spot under the first track and you have an instant blend. You wouldn't be able to tell that I hadn't played it straight through. Seamless. When I save it, it would render all tracks down as a single track.

I have 30 days starting today to play with this before I'm obligated to buy it. Right now, I see nothing to change my mind about buying the license for it. Heck $40 is all it costs and the current release is 3.73 or something like that. Release 4 is due out this year so it's close. I am entitled to download upgrades through 4.99 with this license. I think the price of the personal-use license is going up to $60 with release 4 so I'll most likely go ahead and make my decision pretty quick. Maybe by Monday.

[WalshFan88]

That sounds cool Mike.

I wanted to let you know I'm gonna be taking a break from here for a little while just to clear my thoughts a bit. I've been going through a lot lately and I don't want to wear out my welcome here so I think I'll take a break for a couple days at the least to just de-stress.

[MikeA]

You gotta do whatcha gotta do Austin, but you'll be missed here.

[WalshFan88]

You gotta do whatcha gotta do Austin, but you'll be missed here.

Thanks... I'm just really stressed, and becoming overly sensitive and so I'm just gonna stay off the net for a couple-few days and just play my guitar and calm myself down.

[MikeA]

Hope you check in every now and again. I hope I can spend some time hugging my guitars this weekend myself and maybe get something composed and rendered from Reaper to post up here.

If you need to talk it out, I'll send you my phone in a PM. I'm generally always around.

[WalshFan88]

Thanks everyone.

It's been an awful year for me. I lost my dog who was my best friend and got me through it and was my companion, I've had numerous health issues, now with my eyes. I can't wait to be done with it and move on next year. I'm at my wits end and being stressed makes me sensitive to things, even that are trivial and I have a tendency to be on the sensitive side anyway. I think it's something with guitar players because all the ones I've met all have different personality quirks. LOL.

Talk to you all in a few days, I'd like to come back before the Survivor ends and vote for the final song. We'll see how it goes...

[Eve]

Good things will come for you in the new year WalshFan. You deserve it!

[tequila girl]

Hey Austin, I hope you have a few quiet days de-stressing, but don't stay away for too long :thumbsup:

[MikeA]

Got me a high tech piece of new gear this morning. I had $10 gift card at Guitar Center that I got for filling out a survey and I'd seen a clip-on tuner they had for $10. So, Decided to go get me one.

Well, they didn't have any. Sold out of them the first day that they had them in the store (what a surprise!).

But like every marketing guy knows, get someone addicted to gear into Guitar Center and they are gonna spend!

I bought this one http://www.guitarcenter.com/Snark-Clip-On-Chromatic-Guitar-Tuner-H65651-i1563908.gc and it works good. I have a tin ear and was tired of having to plug into a tuner to take care of business. I've never had good luck with tuners that were driven by microphones...don't remember what those are called. This one picks up vibrations from the headstock on any guitar. I've used it on acoustics and on electrics and it works like a champ. Just press a button on it to wake it up and then start plucking strings and tuning to center on it. It has a color coded display that turns has a wedge that turns green (may be blue) when you are centered on 440 and has indications that you are sharp or flat. And, it has a sort of gooseneck that more or less hides the tuner back behind the headstock so it isn't blatantly obvious that you have a tuner mounted to your guitar. I'm pleased with it.

Also bought a few sets of Ernie Ball Hybrid strings and then bought my father-in-law a guitar stand. I cringe when I see him lean his guitars up against a rocking chair!

Y'all should be proud of me though....I didn't buy a new guitar. And I didn't buy a set of powered monitors. I didn't buy an amp. Still, I didn't get out from there at under $50 and hann't planned on spending ANYTHING!
http://mvabercrombie.net/SNARK.jpg

[WalshFan88]

Well as I write this post I'm blown away. My guitar playing has just improved ten-fold....!!! In one day. By changing two things. How you ask?! Hmm?!

First I changed from 8 to 9 gauge strings back last year. I started playing guitar on 8 gauge strings. Last year I moved up to 9 gauge strings. Well now I've moved to 10 gauge strings and it's a VAST improvement. Tone is fuller, thicker, and OMG did it make a difference with keeping in tune. My guitars I had to fight with but now it's perfect. It's amazing the difference it made.

Now, that's the first part of the equation. Here's where it gets interesting. My guitar buddy from a local blues band has been harping on me to try some "Jazz picks". Now when I heard that I got turned off quickly. But I thought what the heck, so I went to my other guitar player in my band's guitar store and bought a couple "Dunlop Jazz III" picks. They are absolutely unbelieveable. The accuracy, the tone, the cleaner sound, everything. They are more accurate. It's a much cleaner pick attack. And I don't have to move my hand as much. I just move my wrist now. My friend Steve (who is the other guitar player) noted what a difference it made. It made me much more accurate, much less spotty and by that I mean where it wouldn't be a clean attack and it was a tighter sound. It made me sound VERY clean. It's great!

I'm totally happy. So I'm buying some more picks and a box of 12 packs of 10 gauge Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys to put on all of my guitars. I'll get 'em converted over Christmas break. I love the sound and playing differences. I'm much more of a cleaner lead player now. Watch out for a video tomorrow night demonstrating it so you don't think I'm full of it! :hilarious: :rofl: :D

I also setup/polished my "Ruby" tonight when I put 10s on I raised the action/intonated it and adjusted the truss rod and pickup height. Lots better!

[WalshFan88]

Well as I write this post I'm blown away. My guitar playing has just improved ten-fold....!!! In one day. By changing two things. How you ask?! Hmm?!

First I changed from 8 to 9 gauge strings back last year. I started playing guitar on 8 gauge strings. Last year I moved up to 9 gauge strings. Well now I've moved to 10 gauge strings and it's a VAST improvement. Tone is fuller, thicker, and OMG did it make a difference with keeping in tune. My guitars I had to fight with but now it's perfect. It's amazing the difference it made.

Now, that's the first part of the equation. Here's where it gets interesting. My guitar buddy from a local blues band has been harping on me to try some "Jazz picks". Now when I heard that I got turned off quickly. But I thought what the heck, so I went to my other guitar player in my band's guitar store and bought a couple "Dunlop Jazz III" picks. They are absolutely unbelieveable. The accuracy, the tone, the cleaner sound, everything. They are more accurate. It's a much cleaner pick attack. And I don't have to move my hand as much. I just move my wrist now. My friend Steve (who is the other guitar player) noted what a difference it made. It made me much more accurate, much less spotty and by that I mean where it wouldn't be a clean attack and it was a tighter sound. It made me sound VERY clean. It's great!

I'm totally happy. So I'm buying some more picks and a box of 12 packs of 10 gauge Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys to put on all of my guitars. I'll get 'em converted over Christmas break. I love the sound and playing differences. I'm much more of a cleaner lead player now. Watch out for a video tomorrow night demonstrating it so you don't think I'm full of it! :hilarious: :rofl: :D

I also setup/polished my "Ruby" tonight when I put 10s on I raised the action/intonated it and adjusted the truss rod and pickup height. Lots better!

[WalshFan88]

"I'm much more of a cleaner lead player now."

Well, I'm glad to hear that. Now the other guys in the band won't have to stand so far away from you:bye:.....:rofl:

Heh heh you think you are SO funny! LOL!

[MikeA]

I use medium thickness "Cactus Picks". Love 'em. The have really rough (Like SAND) up where you hold them and they NEVER slip. I don't like Gorilla-Snot and have to use something like it when using a smooth pick. I bought a hundred of them a couple of years ago....have not quit using the FIRST ONES I pulled out of the bag <LOL> Actually, I got 50 mediums, 25 lights and 25 heavies, but it is the mediums that I play nearly all the time.

The Ernie Ball's I got are Slinky Hybrids. 9 11 16 26 36 and 46. I like the heavy ones on bottom and the light ones on top. You get all that tone on the bass for power chords without sacrificing the bend-ability of the ones you normally solo with.

I did have to raise the action on the bottom to allow for the heavier strings but the ones I removed were 9's so didn't have to do anything on the top.

Oh, and I finally figured out why my LP has never felt right. The fret wires feel like they are sticking out on either side of the fretboard! It's the lack of neck binding that gives it that rough feel. I need to get a bottle of lemon oil and see if the wood will soak it up a bit and expand to cover those ends. If that doesn't work (I'll give it time) then I'm taking LP in and have them file the ends off. It'll cost around $40 or $50. I'm pretty happy with the setup other than that.

Funny....the Tele doesn't have bindings on the neck and it has a great feel to it. The Sheraton is completely bound....EVERYWHERE including the "eff holes". I've never played a guitar that had a neck that feel as good as that one. Not just me either. My son is trying to be patient and wait until they bury me before he steals that Epiphone, but he may not have the will power. And if he really wants it, I'll give it to him. It's no longer my #1. That honor seems to be falling on the Telecaster....humble Mexican Made Tele. Love it.

Oh, And while I was there, I saw the new Epiphone Dots. Faded fiinish. And uncovered LACE pups! I didn't play it but I was surely impressed with it. I am pretty sure that I'm going to end up taking in the Sheraton II and having a new set of pups put in it and have them work over the pots...get them tightened up and put some freakin Loc-Tite on them! I just don't have the tools to get in underneath that body with anything that I use to hold the bolt so I can tighten it.

[WalshFan88]

I use medium thickness "Cactus Picks". Love 'em. The have really rough (Like SAND) up where you hold them and they NEVER slip. I don't like Gorilla-Snot and have to use something like it when using a smooth pick. I bought a hundred of them a couple of years ago....have not quit using the FIRST ONES I pulled out of the bag <LOL> Actually, I got 50 mediums, 25 lights and 25 heavies, but it is the mediums that I play nearly all the time.

The Ernie Ball's I got are Slinky Hybrids. 9 11 16 26 36 and 46. I like the heavy ones on bottom and the light ones on top. You get all that tone on the bass for power chords without sacrificing the bend-ability of the ones you normally solo with.

I did have to raise the action on the bottom to allow for the heavier strings but the ones I removed were 9's so didn't have to do anything on the top.

Oh, and I finally figured out why my LP has never felt right. The fret wires feel like they are sticking out on either side of the fretboard! It's the lack of neck binding that gives it that rough feel. I need to get a bottle of lemon oil and see if the wood will soak it up a bit and expand to cover those ends. If that doesn't work (I'll give it time) then I'm taking LP in and have them file the ends off. It'll cost around $40 or $50. I'm pretty happy with the setup other than that.

Funny....the Tele doesn't have bindings on the neck and it has a great feel to it. The Sheraton is completely bound....EVERYWHERE including the "eff holes". I've never played a guitar that had a neck that feel as good as that one. Not just me either. My son is trying to be patient and wait until they bury me before he steals that Epiphone, but he may not have the will power. And if he really wants it, I'll give it to him. It's no longer my #1. That honor seems to be falling on the Telecaster....humble Mexican Made Tele. Love it.

Oh, And while I was there, I saw the new Epiphone Dots. Faded fiinish. And uncovered LACE pups! I didn't play it but I was surely impressed with it. I am pretty sure that I'm going to end up taking in the Sheraton II and having a new set of pups put in it and have them work over the pots...get them tightened up and put some freakin Loc-Tite on them! I just don't have the tools to get in underneath that body with anything that I use to hold the bolt so I can tighten it.

The thing about the Jazz III's is they have a fine point tip and are not rounded like most picks. Round is okay for rhythm, but not for lead. The benefit is they are more accurate, less noise, and easier to pull of pinch harmonics.

Yup I have the same thing on my LP Studio Smartwood - lack of binding means rougher fret edges.

[MikeA]

I may or may not have stated the diameters of the Hybrid Slinky strings I bought Sunday and am now using on my Paul and on my Tele.

They come in an orange plastic bag. The weights are from "e" to "E"

9
11
16
26
36
46

It's those bottom three that are monsters. Normal "lights" are usually 9 to 42.
Those with 46 are usually 10 to 46 and the "B" and "G" strings are also heavier.

I wouldn't mind having a "G" string on my Tele that is 18 or so. 16 is guage for the Hybrid Slinkey set. I like a heaver "G" string on the Tele since that is a key string for most solo on the Telecaster and I like to have that one really stand out in tone...even if the set is a Light or Extra Light set. But ONLY on the Tele. The LP is just as happy as it can be with a 16 or even a 15.

Redundant, but I'm copying this post from the "Sound Bites" thread.

Strings on a guitar vary in terms of thickness or diameter.

9's as we call them, are .009 inches thick if measured. The bass string when spoken of as a "46" is actually .046 inch in thickness. Generally speaking, the heavier the string, the lower the frequency at which is oscillates thus producing a lower note when played "open". Pressing down on the string somewhere on the neck, causes that string to effectively be shortened by the fret wire and causes it to vibrate faster thus making a higher note.

The whole point of the discussion with Austin, was one of compromise. It is easier to press and bend lighter weight strings. The lighter they are the easier they are to press down or push to the side to "bend" them to a slurred note. The "bends" is the most common way to put "expression" or "emotion" into a note played on a guitar.

Beginning guitarists who are starting out with a steel stringed (or metal stringed any way) instrument are usually advised to string their guitars with the lightest weight strings they can find. You literally wear blisters on the tips of your fingers that eventually turn to calluses or "pads". I've read that Stevie Ray Vaughan (who was known for playing very heavy strings) was once playing at a club in Fort Worth, Texas and sent one of his roadies out to get a bottle of super-glue so he could glue the calluses BACK onto his fingers so he could finish playing the gig.

But after those pads form on your fingers, you are limited by the weight of the strings you can play effectively pretty much by the strength of your hands and fingers and on physical laws that control just how much you can bend a string.

Heavier is usually better as far as tone goes. You really notice it on an acoustic guitar. String them with a set of 9's and you can make the bar chords easily, but the volume goes down, the tone gets weaker and if you strike the strings hard with the pick, they vibrate so much that they begin to touch fret wires in front of the fret you are making the chord on. This comes out as BUZZING...a really ugly sound that never belongs in a chord or a single note.

For reasons of clean sound, guitarists usually want their action to be as low as possible to demand less effort to press the string down. But there is a limit. If you set the action too low, the strings start to "BUZZ". So we work constantly during setup of a new guitar to find that lowest limit. Really low action is refered to as a "FAST" action because you can make notes quicker and with less effort than if you have further to press the string down.

Oh, "Action" in terms of guitars is the distance from the face of the neck that the strings are.High action might be 1/4" or more for people playing slide where strings to not have to come into physical contact with a fret wire. On my Les Paul, mine is at 1/8" or less. However high or low it is now, any lower, even a quarter turn on the bridge height would cause the strings to buzz. It's a little higher than that on my Telecaster. On my Seagull acoustic, it is around 3/16's inch high (but I'm playing 13 guage strings on the acoustic and it has a .053" base string.)

[WalshFan88]

Redundant, but I'm copying this post from the "Sound Bites" thread.

Strings on a guitar vary in terms of thickness or diameter.

9's as we call them, are .009 inches thick if measured. The bass string when spoken of as a "46" is actually .046 inch in thickness. Generally speaking, the heavier the string, the lower the frequency at which is oscillates thus producing a lower note when played "open". Pressing down on the string somewhere on the neck, causes that string to effectively be shortened by the fret wire and causes it to vibrate faster thus making a higher note.

The whole point of the discussion with Austin, was one of compromise. It is easier to press and bend lighter weight strings. The lighter they are the easier they are to press down or push to the side to "bend" them to a slurred note. The "bends" is the most common way to put "expression" or "emotion" into a note played on a guitar.

Beginning guitarists who are starting out with a steel stringed (or metal stringed any way) instrument are usually advised to string their guitars with the lightest weight strings they can find. You literally wear blisters on the tips of your fingers that eventually turn to calluses or "pads". I've read that Stevie Ray Vaughan (who was known for playing very heavy strings) was once playing at a club in Fort Worth, Texas and sent one of his roadies out to get a bottle of super-glue so he could glue the calluses BACK onto his fingers so he could finish playing the gig.

But after those pads form on your fingers, you are limited by the weight of the strings you can play effectively pretty much by the strength of your hands and fingers and on physical laws that control just how much you can bend a string.

Heavier is usually better as far as tone goes. You really notice it on an acoustic guitar. String them with a set of 9's and you can make the bar chords easily, but the volume goes down, the tone gets weaker and if you strike the strings hard with the pick, they vibrate so much that they begin to touch fret wires in front of the fret you are making the chord on. This comes out as BUZZING...a really ugly sound that never belongs in a chord or a single note.

For reasons of clean sound, guitarists usually want their action to be as low as possible to demand less effort to press the string down. But there is a limit. If you set the action too low, the strings start to "BUZZ". So we work constantly during setup of a new guitar to find that lowest limit. Really low action is refered to as a "FAST" action because you can make notes quicker and with less effort than if you have further to press the string down.

Oh, "Action" in terms of guitars is the distance from the face of the neck that the strings are.High action might be 1/4" or more for people playing slide where strings to not have to come into physical contact with a fret wire. On my Les Paul, mine is at 1/8" or less. However high or low it is now, any lower, even a quarter turn on the bridge height would cause the strings to buzz. It's a little higher than that on my Telecaster. On my Seagull acoustic, it is around 3/16's inch high (but I'm playing 13 guage strings on the acoustic and it has a .053" base string.)


I started on 8s. Extra Slinkys... They were very very light. I like the 10s now. Will move up to 11s next year. At least to try. I buy a box at a time but when I try 11s I'll get just one pack to try. I can get 12 pack Slinkys for $40. They last me at the very most 3-6 months. Usually closer to 3 as much as I play.

[MikeA]

Wow, start talking about guitar strings and it opens up so much discussion that I don't even have a clue where to start.

Some of this gets a little technical, but if you don't know what makes a guitar work and wish to have a bit more knowledge....READ ON.

Already talked about the string thickness and how it relates to the tone of a guitar. That presumes that you know that there are 6 strings on a regular guitar and each one is of a different thickness. To be tuned normally, the thickest string would be tuned to low "E". That string is normally thought of as the 6th string.

So, going from lowest to highest we have "E" "A" "D" "G" "B" and "e". The note they are tuned to is found without pressing any string down but rather playing it open or from the "NUT". The Nut is the last thing the string touches before the string gets to the neck of the guitar.

Ahhh, now one of the more difficult terms to define practically:

INTONATION

But you are not through tuning once you get the open notes tuned to the normal tuning frequency. There is a thing called "intonation". Guitars as well as music in general, bears a very close relationship with mathematics and geometry in particular. I won't get very deeply into that now because that gets pretty deep into music theory. But we are talking about the mechanics of a guitar.

We spoke of the Nut. That is one end of the "sound board" that is made up by the guitar. The other end is the bridge. The bridge is located on the OTHER end of the guitar <LOL> It is the last thing the string touches after leaving the Nut (except for the fret wires when you press a string down).

Now, you could tune virtuallfy any guage string of any length to vibrate to a low "E". But to have a guitar that is really in tune, you have to also be able to press that string down on the 12 fret (one octave higher or 12 semitones higher) and produce another "E" note but higher in pitch. To do this, you have to tune the string so that note is hit when you press down at the 12th fret. But if the note you get is not an "E" and you tune it so that it is, then you wouldn't have an "E" when you played the string open or off the Nut!

What a dellima! In order to play a song that required you play a high "E" on the 12th fret, you'd have to stop the song and retune the string to get that note!

Ahhh, but wait....there is a solution....called INTONATION. Notes played on a string are played by lengthening or shortening a string. A string of a given thickness and a given length and a given tension will always resonate at the same frequency or note. So if your string is correct in tune at the Nut or open position (I'm just going to call that "open" from now on) but is sharp at the 12th position, then that means that your string is too short because it is vibrating too fast up on the 12th fret. The solution is to physically lengthen the string and then retune to the open position and keep doing that until you have a open "E" and also have an "E" at the 12th fret.

Most electric guitars and some acoustic guitars have a bridge that has adjustable saddles so that you can lengthen or shorted the string to accomplish this perfect intonation. It is a tedious process of trial and error to get this accomplished but it is well worth the effort if you play anything on your guitar above the open position!

As always, anyone finding fault in description...Please CORRECT. I'm not an "expert" in this.

And, to get into pickups and how and why to select ones that didn't come as standard issue....I'm going to leave that to Austin.

[tequila girl]

I'm gonna have to buy a guitar just so's I can follow your tuition Mike! :hilarious:

Let me tell you .......my brother who is in his 60's now (just like our boys) has played since he was about 14 I guess...and I did try when I was about 15 (40 years ago!) but my fingers kept bleeding and I gave up!:sad: :brickwall: Sooooooo Whether to try again or not..... I don't think i've got the patience :-(

[MikeA]

TG,

Playing a guitar is something that once you do it, if you have the tenacity to start learning it....it will do one of two things: It will turn you off completely, or it will infect your blood to some degree. If it does that and you start learning chords and scales, you might set the instrument aside for a while, but you'll keep coming back to it over and over throughout the rest of your life. At least as long as you can apply pressure with your fingers.

Get an old acoustic and string it with light weight strings (or even get a nylon stringed classical style...they are far less abrasive to your fingers). Just Play the thing. Don't worry about the sound at first. Just break your fingers in. Eventually you will get those pads built up and can then start getting into more serious instruments if you want to do that.

My father-in-law is 84 and he still plays violin, guitar, mandolin and also an instrument called a banjitar (instrument tuned and played like a guitar but sounds like a banjo!).

I watched a YouTube video of a guy who was amazing. His fingers were pretty much all cut off on his left hand, yet he played as though he'd no disadvantage at all! He played it laying in his lap with his left hand over the fretboard, and could just play the heck out of it! Far better than I play.

The thing is, that if it "gets you" you'll find a way to make it work. You may not be another Joe Walsh, but the satisfaction to you will be no less than what Joe experiences....it's just a matter of degree of accomplishment.

Austin has been playing for 3 or 4 years...I've been playing for 50 years if you discount the time I laid the guitar aside. Austin plays circles around me but I still get no less satisfaction that I haven't accomplished with the instrument that which others have. I have ceased to become discouraged and just love playing.

[WalshFan88]

Wow, start talking about guitar strings and it opens up so much discussion that I don't even have a clue where to start.

Some of this gets a little technical, but if you don't know what makes a guitar work and wish to have a bit more knowledge....READ ON.

Already talked about the string thickness and how it relates to the tone of a guitar. That presumes that you know that there are 6 strings on a regular guitar and each one is of a different thickness. To be tuned normally, the thickest string would be tuned to low "E". That string is normally thought of as the 6th string.

So, going from lowest to highest we have "E" "A" "D" "G" "B" and "e". The note they are tuned to is found without pressing any string down but rather playing it open or from the "NUT". The Nut is the last thing the string touches before the string gets to the neck of the guitar.

Ahhh, now one of the more difficult terms to define practically:

INTONATION

But you are not through tuning once you get the open notes tuned to the normal tuning frequency. There is a thing called "intonation". Guitars as well as music in general, bears a very close relationship with mathematics and geometry in particular. I won't get very deeply into that now because that gets pretty deep into music theory. But we are talking about the mechanics of a guitar.

We spoke of the Nut. That is one end of the "sound board" that is made up by the guitar. The other end is the bridge. The bridge is located on the OTHER end of the guitar <LOL> It is the last thing the string touches after leaving the Nut (except for the fret wires when you press a string down).

Now, you could tune virtuallfy any guage string of any length to vibrate to a low "E". But to have a guitar that is really in tune, you have to also be able to press that string down on the 12 fret (one octave higher or 12 semitones higher) and produce another "E" note but higher in pitch. To do this, you have to tune the string so that note is hit when you press down at the 12th fret. But if the note you get is not an "E" and you tune it so that it is, then you wouldn't have an "E" when you played the string open or off the Nut!

What a dellima! In order to play a song that required you play a high "E" on the 12th fret, you'd have to stop the song and retune the string to get that note!

Ahhh, but wait....there is a solution....called INTONATION. Notes played on a string are played by lengthening or shortening a string. A string of a given thickness and a given length and a given tension will always resonate at the same frequency or note. So if your string is correct in tune at the Nut or open position (I'm just going to call that "open" from now on) but is sharp at the 12th position, then that means that your string is too short because it is vibrating too fast up on the 12th fret. The solution is to physically lengthen the string and then retune to the open position and keep doing that until you have a open "E" and also have an "E" at the 12th fret.

Most electric guitars and some acoustic guitars have a bridge that has adjustable saddles so that you can lengthen or shorted the string to accomplish this perfect intonation. It is a tedious process of trial and error to get this accomplished but it is well worth the effort if you play anything on your guitar above the open position!

As always, anyone finding fault in description...Please CORRECT. I'm not an "expert" in this.

And, to get into pickups and how and why to select ones that didn't come as standard issue....I'm going to leave that to Austin.

Yup Intonation is very important, as is action. I do my own basic setups (action, intonation, minor truss rod adjustment, pickup installation, etc) but all of the pro stuff goes to Todd in Springfield, IL at the rock shop (refret, nut install, etc).

I'll make another post in here regarding pickups and electronics.

[tequila girl]

Thanks for the 'words of wisdom' Mike....I'm gonna have to give this some thought!:)

[WalshFan88]

Pickups:

What is a pickup you ask? A pickup is the microphone of an electric guitar or bass. It "picks up" the string vibration and transmits it through a cable into an amplifier. The speaker turns it into sound. The pickup is the heart and soul of an electric instrument. It is the guitar's microphone. You want to hear the guitars sing well, so you need a great mic to capture the "vocals" of it.

So, the pickup makes a HUGE difference on what comes out of the amp.. By changing pickups - you can improve your guitars tone/sound. Especially if it is a cheap instrument, you can improve the tone of your instrument.

My favorite aftermarket mass production (MP) pickups are Seymour Duncans. They have the best tone and are better than DiMarzios in my opinion. The humbucker pickup Duncan's I'd personally recommend after trying them in my guitars are the following:

Seymour Duncan '59 - Warm, bluesy tone with still a bit of bite/growl.
Seymour Duncan JB - Brighter tone, with more output/gain and crunch.
Seymour Duncan Jazz - Dark, jazzy tone, somewhat bluesy. Not much bite.
Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro - In middle of the 59 or JB. Crunchy and barky.
Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates - Somewhat warm with lots of bite and crunch.
Seymour Duncan Duncan Custom - '59 on steroids. More output/little brighter.
Seymour Duncan Custom Custom - Dark, high output, biting tone for rock.
Seymour Duncan Custom 5 - Similar to a '59 but deeper in the bottom end.
Seymour Duncan Seth Lover - Very low output, good for blues/jazz/country.
Seymour Duncan Duncan Distortion - Very high output, good for heavy rock.
Seymour Duncan Screamin' Demon - Moderate output, for hard rock.
Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro Slash - More vintage tone than it's bro.

Those are the Duncans I have tried and also I currently own. I have tried every model of passive Duncan's they make other than the Antiquity custom shops. I will be buying a set in the new year to try and will give a report.

If you wanted an Eagles Walsh/Felder guitar tone with overdrive, get the 59s OR the Pearly Gates. If you play clean with very little overdrive and play blues, jazz, or country get the Seth Lover. If you play hard rock and love a bitier tone, get a 59 in the neck and JB in the bridge. If you want a moderate output classic 70s rock tone, get the Alnico II Pros. If you want a versatile pair of humbuckers that can cover all bases of music, get the Jazz in the neck and JB in the bridge. If you wanted an old school 70s/80s metal tone, get the Custom Custom's. If you want a more modern rock/metal tone, get the Duncan Distortion set.The other ones I haven't mentioned are copies of the other pickups with different EQ's. The Duncan Custom is a fatter/gainier 59. The Custom 5 is a '59 with more bass and low mids. Fat sounding 'you could say. I'd recommend the Screamin' Demon for a good 70s/80s rock gainy tone. I'd recommend the Alnico II Pro SLASH model for a good 70s/80s rock pickup. It's a little bit sweeter and vintage sounding than the other Alnico II Pros.

Single coil pickups I also recommend Seymour Duncan for MP replacements. Here are the following ones I'd recommend that I have used/still have:

Seymour Duncan JB Jr - A humbucker in a Strat size. The JB's lil' bro.
Seymour Duncan Hot Rail - A higher output HB for Strats/Teles. Bright.
Seymour Duncan Lil' '59 - The '59's little brother for Strats AND Teles.
Seymour Duncan SSL's - True single coil Strat pickups. Glassy sound.
Seymour Duncan Broadcaster - True single coil Tele pickup. Beefy.
Seymour Duncan Vintage '54 - True single coil Tele pickup. Twangy.
Seymour Duncan Five-Two - True single coil Tele pickup. Balanced.
Seymour Duncan Duckbucker - Single coil sounding 'bucker for Strat.
Seymour Duncan Vintage Rhythm - Great clear Tele neck pickup.
Seymour Duncan Cool Rail - Clean neck humbuckers that are SC-size.
Seymour Duncan Jerry Donahue - True single coil Tele pickup. Twangy.
Seymour Duncan Lil' Screamin' Demon Strat sized HB. Lil' bro to fullsize.

If you want an Eagles Strat Tone, get the SSL's in the neck and middle and get a little '59 in the bridge or a SSL-5 that has more output. For an Eagles Tele tone, get the Vintage Rhythm neck and Broadcaster bridge. For a thick Strat rock tone, go with JB Jr. For a hard rock/old school Strat metal get a Hot Rail with Cool Rails in the neck/mid. For a warm bluesy humbucker sound for a Strat OR Tele get a Lil 59. For a glassy authentic strat single coil, get the SSL set "Everything Axe set". For a twangy Tele pickup, get a Vintage 54. For a balanced Tele pickup get a Five-Two. For a Strat humbucker that sounds Stratty authentic, get the Duckbuckers. For a beefy fat Tele pickup, get a Broadcaster. For a tele single coil neck pickup, get the Vintage Rhythm. I'd pair the Strat humbuckers up with a SSL pickup in neck/middle. I'd recommend the Jerry Donahue for a balanced country twang that's not too harsh. I'd recommend the Lil' Screamin Demon as something in between a JB Jr and a Hot Rail. Gainy but not overly so. Good for 70s hard rock.

Now those are my recommendations for MASS PRODUCED/easy to get replacements. I do like certain boutiques. I prefer Fralin for boutique single coils. I like their Blues Special set for Strat and Tele and use them in both. For boutique 'buckers I really like my WB set but they are out of business. I'd recommend WCR probably. They have great reviews. But I have not tried them.

That's my recommendations on pickups. I'm not big on stock Gibson pickups and I'm not big on some of the Fender stock pickups. But I don't like Gibson pickups that well. I change pickups in every new guitar I get. The only one I haven't and won't is my new PRS. The pickups are fantastic out of the box.

[WalshFan88]

Is it just me or did I just kill this thread?! :brickwall: :-x

[tequila girl]

Is it just me or did I just kill this thread?! :brickwall: :-x
Haha, no I don't think it's you OGG.....just that most people (if they're anything like me) don't really understand it all, and your mate Mike (who does) isn't about at the minute :)

[WalshFan88]

Haha, no I don't think it's you OGG.....just that most people (if they're anything like me) don't really understand it all, and your mate Mike (who does) isn't about at the minute :)

I was just wondering if I killed the thread with my boring information. It has been known to happen in other places. :hilarious:

[WalshFan88]

Ok. I know Mike is busy. I just am used to people replying with at least something, but that's ok... I'm thinking of revising it anyway or adding to it.

[jdubfan]

Joe with some old info from a GuitarPlayer flashback article....

http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/gp-flashback-/December-2010/123903

[MikeA]

As they say in Canada...I've been "oute an aboute" or in Australia "on Walk About". Verna and I took an overnight trip up north of Topeka yesterday and where we were, there were not decent broadband connections. We needed the break with three serious illnesses in our family, another in critical care and not expected to make it and another who passed this past Friday. We just needed some "our time" if you know what I mean.

I went through your post about the pickups Austin. The descriptions were priceless. I went to Sweetwater and Musician's Friend and started checking them out. I'd really like to get a Pearly Gates for the bridge on my 335 clone. At least the bridge and maybe the neck too. That guitar deserves more play and while it will probably never be my #1, it is one that I love to play when I get "serious" and am doing more than just hacking around. The Gates are not the pickups that are normally chosen for a semihollow body like the Sheraton II, but I've never been very traditional.

I'd really like to do something with Silent Night...pretty straight with chords and clean VOX, but then echo with a dirty bluesy riff between chord changes. I've been working on it in Bb and it sounds pretty good with Bb, F and Eb as the primary chord progression. It puts the VOX in a very comfortable position in the Scale up around the 10th fret which gives plenty of room above and below to improvise.

[MikeA]

Austin.

Question:

Telecaster: Lowering the action. Sort of shortening the height of the nut, is the only way to really adjust the action the truss rod? When you adjust it, to you to in one direction by like 1/8 rotation until you see it going the wrong way and then change and go in the other direction by 1/8 turn until you have it set?

JDUBFAN:

I think I have that Guitar Player mag with Joe featured in it. I had forgotten that he recorded Funk #49 with a Tele. I did recall though that bit about Bolero and having to cut if off the album because of copyright. It seems that the owners to the song charged no one for playing, recording or selling it but did have a stipulation that anyone playing it had to play the entire song and not just a part of it. I think that at some point, they worked something out with it or else the copyright exprired or something like that.

[WalshFan88]

I went through your post about the pickups Austin. The descriptions were priceless. I went to Sweetwater and Musician's Friend and started checking them out. I'd really like to get a Pearly Gates for the bridge on my 335 clone. At least the bridge and maybe the neck too. That guitar deserves more play and while it will probably never be my #1, it is one that I love to play when I get "serious" and am doing more than just hacking around. The Gates are not the pickups that are normally chosen for a semihollow body like the Sheraton II, but I've never been very traditional.


The Pearly Gates are very warm, but with bite for the blues-rock Texas thing. Billy Gibbons uses them in his LP's and gets a great tone with them in his Paul.

[WalshFan88]

Austin.

Question:

Telecaster: Lowering the action. Sort of shortening the height of the nut, is the only way to really adjust the action the truss rod? When you adjust it, to you to in one direction by like 1/8 rotation until you see it going the wrong way and then change and go in the other direction by 1/8 turn until you have it set?


Depends on the model of Tele. Does yours have six or three saddles? On a six saddle, there is usually a set screw you can adjust... On a 50s three saddle Tele, you might have to do that unless they have a set screw... I'll try to make a video explaining it without actually doing it. I've pretty much dialed them in.

[MikeA]

I don't know what I was thinking. There are two tiny allen bolts in each of the six saddles. I've played with them before. That's about how muddled my head is right now.

Thanks.

On the Gates pups, it was the sound that Gibbons gets that got me thinking about them for the Sheraton II. But if you ever get hold of a guitar that you need to adjust the truss on, film that. I'd really be interested. I have a VHS of Joe adjusting his guitars neck. I need to pull that out and go back over it.

[WalshFan88]

I don't know what I was thinking. There are two tiny allen bolts in each of the six saddles. I've played with them before. That's about how muddled my head is right now.

Thanks.

On the Gates pups, it was the sound that Gibbons gets that got me thinking about them for the Sheraton II. But if you ever get hold of a guitar that you need to adjust the truss on, film that. I'd really be interested. I have a VHS of Joe adjusting his guitars neck. I need to pull that out and go back over it.

The PG pickups are great and I love them. Just for information, I prefer a '59 in the neck and a JB in the bridge. That's the classic rock setup for a LP style axe.

[MikeA]

I have the action about as low as I can go with the Tele by adjusting the saddles (lowering them). I was looking really closely at the neck and it was bowed more than I think it should be. So I tightened the truss a total of about 3/4 of a turn and it has taken "most" of the bow out. I don't want it ALL out. I like it to be just very slightly concave.

I haven't tried to lower the action any more since I adjusted the truss. I might be able to take it down a little more, but even with just the adjustment I think it is a little bit faster. There was just way too much distance under the strings up around the 12th to 15th frets and that's really where you want it down low. or at last I do.

[WalshFan88]

I have the action about as low as I can go with the Tele by adjusting the saddles (lowering them). I was looking really closely at the neck and it was bowed more than I think it should be. So I tightened the truss a total of about 3/4 of a turn and it has taken "most" of the bow out. I don't want it ALL out. I like it to be just very slightly concave.

I haven't tried to lower the action any more since I adjusted the truss. I might be able to take it down a little more, but even with just the adjustment I think it is a little bit faster. There was just way too much distance under the strings up around the 12th to 15th frets and that's really where you want it down low. or at last I do.

I personally liked low action with my 9s, but now with 10s I've raised it because otherwise you would get buzz. I'm adjusting very well to 10s. Will try the 11s in a year or two after I've migrated all of my guitars over to 10s. I love the tone of thicker strings. I'm thinking if I do ever get to 11s, that is the thickest I will go because while its nice for chunky rhythm, I still have lead duties I gotta pull off. I think 10s are the perfect all around set. If I were strictly rhythm/riffing, I'd get 11s now. But I'm gonna adjust fully to 10s first.

[WalshFan88]

http://s1117.photobucket.com/albums/k590/gibsonguitar1988/?action=view&current=setup.mp4

How I setup guitars. This video belongs here in Gearhead.

[MikeA]

What is this "special tool" you use on the Fenders to adjust the tilt of the neck? I'll have to get on-line and see if I can find one. Of course, nothing came with my guitar other than some promo literature and a Set-up guide that doesn't tell you much more than what notes to tune to <LOL>

Oh, and thanks for posting that. And Yes, I have a six-saddled bridge on my MIM Tele.

All of my guitars except the Seagull (haven't been playing it much) are are dead solid on intonation. None of them have buzz though I think I could go just a little bit lower on the Epi and the Tele. Just haven't had the time to work on them these last few days.

[WalshFan88]

What is this "special tool" you use on the Fenders to adjust the tilt of the neck? I'll have to get on-line and see if I can find one. Of course, nothing came with my guitar other than some promo literature and a Set-up guide that doesn't tell you much more than what notes to tune to <LOL>

Oh, and thanks for posting that. And Yes, I have a six-saddled bridge on my MIM Tele.

All of my guitars except the Seagull (haven't been playing it much) are are dead solid on intonation. None of them have buzz though I think I could go just a little bit lower on the Epi and the Tele. Just haven't had the time to work on them these last few days.

I got mine on eBay ( adjustment tool ).

[WalshFan88]

Well I got some new gear.... Did some trades on some stuff I never used. (A couple acoustics and a Peavey amplifier).

I got a 5-watt Blackstar tube practice amp/recording amp for playing quietly rehearsing or even recording. Also got an ESP LP copy, its a EC-1000 Deluxe model in Black. It has EMG pickups in it, active pickups. They sound good. I really like them for hard rock 70s/80s stuff. It plays every bit as good as a Gibson... Easily passes up Epiphone and such. It's VERY good. One of my favorite "Secret Indulgence" bands play them... Metallica... My favorite heavy old-school metal band. Both James Hetfield on rhythm guitar and Kirk Hammett on lead guitar play ESP guitars. James plays their Explorer and LP style, Kirk plays a superstrat style ESP. Both use EMG pickups also, the same model EMG's I have. And yes, the Blackstar is VERY Marshally and sounds like a small stack. I run it through my Marshall cab and it sounds like a small Marshall to me. It can even get a higher gain Mesa Boogie type sound which is cool. Nice cleans too.

Watch out for a demo tomorrow! ;)

[MikeA]

I'll keep my eyes open for the demo. Love new gear...even if it isn't "new". Or maybe especially when it isn't "new".

[WalshFan88]

I'll keep my eyes open for the demo. Love new gear...even if it isn't "new". Or maybe especially when it isn't "new".

Sorry I couldn't get to the demo today... Been very busy with holiday stuff. Going to try to get to it tomorrow sometime. I really love those EMG pickups. I see Joe has them in his new J. Backlund custom guitar. They do sound really good. Much more "in your face"/punchy than passive (non-active/battery powered) humbuckers are and seem to be a lot less noisier and clearer, even more than HUMBUCKERS! Which surprised me. Seymour Duncan makes active EMG style pickups to compete with EMG called "Blackouts". I might get a set to try in the new year. I really love my Blackstar amp too. Nice practice tube amp and good for travel. I think with the 112 extension cab I could do one-man solo shows with it even. I've also ran it through my 412 Marshall Cab, and it gets that Marshall sound. I really think Blackstars nail the old Marshall 70s/80s tone.

[MikeA]

Ugh! Yawn. Scratch. Still not awake. Read your post. Got to come back and read it later when I wake up :fear:

[MikeA]

I've always tried to avoid Active pickups but it is not because I don't like the sound. It is more a matter of convenience. In the group I played in, we had a couple of guys who had actives on their acoustics and they were all too often breaking the set in the middle of a song because batteries had died.

But they do put out the signal!

[WalshFan88]

I've always tried to avoid Active pickups but it is not because I don't like the sound. It is more a matter of convenience. In the group I played in, we had a couple of guys who had actives on their acoustics and they were all too often breaking the set in the middle of a song because batteries had died.

But they do put out the signal!

I find EMG battery pickups to last a LOT longer than acoustic electric batteries. The dealer I bought it from said they last anywhere for 3-9 months usually depending on the playing time. I know about the acoustic battery thing. My Taylor I have to change it out about every other week. I always change them pre-gig though.

[MikeA]

I have been doing a lot of experimenting with microphones, amplifiers and monitoring speakers this morning. I have been on the verge of buying a good set of monitor speakers for my recording setup.

Monitors are funny creatures. You don't want a set of monitor speakers that "sound good". That's not nearly enough. About any set of computer speakers with a bass boost and some equalization controls will accomplish that "ear candy" sound and there is nothing at all wrong with that.

But that is NOT what you are looking for in a set of monitor speakers. In those, you want a speaker or speakers that accurately reproduce that which you have created. With an accurate reproduction (remember that Memorex cassette tape commercial "Is it Real or is it Memorex") you can mix your audio to get just the right balance between volume and EQ knowing that you are not losing any of the highs or lows that you origianlly produced!

With typical desktop speakers, you can dial in a good sound, but it is at the expense of screwing up the signals that you started with. When you are recording, you are wanting to capture the sound as accurately as possible and then NOT lose any of that sound when you finish mixing so that the sound that you give to people to listen to at least starts out the way you played it.

If they don't like the mix (and most people don't) then they can "color" that sound during playback.

I was really scrutinizing my Altec Lansing system (4 satellite speakers plus a sub-woofer) this morning. I placed a MXL 603s condenser microphone 10" in front of my VOX amp and recorded a simple track containing a couple of chords and a clean then dirty lead part.

With that recording, I could "A/B" the recorded sound and compare it directly by playing the passage live and listen to the sound coming out of the amp's speaker.

My desk speakers do sound pretty darn good even though I'm just running mono out of my audio interface into the sub-woofer (it contains the amp for the system) which then sends signals on to the satellite speakers. In reality, the Altec speakers do color the sound by amplifying the bass (it sort of booms) but it doesn't lose a lot on the top end when compared to the live sound.

I'm pretty happy with them. Especially since quality recording monitors cost so much. About the cheapest I could get into an amplified pair (active monitors) would be around $300.00.

But if I was going to get monitors (and I still MAY!) I'd have to look seriously at these

http://cgi.ebay.com/Samson-Rubicon-R5a-Active-Ribbon-Monitors-pair-B-Stock-/140493009131?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b60930eb#ht_4206wt_906

http://store02.prostores.com/wanamakers/catalog/Rubicon_R5a.jpg

[MikeA]

Research is a dangerous thing! Still on this "monitor" kick. I stumbled onto something that really makes a lot of sense and I may have to go this route.

It was stated in one of the articles I read that the wisest thing one could do when setting up a studio for recording is to get a pair of really good monitors. Nothing new there. But the recommendation urged practicality.

Powered monitors are very pricey! The speakers that make up a powered monitor set, especially in the low end monitor speakers, constitute only a fraction of the price of the Active Monitors.

Passive monitor speakers are far less expensive! So the recommendation is to get a power amp. A relatively good one can be bought for $150 to $175. With that in place, you can afford to get into the speakers for an additional $50 or less (used) and if they don't work out for you, you can purchase another pair of Passive Monitors. Or if you want to upgrade to something better later on, you can do so without buying an amp each time you upgrade!

I only wish that my old Techniques Receiver hadn't blown! And I wish that my old Bose 501 speakers hadn't blown! That would have been an excellent starting point!

[MikeA]

Just a little "eye candy" here. I've scoured this photo for freckles and really didn't find any. But anyone with $9,999 USD can have this beauty hanging on the wall (or in your arms) TODAY!

I think my LL (Lust Level) has reached new limits.

PRS is only making 25 of the Private Stock DGT.


http://www.sweetwater.com/images/guitars/PS3054/168043/168043-body-l.jpg

[WalshFan88]

Just a little "eye candy" here. I've scoured this photo for freckles and really didn't find any. But anyone with $9,999 USD can have this beauty hanging on the wall (or in your arms) TODAY!

I think my LL (Lust Level) has reached new limits.

PRS is only making 25 of the Private Stock DGT.


http://www.sweetwater.com/images/guitars/PS3054/168043/168043-body-l.jpg

I love PRS. They make KILLER guitars. They are the smoothest playing guitars I've ever touched. I think PRS is a double entendre in a way. It's Paul Reed Smith, the owner's initials but it can also stand for "plays really smoothly". And their sound is the same way, smooth. Not growly, not bright. Very fluid smooth tone. They also have the most killer tops on them, especially 10 tops.

[WalshFan88]

Sorry I STILL haven't uploaded any videos yet. Between my health, my band breaking up, and the busy times of the holidays, making videos haven't been real high up on the list. It WILL get done this weekend.

I LOVE my new overdrive pedal. It's an Analog handmade boutique pedal made by Brian Wampler of Wampler Pedals. It's called the Paisley Drive, it's a signature pedal for Brad Paisley, the country guy. Now first off, I know it might not sound like the pedal for me but it's a VERY versatile overdrive. I've seen videos of it being used for blues, jazz, country, and classic rock. It NAILS those Joe Walsh and even Don Felder guitar tones and makes my ears very happy. I love it.

I also love my new ESP guitar and Blackstar amp. That's my 80s rock guitar. The amp is a versatile 5 watt tube amp for practice, rehearsal, and solo shows. It's a great amp. It's great when the Twin Reverb is overkill. Which happens a lot, its a 70 pound 85 watt combo amp! :rofl: It's best for playing with a band, or playing outside by yourself in an open area where you can crank it and get that saturation from the tubes. Inside the house you have to use a dirtbox. The Paisley is great. Not a distortion, but an overdrive. It just "pushes" the amp into natural distortion. Where a distortion just has its own sound and you get all of the distortion from the pedal. I generally prefer the former for lighter stuff. For hard rock I sometimes like a distortion rather than the Fender's milder distortion. But nothing over the top. We are talking pedals like the RAT or something. Something high-gain but not metal heavy-gain.

[MikeA]

There are styles that need that total distortion but really, that sound to me is more like noise in chains.... controlled chaos. Not my sound.

I like the warm buzz of a tube pushed up there and that's pretty much a Fender sound.

In fact, there are two models I seem to always fall back on when I'm playing. One is a model of an AC30 and the other a Fender Twin. Of the two, I tend to crank the gain on the Fender model for the sound I like best. I can usually dial it in with a little reverb...but gain and reverb is about all I mess with other than pickup selection and tone controls.

[WalshFan88]

There are styles that need that total distortion but really, that sound to me is more like noise in chains.... controlled chaos. Not my sound.

I like the warm buzz of a tube pushed up there and that's pretty much a Fender sound.

In fact, there are two models I seem to always fall back on when I'm playing. One is a model of an AC30 and the other a Fender Twin. Of the two, I tend to crank the gain on the Fender model for the sound I like best. I can usually dial it in with a little reverb...but gain and reverb is about all I mess with other than pickup selection and tone controls.

The Fender Twin Reverb is pretty much "the" Joe Walsh amp... He's used them live for a LOOOOONG time. He also has used Super Reverbs and Deluxe Reverbs a lot too. He really loves those 60s Blackface era Fender amps. They happen to be my favorite amp too. Maybe someday I can own a vintage one, until then I'm happy with my reissue amp. Best current amp Fender is making IMO.

[WalshFan88]

http://davesguitar.com/data/davesguitar/commercelite/w440_16842_DF049.jpg

That's Felder's new 10k Les Paul model... It's a beauty, but I don't have that kinda dough to plop on ONE guitar, and it's not even a vintage guitar.....

[WalshFan88]

http://www.gearnuts.com/images/guitars/DFHCDNSigLtd/12/12-body-l.jpg

That's Felder's new 10k EDS-1275 "Doubleneck" model. Again, great guitar but I don't have that kinda money. Even my PRS was a stretch and a lot of saving for me. Great guitar though I'm sure. It better be for that kinda money.

[MikeA]

Gibson makes some really fine quality instruments...but they also capitalize on "name association" a LOT. Having Felder's (or anyone elses) signature on a new guitar wouldn't be worth the $8000 or so in additional price.

Now, if it were for the actual guitar that artist played on the original album or studio session...that to me would come a lot closer to making it worth that kind of money.

Epiphone makes some good clones of the Famous Gibson guitars that are very nice replicas and they do so at prices that are affordable. Fender does too. I have been told that the best bargain in guitars today are the Squire versions of the Fender Telecaster and you can pick one of those up new for under $200.

But that PRS....I love that finish. Everything about it I like...though to tell the truth, I'd rather see it with a maple neck and fretboard.

[WalshFan88]

Gibson makes some really fine quality instruments...but they also capitalize on "name association" a LOT. Having Felder's (or anyone elses) signature on a new guitar wouldn't be worth the $8000 or so in additional price.

Now, if it were for the actual guitar that artist played on the original album or studio session...that to me would come a lot closer to making it worth that kind of money.

Epiphone makes some good clones of the Famous Gibson guitars that are very nice replicas and they do so at prices that are affordable. Fender does too. I have been told that the best bargain in guitars today are the Squire versions of the Fender Telecaster and you can pick one of those up new for under $200.

But that PRS....I love that finish. Everything about it I like...though to tell the truth, I'd rather see it with a maple neck and fretboard.

Definitely. Gibson loves to use their name on the headstock to make $$$$.

On the PRS, I've always loved rosewood and ebony necks... They are warmer to be, and tend to be less "bright/icepicky". I still have some guitars with them but I've always playability and tone-wise preferred Rosewood.

I do like Epiphone-made guitars that have been modded (pickups/electronics), but I honestly never liked most Squier's. Supposedly the Classic Vibe line is suppose to be close to a Mexican-made Fender, which I love. I might try one out. But stay away from the Affinitys. Horribly put together in my experience.

[MikeA]

The thing about Squire Teles (from what I hear) the woodwork is excellent and they make wonderful test-beds for new pickups. It is the price that puts them up on a Pedestal.

But I'm tickled with my MIM Tele. Mine is a 2008 Ash body and Maple neck and fretboard. Love it.

[tequila girl]

Sorry to interrupt on your thread guys, but I just read something that made me laugh and thought i'd put it here - hope you don't mind ;-)

I just read on my Nephews partners Facebook page that they now have 6 guitars (they both play a little bit) but the bit that made me laugh was ........they have a blue one for their little boy and a pink one for their little girl......who are 2yrs 4mths and 11 mths respectively! :nod: :rockguitar: :hilarious: :hilarious:

[MikeA]

Sorry to interrupt on your thread guys, but I just read something that made me laugh and thought i'd put it here - hope you don't mind ;-)

I just read on my Nephews partners Facebook page that they now have 6 guitars (they both play a little bit) but the bit that made me laugh was ........they have a blue one for their little boy and a pink one for their little girl......who are 2yrs 4mths and 11 mths respectively! :nod: :rockguitar: :hilarious: :hilarious:

Why Heck YEAH! Why Not!

[WalshFan88]

The thing about Squire Teles (from what I hear) the woodwork is excellent and they make wonderful test-beds for new pickups. It is the price that puts them up on a Pedestal.

But I'm tickled with my MIM Tele. Mine is a 2008 Ash body and Maple neck and fretboard. Love it.

The problems I've seen are the fretwork, setup, and pickups. The wood and paint jobs were good though.

MIM Fenders are really the best IMO. I have a couple of 'em. :lol: When modded, they practically become MIA's in my opinion.

[MikeA]

TRUE CONFESSIONS

I pulled a good one yesterday! I was playing around with some new rhythm riffs to use as loops to jam over. The intent was to record a progression and then loop it and just improvise over it. It's a good drill. Keeps you thinking as you have to anticipate what chord is going to be played next so you can work your way through a scale and end on the right note at the right time.

So, I plug in and record a rhythm sequence. But when I play it back, all I get is really muddy stuff with no high notes to be heard. Sounded like crap and nothing I did seemed to have any impact.

I tried changing settings in Reaper to no avail. I activated the front end processing of Gearbox trying to use "pass filters" to no avail. I even mic'd my amplifier and had the same results! I was at my wits end!

Finally, I plugged in my wireless headset and listened to what I'd recorded and it sounded fine! Finally getting somewhere! After getting into the System Control Panel in the Sound section and finding nothing wrong I eventually went behind my computer and started checking wires to the speakers.

My speaker setup on my "recording computer" is Altec that has a sub-woofer and 4 satellite speakers. The input to the amplifier built into the sub-woofer is a 1/8" plug that accepts input from the sound-card stereo output.

That's where I found the problem. I come out of my Analog Monitor outputs on my digital interface with a 1/4" instrument cable. But I have to go into my Altec sub-woofer with a 1/8" plug so I have to use a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter.

I hate those adapters. With the weight of the chord and the adapter providing leverage, those adapters tend to put a LOT of pressure on the input jack! Mine had worked its way somehow into an angle that was providing only 1/2 the signal to the speaker amp. I wiggled it a little and everything came back to normal!

That in itself is almost enough initiative to go out and buy a set of studio monitors that have 1/4" jacks on them! Or buy a power amp with 1/4" inputs then it wouldn't matter what kind of outputs it had. Most passive speakers have one of three type connections and sometimes a combination. 1/8" RCA and just a ground and positive terminal are the most common though some have banana plugs or even 1/4" plugs. The amps usually have a full choice of connections on the outputs.

But ANYTHING is better than having to use an adapter that takes something BIG down to something LITTLE!

[WalshFan88]

I think I'm gonna put "covers" on the pickups on "Ruby". Aged raw nickel covers. Something to mesh with it's vintage vibe... The exposed pickups sound nice but I wanna go with that '59 LP vibe on her. I also want to get a blank truss rod cover to put on it and possibly some Grover Rotomatic tuners. I see Walsh had those on a LOT of his vintage LP 'Bursts. I want it to be as vintage-correct as possible. My dream guitar is a '59 Gibson Les Paul Standard Sunburst. I would cry happy tears if I ever got one.

Vintage amps are a LOT cheaper. You can get an original '65 Fender Twin Reverb in original mint condition for less than I paid for my PRS... You are talking 2500 bucks probably. I will own one someday. I love a good Marshall for hard rock, but Fender amps are the amp for me. If I could only have one amp, I'd be content with my Twin and a Marshall-sounding overdrive pedal. But I do like a good Marshall stack but if I had to have only one amp, it'd be a Fender Blackface-era (mid 60s) amp (Deluxe Reverb, Twin Reverb, Super Reverb, Princeton Reverb, etc). I think those have the best tone. Tweed 50s Fenders are nice, but I like the mid 60s amps better. But then again, the solo on Hotel California was a mid 50s Fender "tweed-era" Deluxe (nonreverb) cranked to 10. Both Walsh (with a Tele) and Felder (with an LP) played through that amp for their electric parts. No overdrives. Just a 12 watt tube amp cranked all the way up. Maybe some delay and echo on it and that's it. Those are Felder's words. I have read where Walsh said something to that effect but not that in detail. Vintage ones go for about 2500-3k in mint cond.

[WalshFan88]

http://www.jetenginesound.com/JimmyPageAged1.jpg

That's what I want Ruby to look like when it's said and done. Just like Jimmy Page's main LP he got from Walsh. Grover "kidney bean" Rotomatic tuners, and a covered neck pickup. Might cover the bridge too, I'll see how it looks.

[MikeA]

I think that the draw towards "vintage" gear goes very deeply into musicians. True, the wood soaks up the music and adds that special tone, but until I played on my Father-in-law's 1937 Gibby (an L7 I think), I didn't appreciate it and thought it a myth.

But I also think that modern manufacture of instruments is underrated. They are GOOD...the new stuff I mean. As are the new amps.

But the draw towards "vintage" is still there. And the thing is that I think it justified if the cost of that gear is not an obstacle. The draw is that those artists of the 60's and 70's could squeeze out the tones from that gear without the technology we have today! They pushed their gear to the absolute maximums and defined their own sounds....they defined Music as we know it and owning that kind of gear becomes the Holy Grail of aspiring musicians of today.

A lot of the draw is rather mystical....90% in your head. You would get your hands on a '59 LP and not doubt would play better on it than you would on your new PRS. I think it is mostly "in your head" though and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! Whatever works.

And I too lust after one of those vintage LPs, or SGs or 335's.

There is a lot of truth in the allure of vintage gear. Just look at how much goes into the top of the line equipment. Gibson, Fender, Gretch...you name them off and each has premium priced "Vintage" gear made "exactly" the way it was made back in the day.....even to the point of manufacturing "age" into the instruments. They probably even sell amps that have beer stains and cigarette burns on them!

[WalshFan88]

I think that the draw towards "vintage" gear goes very deeply into musicians. True, the wood soaks up the music and adds that special tone, but until I played on my Father-in-law's 1937 Gibby (an L7 I think), I didn't appreciate it and thought it a myth.

But I also think that modern manufacture of instruments is underrated. They are GOOD...the new stuff I mean. As are the new amps.

But the draw towards "vintage" is still there. And the thing is that I think it justified if the cost of that gear is not an obstacle. The draw is that those artists of the 60's and 70's could squeeze out the tones from that gear without the technology we have today! They pushed their gear to the absolute maximums and defined their own sounds....they defined Music as we know it and owning that kind of gear becomes the Holy Grail of aspiring musicians of today.

A lot of the draw is rather mystical....90% in your head. You would get your hands on a '59 LP and not doubt would play better on it than you would on your new PRS. I think it is mostly "in your head" though and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! Whatever works.

And I too lust after one of those vintage LPs, or SGs or 335's.

There is a lot of truth in the allure of vintage gear. Just look at how much goes into the top of the line equipment. Gibson, Fender, Gretch...you name them off and each has premium priced "Vintage" gear made "exactly" the way it was made back in the day.....even to the point of manufacturing "age" into the instruments. They probably even sell amps that have beer stains and cigarette burns on them!

Yeah. I do believe though that guitars get better with time and the aged wood and pickups make a big difference in the sound. In my opinion PRS is making the best "new guitars" and as is Carvin and Fender. I haven't been that impressed by recent Gibsons I've played.

But I think Vintage Guitars do sound and play better than new ones. But the mojo from it is pretty much in the head, as you said.

[MikeA]

This is a good read on Jimmy Page and the '59 LP....shaved neck and all.

CLICK HERE TO READ IT (http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/jimmy-page-0107-2011/)

[WalshFan88]

This is a good read on Jimmy Page and the '59 LP....shaved neck and all.

CLICK HERE TO READ IT (http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/jimmy-page-0107-2011/)

Very cool!

[WalshFan88]

If you ever want to get a book full of pictures of vintage Les Pauls, you must get "Beauty Of The Burst". I just pulled my copy off of the bookshelf. It's the equivalent of Playboy for Les Paul lovers! It's full of pictures of late 50s sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standards. Most of all of them are absolutely killer guitars.

http://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Burst-Book-Yasuhiko-Iwanade/dp/0793573742/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294484992&sr=8-1

[WalshFan88]

And what is the "Playmate of the month" in this issue?

The "Playmate" is what as known as the "Dapra Burst", a guitar owned by a famous collector. The best looking Les Paul I've ever seen. It's won many awards and is the most famous non-celebrity owned guitar out there. It's a beauty. It just so happens to be in the middle of the book too (centerfold). :rofl:

[MikeA]

I think maybe in this thread is is okay to lost adult material:

Here are 3 Dapra Bursts. The one in the center is "uncirculated". Can you imagine the pricetag on it were it to be sold?

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p81/dynasonic/LPF/bursts/3_Bursts_from_Vic_2311280.jpg

[MikeA]

I know you are not a fan of Digital effects Austin, but my budget and my skill set fits in more with digital effects. Were I gigging, I don't think I'd feel that way.

But for playing around with digital recording, it seem fittin' that digital effects would work <LOL>

I have most all of the digital effects that could ever need in my software but it lacks one aspect that I DO need. That is the option of switching tones in the middle of a run and that is something that needs a pedal.

So I've been looking and there are two that jump out at me.

One is the Boss ME-25. It's pretty cool and has a 38 second loop.

The other one is a Vox ToneLab ST. I've really been impressed with the VOX amp I use and the Vox pedal has a tube driver in it as well as a VOX expression pedal. It wouldn't be the same pedal as a dedicated pedal but I think it will probably outlast the plastic expression pedals that come on the Digitec and probably the BOSS pedals. And I think the Vox ToneLab ST is a metal unit.....endurance.

I need to go to Guitar Center and try one out.

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/5/4/4/636544.jpg

[WalshFan88]

I know you are not a fan of Digital effects Austin, but my budget and my skill set fits in more with digital effects. Were I gigging, I don't think I'd feel that way.

But for playing around with digital recording, it seem fittin' that digital effects would work <LOL>

I have most all of the digital effects that could ever need in my software but it lacks one aspect that I DO need. That is the option of switching tones in the middle of a run and that is something that needs a pedal.

So I've been looking and there are two that jump out at me.

One is the Boss ME-25. It's pretty cool and has a 38 second loop.

The other one is a Vox ToneLab ST. I've really been impressed with the VOX amp I use and the Vox pedal has a tube driver in it as well as a VOX expression pedal. It wouldn't be the same pedal as a dedicated pedal but I think it will probably outlast the plastic expression pedals that come on the Digitec and probably the BOSS pedals. And I think the Vox ToneLab ST is a metal unit.....endurance.

I need to go to Guitar Center and try one out.

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/5/4/4/636544.jpg

Honestly I'd recommend a Line 6 "POD" Mike. They have presets for songs, amp models, effects pedals, etc and for the same price. If you want to go the Multieffects route, you want something nice. I'd highly recommend this. If I was gonna buy a floor multieffects thingamajig it'd be a POD. The Vox you are thinking about is nice, but for multieffects processors, Line 6 is the king of digital emulators. I really recommend checking into something made by them. I have their "Pocket POD" for travel. I can play a guitar through headphones with some effects when we travel and stuff. It's a pretty good for a digital box.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-Floor-POD-Plus-Guitar-Multi-Effects-Pedal?sku=150212

http://line6.com/floorpodplus/index.html

[WalshFan88]

I think maybe in this thread is is okay to lost adult material:

Here are 3 Dapra Bursts. The one in the center is "uncirculated". Can you imagine the pricetag on it were it to be sold?

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p81/dynasonic/LPF/bursts/3_Bursts_from_Vic_2311280.jpg

OMG!!!! Talk about stunning! I'm drooling.... P47s right, a cold shower is in order!

[WalshFan88]

What a "perfect centerfold" name.

:nahnah: :hilarious:

[MikeA]

On that pic of the three Gibbys: All of them are valuable, but only the one in the center is a true '59 and it is also "uncirculated". They were estimating the value at $400,000. But that was a comment thrown out and I don't know how serious the comment was.

The other two were examples of later model guitars and one was possibly fairly new. The thing in common was that 'finish' that Gibson is calling the "Vic" finish, or something like that.

I looked for that guitar book at a used book store last night with no success.

I posted that pic of the VOX ToneLab ST pedal. It's nice enough and I did read some reviews on it. It does have "amp models" built into the eProm or what they call the "Operating System" and that would be okay. The big selling point though for the VOX would seem to me to be that main Power Tube in it. VOX has made a big thing of that even in their Valvestate Amps like the AD30VT which I have.

But there are other multi-effects pedals that would do nicely for the same or less money. Pedals like the Boss ME-50. From what I read, that is a very nice pedal with better effects than the VOX ToneLab and it is the effects that I'm after really and a way to control the sound on the fly.

A couple of reviews made comments about the tube in the VOX stating that it is just a marketing gimmick. Maybe. I just don't know. I'd have to listen to the VOX side by side with any other pedal I might be considering. That is a rather difficult comparison though because you'd want to "hear" a riff played through both stomp boxes using the same effect and then, any difference you hear might be a matter of getting the effect dialed in exactly the same.

Stilll, there could be glaring differences like "feel" of the expression pedal or some other physical attribute (made out of plastic instead of metal).

I'll most likely try to find some good unbiased reviews. That in itself is not easy. Most people either have an axe to grind and post blisteringly bad reviews or they post the dadgum review the same day they bought the pedal and really don't even know what they have gotten into. Then the reviews that seem to be really good reviews, you always have to wonder if it is the owner not wanting to admit that he really wasted his money and is trying to convince himself he didn't!

In the end, it all boils down to using it and seeing if it fits YOUR needs regardless of the opinion of others. There are several Boss, Line-6 and VOX pedals on eBAy.

[WalshFan88]

On that pic of the three Gibbys: All of them are valuable, but only the one in the center is a true '59 and it is also "uncirculated". They were estimating the value at $400,000. But that was a comment thrown out and I don't know how serious the comment was.

The other two were examples of later model guitars and one was possibly fairly new. The thing in common was that 'finish' that Gibson is calling the "Vic" finish, or something like that.

I looked for that guitar book at a used book store last night with no success.

I posted that pic of the VOX ToneLab ST pedal. It's nice enough and I did read some reviews on it. It does have "amp models" built into the eProm or what they call the "Operating System" and that would be okay. The big selling point though for the VOX would seem to me to be that main Power Tube in it. VOX has made a big thing of that even in their Valvestate Amps like the AD30VT which I have.

But there are other multi-effects pedals that would do nicely for the same or less money. Pedals like the Boss ME-50. From what I read, that is a very nice pedal with better effects than the VOX ToneLab and it is the effects that I'm after really and a way to control the sound on the fly.

A couple of reviews made comments about the tube in the VOX stating that it is just a marketing gimmick. Maybe. I just don't know. I'd have to listen to the VOX side by side with any other pedal I might be considering. That is a rather difficult comparison though because you'd want to "hear" a riff played through both stomp boxes using the same effect and then, any difference you hear might be a matter of getting the effect dialed in exactly the same.

Stilll, there could be glaring differences like "feel" of the expression pedal or some other physical attribute (made out of plastic instead of metal).

I'll most likely try to find some good unbiased reviews. That in itself is not easy. Most people either have an axe to grind and post blisteringly bad reviews or they post the dadgum review the same day they bought the pedal and really don't even know what they have gotten into. Then the reviews that seem to be really good reviews, you always have to wonder if it is the owner not wanting to admit that he really wasted his money and is trying to convince himself he didn't!

In the end, it all boils down to using it and seeing if it fits YOUR needs regardless of the opinion of others. There are several Boss, Line-6 and VOX pedals on eBAy.

The DaPra burst (also known as the Brockburst) is named after its owner, Vic DaPra. He's a famous collector and guitar store owner and sells Gibsons. He worked with Gibson to try and recreate his original '59 and sell reissues of it, and do so for a nice chunk of change. The Brock/DaPra burst is my favorite finish on a vintage burst. Very flamey and 3D-like. B-E-Autiful!

[MikeA]

That finish is beautiful....but of those three, with the camera angle in that tri-photo, and disregarding the value of the guitars, it is the LP on the RIGHT that is my favorite of the three in finish.

I went to Guitar Center today to try out a couple of those multi-pedals. I never got past the Boss ME-25. That might be because they plugged me into it with a PRS guitar! I couldn't concentrate much on the pedal <LOL> It wasn't one of the top of the line PRS guitars I don't think....an SE. Sure felt good thought I'd have a screwdriver or allen wrench on it immediately. The strings were about a half inch above the fingerboard! Oh but it sound and played sweet in spite of that.

As for the pedal, I really liked it. The expression pedal felt solid. It isn't set up like my amp where you have like 11 guitar amp models. It has that COSM "operating system" in it where you dial in a type of sound you are after and then twaek it with gain, volume and tone dials. Has a load of effects from reverb and chorus to tremlo plus the various distortions. No way to try them all out.

I'm sniping eBay for a couple of them. I lost on a Me50 ON eBay this morning. I maxed my bid at $110 and it sold for $115. It was the younger brother to the ME-25. Retail on the ME-25 is $200, the ME-70 is $300 and the big bad boy is $500.

The pedal does have one thing that will be handy though I'll not use it in recording. It has a 38 second loop so you can lay down some rhythm and then play over it. I can do that with my Reaper software. But with the USB output this pedal has, I can send my signal straight into my DAW and not have to tweak it once it is captured other than to balance tracks.

I wouldn't pay more than around $125 for one off of eBay. I think they have a $25 mail in rebate so if I was going more than $125, I'd be foolish not to support GC. They are good folks at our local store.

But damn them for sticking me with that PRS.

It was alot like this one except it was a brighter red

http://www.sweetwater.com/images/items/350/SEPASRB.jpg

[WalshFan88]

I prefer the vintage stuff to the new stuff, heres another shot of the Brockburst (AKA DaPra burst) on the cover of that book I told you about. This is the real original Brock/DaPra burst. I just like old guitars. The new guitars Gibson-wise are very hit and miss. PRS and Fender and Carvin are making great ones but the new Gibsons I played have been awful with awful quality control and setups and fretwork. I do believe vintage guitars sound, feel, and play better than new ones. I've played an old Les Paul, and it was mindblowing. Absolutely amazing (it was a 1968 Les Paul Custom). I believe the "old" aged wood, the aging on the magnets in the pickups, and the curing of the lacquer over time makes a guitar sound and play better. Not to mention being worn in by years of use. I do believe there is no "mojo" or vibes you get from it, but I just think they are better than anything you can get today. YMMV. I think people who think it's all hype need to try more vintage guitars. There are lots of vintage guitar shows that come around to different cities. I'm gonna go to the Nashville one sometime and get something, once I have a bit of dough saved up first that is! I'd like a 50s LP Jr.

I personally really would sell everything I had for one '59 Les Paul and I'd keep my Twin Reverb and pedalboard. Obviously that wouldn't be enough, but it just goes to show I'd be happy with just a '59 LP and my setup. My blues friend and I argue about vintage guitars vs. vintage amps. He said he'd rather have his new Les Paul and some old tube amps rather than a vintage guitar and a new amp. I'd rather have the vintage guitar collection and just my Twin reissue. Don't get me wrong, I like vintage amps but the guitar is more important to me sound wise IMO. A LOT of what you hear come out of those speakers is the pickups AND the kind of wood it is and how resonant it is. Amps for me, as long as they work and sound good and put out what the guitar is giving, I'm good. I don't want the amp to shape my tone or put it's own tone on my guitar's tone. I want it to just be like a microphone in a way, just give me what the guitar is giving me (and let the pickups be microphones and give me what the guitar naturally has), and nothing else. That's why I love those Fender amps. They do just that. I'm much pickier on guitars and want the best stuff. That's why I'm constantly changing pickups in everything, because it can shape your tone and a bad sounding guitar could just be the pickups. A set of Duncans will take you a long way. A set of boutique handwounds will take you even further IMHO.


Whenever I look at a guitar like this my fingers start tingling!!!! :hilarious:

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/46/botbg.jpg

[WalshFan88]

If I was going to buy a vintage amp today (if I had the money). I'd get this little beauty right here:

http://www.rickalexander.com/BigSteel/FenderChampAmp_02.jpg

It's a tweed-era Fender "Champ". Originally manufactured as a 5w tube amp for students and practice.

It ended up becoming one of the biggest recording amps of all time. Funk #49, Rocky Mountain Way, Walk Away, Layla, ZZ Top's first album, some various Rolling Stones songs were all recorded with a Champ. A Tweed Champ from the mid 50s.

Hotel California was recorded on it's bigger brother, the tweed-era Fender "Deluxe". This is the amp Felder AND Walsh used (both used same amp) for the electric parts including the solo of that song by just cranking it all the way up in the studio. Just some chorus and echo. This is a 12w tube amp.

http://rocknroll-pedals.com/prodimages/1960-fender-deluxe-amp-tweed%20s.jpg

If I were to buy one, I'd buy the Champ because of it's portability and more famous usage but the fact of the matter is, if you want the exact sound of Hotel California electric guitar parts, you are gonna need that amp, a Tele (for Walsh) and a LP (for Felder). That's the HC solo guitar tone right there.

[MikeA]

Those Fender Champs are choice okay. They were really popular in the studios. I wanted one of them back when I was looking for an amp but couldn't afford one.

There is a lot in what you are saying about the vintage guitars and the pickups...especially the pickups. And as for the wood....I took my first Telecaster (a tobacco burst) back and swapped it out for a natural Ash. The reason was the wood. The burst model was alder and I wanted the ash and didn't realize that the ash was only used in the natural finished MIM guitars. I think there is something to that "wood" stuff, but don't know how "much" difference there is.

As for the quality in the Gibsons: I can only go by what others say about them and it isn't all that good unfortunately. Gibson obviously doesn't believe what's being said because they keep raising prices! They are likely NOT to be going out of business soon. Besides, they have Epiphone to prop them up if they need it.

When I used to go into shops, I'd levitate over to the Gibson display. Any more, I'm tending to look at PRS. But those old Gibsons are like the Mona Lisa. A lot of the new ones are really eye candy too, but PRS seems sweeter to me...maybe because I'm just now beginning to appreciate them.

[TimothyBFan]

Just a suggestion to all you gearheads....read Life by Keith Richards. He gives away some of his techniques in it. Talks about chord changes, using different strings, etc. All Greek to me but I know you guys would understand it.

[WalshFan88]

Just a suggestion to all you gearheads....read Life by Keith Richards. He gives away some of his techniques in it. Talks about chord changes, using different strings, etc. All Greek to me but I know you guys would understand it.


Already got it!! :D Keith is my "other" guitar hero after Joe Walsh. Love Keith's playing and the Stones.

[WalshFan88]

Those Fender Champs are choice okay. They were really popular in the studios. I wanted one of them back when I was looking for an amp but couldn't afford one.

There is a lot in what you are saying about the vintage guitars and the pickups...especially the pickups. And as for the wood....I took my first Telecaster (a tobacco burst) back and swapped it out for a natural Ash. The reason was the wood. The burst model was alder and I wanted the ash and didn't realize that the ash was only used in the natural finished MIM guitars. I think there is something to that "wood" stuff, but don't know how "much" difference there is.

As for the quality in the Gibsons: I can only go by what others say about them and it isn't all that good unfortunately. Gibson obviously doesn't believe what's being said because they keep raising prices! They are likely NOT to be going out of business soon. Besides, they have Epiphone to prop them up if they need it.

When I used to go into shops, I'd levitate over to the Gibson display. Any more, I'm tending to look at PRS. But those old Gibsons are like the Mona Lisa. A lot of the new ones are really eye candy too, but PRS seems sweeter to me...maybe because I'm just now beginning to appreciate them.

As far as woods. Ash is bright, Alder is bright but not as much as Ash, Maple is REALLY bright, Mahogany is dark/very warm, Rosewood is dark/warm, and Ebony is between bright and warm. So a Les Paul is darker and warmer than say a Strat or a Tele and that's the wood by itself without the pickups tone added in.

As far as Gibsons. Let me put it this way. There are only a few guitar makers that make new guitars I'm interested in I can name on one hand for the most part. Fender, PRS, and Carvin. I agree with what others have told you. If you want a humbucker guitar, the best choice IMO is a PRS. PRS and Fender are making the best new guitars today. Carvin is an excellent choice too. Since I put new better pickups in my Carvin I've been playing it a LOT. It's smooth, very much like the PRS but the PRS edges it out just a little in the playability dept.

[MikeA]

Sounds about right (pardon the pun). My Paul is bare mahogany and it snarls with the burstbuckers but it does have a warmer tone than my other guitars...well, maybe not as warm as my es-335 clone, but certainly more so than my Tele or the old Frankenstrat I used to have.

I'm torn between Carvin and PRS. Both are great guitars.

[WalshFan88]

Sounds about right (pardon the pun). My Paul is bare mahogany and it snarls with the burstbuckers but it does have a warmer tone than my other guitars...well, maybe not as warm as my es-335 clone, but certainly more so than my Tele or the old Frankenstrat I used to have.

I'm torn between Carvin and PRS. Both are great guitars.

If you had to choose between a Carvin or a PRS SE, go Carvin. If it's between Carvin and a USA PRS, go PRS. Carvin makes a great guitar cheaper that is definitely better than a new Gibson. PRS's are cashy, I had to save awhile for one and I'm still paying on it via a Musicians Friend loan. But honestly SE's are good, but they require a lot of fixes especially on a tremolo model like mine. I've had to change the tuners, block the tremolo, and I'm getting ready to send it off to have the nut replaced. Tuning is a big problem on that SE. It's already got Duncans in it and I'll keep it forever so I'm gonna go ahead and put a nut in and get the frets leveled. Then it should be hopefully close to a USA PRS.

[MikeA]

I do love the way the PRS feels. Granted, the one I hammered on yesterday was not set up properly. I could have made it much better in just a few minutes with some tweaking of the string height and intonation, but I'm talking about the feel of the neck.

I actually like a thinner neck like on my Tele and ES-335 as compared to the chunky neck on my LP. That is why I don't play my LP as much as I otherwise would. Well, that and the rough feel of the fretboard at the edges on the LP. I don't think there is an excuse for that. The ES-335 is bound and

Carvin, I have not had the pleasure of playing one. No opinion.

But I do love the finishes on both the PRS and Carvin instruments. And, I've seen the video of Walsh lauding the praises of Carvin workmanship.

[WalshFan88]

I do love the way the PRS feels. Granted, the one I hammered on yesterday was not set up properly. I could have made it much better in just a few minutes with some tweaking of the string height and intonation, but I'm talking about the feel of the neck.

I actually like a thinner neck like on my Tele and ES-335 as compared to the chunky neck on my LP. That is why I don't play my LP as much as I otherwise would. Well, that and the rough feel of the fretboard at the edges on the LP. I don't think there is an excuse for that. The ES-335 is bound and

Carvin, I have not had the pleasure of playing one. No opinion.

But I do love the finishes on both the PRS and Carvin instruments. And, I've seen the video of Walsh lauding the praises of Carvin workmanship.

PRS makes a thin neck and so does Gibson. The PRS neck you want is called "Wide Thin". The Gibson necks are called "60s neck/slim profile". The Fender necks are called "V profile". Carvin's necks are pretty much all the same but they are on the thin side. I have slim necks on all of my guitars too, and my hands are huge but I still like thin necks and I wrap my thumb around to mute strings and such.

[MikeA]

I like the thiner necks also. I could live with the chunky fat neck on the LP though if it wasn't so rough on the ends of the fret wires.

I am sniping another effects pedal. This time, a Boss ME-50 that is no longer being made. It is not as well thought out as its replacement (the ME-25) but it has things on it that I can use just as well. Mainly, the ME-25 has USB where the ME-50 doesn't. But I'd either be going through my amp or straight into my Analog to Digital audio interface with the effects pedal so I really don't need the USB.

I'm not bidding very high on this pedal. They are fairly common on eBay though some of the auctions have a very high starting bid. I mean, you can buy a new Boss ME-25 from GC, MF or SW between now and Jan 31, 2011 and get a $25 rebate with a mail in offer so that brings the cost of the ME-25 down to $175. I'm seeing used ME-25's go for much more than that after the shipping is added in! Idiot buyers <LOL>. It's more about winning the auction I think to them than what it is they are buying!

[MikeA]

I won the pedal for the starting price +$15 shipping. Hopefully it is what I'm wanting though it isn't the newer pedal. I don't think a power supply comes with it but it is just a 9VDC 500 mamp converter. As long as it doesn't have some sort of wild plug on the tip, I have several that should work. If not, I can get one for under $20.

Here are the specs on it:

ME-50: Guitar Multiple Effects


Works Just Like Your Favorite Pedals
A multi-effects processor without a menu-driven LCD? Leave it to BOSS to design the most intuitive multi-effects processor ever. With simple knob-based control over each effect section, the ME-50 makes dialing in your tone easier than ever. And when you want to kick in an effect, just step on one of the footswitches. Think of it as a pedalboard full of stompboxes, just without all the individual pedals.
Superb Overdrive/Distortion Effects
The ME-50 boasts a range of superb COSM overdrive and distortion models - perfect for use on stage with an amp. Derived from the popular OD-20 Drive Zone, these are some of the crunchiest, tastiest overdriven sounds you can imagine. There's even a "Square" effect for cool synth-type sounds. Of course, the ME-50 also has plenty of other effects like compression, analog delay, flanger, phaser, tremolo, Harmonist, Uni-V and a wicked new Rotary effect.

Easy Assignable Expression Pedal
Having an assignable expression pedal is great, but not if you have to dig through menus just to select the effect you want to control. The ME-50 fixes all that with a simple Pedal Mode switch and knob. First, select whether you want to use the pedal for volume or expression. If you choose expression, you can then select one of six preset assignments via the dedicated knob: wah, resonance, voice, ring mod and octave up or down.

Memory Function for Live Performance
The ME-50's Memory function makes changing Patches quick and easy. Once enabled, the three footswitches become Patch selectors for switching between three programs within one of the ME-50's ten memory banks. To switch banks, just press the Bank Up/Down buttons or use an optional footswitch. And with the ME-50's convenient tuner function, keeping your guitar in tune is easy.

[WalshFan88]

I like the thiner necks also. I could live with the chunky fat neck on the LP though if it wasn't so rough on the ends of the fret wires.


I bet if you took it in to a tech he could remedy that in no time. I have a LP Studio too with no binding around the edges and had the same problem. You just need them filed and "beveled" and rounded off. Easy job for a guitar tech or luthier.

PS: Congrats on the processor!

[WalshFan88]

Have you ever thought about getting a small tube amp Mike? Like a Fender or something. I think you would really like the sounds of a small Fender combo tube amp. Something like a Pro Jr by Fender. 400 bucks for a 15 watt tube combo with one ten inch speaker. All tube, and you'd have a very nice warm bluesy sound.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Hot-Rod-Series-Pro-Junior-III-15W-1x10-Tube-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=H12888

I think you'd really like tube analog sound. No effects, just straight up tube. You could run a tubescreamer type pedal for a dirty sound if you wanted to to boost it for leads.

It's very hard to get that classic rock and blues tone with digital equipment. I think if you ran this with say a 30 dollar BOSS Super Overdrive analog pedal you'd have your vintage blues rock sound, and then you have your Vox and BOSS processor for all the cool recording effects. But you'd have something with that tube sound and something you'd get great tone from.

Just a thought... Not trying to push you into anything, but I think you'd really like a nice analog all-tube amplifier as much as you like Eagles, Walsh, etc.

[MikeA]

I looked at a lot of tube amps when I was getting ready for an amp for my electrics. I already had the Acoustasonic Jr. for my acoustic guitars. I can't recall the factor that tipped me over to the hybrid VOX AD30VT. At least a big part was the pre-amp 12AX7 tube. But the main factor I guess was that it did have some of the tube "warmth" but also has some effects onboard that would give me some extra noise without having to buy more gear immediately. And of course the price. The Vox was under $200 for the one I bought. Plus, the VOX has that little knob on the back that cuts the power in infinite increments. You can crank it to 11 on the master volume and the channel volumes but calm it down with the power know and not lose all the warmth of the sound. You really only lose the color the speakers give the tone when cranked wide open. It really is nice.

But don't think I wouldn't like to have a pure tube as a second or third amp and think not for a minute that I would probably NOT be using it the majority of the time. I find that I'm usually looking to clean up sounds and pretty much stay completely away from any of the hi-gain amp models. In fact, I usually use just the AC30 model when I want that sound but for the most part either chose a Blackface or the Botique Clean.

Some day, I'll get a small 5-watt tube amp or something in that range.

[WalshFan88]

I looked at a lot of tube amps when I was getting ready for an amp for my electrics. I already had the Acoustasonic Jr. for my acoustic guitars. I can't recall the factor that tipped me over to the hybrid VOX AD30VT. At least a big part was the pre-amp 12AX7 tube. But the main factor I guess was that it did have some of the tube "warmth" but also has some effects onboard that would give me some extra noise without having to buy more gear immediately. And of course the price. The Vox was under $200 for the one I bought. Plus, the VOX has that little knob on the back that cuts the power in infinite increments. You can crank it to 11 on the master volume and the channel volumes but calm it down with the power know and not lose all the warmth of the sound. You really only lose the color the speakers give the tone when cranked wide open. It really is nice.

But don't think I wouldn't like to have a pure tube as a second or third amp and think not for a minute that I would probably NOT be using it the majority of the time. I find that I'm usually looking to clean up sounds and pretty much stay completely away from any of the hi-gain amp models. In fact, I usually use just the AC30 model when I want that sound but for the most part either chose a Blackface or the Botique Clean.

Some day, I'll get a small 5-watt tube amp or something in that range.

Yeah. I just am not into the digital effects emulation stuff. I'm an analog guy and I loooove analog pedals. I have found it's the best way to get the Eagles sound. That's what Walsh does live. Clean tube amp and a pedal for gain. Most Eagles songs have some form of overdrive of distortion of varying amounts. I rarely play clean. Sometimes crunchy, sometimes dirty, but if I'm playing clean I might as well be playing acoustic is my thinking on that. I think electric guitars are meant to rock. I don't like high gain metal distortion, but I like dirt, I'm a dirt pedal fanatic. I love taking a clean high wattage tube amp and throwing a overdrive pedal in front of it. The reason I like doing that is because that's exactly what JW does and that's how that Eagles sound is made. Especially live. In the studio they tended to crank small amps but I really prefer big wattage amps and getting the dirt from an analog overdrive pedal.

To each his own. I just think Digital FX really isn't a true representation of classic music. I used to own line 6 gear (Amps and stuff) and I hated it. It's "fake" to me. It sounds fizzy and stuff. I have a Line 6 pocket pod, and while it's nice, now that I have my 5w tube amp it never gets used and will probably be sold. My recording interface is line 6, but I really think I want to trade it off for an Apogee interface and use a SM57 on my Twin instead of modeling or effects.

I'm not knocking you using them, but they aren't for me and I think for an Eagles sound, you'll only get that through Fender amps and overdrive pedals. When I played in my tribute I spend I don't know how much money searching for that tone trying this and that and this amp and that amp before finding out the best way to go about it is a CLEAN (no effects or dirt channel, just a 1 channel clean only tube amp) amp and use an analog overdrive pedal (Anything from a Tubescreamer to a RAT) and get it that way. Or crank up a small amp, but I prefer using pedals live, and so does JW.

What works for some - might not work for others. I just find modeling/emulation/digital equipment to not be for me. I like analog stuff. Older stuff or reissues of older stuff. My tastes in music, guitars, equipment, and even other stuff in life (movies, history, women, art, style, some technology) came before me. I'm an old soul and definitely old school in my thinking and the way I do things. I feel I was born in the wrong generation, personally. I would do anything to see Zep, Skynyrd, Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Beatles, etc back in their time before they broke up/died. And to go to Woodstock! I would have loved that. I brake out my Woodstock DVD every once in a while. I just have vintage tastes, to me modern is not my thing and I am not into modern new age equipment. Vintage or vintage reissues for me. The only thing modern I like is computers and gadgets. That's the only thing I like modern - technology. Other than that, I'm a 60s/70s and some 80s dude. I just dig that stuff. I don't dig modern music at all and I don't dig much modern gear and guitar stuff. I'm just an older brain in a younger body I guess! I just seem to be interested in the older stuff. I definitely feel like I have "zip" in common with others my age. Especially in music tastes. I dislike modern music.

But I really am glad you like your setup and am in no way knocking it, it works, just a suggestion and something I've found that works for me and the way to get that sound. I understand if the vintage stuff isn't your thing. :) But you gotta understand, modern stuff and I don't mix well LOL!

[MikeA]

I'm a lot more interested in sounding good to "Me" rather than sounding like "Joe Walsh" to others. I'll never be able to play or sound like Joe so I experiment around and try to find a sound that I like or that I can live with.

If money were no object, I'd go vintage just because I could. I'd definitely go tube all the way with an amp, but there are a lot of factors that have to be considered with that. Expense is the main one for me.

[WalshFan88]

I'm a lot more interested in sounding good to "Me" rather than sounding like "Joe Walsh" to others. I'll never be able to play or sound like Joe so I experiment around and try to find a sound that I like or that I can live with.

If money were no object, I'd go vintage just because I could. I'd definitely go tube all the way with an amp, but there are a lot of factors that have to be considered with that. Expense is the main one for me.

Wasn't knocking your playing at all Mike. Quite the contrary. I just thought if you wanted the general blues rock sound..... Nevermind!

[MikeA]

Wasn't knocking your playing at all Mike. Quite the contrary. I just thought if you wanted the general blues rock sound..... Nevermind!

I know you weren't Austin and everything you said is true. But my drive really hasn't ever been to try and duplicate a sound. I understand completely why you go for it. But I don't have skills on a guitar to achieve that no matter how hard I try nor how much equipment whether it be guitars, effects or amps that I buy. You can't buy talent...I only wish to hell you could! You can also bet the bank that if I had the cash, I'd be looking very seriously right now for a good tube amp and an assortment of analog pedals!

But that doesn't mean that I don't like the sound I can produce with a tube amp (or a killer guitar either for that matter.) I've played through them and love them. I just can't afford more than one amp for my "electrics" and one for my acoustic right now. I got the Fender Acoustasonic Jr. back long before I even had an electric guitar and thought it would be all the amp I would ever need. I had to have it to use in the group I played in at Church.

So after I bought the Sheraton II, and it came time for me to get an amp for my "electric", I wanted to get something that would give me the most versatility I could get for the limited amount of money I had to spend. A lot of research and "auditioning" led me to the VOX 30-watt solid state Valvetronics AD30VT. It didn't have the creamy warm tone of a good small tube amp but what it did have, it had in spades and seemed a good compromise. I would never say the VOX knocks out anything....not a Marshall, not a Fender, and certainly not even another VOX rig...the AC15 or AC30. What it is, is a good toy for an amateur on a budget.

But while looking, I always knew that at some point, I would have to get a Champ or something like that if I ever wanted to get warm true Blues sound. I can get sort of close to that with the VOX, but I can't get the warmth that I'm after with it. Not completely.

[WalshFan88]

But while looking, I always knew that at some point, I would have to get a Champ or something like that if I ever wanted to get warm true Blues sound. I can get sort of close to that with the VOX, but I can't get the warmth that I'm after with it. Not completely.

Ok, now we are on the same page! :) A Champ is a great choice. All tube, and real portable and very recordable! :)

[WalshFan88]

Look what I just stumbled upon! A pic of Joe Walsh's guitars backstage on the Long Run tour in 1980.

http://i51.tinypic.com/2db71qh.jpg

DAMN I want those LP's. This pic reminds me how much love and lust I have for a Gibson Les Paul. A Gibson Les Paul is "the" guitar for me. Plain and simple. You give me one guitar, one amp, and one pedal I say give me my Ruby, my Twin, and my new Paisley Drive. Obviously I love my other guitars too but I'll never let Ruby go. She is the real deal IMO. The best Les Paul I ever played short of that 1968 LP I played that my friend Steve (who is the other guitar player in what was the Stone Eagles) has. It felt better. But honestly Ruby is the best LP I've ever played. I just have soooo much love for a Gibson Les Paul. Looking at a cherry sunburst Gibson Les Paul is like looking at at a Playboy centerfold. Just such ELEGANT guitars.... And they sound good. I love Teles too (they are my 2nd favorite kind of guitar).

Here is how I rank electric guitars from favorite to least favorite:

Les Paul
Tele
335
SG
Strat

I like Strats, but Teles are just more for what I'm into. And it took me a long time to find a Strat I could stand. A lot of them have an unbalanced pickups and I'm not a fan of tremolos and always block them off. But I found an '87 USA Strat that I put handwound boutique pickups in and it's a KILLER guitar. I have two Strats with humbuckers in the bridge position. But I still in general rank the Telecaster as the best guitar Fender ever made. Simple, utilitarian, and just a workhorse. A LP and a Tele. That's the "Meat and Potatoes" of guitars for me. I can cover pretty much all bases with 'em.

[MikeA]

I saw that pic over in the other thread. Pretty awesome isn't it?

It isn't looking good for the Boss ME-50 multi-effects pedal I bought. Or should say for the pedal I paid for. The auction ended Monday the 10th. Today is the 14th. In two attempts to contact the guy, I have been completely ignored. No communications at all. I sent him a third eMail today indicating that if I haven't received a tracking number showing that the pedal was shipped TODAY (Jan 14) I will be filing a dispute with eBay.

I've never had to file a dispute before. I've given this guy 4 full days (counting from the actual end of the auction at 2:11pm CST Monday the 10th) to respond. His shipping statement indicated that he wouldn't ship for 3 to 4 days AFTER the payment had "cleared". Well, with Paypal and especialy with Paypal via credit card, there is NO BANK FLOAT involved. The money is available as soon as the transaction is authorized and in fact, the money was withdrawn by the seller the same day as the auction ended.

[EaglesFanatic]

That's so awesome!! I've never seen that pic before.

[MikeA]

I'm pretty sure most of you know about the "My Pictures Slideshow" option on Microsoft Operating systems. You access it through the "properties" when you right click on an empty spot on your desktop. The Screensaver is populated by pointing it to (via "browse") to a folder containing pictures that you like.

I've scabbed together a set of pictures of guitars that are fitted to a screen with a resolution of 1024x768. I had to manipulate the most of them either by cutting the image to fit that resolution or sometimes by pasting the smaller image (most were too small in the "height" dimension) onto a larger pallet and then doing some crude airbrushing to fill in the empty spots.

Anyway, if you'd like to try it with the guitar images (PRS, CARVIN, GIBSON and FENDER) download the file (IT IS 8MB IN SIZE...I ADDED SOME MORE IMAGES AND CLEANED UP THE BACKGROUNDS) and unzip it into a folder somewhere you can remember that contains only these images. Then point the screen saver to that folder. I was able to download it by right clicking on the link below. That action caused a download that I could access for organizing the zip file into individual images.

http://www.mvabercrombie.net/SSAVGUITARS.zip

Oh, and you could do the same thing with any image. Spell it out a little more literally: You could save some of those freckle counting pics off into a file and point the screen saver to it. I'm not too sure if if would work with images of the Eagles but I'm betting someone on the forum here might try it <LOL>

[WalshFan88]

Oh, and you could do the same thing with any image. Spell it out a little more literally: You could save some of those freckle counting pics off into a file and point the screen saver to it. I'm not too sure if if would work with images of the Eagles but I'm betting someone on the forum here might try it <LOL>

LOL Mike!!! :hilarious: Good one!

[WalshFan88]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8vh2Fcdxt8

That's Felder talking about his new Gibson models...

If only I had 10 thousand dollars just lying around. Sigh.

[AzEaglesFan]

Austin and Mike, I thought you might like to read this. It is an ad that was in our local paper. (It has a total of 8 pages this week.)
Guitar Wanted
Local musician will pay up to $12,500.00 for pre-1975 Gibson,Fender,Martin, Rickenbaker and Gretsch guitars. Fender amps also. Call toll free 1-800-995-1217

[WalshFan88]

Austin and Mike, I thought you might like to read this. It is an ad that was in our local paper. (It has a total of 8 pages this week.)
Guitar Wanted
Local musician will pay up to $12,500.00 for pre-1975 Gibson,Fender,Martin, Rickenbaker and Gretsch guitars. Fender amps also. Call toll free 1-800-995-1217

Very interesting indeed.

I'd love to be able to do that. :lol: (have 12.5k to spend on guitars)

[MikeA]

Wonder if that $12.5k is for each of the named brands? That could add up to $50k or more.

Yeah, I'd LOVE to have that much for gear. Believe me, were that the case I wouldn't be scrambling to rake up $115 for a digital multi-effects pedal!

[MikeA]

My Boss ME-50 finally came in today. DOA

I tried it first with 6 AA batteries and NOTHING. I then tried it with a 9VDC AC adapter and still nothing.

This has been the absolute WORST experience I've ever had on eBay...and it isn't over yet.

Here are the comments on the auction made by the seller:

"I've had this pedal for about three years, just looking to upgrade. The switch that engages the wah had broken but has been fixed. This is a fun pedal and works great."

[WalshFan88]

My Boss ME-50 finally came in today. DOA

I tried it first with 6 AA batteries and NOTHING. I then tried it with a 9VDC AC adapter and still nothing.

This has been the absolute WORST experience I've ever had on eBay...and it isn't over yet.

Here are the comments on the auction made by the seller:

"I've had this pedal for about three years, just looking to upgrade. The switch that engages the wah had broken but has been fixed. This is a fun pedal and works great."


Maybe that is why he was hesitant to ship it.. IDK Mike, it sounds like a freaking nightmare... Get on the horn with eBay, Paypal (if you used them), etc. I dunno if you'll get anywhere with the seller. Might be better just to file a report and let them take him off of eBay so he can't do it again.

[MikeA]

Their buyer protection should cover me on this, but there will be hoops to jump through. I'll see what the Seller has to say first but I'm sure losing patience with this crap.

I'm going to try a new set of batteries before I write it completely off. It is not uncommon I guess with these units for the connector for the DC adapter to fail, but all the ones I've heard about say that they work fine on batteries. 6 AA alkaline batteries are supposed to drive this thing for 12.5 hours of continuous use. I was planning on buying 12 rechargables and keeping a fresh set charged all the time.

The adapter does not come with the unit from Boss. It is an "accessory" and 3rd party adapters for it cost around $20.

[WalshFan88]

Their buyer protection should cover me on this, but there will be hoops to jump through. I'll see what the Seller has to say first but I'm sure losing patience with this crap.

I'm going to try a new set of batteries before I write it completely off. It is not uncommon I guess with these units for the connector for the DC adapter to fail, but all the ones I've heard about say that they work fine on batteries. 6 AA alkaline batteries are supposed to drive this thing for 12.5 hours of continuous use. I was planning on buying 12 rechargables and keeping a fresh set charged all the time.

The adapter does not come with the unit from Boss. It is an "accessory" and 3rd party adapters for it cost around $20.

I will say BOSS adapters can be finicky. Throw in some fresh batteries and then if it still doesn't work lite the guy's hind end up about it. And by that I mean tear 'em a new one! :hilarious:

[MikeA]

Believe me, "I SHALL!" This had been a bum deal from the getgo. I'd like nothing better than to get my money back and just go buy a new ME-25.

It is just barely possible that the extreme cold weather exaggerated a micro crack in the circuit board and that it will expand and be okay after it acclimates to room temperature. I'm having my wife bring home a fresh set of batteries. But if that doesn't work, I'll be all over the guy and will hope to get eBay involved if necessary.

The thing is, to return it, I'm responsible for the return postage. He sent it USPS (which is a horrible way to ship anything in my opinion.) If I return it, I'll ship it UPS and get a tracking number and require a signature when delivered.

It's around $15 shipping. That much was legit anyway. His $15 was fair for the way he shipped.

[WalshFan88]

Believe me, "I SHALL!" This had been a bum deal from the getgo. I'd like nothing better than to get my money back and just go buy a new ME-25.

It is just barely possible that the extreme cold weather exaggerated a micro crack in the circuit board and that it will expand and be okay after it acclimates to room temperature. I'm having my wife bring home a fresh set of batteries. But if that doesn't work, I'll be all over the guy and will hope to get eBay involved if necessary.

The thing is, to return it, I'm responsible for the return postage. He sent it USPS (which is a horrible way to ship anything in my opinion.) If I return it, I'll ship it UPS and get a tracking number and require a signature when delivered.

It's around $15 shipping. That much was legit anyway. His $15 was fair for the way he shipped.

I hope justice is served Mike! :) Good luck!

[WalshFan88]

So MXR came out at the NAMM show and unveiled a " '78 Distortion Pedal ". Supposedly a clone of an old ProCo RAT.

I've listened to the YouTube demo that is on there and I do believe I'll be getting one. Definitely more gain than you'd use Eagles stuff but GREAT for AC/DC, Zeppelin, Aerosmith, GnR, etc and that great late 70s classic hard rock and even early 80s pre-hair metal rock.

Here is the website with the specs:

http://jimdunlop.com/product/m78-custom-badass-78-distortion

Definitely a great pedal... I've got my Paisley Drive overdrive for my low-to-medium gain bluesy/light rock Eagles/Walsh type tones but I've been looking for something I can run through the Twin to get more of a higher gain Marshally distorted tone but not into heavy "metal" territory. In between an overdrive and a metal sound. Like I said, something for a Classic Hard Rock 70s/early 80s Marshall Stack tone in a box. This looks like the ticket. Gonna be around 70 bucks I bet since it's not a boutique handmade pedal. But it still looks/sounds great! I'll pick one up next month when I have $ to do so.

[MikeA]

New batteries and an acclimation to room temperatures didn't resolve the problem. Deader than a doornail! I don't know if Roland (Boss) authorizes dealerships or trains employees at their dealerships to make repairs. I guess I could check. But I'm not wanting to commit to paying for work on something that I just bought that was supposed to be working. I'm not even wanting to take the back off until something is more settled about this metal box that is worthy of nothing more than a door stop (to keep the dead doornail company).

The seller didn't communicate with me last night. He Knew I was looking for it to arrive yesterday and I did post him the obituary for the pedal. You'd think he'd get back in touch.

It's still not the 23rd yet and that is the first day I can file a dispute with eBay to get my money refunded....unless the guy is willing to take it back and put my money BACK in my PayPal account.

[MikeA]

Mike hey I'm so sorry this transaction has become such a hassle. I checked the pedal before I packed it with a Boss power supply and with AA batteries, it was in working condition. If you want to try it with a Boss power supply and see if that works you can but if you want to send it back for a refund I will understand.
Let me know what you would like to do.

Joe


Disappointed...YES. I wanted that pedal...or one like it that works anyway. I'm boxing it up and will ship it back (at my expense!) and take the refund. I don't want to take the hassle of carrying it all the way over on the west side of Wichita to see if a Boss power supply will bring it to life. Everything I've heard about them is that the DC adapter jack quits working but that they always work off of batteries.

[sodascouts]

Sorry you've had such an awful experience, Mike.

[MikeA]

Thanks Nancy, I appreciate the sympathy. But it could have been much worse. The guy would not acknowledge my inquiries nor provide ANY shipping information until Saturday, the 15th. I bought the item on the 10th. I thought he'd just taken my money and RAN.

It was at that time that he said he'd shipped on the 11th but actually shipped on the 12th according to the time-stamp on the USPS postage meter sticker on the box. He wanted me to recontact him on Tues the 18th if I hadn't received it. I waited until Wednesday since Monday was a holiday and it did in fact arrive on Wednesday...a fact that pleasantly surprised me. I was still thinking I'd been scammed. To his credit, he did communicate with me for the second time on Tuesday night asking if it had arrived.

I did not hear from him yesterday (Wednesday) at all even after I told him I had received it and it was DOA. Today, I got only my THIRD communication from him and it was quoted in that previous message.

I'm not out of the woods yet on this though I am a lot more optimistic. The big problem (aside from the fact that the pedal was DEAD ON ARRIVAL) is that this guy just doesn't communicate enough to set the minds of the buyers at rest during the transaction! I don't know what else I can do but trust him to refund the cost of the unit and shipping. I shouldn't have to pay ANY shipping, but in effect, I may end up paying for his cost in shipping it to me and also pay to return it! That amounts to about $30 with nothing in return!

[MikeA]

I'm struggling now with just how much it is worth to buy something locally and have to pay sales tax on it bringing the total to around $220 of which I'd get $25 from Rolland in the form of a mail-in rebate something like 6 weeks from when I send it in.

My other option is to buy "NEW" off of eBay from a guy who is selling the same pedal "NEW" for $25 less than Guitar Center and there would be no tax on it. I've asked him if he is an authorized dealer for Boss/Rolland and haven't heard back yet. If he is, then the total cost to me would be $150 after the rebate. If he isn't, the bottom line would be that I'd save the $20 in sales tax and not have to wait on the rebate to get it for $175.

But after being "burned" so recently, I'm reluctant to entrust my purchase to a stranger half-way across the country. On the "Positive" side, the guy has 211 Feedbacks as a Seller and all of them are Positive and all of them are for Boss/Rolland "NEW" gear.

Is it worth $20 in tax plus not having to wait on the rebate for KNOWING that what I get is good and having it in my hands immediately! I do like supporting local merchants and do like having a relationship with them. They have been good to me (gave me what I think was a very good trade deal taking a guitar I didn't want and basically giving me back what I paid for it originally!)

I've about talked myself into buying from Guitar Center locally. Well, that is unless they guy on eBay confirms that he is an authorized Boss dealer. For all I know he is selling Boss gear that he bought stolen from their factory or something like that <LOL>

[WalshFan88]

I hope you get it all sorted out soon Mike! Sorry it's been a bad process. It sucks when that stuff happens.

[MikeA]

Continues to SUCK. Drove across Wichita in rush hour traffic to Guitar Center and they were out of the Boss ME-25 pedals. Never thought about calling them first. They had several in boxes behind the counter two weeks ago and their online inventory said they were in stock. I didn't know they counted their demo units as "in stock" <LOL>.

They have two in transit to Wichita that will arrive Tuesday next week and they are holding one for me. That gives me a couple of days during which I'll have to keep a tight rein on my credit card. There is an authorized dealer on eBay with new ones for $175 including shipping. That's what I'd pay for one new from Guitar Center plus I'd have to pay sales tax here in Wichita. In total, I'd save $25 off the base price plus close to $20 in sales tax by ordering off eBay. Either way, I would eventually get that $25 mail in rebate.

They offered to "sell" me one of their other pedals they had in stock full-well knowing that I'd be bringing it back when the ME-25 came in. I probably should have gone ahead and brought the ME-70 home. Trouble is, that one is $100 more and I'm afraid that if I got my hands on it I'd be too tempted to keep it since the ME-25 is just a cut down version of the ME-70 <LOL>

I'll hold off but just might decide to go ahead and get that one off eBay.

[MikeA]

Well, color me STUPID I guess. I really dreaded driving across Wichita during rush hour again Tuesday, so I went ahead and bought the ME-25 NEW off of eBay. It'll be delivered next week. The seller has a perfect score with 213 positive feedbacks and no negative ones and all are for Boss/Rolland equipment.

Even though he says he is an authorized dealer, if he isn't, I'm still saving the sales tax for Kansas by buying from him instead of from Guitar Center. Really, if it wasn't for the inconvenience of driving so far under undesirable conditions, I'd have bought from Guitar Center...and if they had had one last night, I would definitely have bought it from them. I like the guys in the store and like having them there for emergencies.

But with the potential of saving almost $50 and having it delivered to my doorstep, I decided to go ahead and "mail order" this one.

And I've learned another lesson...call before driving if I know exactly what I want and am not "just shopping"!

The only thing that sort of puts me off on the Boss ME-25 is that at it's base, it is an "amp modeling" device. You start with an amp model and then start applying the effects. Well, that's exactly what my VOX AD30VT does. But the pedal has a lot more amp models and also has a lot more flexibility with effects plus, it has a good Wah pedal. Not as good as a Cry-Baby naturally, but better than most that you find on multi-effects boards.

I'll probably just put my amp on Boutique Clean and bypass all amp effects and let the entire audio path be driven by the pedal. Of course, with the USB connection, I can download libraries of presets that Boss and users of Boss and Roland equipment have come up with. These can be stored in the 60 user preset storage locations and can be selected "on the fly" while playing a guitar through the unit.

But if I'm recording, I'll likely just plug the amp-out jack of the ME-25 directly into my audio interface and from there into my DAW where I can further tweak it.


Oh, and you can set up your own "tweaks" to modified or original sounds that are based on the COSM modeling logic in the cpu of the unit. The user patches or "sounds" are stored "serially" in 60 memory locations. To get from memory location 1 where you might have saved an acoustic sound with reverb and chorus, up to location 25 where you might have a heavily distorted humbucker sound out of a Marshall Stack stored...you have to step on and hold the "memory up" pedal until it cycles up to location 25. For this reason, this pedal is really not that suited to live performances since you can't go directly from one "patch" to another unless they are sequentially "next to" each other (like position 9 and 10 or 8 and 9).

That is one of the main differences between the ME-25 and the next step up in multi effects pedals from Boss...the ME-70 which costs $100 more. The ME-70 has 36 non changable presets and 36 user defined presets. But the effects are stored in 9 banks of 4 presets. You step on two pedals at once to select the bank and then you can press one pedal to cycle through the 4 presets in that bank. MUCH more ACCESSIBLE.

The ME-70 gives you more control over the individual effects I think, but in essence, the big difference is that Banked Memory.

Both the ME-70 and the ME-25 have stored libraries of "patches" you can download and save in a Librarian program on your computer. Using this, you can offload what you have saved on your pedal and swap out with patches you've downloaded from the site. You are not restricted to just 60 patches. Some machines (including the ME-50 predecessor) had no way of backing up your patches. If you wanted to change one, you changed it but if you accidently wipped it out while saving another, you had no recourse than to recreate it from memory or, if you do as they suggest, record by hand the settings you have saved on a chart....that would mean noting the setting of every knob and all effects turned on when you saved it!

I'm a knob twiddler anyway so this will be fun and pleasantly frustrating to learn to use. But mostly fun to just figure out.

[WalshFan88]

Well, color me STUPID I guess. I really dreaded driving across Wichita during rush hour again Tuesday, so I went ahead and bought the ME-25 NEW off of eBay. It'll be delivered next week. The seller has a perfect score with 213 positive feedbacks and no negative ones and all are for Boss/Rolland equipment.

Even though he says he is an authorized dealer, if he isn't, I'm still saving the sales tax for Kansas by buying from him instead of from Guitar Center. Really, if it wasn't for the inconvenience of driving so far under undesirable conditions, I'd have bought from Guitar Center...and if they had had one last night, I would definitely have bought it from them. I like the guys in the store and like having them there for emergencies.

But with the potential of saving almost $50 and having it delivered to my doorstep, I decided to go ahead and "mail order" this one.

And I've learned another lesson...call before driving if I know exactly what I want and am not "just shopping"!

The only thing that sort of puts me off on the Boss ME-25 is that at it's base, it is an "amp modeling" device. You start with an amp model and then start applying the effects. Well, that's exactly what my VOX AD30VT does. But the pedal has a lot more amp models and also has a lot more flexibility with effects plus, it has a good Wah pedal. Not as good as a Cry-Baby naturally, but better than most that you find on multi-effects boards.

I'll probably just put my amp on Boutique Clean and bypass all amp effects and let the entire audio path be driven by the pedal. Of course, with the USB connection, I can download libraries of presets that Boss and users of Boss and Roland equipment have come up with. These can be stored in the 60 user preset storage locations and can be selected "on the fly" while playing a guitar through the unit.

But if I'm recording, I'll likely just plug the amp-out jack of the ME-25 directly into my audio interface and from there into my DAW where I can further tweak it.


Oh, and you can set up your own "tweaks" to modified or original sounds that are based on the COSM modeling logic in the cpu of the unit. The user patches or "sounds" are stored "serially" in 60 memory locations. To get from memory location 1 where you might have saved an acoustic sound with reverb and chorus, up to location 25 where you might have a heavily distorted humbucker sound out of a Marshall Stack stored...you have to step on and hold the "memory up" pedal until it cycles up to location 25. For this reason, this pedal is really not that suited to live performances since you can't go directly from one "patch" to another unless they are sequentially "next to" each other (like position 9 and 10 or 8 and 9).

That is one of the main differences between the ME-25 and the next step up in multi effects pedals from Boss...the ME-70 which costs $100 more. The ME-70 has 36 non changable presets and 36 user defined presets. But the effects are stored in 9 banks of 4 presets. You step on two pedals at once to select the bank and then you can press one pedal to cycle through the 4 presets in that bank. MUCH more ACCESSIBLE.

The ME-70 gives you more control over the individual effects I think, but in essence, the big difference is that Banked Memory.

Both the ME-70 and the ME-25 have stored libraries of "patches" you can download and save in a Librarian program on your computer. Using this, you can offload what you have saved on your pedal and swap out with patches you've downloaded from the site. You are not restricted to just 60 patches. Some machines (including the ME-50 predecessor) had no way of backing up your patches. If you wanted to change one, you changed it but if you accidently wipped it out while saving another, you had no recourse than to recreate it from memory or, if you do as they suggest, record by hand the settings you have saved on a chart....that would mean noting the setting of every knob and all effects turned on when you saved it!

I'm a knob twiddler anyway so this will be fun and pleasantly frustrating to learn to use. But mostly fun to just figure out.

Good deal Mike on getting one finally!!!

I'm headed out to buy a new Xbox 360. Not just for games, but for Netflix movie streaming, internet, and something to play all of my music on from my computer through my TV, as well as pictures. I have a Wii and a PlayStation 3 but my old Xbox 360 died and I've been waiting for the new model to come out before I bought one. So that is what I'm doing today.

I'm not a huge gamer or anything, there is maybe 3 games I play. The rest is just for its media streaming capabilities. Much superior to the media options on the PS3 and Wii. But then again I'm a computer geek. But I've been wanting one. Now that my Mac laptop is dead, I'm using a Windows machine for my main uses until I can afford another Mac. I still have my iMac I use for video and audio editing and recording but otherwise I'm using an ancient laptop. I'm gonna put some more RAM in it (it has 1GB, I'm putting in another 1GB for a total of 2GB, the max amount on this computer) even though it is old just so I can get some more use out of it and make it last another year. I plan on picking up a new Mac next year. This year I'm focusing on getting some gear and some gadgets (the new iPad for instance when it comes out in April) and buying smaller things. Computer will have to make it one more year then I'll buy a MacBook.

[MikeA]

I have pushed (and pulled and prayed over and bandaided) my ole desktop just about as far as I can take it for what I want it for. I care nothing at all for graphics capability but care everything for its ability to render audio with stuttering. To that end, I've maxed its memory and cut the frills in the XP operating system to the nubs. There just isn't any cost justifiable enhancement I can make. Oh, I could shell the thing and rebuild it with an AMD quad mobo and chiset but if (no...WHEN) I do that, I'll build from scratch with a cooled case and all the goodies like the new high speed memory...and plenty of it.

I may not even load a browser and word processor or any thing else like that on it....pure audio. If I eventually do bog it down with the frilly stuff, I'll do on a separate disk drive and partition the thing to keep any network connections isolated to the non audio side of the machine.

[WalshFan88]

I have pushed (and pulled and prayed over and bandaided) my ole desktop just about as far as I can take it for what I want it for. I care nothing at all for graphics capability but care everything for its ability to render audio with stuttering. To that end, I've maxed its memory and cut the frills in the XP operating system to the nubs. There just isn't any cost justifiable enhancement I can make. Oh, I could shell the thing and rebuild it with an AMD quad mobo and chiset but if (no...WHEN) I do that, I'll build from scratch with a cooled case and all the goodies like the new high speed memory...and plenty of it.

I may not even load a browser and word processor or any thing else like that on it....pure audio. If I eventually do bog it down with the frilly stuff, I'll do on a separate disk drive and partition the thing to keep any network connections isolated to the non audio side of the machine.

I don't know if I ever told you Mike but I'm a long time computer geek and repair computers for people. I fix computers, build computers, maintain computers, etc. I work both on Windows and Macintosh. I prefer Mac for my own uses, but I know just as much about one as I do the other. I hate to sound like I'm bragging but I'm pretty much a computer genius and have been since I was little. I got an early start. Broke a lot of computers while learning (like breaking a CD Drive or frying a hard drive) but it was worth it. I just went to a church last week and all of their computers were hit with a virus and I went there and went around and removed it and put on proper Antivirus/AntiSpyware on all of the computers (I recommend Avast, stay away from AVG or Avira for a free product. For a paid product I now recommend Norton Internet Security 2011, it's really improved and is the best paid program IMO).

Something I'm doing a lot of this week is using remote access to fix a lot of machines. I did one just this morning to remove a virus and all I had to do is instruct the person to download "TeamViewer" and give me their code so I can get in, and then do my magic (with MalwareBytes, SuperAntiSpyware, and Hitman Pro), and get out and I can never get back in again without a new code. At the end of every session, it generates a new code so it's really private and secure. Or if they want to, they can uninstall it totally. I love it, it saves me from going to the next city or town to fix an easy thing. Now if there is a Rootkit (type of Malware) on there, then I have to go there and use a Bootable CD with a special type of Antivirus to remove those. Rootkits are the nastiest and most dangerous form of Malware.

Malware is classified as any bad software. Trojans, Spyware, Bots, Worms, Viruses, Adware, Identity Stealers, Keyloggers, etc are all under one general term of "Malware". More than half of my computer calls are to remove said Malware from a machine. Easy way to tell if you are infected is if your computer is unusually slow. I can find out in 15 minutes or less if a person is infected. Usually there are indicators the second I click on to their screen but a MalwareBytes quick scan reveals everything quickly. Then I scan with SuperAntiSpyware to find Spyware and Keyloggers. Then I scan with Hitman Pro to check for rootkits, bootkits (a boot sector rootkit), and try to remove them. If I can't, then I have to come there with a CD or they bring the computer to me or even ship it to me if they are long distance.

[MikeA]

I certainly recalled your involvement with PC's and Mac's Austin. While I've been in on "computers" almost since their concept, I've directed my career to chasing down those "once in a blue moon" errors made in the accounting software needed to process your bank account, your car loan and your savings account and CDs.

We code software to handle the complex needs of Automobile Dealerships and their interaction with the companies for which they are the dealers. That is really complex stuff when you have to account for Loans and Leases. Delinquency, processing payments today that should have been processed 3 weeks ago and keep the "interest" calculated properly. Keeping track of delinquencies, taxes, government reporting, auditors all that stuff.

The software is solid, but is always developed to take care of the common type situations and all of the uncommon ones that we can anticipate. Well, we can never anticipate EVERY situation and when one of those pop up, it is Me or someone like me who is put on the trail of chasing it down and modifying the system to function correctly in those situations. Can we say "Needle In A Haystack?

CONSEQUENTLY I have only scratched the surface of Micro Technology. The only one that I ever knew inside and out was the OS for the old Commodore machines. I can't even remember the Chip Family those used any more.

I'd say I know more about home computers than the "average" owner and user, but I by no stretch consider myself an "expert" or "genius" with them.

[WalshFan88]

I certainly recalled your involvement with PC's and Mac's Austin. While I've been in on "computers" almost since their concept, I've directed my career to chasing down those "once in a blue moon" errors made in the accounting software needed to process your bank account, your car loan and your savings account and CDs.

We code software to handle the complex needs of Automobile Dealerships and their interaction with the companies for which they are the dealers. That is really complex stuff when you have to account for Loans and Leases. Delinquency, processing payments today that should have been processed 3 weeks ago and keep the "interest" calculated properly. Keeping track of delinquencies, taxes, government reporting, auditors all that stuff.

The software is solid, but is always developed to take care of the common type situations and all of the uncommon ones that we can anticipate. Well, we can never anticipate EVERY situation and when one of those pop up, it is Me or someone like me who is put on the trail of chasing it down and modifying the system to function correctly in those situations. Can we say "Needle In A Haystack?

CONSEQUENTLY I have only scratched the surface of Micro Technology. The only one that I ever knew inside and out was the OS for the old Commodore machines. I can't even remember the Chip Family those used any more.

I'd say I know more about home computers than the "average" owner and user, but I by no stretch consider myself an "expert" or "genius" with them.

A lot of what I do is Operating System repairs, Malware Removal, Reformatting and Reinstalling Windows, Replacing bad hardware, optimization (making it go faster)/"Spring Cleanups", RAM Installation, New OS Installation, Antimalware Software Installation and Setup, and also building new machines (not as often as repairs though). My most calls are for Malware Removal and sometimes I even have to Reformat and Reinstall the OS (operating system) if the machine is too badly infected to be recovered.

That's why I STRONGLY recommend "Backups". Saving off important data to CD or DVD, Thumbdrive, another internet site, External Hard Drive, anything. And do them regularly (I recommend once a week, preferably on a Sunday). A lot of my clients haven't backed up and are devastated when I tell them I had to wipe their hard drive out and completely reinstall Windows.

I set a lot of them up with a Free solution like Avast. Some don't believe in free antiviruses, so for them I have them go out and buy Norton Internet Security 2011 Suite BEFORE my call or I get there so when I clean the computer out, I can install it and set it up to it's full setting. Norton is very effective, as is Avast. Norton is probably nicer but most people aren't made of money and can't plop 50 bucks down on an Internet Security suite. So for them I use Avast at the maximum settings and it seems to do a pretty good job. Sometimes will still let some things through but not usually. It's the best of the free solutions by far.

Norton is probably the best security out there though. I've never seen anything get past the 2011 version...yet. But hopefully it will stay good. I don't recommend the 360 Norton, it's got a bunch of "crap" people don't need and it's cheaper to buy IS instead. So Norton IS 2011 or Avast Free. Those are what I offer to clients post-virus removal.

Some of them won't even put anything on there for fear of it slowing down their computer or interfering with them. Those types of people are the extremely illiterate computer users who do no more than check email and check the news sites or maybe Facebook. It's ridiculous but I won't install anything if the customer insists. A happy customer = more $$. So I will do one small lecture and if they still aren't interested and want to have zero protection, I drop the subject and leave the computer with nothing but just the programs they've installed and that's it. But I generally see them again. Repeat customers. Oh well, I could prevent it but they must like giving me their money because it happens almost monthly. What's the old saying... "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink". That's it.

I charge typically $25 dollars for software repairs or malware removal. If I have to get into the computer and replace a part it's $50 plus the cost of the part. If I build a PC, it depends but for a base model PC for the average home user that doesn't play games or run elaborate memory-intensive software, I charge $300. usually. I usually put XP Home on those systems and the Avast antivirus. I'll update Windows, set up Avast, and then I send it to the customer/client.

If it is more of an elaborate gaming rig, recording rig, or even just a prosumer (professional consumer) who uses a ton of apps and is really savvy I'll put on Windows 7 Home Premium on those machines and also put on Avast but on the more expensive machines I offer Norton IS 2011 as a option instead of Avast for power users who want full protection. I also tend to put better video and sound cards in these machines as well as more RAM. Usually a bigger hard drive too. For the processor it depends if they are gaming or just using fancy applications (apps). If they are gaming I'll use a multi-core processor (I prefer Intel over AMD and usually use the i Series processors). If they are just recording or using memory-hogging apps a Core 2 Intel Processor is usually sufficient and cheaper. For a prosumer who uses heavy apps, the computer usually is about $400 bucks.

For an all out top of the line model especially for gamers, it can be closer to $700. And that's with the biggest hard drive out there (2 Terabytes), maxing out the RAM (depends but is usually 6GBs+), and a fast multi-core Intel processor (unless they insist on AMD) and Windows 7 Ultimate on the high end machines and Norton IS 2011. My most expensive system I've made is close to $700.

I make maybe 3 PC's a year if I'm lucky. Generally a couple base models for home average use and one of the "super PC's" with the bells and whistles. I offer a 1yr warranty on the base models for parts and software. I offer a Malware Removal special that is 10 dollars to have me remove any Malware instead of $25 for the life of the PC. On the high end model I have a 2 yr warranty on parts and software and free malware removal for 1 yr and after that it's just $10 bucks for the life of the PC. Pretty good deal I think. I really can't financially offer a 3 yr on the top of the line because honestly it is a lot of money and by 3-4 yrs in it isn't a lemon part, it's generally due to age of the computer and how hard the computer is used. But generally Malware isn't a huge issue on my machines, but it still CAN happen and I can fix most of them remotely from my office or sometimes if they are local I'll go to their house or they bring it here. I have one long distance PC owner that if I couldn't fix it remotely, he'd have to ship it back to me for a cleanup job. I really like building PC's but I can't do it very cheaply. Most of the cost is the parts, then add about $100 for me to actually build it, and about $50 goes towards being able to afford to do an extended warranty. If they pay me an extra $50 or so I'll do a 3 yr on the top model or a 2 yr on the base model. Base model PC's don't last as long as high end PC's though.

Just a sneak peek into my private home-based computer "business".

[MikeA]

Had a bit of an unsuccessful venture yesterday. My Father-in-law bought a Pignose Strat-type guitar several years ago, and the thing probably hasn't seen 10 minutes of play-time. It just doesn't feel good to Clair and I'd only looked at it once I think. It's a nice enough looking guitar but was in bad need of a "setup". Strings were about a half inch up off the neck (exaggerated but not much!) Intonation was horribly sharp at the 12th fret. Anyway, Clair was thinking about taking it in to Guitar Center and seeing what they would allow him in trade for some other instrument or gear purchase.

The Pignose has the same saddle arrangement as my MIM Telecaster so I didn't think I'd have any trouble setting it up for him, but warned him that once I did that, he might not want to part company with it!

First things first....got busy with lowering the saddles to a reasonable height. That's where I ran into the roadblock. With the strings lowered, any fret on any string you pressed above the 7th fret produced the same note all the way up to the 18th fret!. The higher you raised the strings, the higher on the neck you could play and get different notes.

But no matter how high you went, the 17th and 18th frets produced the same note <LOL> That fret wire was visually higher than all the other frets. That put the setup out of my ability to accomplish. I don't have files or experience to lower fret wires! If it had been my guitar, I'd have just popped that fret wire out of the neck!

So, I ended up restoring the string height to what it was when I first started working on it. I did get the intonation set and it worked, but the guitar is virtually unplayable unless you wanted to use it for nothing other than a slide instrument.

I checked on the net and those guitars were a "Marketing Test Model" that Pignose tried at some point and the decision was made (correctly) that there was not room in the market for another cheap clone of a Fender Strat. I think Clair gave $100 for this one. They are rather hard to find but I can't imagine anyone looking very hard for one.

[WalshFan88]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3WWSiKJh8o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo0ikF8Gqic

Found these on YouTube.

[MikeA]

I have a very poor copy of those sessions on VHS tape somewhere. That is, if I haven't worn the tapes out. There really is a lot of information stuffed into those segments!

These are of a LOT better quality than what I had. I bought them off of eBay and they obviously are about 5th generation copies and absolutely horrible in quality.

It's good to watch them pristine as these are. I think the thing that stuck with me more than anything else out of that tape is the verification the years have provided of a statement Joe made. You can get by with a less than perfect setup on pretty much every string EXCEPT the "G" string. That string just rings out and so many solos are centered on it.

Thanks!

[WalshFan88]

I have a very poor copy of those sessions on VHS tape somewhere. That is, if I haven't worn the tapes out. There really is a lot of information stuffed into those segments!

These are of a LOT better quality than what I had. I bought them off of eBay and they obviously are about 5th generation copies and absolutely horrible in quality.

It's good to watch them pristine as these are. I think the thing that stuck with me more than anything else out of that tape is the verification the years have provided of a statement Joe made. You can get by with a less than perfect setup on pretty much every string EXCEPT the "G" string. That string just rings out and so many solos are centered on it.

Thanks!

I found a site to buy it on DVD Mike if you are interested. I'm certainly buying it when I do my next Amazon order (probably in a week or two).

http://www.amazon.com/Joe-Walsh-Instructional-DVD-Guitar/dp/B0009V1JIW/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1295930227&sr=1-1

[MikeA]

I'll have to hold off a while Austin. Too much money going out and not enough coming back in :brickwall: I do have that VHS copy and access to the YouTube clips of the sessions. They really are packed with good basic Guitar Maintenance information that is presented by Walsh as clearly as any I've seen or read prior or subsequent to watching those. Every guitar owner should be required to study those!

I haven't been reimbursed for the ME-50 I had to ship back to the guy I bought it from. It is supposed to be delivered to him today so I'm hoping he will reimburse me right after he gets it and sees that it hasn't been physically damaged. As far as I know, I'll end up having to pay the shipping both ways on it.

On the other hand, the ME-25 I paid for this past Saturday is to be delivered Thursday! And Friday, it is supposed to be in the upper 60*! What a choice. I've already partitioned to have Friday afternoon OFF WORK so I have to choose whether to play GOLF or play ME (or ME-25 rather).

[WalshFan88]

I'll have to hold off a while Austin. Too much money going out and not enough coming back in :brickwall: I do have that VHS copy and access to the YouTube clips of the sessions. They really are packed with good basic Guitar Maintenance information that is presented by Walsh as clearly as any I've seen or read prior or subsequent to watching those. Every guitar owner should be required to study those!

I haven't been reimbursed for the ME-50 I had to ship back to the guy I bought it from. It is supposed to be delivered to him today so I'm hoping he will reimburse me right after he gets it and sees that it hasn't been physically damaged. As far as I know, I'll end up having to pay the shipping both ways on it.

On the other hand, the ME-25 I paid for this past Saturday is to be delivered Thursday! And Friday, it is supposed to be in the upper 60*! What a choice. I've already partitioned to have Friday afternoon OFF WORK so I have to choose whether to play GOLF or play ME (or ME-25 rather).

I understand Mike.

On an unrelated note, I have a doctor appointment in the same town as my Gibson dealer on Thursday and I'm gonna stop in and check out some guitars. I really like the new 60s tribute LP's and SG's they came out with at NAMM and I'm hoping Todd will have some. They are basically P90 barebones workhorses ala Juniors/Specials. No binding, no block pearl inlays, just simple 2 pickup P90 guitars. After seeing Steuart Smith with his SG (uses it on How Long and some more twangy tracks) with P90s I've wanted to try one. Also want to try the LP model too. They are pricing them right at 1k. For a USA made guitar, frills or no frills, that's a good price for a Gibson. Maybe Gibson is changing their ways. Who knows. But I really still think Fender and PRS are making the best production guitars. And again, who knows, maybe I'll come in here Thursday night and say they are magnificent, it's hard to say. But I know I haven't been impressed with production line Gibsons (non-custom shop) I've tried late last year. I have yet to play a 2011 Gibson. That will hopefully change in a couple days! :)

[MikeA]

My opinion....PRS are pretty and pricey but you pay for quality. Gibsons are pretty and pricey but of the two, I think I'd actually rather have the PRS.

Carvin....like I say, I haven't played one but do really like their looks and they are far better priced than either the PRS or Gibbys. Oh and about the Gibbys, I really like the looks and sounds of the LP Studio. I'd really love to have one in that deep wine finish!

Fender....could never imagine getting along without my Tele. But that is about the only thing from Fender (besides amps) that I'm very interested in.

[MikeA]

Well, folks, I'm finally completely out from under the obligations on the ME-50 that arrived to me DOA (Dead On Arrival).

I didn't get out "scott free" though. The guy refunded me $102.99 of the $115 I paid for the item plus shipping. So, I ended up paying $12 for the original shipping and also had to pay $15 to have it shipped back so it cost me $27 for absolutely nothing but a bad experience.

Water under the bridge! My NEW ME-25 is to be delivered tomorrow, Jan 27. I'm going to do my best to just write off the ME-50-experience as a lesson learned and just bad luck. I'm really looking forward to the use of the ME-25 and learning where it is a plus to my audio signal and where it isn't.

[MikeA]

Pedal is IN! And it WORKS! And as for the old one....the guy did refund all but the shipping. He didn't refund ANY of it...so $27 down the drain for NOTHING. And the SOB didn't even leave me Positive Feedback!

Oh well....I guess it was my fault that he shipped me a Dead Pedal and didn't think he had any responsibility for any of the shipping charges. Asshole!

On the new pedal....I've jacked it into my amp and that works fine. Jacked it to the amp and on through to my audio adapter and of course that works.

I then went into the Pedal with my guitar and then just monitored straight out of it with headphones and that works.

Finally, with only one of two tests remaining, I jacked it guitar to pedal and pedal to the audio adapter which connects via USB to my computer. That works great and will probably be the way I use it most of the time.

I don't have a USB cable long enough to reach from the floor to my USP hub or to the ports on my computer case. And besides that, I don't have a way to install the drivers. They are on a DVD and I have a CD only.

I am going to try to get drivers off of the BOSS/ROLAND website. I'll need them to load the Librarian software that is available on the website for additional Presets. Also need it to save off the tones I create.

I haven't found the magic button for bringing in reverb yet, but everything else seems to be working.

I really like the wah-volume-octave pedal that's on this unit. It's heavily built and not one of the flimsey contraptions that I've seen on some multi-effects pedals.

[MikeA]

Maybe it means that in Tennessee <LOL> The context in Kansas is quite different!

I really love the pedal. I've got a lot to learn about the tones but that only comes with messing around with it. The tones are there...you just have to know how to dial them in to get what you want.

I've been playing with the Phrase Looper. That thing is fun. You can record up to 38 seconds of a chord sequence, hit the button once again at the beginning of the loop and add in a bass run and then practice lead parts over the top of that. It loops indefinitely or until you shut it off. Really does give you a chance to work out an "answer" to a "call" when doing improv.

One thing I am going to have to do is either buy or build an "incline" board to mount the pedal to.

It is made for use while standing up. I don't play that way. I'm always sitting down where I can have access to my computer and all the other controls I need while recording. Besides, I'm just lazy.

With the pedal resting on the floor, it is at the wrong angle to use the expression pedal. It would be need to be inclined toward the user if the user is sitting in a normal height chair.

Oh well, I have some particle board out in the garage and can make something and cover with that no-slip stuff we put in tool cabinets to keep tools from sliding around when you yank open the drawers.

[WalshFan88]

Maybe it means that in Tennessee <LOL> The context in Kansas is quite different!

I really love the pedal. I've got a lot to learn about the tones but that only comes with messing around with it. The tones are there...you just have to know how to dial them in to get what you want.

I've been playing with the Phrase Looper. That thing is fun. You can record up to 38 seconds of a chord sequence, hit the button once again at the beginning of the loop and add in a bass run and then practice lead parts over the top of that. It loops indefinitely or until you shut it off. Really does give you a chance to work out an "answer" to a "call" when doing improv.

One thing I am going to have to do is either buy or build an "incline" board to mount the pedal to.

It is made for use while standing up. I don't play that way. I'm always sitting down where I can have access to my computer and all the other controls I need while recording. Besides, I'm just lazy.

With the pedal resting on the floor, it is at the wrong angle to use the expression pedal. It would be need to be inclined toward the user if the user is sitting in a normal height chair.

Oh well, I have some particle board out in the garage and can make something and cover with that no-slip stuff we put in tool cabinets to keep tools from sliding around when you yank open the drawers.

Glad to hear you are enjoying the ME-25 Mike.

[WalshFan88]

Well I went to my Gibson dealer and they didn't have the new guitars. Supposed to come in next week but I won't be back in that area for a month or two probably. I played a used 62RI Telecaster they had. I played the Peaceful Easy Feeling solo and it nailed that sound (I played through a small Princeton Reverb reissue as I wanted to be quiet in there). It's a great little guitar. But I just don't have the finances to get it. I believe it's an MIM RI.

On other news, I will be shooting a video sometime over this weekend playing through my Explorer. I haven't done a video with it yet. It's an Epiphone 58RI Korina Explorer that I've completely modded. New CTS pots, new Sprague capacitors, new Switchcraft jack AND switch, new Duncan pickups, etc. I like Epiphones that have been gutted and put in good electronics. It's a great guitar. It was the only way I could get a Natural finish Explorer made out of Korina without paying 6k to Gibson for one. I found a 90s one on eBay, bought the parts the same day, it showed up, I didn't even listen to it stock, just gutted it, put in the new electronics and really loved it. I didn't even listen to it completely stock. It's no secret I'm not a fan of Epiphone or even Gibson stock pickups. Gibson's pots, switches, jacks, and sometimes capacitors are real good but I think Gibson's' pickups are "meh" for me. I'm a Seymour Duncan OR boutique handwound guy. I really love those Duncan's though. They can make an Epi sound more like a Gibson. Just better tone. Of course it's all preference.

[MikeA]

ya know Judy, I'm having trouble getting a realistic mental image of a Dirty Ole Yeller Aig-Suckin' Dog. I've just never seen a dog 'a suckin' aigs! But I do think the sentiment is the same <LOL>

The pups on my old Frankenstrat were Lase Sensors. I remember there was a RED in the bridge. I really didn't like these pu's all that well. But that may have been because of damage or something. I know that guitar needed all new electronics and I didn't want to invest in it. It just didn't fit me.

I'll probably leave the LP alone with the Burstbuckers it came with. They put out so much more signal strength than anything else I have. What I really need to do though is beef-up my Epi. I love playing that guitar but I know there is a ton of room to improve its sound....not much of a way to improve its "feel" though. I just LOVE the neck on that Sheraton II.

In fact, what I'd love to do it make clones of that Epi neck and duct-tape them to every guitar I own!

[WalshFan88]

ya know Judy, I'm having trouble getting a realistic mental image of a Dirty Ole Yeller Aig-Suckin' Dog. I've just never seen a dog 'a suckin' aigs! But I do think the sentiment is the same <LOL>

The pups on my old Frankenstrat were Lase Sensors. I remember there was a RED in the bridge. I really didn't like these pu's all that well. But that may have been because of damage or something. I know that guitar needed all new electronics and I didn't want to invest in it. It just didn't fit me.

I'll probably leave the LP alone with the Burstbuckers it came with. They put out so much more signal strength than anything else I have. What I really need to do though is beef-up my Epi. I love playing that guitar but I know there is a ton of room to improve its sound....not much of a way to improve its "feel" though. I just LOVE the neck on that Sheraton II.

In fact, what I'd love to do it make clones of that Epi neck and duct-tape them to every guitar I own!

I really think some Seymour Duncan "Seth Lover" model pickups would really bring that Epi to life Mike... Seths are very low output warm bluesy PAF copies that are meant for more of a bluesier and jazzier and lighter rock sound. As far as the LP, and I don't know what kind of BurstBuckers you have in yours, I'd really (in the long run) put some Duncan '59s in it. '59s are PAF copies too, but with more output so you can get into classic rock territory more easier. If you wanted an even hotter bridge, the JB is a great choice to pair up with a '59 neck pickup. The problem I had with Burstbuckers is that they are often times very top end-y and shrill and very trebley and bright. I find with the Burstbucker "Pros" that I had really had an untame-able high end. The 1s, 2s, 3s series of BB's are supposed to be pretty good though, but I haven't tried them (and quite honestly don't intend to). But definitely concentrate on the Sheraton first. Putting some good low output PAF copies in there is the first step on really improving that guitar. Then maybe look at options for your other guitars. But Duncan is the only way to go IMO. I wouldn't mess with trying other Gibson pickups. I think they are weak compared to Duncans or even Dimarzios. JMHO.

[MikeA]

Well, the Tele is the Tele and I'm not planning on messing with it. The LP, well, it's hotter than Hell and there are riffs that call for that so for now, I'm not into messing with it.

But the EPI is ready for upgrade. Definitelyy needs some work. The tone control on the bridge is loose and I can't get in to tighten it up. It's not breaking up or anything like that, but I have to be careful when changing tone in the middle of a song (you know, rotating it with the heel of my hand) NOT to over rotate it. It is like it has no "stop" and when it reaches the end, it is twisting wires! One of these days, it will break one of the connections and leave the thing dead.

So, I'd like at some point, to switch out the pickups and get those pots anchored really well. The EPI needs a freakin' door in the back or something to allow access to those controls! :doh:

With the right pickups in the EPI, it would fill the nitch in my arsenal with the LP and the Tele covering the other sounds. The only downfall to the Sheraton is its size. It's a big ole hunk of wood! But that is a lot of where it gets the tone that it is capable of generating.

I would to get that really warm bluesy tone like BB King puts out. Love that tone!

[MikeA]

I downloaded the "tone library" today. It has all of the tones that are loaded by Boss into the 60 presets so that you can restore them. But the tone library also has tones categorized by preamp category and two banks of 10 tones are "Blues" samples....10 designed for Single Coils and 10 for Humbuckers.

You have to load these into one of the 60 memory banks, one tone at a time. But that's okay, you'd seldom want to waste multiple banks. There is everything from the overdriven sound of BB King...really warm, to Texas OD and then there are more modern distorted blues sounds. It's pretty cool.

Still, I'm messing around with the preamps and effects and one of these days, I'll find that combination I'm really looking for.

Idoubt that I'll ever use the USB interface for anything other than swapping out tones in the pedal. It saves changing I/O settings if I just run out of the pedal into my Line6 UX2 interface.

I think that I am going to order one of the DC adapters though. They cost less than two sets of 6 rechargeable batteries. And the ones that are regulated shouldn't produce that 60hz hum.

[WalshFan88]

Well, the Tele is the Tele and I'm not planning on messing with it. The LP, well, it's hotter than Hell and there are riffs that call for that so for now, I'm not into messing with it.

But the EPI is ready for upgrade. Definitelyy needs some work. The tone control on the bridge is loose and I can't get in to tighten it up. It's not breaking up or anything like that, but I have to be careful when changing tone in the middle of a song (you know, rotating it with the heel of my hand) NOT to over rotate it. It is like it has no "stop" and when it reaches the end, it is twisting wires! One of these days, it will break one of the connections and leave the thing dead.

So, I'd like at some point, to switch out the pickups and get those pots anchored really well. The EPI needs a freakin' door in the back or something to allow access to those controls! :doh:

With the right pickups in the EPI, it would fill the nitch in my arsenal with the LP and the Tele covering the other sounds. The only downfall to the Sheraton is its size. It's a big ole hunk of wood! But that is a lot of where it gets the tone that it is capable of generating.

I would to get that really warm bluesy tone like BB King puts out. Love that tone!

I see.

I just am one for not liking stock pickups, but that's just me. I find that stock pickups tend to limit yourself as far as tone goes. Replacing pickups is the first thing I do to any guitar. If I were to buy a 59 reissue Les Paul (Gibson), I wouldn't even play it first, I'd just take out those Burstbuckers and install some handwound boutique pickups. The only downside to handwounds is that they go for about 3-350 a set. I have two sets, one in Ruby and one in storage for the day I do get a 59RI LP I can just plop them in there and go and not have to wait on them. For me the pickups make the biggest difference in tone. It's the heart of the guitar. The pickup is like a microphone, "picking up" what your guitar is giving it. A lot of times I find most stock pickups are very muddy, sometimes harsh, sometimes too dark, sometimes to bright/icepicky. The pickups are what is turning the wood and strings into sound and if you have a bad "pickup", what you are hearing is not a true representation of your guitar's actual sound (from the wood and hardware). By changing those out to aftermarket pickups, you go from either bad or fair to great. It's really all personal preference though. I just buy Duncans and keep them on hand for new guitars. Call me crazy for not listening to a guitar when I get it before swapping it out, but that's what I do. I have a freezer bag full of old pickups, just going to the garbageman when it's full. :hilarious: I'm a tinkerer though and I'm never content with my tone. Always changing this or that or tweaking something and buying and trying new things. I'm one of those neurotic types that thinks small things like taking the back plate off of a Strat makes a difference in resonance though, so who knows. Eric Johnson (not sure if you are familiar with him), is the same way. Can hear differences in his tone by what brand of batteries are in his stompboxes. I'm pretty much there. Maybe not as bad, but I'm getting there. I'm very particular about my tone and I find if I'm not getting the tone I want, I lose the desire to play that day. If the tone is good, then I'm inspired to play. It's just that with me I'm very picky about everything from the food I eat to the type of magnets in the pickups in my guitars. I'm just a little OCD. Just a little :rofl: But it boils down to this:

"Personal Preference"

YMMV. It's just what you like. I'm glad you like your LP and Tele the way they are. I highly encourage you to stay away from Gibson for pickups on your Sheraton and experiment with some Seymour Duncans. They are the best production replacement money can buy. Handwounds are a bit better, but with that comes a nice price tag. But I'd check into some low output PAF-style pickups from them. I think that plus getting a luthier/guitar tech to do a setup and get everything in line will make it a much better guitar.

[MikeA]

It all comes back to the same issue Austin. "MONEY". To upgrade the EPI and make the needed repairs to the control mounts, I'd be looking at around $400 most likely and maybe more if I did everything I want to do to it. I really need to replace the Tuning Machines and it wouldn't hurt to put on a new Nut. I'd love to replace the bridge and stop too. It is gold plated and all the hardware is pitted. As much as I like the gold plating when it's new, it just doesn't hold up cosmetically. Would it be worth the money to bring it mint? Absolutely. But that money has to come from somewhere. Maybe the house payment?

Though the EPI "works" it and it "feels" like a million bucks, I KNOW it isn't producing the tone that it should. And when (not "IF") I replace pickups, I've no doubt that I'll NOT go with Gibsons. I've always liked the Seymour Duncans and no doubt will go with them.

You are indeed "preaching to the choir". I agree with everything you said about pickups.

[WalshFan88]

It all comes back to the same issue Austin. "MONEY". To upgrade the EPI and make the needed repairs to the control mounts, I'd be looking at around $400 most likely and maybe more if I did everything I want to do to it. I really need to replace the Tuning Machines and it wouldn't hurt to put on a new Nut. I'd love to replace the bridge and stop too. It is gold plated and all the hardware is pitted. As much as I like the gold plating when it's new, it just doesn't hold up cosmetically. Would it be worth the money to bring it mint? Absolutely. But that money has to come from somewhere. Maybe the house payment?

Though the EPI "works" it and it "feels" like a million bucks, I KNOW it isn't producing the tone that it should. And when (not "IF") I replace pickups, I've no doubt that I'll NOT go with Gibsons. I've always liked the Seymour Duncans and no doubt will go with them.

You are indeed "preaching to the choir". I agree with everything you said about pickups.

I didn't really think about all of the other parts being replaced. Pickups by themselves are around 200 bucks. Never mind then. :hilarious:

Sorry if I bore you with all of this talk. I just like talking about gear. I'll try not to talk about those things. Sorry. Don't mean to be preaching to the choir, just talking. :? I'll leave my tech talk to my guitar forums.

[MikeA]

No no Austin....don't drop the talk. I'm not experienced "personally" with pickkups and the hardware other than what is on my guitars. I've never replaced a pickup.

I've done all the maintenance on all my guitars except for the Fender Prodigy that I traded in. It was in pretty bad shape when I bought it off of eBay. Had to take it in and have the frets dressed. It had been played so much that there were grooves in the fret wires making it impossible to do a bend. The string would catch in notches in the fret wires! A young man at a local shop dressed them and only charged $30 for the job. Money well spent.

They said at Guitar Center that dressing the frets on my LP would run around $40. I just need the ends filed off and I have never invested in the fine set of files that you have to have to do that job.

[MikeA]

The guy I bought the ME-50 from...the one I sent back....He sent a message confirming that he'd received it and ALSO claims that it powered right up for him!

Well, okay. I guess his power company provides better power or something. Or maybe the static electricity in my body doesn't have the right impedance or something! I wouldn't want to depend on something like that when it seems erratic in performance. While the ME-50's specs and layout is more what I was wanting, I would not change my mind.

I've pretty much dumpped the sound library on my ME-25 and have loaded the first twenty positions with "Clean" sounds that I can dirty up if I wish but that give a good variety of basic warm tones. Most are based on a Fender Twin with a couple from a Tweed. I've pretty much left off the Mesa Boogie and Marshall tones. I did save a few VOX AC tones though.

What I'm doing is bringing in a foundational tone and then tweaking it with distortion, modulation and delay until I get what I'm after. So far, I've been able to pretty much get close to what I want. Fun messing with it. But the vast majority of the stuff in it is really for someone who wants the really messed up "fast metal" sound. Not for me.

But the expression pedal alone makes it worthwhile when combined with the really good clean sounds.

[WalshFan88]

The guy I bought the ME-50 from...the one I sent back....He sent a message confirming that he'd received it and ALSO claims that it powered right up for him!

Well, okay. I guess his power company provides better power or something. Or maybe the static electricity in my body doesn't have the right impedance or something! I wouldn't want to depend on something like that when it seems erratic in performance. While the ME-50's specs and layout is more what I was wanting, I would not change my mind.

I've pretty much dumpped the sound library on my ME-25 and have loaded the first twenty positions with "Clean" sounds that I can dirty up if I wish but that give a good variety of basic warm tones. Most are based on a Fender Twin with a couple from a Tweed. I've pretty much left off the Mesa Boogie and Marshall tones. I did save a few VOX AC tones though.

What I'm doing is bringing in a foundational tone and then tweaking it with distortion, modulation and delay until I get what I'm after. So far, I've been able to pretty much get close to what I want. Fun messing with it. But the vast majority of the stuff in it is really for someone who wants the really messed up "fast metal" sound. Not for me.

But the expression pedal alone makes it worthwhile when combined with the really good clean sounds.

Wow Mike. Can't believe he said it powered up for him. I bet he's lying because he doesn't want to admit he sold you a faulty pedal.

[MikeA]

Could be Austin. But I do hope it worked for him though I don't see how. I tried absolutely everything. The ME-50 isn't like the new pedals from Boss. It had a power switch. The new pedals just power on when you plug in an instrument cable into the input jack.

I "wiggled" the power on switch and got no flashes of lights. I cleaned the battery terminal posts though they didn't need it. Still nothing.

I tried that board with two different sets of batteries. One set of batteries, I removed from appliances that were working (clocks mostly). But I know how little current a clock draws and the batteries could have been old and run down though powerful to power a clock for another freakin' year! So I bought a NEW set of alkaline batteries. No difference. I tried it with and without plugging in to both the inputs and outputs. The only thing I didn't try was powering it with a power supply.

I went to a lot of trouble to get an on-line version of the ME-50 manual thinking that maybe there was some weird combination of buttons that had to be pressed to activate it. NOPE. Turn it on and plug in and play!

That unit was DEAD DEAD DEAD when I shipped it back.

Oh, and he STILL didn't leave me positive feedback.


yep got the pedal. and powered right up. not sure why it didnt work for you. but thansk for sending it back so quickly

[WalshFan88]

Could be Austin. But I do hope it worked for him though I don't see how. I tried absolutely everything. The ME-50 isn't like the new pedals from Boss. It had a power switch. The new pedals just power on when you plug in an instrument cable into the input jack.

I "wiggled" the power on switch and got no flashes of lights. I cleaned the battery terminal posts though they didn't need it. Still nothing.

I tried that board with two different sets of batteries. One set of batteries, I removed from appliances that were working (clocks mostly). But I know how little current a clock draws and the batteries could have been old and run down though powerful to power a clock for another freakin' year! So I bought a NEW set of alkaline batteries. No difference. I tried it with and without plugging in to both the inputs and outputs. The only thing I didn't try was powering it with a power supply.

I went to a lot of trouble to get an on-line version of the ME-50 manual thinking that maybe there was some weird combination of buttons that had to be pressed to activate it. NOPE. Turn it on and plug in and play!

That unit was DEAD DEAD DEAD when I shipped it back.

Oh, and he STILL didn't leave me positive feedback.

Wow Mike. Talk about bad seller.

[WalshFan88]

I just upgraded my computer today from Windows XP to Windows 7. SOOO much faster and nicer. I have been on my computer all day just tweaking it to my liking. I wiped out the drive so it's a painless install. I never liked Vista. Tried it and went back. 7 is THE Windows operating system. The best Windows Microsoft ever put out. Office 2010 is VERY nice too, the best Office yet I'd say. I'm very impressed. And coming from a diehard Mac guy, that's saying something. I love the bar at that bottom of the taskbar that lets you make shortcuts to frequently used applications/programs, similar to Mac OS X.

[MikeA]

I've installed Win7 on the computer I built for my Father-in-law and have only had to mess with it in conjunction with getting his Audio Interface working with Audacity. Everything is there though I found a lot of it rather un-intuitive to find. "They" seemed to me to have "dumbed it down" a lot. That's not a bad thing but settings that I was used to getting to (some of the audio settings) were pretty buried inside a multitude of screens.

Still, it has been very stable. I installed the 32-bit version on his machine. I didn't want to complicate life with finding 64 bit drivers for his external devices. When I installed the OS, it was really new and some of the companies (Line 6 was one) didn't have and might never provide 64-bit drivers for some of the older devices. I think most everyone has the appropriate drivers available now.

After checking....most of the device companies blew Vista completely off and were not planning on making their hardware compatible in 64-bit mode until Microsoft came out with something better. Win7 IS that something better!

I'm running XP on my desktop. Never installed Vista. I have it stripped completely of all the esthetic "appearance" stuff to take all the load off the system that I can. I need it to be unencumbered in order to process audio which is a system eater. Especially when you mix in several effects!

And I KNOW that bar you are talking about. You can create the same thing with XP and I have it on my notebook computer....but it isn't "animated" like the Win7 shortcut bar. Sure is handy.

[WalshFan88]

I've installed Win7 on the computer I built for my Father-in-law and have only had to mess with it in conjunction with getting his Audio Interface working with Audacity. Everything is there though I found a lot of it rather un-intuitive to find. "They" seemed to me to have "dumbed it down" a lot. That's not a bad thing but settings that I was used to getting to (some of the audio settings) were pretty buried inside a multitude of screens.

Still, it has been very stable. I installed the 32-bit version on his machine. I didn't want to complicate life with finding 64 bit drivers for his external devices. When I installed the OS, it was really new and some of the companies (Line 6 was one) didn't have and might never provide 64-bit drivers for some of the older devices. I think most everyone has the appropriate drivers available now.

After checking....most of the device companies blew Vista completely off and were not planning on making their hardware compatible in 64-bit mode until Microsoft came out with something better. Win7 IS that something better!

I'm running XP on my desktop. Never installed Vista. I have it stripped completely of all the esthetic "appearance" stuff to take all the load off the system that I can. I need it to be unencumbered in order to process audio which is a system eater. Especially when you mix in several effects!

And I KNOW that bar you are talking about. You can create the same thing with XP and I have it on my notebook computer....but it isn't "animated" like the Win7 shortcut bar. Sure is handy.

Yes, in XP and Vista the bar is called "Quick Launch". It does pretty much the same thing but without the mouseover effects where you can run certain parts of a program without having to even open it. Just right click. Like my CCleaner I use to delete temp files. Don't even have to open the interface. Right click, click Run, and it does it in the background without any screen popping up and you can't mouseover it and see a small shot of the window in XP. But I really love Windows 7. I'm used to this bar because in Mac OS X, the "Dock" is where you keep shortcuts to programs you want speedy access too. I love how Mac-like Windows 7 is. It's almost in some features a ripoff of the latest Mac OS but I actually really like 7 a lot. And that's saying something for me to truly fully love and enjoy a Windows OS.

[MikeA]

I've been playing around a lot with the effects pedal today. I'm wanting to work up "Midnight Special" but haven't gotten it nailed yet.

But in messing around with it, I burned up the original batteries <LOL> that came with the unit. They are supposed to run for around 9 hours before needing changed. I guess that tells you something about how much I've had it plugged in!

Anyway, I read the specs and the pedal draws up to 125Ma on 9 volts DC. I had a 9 volt DC adapter that carries 300Ma so I plugged it in. Works great! I've got a "real" one coming in that is regulated 400Ma and an OEM replacement for the PSA-120s that Boss makes (and sells for $21.00!)

I think the trick with adapters is to get one that has a rating of at least as many Ma as the unit demands. Since the ME-25 needs 125Ma, the 300Ma power supply I had is ample. But it isn't regulated. Even with that, I didn't hear the BUZZ that I've heard when using this adapter in the past with my wireless headphones!

Oh well, now I know I'll have a backup!

Oh, if you didn't see it over in the Sound Bytes thread, here's the Jam I did today:

http://mvabercrombie.net/EightBarreJam.mp3

[tequila girl]

Hope you guys'll forgive me......

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/carolwayne/animations/18.gif

I just wanted to try out this little fella! :-)

[Troubadour]

LOL TG!

[WalshFan88]

Hope you guys'll forgive me......

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/carolwayne/animations/18.gif

I just wanted to try out this little fella! :-)

:rofl:

Of course (we'll forgive you!).

[MikeA]

"GEAR" isn't just Guitars and Pedals and Amps. Gear is computers, widgits, thing-a-ma-jigs, whatcha-ma-call-its. Hardware!

Actually, it is more than Guitars and Amps. We've been talking computers and operating systems as well as headphones and doo-hickies that keep spit out of your microphones (and also kill the "ESSSSSes" during recording).

Pretty much anything goes here. :thud:

[WalshFan88]

"GEAR" isn't just Guitars and Pedals and Amps. Gear is computers, widgits, thing-a-ma-jigs, whatcha-ma-call-its. Hardware!

Actually, it is more than Guitars and Amps. We've been talking computers and operating systems as well as headphones and doo-hickies that keep spit out of your microphones (and also kill the "ESSSSSes" during recording).

Pretty much anything goes here. :thud:

Absolutely Mike. I'm a computer geek and have been since I was little. I was a tech support guy WAY before I played guitar. I used to spend all of my money on computers and gadgets. Now I spend most of it on guitars/amps/pedals.

[EaglesFanatic]

Hope you guys'll forgive me......

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/carolwayne/animations/18.gif

I just wanted to try out this little fella! :-)

:rofl: LOL

[WalshFan88]

http://i794.photobucket.com/albums/yy221/joeysbass/Instruments/JoeWalshburst.jpg

Here's a pic of one of Walsh's old Les Pauls Mike. '59.

[MikeA]

Sort of cute, ain't it! Sure is easier to get to the intonation adjustment screws with the bridge turned around backwards like that.

[WalshFan88]

Sort of cute, ain't it! Sure is easier to get to the intonation adjustment screws with the bridge turned around backwards like that.

Mhm... I think its called an ABR-1 bridge... Where as most current LP's have what is called a Nashville bridge.

[MikeA]

Well, I'll not be turning mine around on the LP or on the Sheraton. What would be the purpose? Both are perfectly intonated now. Of course if I made a radical change in strings or something like that, I'd have to go through the process once more, but it really isn't that hard to get a long screwdriver over the stop to the screw heads.

Can't see where it would make a lot of difference. There is only one place on the position of a saddle that will produce the correct string length for all-round tune. It would only be a matter of convenience where the heads to the adjustment screws were located.

[WalshFan88]

Well, I'll not be turning mine around on the LP or on the Sheraton. What would be the purpose? Both are perfectly intonated now. Of course if I made a radical change in strings or something like that, I'd have to go through the process once more, but it really isn't that hard to get a long screwdriver over the stop to the screw heads.

Can't see where it would make a lot of difference. There is only one place on the position of a saddle that will produce the correct string length for all-round tune. It would only be a matter of convenience where the heads to the adjustment screws were located.

You can't turn it around anyway. You'd have to get a new bridge with the correct wire to do that. It isn't just the way its facing, there is a difference in construction. Besides the ABR being vintage correct it has a guide wire going over the saddles.

[WalshFan88]

Also, the bridge on your LP is more modern and the vintage bridge wouldn't fit on the posts.

[MikeA]

I'll take a closer look just for verification, but it matters not. I'll have no need nor desire to experiment with it <LOL>

[WalshFan88]

I'll take a closer look just for verification, but it matters not. I'll have no need nor desire to experiment with it <LOL>

:thumbsup: ;) :applause:

[MikeA]

I got industrious yesterday in between bouts of protecting my fish from that predator Heron!

I built an incline platform for my multi-effects pedal. I'm not sure why there is not something like this readily available for the Home Recording hobbyist. The pedal, like all stomp boxes, is built to be used while standing performing on stage. It can be used that way while sitting in front of a computer also but the angle is all wrong for the expression pedal.

I found a scrap piece of particle board about twice the desired height I needed. Drew a diagonal some 12" long on it and cut it out forming two equal triangles to form the sides. The face of the incline, I cut from a piece of scrap 1/8" paneling. Finally, I needed a rectangle of particle board to span the back of the angled side pieces to give it strength.

The back of the "pedal board" is 5" tall which of course tapers to 0" at the front. From front to back, it is about 11". This made the inclined part an even 12" square or pretty close to it. It needed to be at least 12" wide to hold the pedal itself but really only needed to be 8" from front to back to support the pedal.

Anyway, it went together easily with wood glue and a few wood screws. Solid. And it puts my ankle at the correct angle to use the pedal while sitting down.

https://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=14&pictureid=907

[WalshFan88]

I got industrious yesterday in between bouts of protecting my fish from that predator Heron!

I built an incline platform for my multi-effects pedal. I'm not sure why there is not something like this readily available for the Home Recording hobbyist. The pedal, like all stomp boxes, is built to be used while standing performing on stage. It can be used that way while sitting in front of a computer also but the angle is all wrong for the expression pedal.

I found a scrap piece of particle board about twice the desired height I needed. Drew a diagonal some 12" long on it and cut it out forming two equal triangles to form the sides. The face of the incline, I cut from a piece of scrap 1/8" paneling. Finally, I needed a rectangle of particle board to span the back of the angled side pieces to give it strength.

The back of the "pedal board" is 5" tall which of course tapers to 0" at the front. From front to back, it is about 11". This made the inclined part an even 12" square or pretty close to it. It needed to be at least 12" wide to hold the pedal itself but really only needed to be 8" from front to back to support the pedal.

Anyway, it went together easily with wood glue and a few wood screws. Solid. And it puts my ankle at the correct angle to use the pedal while sitting down.

https://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=14&pictureid=907

Very cool Mike! I also loved the part about the Heron! :hilarious:

[Koala]

I'm not sure if I'm correct in this Thread,probably not, but I found some pics of the Guitars equipment of the Eagles

http://guitartechworks.com/2011/02/eagles-stage-shots/

[WalshFan88]

I'm not sure if I'm correct in this Thread,probably not, but I found some pics of the Guitars equipment of the Eagles

http://guitartechworks.com/2011/02/eagles-stage-shots/

Thank you SO much for this! I've been waiting to see what ol' Joe has for guitars and his pedalboard so I have ideas for mine! :lol:

[Prettymaid]

Nice find Koala! Those pics sure take a long time to load, don't they?

[MikeA]

Joe does have a LOT of Deusenburgs in his stands doesn't he. I noticed in the URL that the date appeared to be Feb 2011. I would imagine that these are the ones that he currently takes on tours.

[WalshFan88]

Joe does have a LOT of Deusenburgs in his stands doesn't he. I noticed in the URL that the date appeared to be Feb 2011. I would imagine that these are the ones that he currently takes on tours.

Yup he loves the Duesenbergs. I will own one someday. Keyword - someday. :hilarious: Mike Campbell (from the Heartbreakers), Ron Wood (from the Rolling Stones), and Bob Dylan are all using them too.

[MikeA]

Forgot to mention it, but I got my 9vdc 400mA power supply in for my Boss pedal. I had a multi-volt supply that worked okay but I was glad to get the new one in. The one I'd been using had a 4-pin optional plug that was designed to give the flexibility of using it with different jacks. It also had a floppy wire coming off of it with a 9vdc battery snap on it.

It worked well though. No noise from it. Neither does the new one produce any audiable humm or buzz. And the new one has only one pin that is the right size for Boss pedals.

[MikeA]

Hey Bernie..BB...Bernie's Bender

Don't know if you still check in here every once in a while, but wanted to Thank You Again for posting that 7 minute blues background track! Great one to noodle over in "G". Not a key you normally think of for Blues. At least I don't. Great Jazz-Blues track though!

Awe Dang...You must have removed the track.

https://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/forum/showpost.php?p=85959&postcount=167

I won't upload it again since you took it down. But I've been playing the hell out of it.

[WalshFan88]

Forgot to mention it, but I got my 9vdc 400mA power supply in for my Boss pedal. I had a multi-volt supply that worked okay but I was glad to get the new one in. The one I'd been using had a 4-pin optional plug that was designed to give the flexibility of using it with different jacks. It also had a floppy wire coming off of it with a 9vdc battery snap on it.

It worked well though. No noise from it. Neither does the new one produce any audiable humm or buzz. And the new one has only one pin that is the right size for Boss pedals.

Glad you are enjoying the BOSS pedal so much Mike....

I'm looking at analog stompboxes for my pedalboard too. I want to get a Tubescreamer. I'm gonna trade a Delay to one of my friends for one.

[WalshFan88]

I found another backstage pic of Walsh's and Felder's guitars.

http://i943.photobucket.com/albums/ad274/v12pilot/2010%20Music%20and%20Crafters/the-eagles-guitars-1980_WalshFelder.jpg

What I find interesting is the Les Paul doubleneck. I've never seen Felder play anything but an SG doubleneck (EDS-1275) as far as doublenecks go.

PS, I posted a video in the Members clips/videos thread. :)

[MikeA]

I don't think I've ever seen the DN LP played either.

[MikeA]

Oh, I figured that this should probably go here rather than over in the Walsh Photo Thread.


Now Mike we know which one you'd pick if you had to pick only one. I think you just mentioned that shirt to try to mask your desire to own a Carvin guitar like Joe and I. :hilarious:

Actually Austin, If I were going out TODAY to buy a Carvin, I'd be looking more at the DC6 line. Except I'd 86 the Floyd Rose. Hate those tremlos. I'd most likely just get a through the body with a tune-o-matic. This one is one that I COULD go out and buy today for it is already made and up for sale with no alterations. I'd have to actually wait on the one that I would buy. Hard choice between that Ruby Red finish and the Dark Green, but I do like the quilt finish with buckets of clear!

The Rose tremlo: I had one on a Fender except it was a Kahlar or something like that. I found it limited in the string selection and also hated the "floating" part. I was always hitting the bridge wrong with the palm of my hand and bending strings (in reverse!). I ended up locking the tremlo and liked it better after that but that sort of defeats the purpose. I did like the fine tuning machines down on the tremlo. But hated the nut lock. Swore I'd never own another guitar with that setup on it.

https://eaglesonlinecentral.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=14&pictureid=911

[WalshFan88]

Oh, I figured that this should probably go here rather than over in the Walsh Photo Thread.



Actually Austin, If I were going out TODAY to buy a Carvin, I'd be looking more at the DC6 line. Except I'd 86 the Floyd Rose. Hate those tremlos. I'd most likely just get a through the body with a tune-o-matic. This one is one that I COULD go out and buy today for it is already made and up for sale with no alterations. I'd have to actually wait on the one that I would buy. Hard choice between that Ruby Red finish and the Dark Green, but I do like the quilt finish with buckets of clear!

The Rose tremlo: I had one on a Fender except it was a Kahlar or something like that. I found it limited in the string selection and also hated the "floating" part. I was always hitting the bridge wrong with the palm of my hand and bending strings (in reverse!). I ended up locking the tremlo and liked it better after that but that sort of defeats the purpose. I did like the fine tuning machines down on the tremlo. But hated the nut lock. Swore I'd never own another guitar with that setup on it.

https://eaglesonlinecentral.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=14&pictureid=911

Yeah I like the CT6s and CS6s more like Walsh plays. I don't personally care for the looks of the cutaways on the DC6. It looks like a bad SG copy. They need to extend the "horns" out a bit more and not make them so stubby looking. Again, just my opinion. :) I want to get the Les Paul shaped one (CS6) soon. Walsh has used the DC6 but is back to using his CT6 again.

My CT6 is through the body with the tune-o-matic and I love it. I hate Floyds.

[MikeA]

I actually llike the horns the way they are on this one. I didn't get any impression of an SG out of it. Guess it's a a perception. However, I'd have to give a lot of thought to it before acutally buying it or one like it. I like the semi-hollow body version of it too.

Right now, I have my Epi tuned to open "G" so would like to have another with that type tone to keep tuned in open "D". There are some samples on Youtube of Carvins and there is one of the FG1 on the Carvin site. Worthy for sure.

Here a link to a Double Cut SH645

http://www.carvinguitars.com/catalog/guitars/index.php?model=sh645

Here's a vid of the FG1 with Frank Gamble doing a jazzy thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b927Zhjx3co

He's SICK!

[WalshFan88]

I actually llike the horns the way they are on this one. I didn't get any impression of an SG out of it. Guess it's a a perception. However, I'd have to give a lot of thought to it before acutally buying it or one like it. I like the semi-hollow body version of it too.

Right now, I have my Epi tuned to open "G" so would like to have another with that type tone to keep tuned in open "D". There are some samples on Youtube of Carvins and there is one of the FG1 on the Carvin site. Worthy for sure.

Here a link to a Double Cut SH645

http://www.carvinguitars.com/catalog/guitars/index.php?model=sh645

Here's a vid of the FG1 with Frank Gamble doing a jazzy thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b927Zhjx3co

He's SICK!

The FG1 looks good.

It's the non hollow one (the regular DC6) that looks like a bad SG Copy. A lot of guitars with short little horns and doublecuts are trying to copy the SG. Carvin needs to make the horns stick out further.

[tequila girl]

Here's one for you Austin & Mike

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn241/jaykay-46/1028822_2ecc_625x1000.jpg

Described as:


It's the 'Roadee Trimline', a basic vintage model, it has beautiful tone, almost perfect resonance and has good sustain especially when pushed hard. The best model on the turf in its time

Either of you guys ever seen one? :hilarious: :hilarious: :hilarious:

[WalshFan88]

Here's one for you Austin & Mike

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn241/jaykay-46/1028822_2ecc_625x1000.jpg

Described as:



Either of you guys ever seen one? :hilarious: :hilarious: :hilarious:

:rofl:

[MikeA]

I haven't! But it gives me a good idea! I have one of those old reel lawnmowers that's been nothing but a yard ornament. It wouldn't take much to add a neck and head to it. Maybe an Epiphone head <LOL>

[WalshFan88]

I haven't! But it gives me a good idea! I have one of those old reel lawnmowers that's been nothing but a yard ornament. It wouldn't take much to add a neck and head to it. Maybe an Epiphone head <LOL>

:hilarious:

[WalshFan88]

The more I listen to one, I want one. What is it?

A Carvin Belair amp. Just like the one used by Joe onstage now.

It's a 50 watt 212 amp made by Carvin in their "Vintage Series".

I highly doubt I get one this year, but it's something I'm looking at for the distant future. I'm VERY happy with my Fender Twin Reverb but you know me, I am a GEARHEAD after all! :hilarious: I love the cleans of the amp. Joe uses his Belair clean and uses dirt pedals. (Specifically the BOSS OS-2 and OD-3).

http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=BELAIR

It's a great amp. There are a couple YouTube demos of it.

Right now I have lots of other things in my priority list above it. Including a new Mac laptop (hopefully around my birthday in September), a couple new pedals, and whatever Apple comes out with for the successor to the iPad. I LOVE my iPad. I use it all day long. It's great for carrying around. I still use my laptop for extensive typing, photo and video editing, and things like that but my iPad has become my main internet device for Surfing and Email. I'm on it right now! I've became a speed typer on the touch keyboard. It took me a good long while to master it but it's easy for me now.

I love Apple's products. I also love Microsoft's products. I use both and like both. I really think Microsoft has finally came out with a great operating system with Windows 7. XP was good, Vista was horrible from a technical standpoint. 7 is great. Fast, more secure, and easier to use, For my more illiterate clients, I always push upgrading to 7 if their computer is a candidate for the upgrade. I also love Office 2010. Much better than 2007. 2007, like Vista, was horrible. 2003 was good, 2010 is great. Just like 7. Faster and easier to use. A lot of my business clients have made the switch to 7 and 2010 and really like it. Though a number of them are still using XP and 2003. Hardly anyone business-wise made the switch to Vista and 2007 and if they bought a computer with it, they downgraded it to XP and 2003. XP is world's better than Vista, but 7 is even better than my old favorite, XP. Same with Office. 7 has got me back into MSFT. I love Apple though. Mac OS X is a GREAT OS and is a dream to work on. I love Apple's hardware. Very elegant.

[MikeA]

I get closer every day to upgrading my computer. The one I'm on now doesn't even have SATA drives! I have three drives in this box right now, two 80's and one 40 and they are all full and two of them are running HOT. Added two fans to the case but there is only so much you can do with the old towers. They weren't designed for "cool".

Add to that my old AMD Athlon single core CPU and you have PLENTY of time to say "S L O W wwwwww". Memory...I have 1.75 gig but it is all but maxed.

It's time for some new hardware! And a new OS!

Are you running the 64-bit version? If so, have you had any trouble with drivers for any of your externals?

[WalshFan88]

I get closer every day to upgrading my computer. The one I'm on now doesn't even have SATA drives! I have three drives in this box right now, two 80's and one 40 and they are all full and two of them are running HOT. Added two fans to the case but there is only so much you can do with the old towers. They weren't designed for "cool".

Add to that my old AMD Athlon single core CPU and you have PLENTY of time to say "S L O W wwwwww". Memory...I have 1.75 gig but it is all but maxed.

It's time for some new hardware! And a new OS!

Are you running the 64-bit version? If so, have you had any trouble with drivers for any of your externals?

You definitely need an upgrade Mike!

As far as 64-bit, the only Laptop I have right now is a 2005 Dell with a Centrino processor from Intel. Not 64 bit. But I just did a 64 bit install of 7 (at the same place where I believe I was bit by the spider!) and all of their devices worked great. 64 bit on Vista was a huge PITA. 64 on 7 is fast. Hell, 32 bit on 7 is faster than 64 on Vista. Just goes to show you how poor of an operating system Vista was. It was a rushed release to try to compete with Apple's new OS at the time. MSFT did that once before and failed (Win ME) and they should have learned from that. Nope.

I strongly urge you to make the move to 7 Mike and upgrade your hardware. When you buy a Windows 7 box, you get the 32 AND 64 bit discs in the box so there isn't seperate version to confuse you which is nice. If you are keeping the same hard drive, I highly recommend a clean install. I never recommend in place upgrades because it can lead to performance issues. If you are moving from XP they force you to clean install, but on Vista they give you the option to Upgrade. ALWAYS reformat and install a fresh copy and then move data back. It's a bit of a pain, but the computer will thank you.

Also, if you are keeping the same hard drive, you might want to check out the Family Pack upgrade for Windows 7. You have to have XP or Vista, you can't do it on a new hard drive but for 110 bucks (on Amazon) you can get 3 copies of Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade Edition and put it on three computers. That's how I got 7. Now all of the Windows boxes in the house run 7 and are all networked through the new HomeGroup to share a printer and files.

[MikeA]

When I upgrade, I'll not be keeping any of the drives any longer than it takes to copy data off of them. I have gigs of pictures and music that I will NOT lose and also have all of my data files from the recording software.

It'll be a pain to migrate, but when done, I'll be running SATA all the way with no IDEE hard drives in the box.

My concern was more for drivers for printers and of course my UX2 audio interface and also my Interface for the Boss ME-25 pedal...though I already have the patches from the Roland site for the pedal. Not that I really use them. I dial in my own tones for the most part and tweak them until they sound right through my amps and speakers.

But things like external CD drives. I don't really have a lot to be worried about because the printer I'm using is an ink hog and hasn't been used in a coon's age.

The only other thing I'd be concerned about would be the networking between the new Win7 and the three other computers I have that are all XP. One of them I cannot upgrade...it belongs to my company and they have not raised the standard OS to Win7 as far as I know. Besides, unless they are paying for the OS I'll limp along on DOS if that's what they'll pay for <LOL>

[WalshFan88]

All I can say is setting up devices & printers on 7 for me has been a breeze. 7 detects all of the drivers and installs them automatically if it is a newer printer. If not, you'd have to go to the printer manafacturer's website to see if they make a driver for Win 7.

External disc drives shouldn't be a problem. I have an external DVD burner drive, and external hard drive, and a thumbdrive that all work perfect with 7. Your BOSS interface should work as well.

You ought to move to SATA for your disc drive too Mike. It's much faster. You get get a SATA DVD burner and reader drive for less than 50 bucks usually. It burns and reads much faster than IDE.

Networking can be a pain with 7 connecting with XP or Vista, but not too much so. You just have to know how to dig into the settings and enable file sharing with older PC's and even Mac's. You can also share the printer with the other computers on your network too.

Windows 7 literally takes less than a half hour to completely install and usually less than an hour to download all of the updates fully. Then add another 1hr for drivers and moving over data and installing programs and you are done. I've done 3 or 4 Win 7 upgrades now and EACH and EVERY one of them has been a total piece of cake from start to finish. I can literally be done in 2 hours or less. And then have a small training on it with my client(s). Easy. You would not have heard those words out of my mouth about Vista. It was a drag whenever I had to migrate someone from XP to Vista. An XP install wasn't bad. Better than Vista but not as fast as 7.

I rank the 3 latest Windows operating systems in this order.

7
XP
Vista

If someone isn't going to move to 7 from Vista, I always recommend downgrading to XP. It's faster, less buggy, and in some cases more secure.

I wish I had a magic wand that I could wave and completely remove Vista or XP from every computer in the world and magically install 7 on all of them. 7 is an IT professional or technician's dream Windows OS. So easy to maintain.

[WalshFan88]

CRAP!

This been a bad week. The spider bite, now this...

My old laptop I've been using since my other laptop died, is now dead. I have my iPad and a little mini laptop I use for travel. My video, photos, and music computer is GONE. Luckily I backed it all up but now I'm going to have to fork out about 500 bucks for a new one. It really is an unexpected thing. :( This "old computer" was about 6yrs old. The internal power supply shot craps.

So I looked, and the local WalMart has one with great specs (4GB ram, 2.13 GHZ Dual Core processor, SATA drives, Windows 7 64-bit, DVD burner, 14 inch LED screen) for 500 bucks. I'm going to pick it up tomorrow night. This really is a setback for me as I really didn't plan on this happening. But I guess this one will last me a long while. So now I'm down to my iPad and netbook (mini laptop) until tomorrow night. The mini laptop is great for surfing and email but not good for photo editing, video editing, etc. Same with the iPad. The iPad is great for browsing the net and email and looking at pics and vids and listening to music, but not editing or typing a long letter for instance. So I have no choice but to pick up a new laptop. It's a Dell, which isn't that bad. They are supposedly getting better from what I've heard... But I gotta get something.

Onto other news, my spider bite is responding to treatment I do believe. I would post it in the Life thread but I've already posted enough and don't want it to become "Austin's Spider Bite Chronicles" or something like that! :rofl:

[MikeA]

We were having trouble with networking my F-in-Law's Win7 machine to another computer that had XP on it. I found this on the WEB and it worked. I've changed it on my XP machines as well as on the Win7 computer. It took care of the problem.

I was getting something like "Not enough Server Memory to complete request" or something like that.

You can read about it HERE (http://winhlp.com/node/40)
but the fix to the registry is shown below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\SYSTEM
\CurrentControlSet
\Services
\LanmanServer
\Parameters
IRPStackSize DWORD 0x0000000f (15)

Change the value to 50

Yeah, I wouldn't touch Vista with a 10' pole. I have been running XP for years. Last year or the year before, there was speculation about Win7 for heavy Audio work, but I think it has been accepted. All the "big boys" were stripping down computers with internet access...just removing them from the internet completely and then tearing out all of the "eye candy" in the video of XP operating systems.

The "audio computer" had ZERO antivirus, spam and other background programs that eat up speed. They launched and ran almost faster than you could organize your thoughts!

Remember, they were using "Pro Tools" and that is a machine HOG in addition to being WAY outside my budget.

That stand alone computer was what they were recommending for recording. Made the screen displays much less eye-pleasing but those computers ran like a scalded dog! I tried it for a while but with the lightweight work I do with REAPER and my UX2, I really didn't need to sacrifice "pretty" for "fast".

If they needed something off the internet, they went to another computer and downloaded it and then transfered it to the "audio computer" with a thumbdrive or external drive of some sort.

[WalshFan88]

Well I just came home from Walmart. Got a 17 inch HP. Also picked up Kaspersky Internet Security for my antivirus. And picked up the movie "The Social Network".

The laptop is SMOKIN'! It's the fastest computer I've owned to date. I've done all of my updates and got my antivirus on here. Now I'm just installing all of my programs and files back on here. Then I'll be good to go. I'm lovin' it! Fast!!!!!!

[MikeA]

New toys are fun. Computers come in second only to guitars <LOL>

I've never cared much for notebooks myself. I keep one with enough guts to keep me connected when I'm traveling but when I'm at home, I'd much rather have my desktop towers.

I do have a laptop computer that my company insists on me using. Ridiculous! The thing sits in a docking station and hasn't been moved in 2 years. It's so locked down my company pros that we can't even change the background or screen saver! It doesn't do any good to be on my network with it other than having a secure connection to work. Can't use anything copied from computers on my network which I can do if I do it before activating the security tunnel.

It might as well be a "green screen" monitor (3278).

Oh, I have the work computer running out of that docking station and have an external USB keyboard and a 19" CRT monitor hooked up. Might as well be a micro-tower. The lid is never opened on the thing.

[WalshFan88]

New toys are fun. Computers come in second only to guitars <LOL>

I've never cared much for notebooks myself. I keep one with enough guts to keep me connected when I'm traveling but when I'm at home, I'd much rather have my desktop towers.

I do have a laptop computer that my company insists on me using. Ridiculous! The thing sits in a docking station and hasn't been moved in 2 years. It's so locked down my company pros that we can't even change the background or screen saver! It doesn't do any good to be on my network with it other than having a secure connection to work. Can't use anything copied from computers on my network which I can do if I do it before activating the security tunnel.

It might as well be a "green screen" monitor (3278).

Oh, I have the work computer running out of that docking station and have an external USB keyboard and a 19" CRT monitor hooked up. Might as well be a micro-tower. The lid is never opened on the thing.

The reason I go for laptops Mike is because it's hard for me to stay in one place too long! :hilarious: I do move it around a lot, both here at home and also when I take it places. I love wireless internet, I can go anywhere with it!

[MikeA]

wireless is nice! In fact, when I build the new tower, I'm going to use a wireless adapter in it. It frees me up so that I can set it up anywhere without having to worry about running Ethernet Cable all over the house (and through the walls!)

[WalshFan88]

wireless is nice! In fact, when I build the new tower, I'm going to use a wireless adapter in it. It frees me up so that I can set it up anywhere without having to worry about running Ethernet Cable all over the house (and through the walls!)

A word of advice, DON'T let them push you to a USB wireless adapter. Yeah sure it's convienient and easy, but it's slower than a PCI/PCI-E card actually INSIDE of the computer. I even recommend the "cards" for the laptops (they take a laptop version of a PCI express card) because USB is almost always slower than an actual card. But that's just my experience.

I keep a cheaper USB wireless adapter here for guests who bring their laptops and don't have wireless or their wireless is too slow. I've set up guest accounts on my router and network so they can get online but can't share files with me and can't see our documents, pictures, etc on our folders. Windows 7 makes that easy with Homegroup and Locations. But I set up a separate Wifi name (SSID) and password just for guests or visitors.

Sometimes my buddy comes back from college and comes over and uses my internet because his parents don't have internet and when he's home, all he has is his cellphone which is limiting. So he comes over to visit and we chat and surf the net. Sometimes when we go on vacation we have someone come and stay at the house while we are gone, we pay them to sleep here and look over everything throughout the day and all night and take care of all of our pets (5 dogs, 2 cats) and watch over everything but they don't have a laptop so I just let them use an old one of mine I've set up with XP. a free antvirus, and a USB wireless adapter that is locked down except for the web browser.

I've also set it up so I can "kill" our internet connection at home from another place and also see what activity is on the network. Which I haven't had to use yet, but it's nice knowing it's there. I also have it set to email me a log once a week of the network activity of which computers are using the network, what they are doing, and how long they use it for. I mainly use this not to spy, but to make sure no one is trying to hack into our network. It HAS happened before and it's not fun. I hate that. It's a lot of work to prevent it.

If you can't tell Mike, I'm a bit of a computer geek! :rofl: Guitars and technology are what I spend my money on. Guitars come first, then tech!

[MikeA]

The only thing I'm using wireless on now is my laptop. I keep it upstairs so I can check things out without having to get onto Verna's computer. I have a 300 mbps wireless "N" USB. Not the fastest race car on the track, but it gets the job done. I do now wish that I'd gotten a router that had multiple frequencies though. One of our land-lines is cordless on the 2.4 KHz band. Any time this is used, it breaks my connection with the router. Really frustrating. I've swapped out one of the phones with a 6.0 set and that one doesn't bother my connection and neither does my 5.4 KHz work like. But I still have two other cordless sets on that 2.4 KHz band. I'll slowly swap those other phones out as I see units on sale at Walmart.

[WalshFan88]

The only thing I'm using wireless on now is my laptop. I keep it upstairs so I can check things out without having to get onto Verna's computer. I have a 300 mbps wireless "N" USB. Not the fastest race car on the track, but it gets the job done. I do now wish that I'd gotten a router that had multiple frequencies though. One of our land-lines is cordless on the 2.4 KHz band. Any time this is used, it breaks my connection with the router. Really frustrating. I've swapped out one of the phones with a 6.0 set and that one doesn't bother my connection and neither does my 5.4 KHz work like. But I still have two other cordless sets on that 2.4 KHz band. I'll slowly swap those other phones out as I see units on sale at Walmart.

Sometimes changing the channel of your router fixes that Mike. My grandparents had the same issue so I saw what Channel their cordless phones were on and I set the router several numbers away from that. It should be in your router settings. If you type in 192.168.1.1 or in some cases 192.168.0.1 into your browser's address bar AND you put in admin for the username and admin for the password (in some cases the password is "password" without the quotations unless you changed it) and you go under Wireless settings. Just change it to one extreme end of the range. That should work for that.

[WalshFan88]

Also I forgot to mention, when you replace your router, check into the Dual Band NETGEAR routers. I have a single band Wireless N from them that I plan on replacing with a Dual Band. They just came out with a new model called the WNDR4000 that will be out soon. It supports USB devices too, so you can plug in a USB external hard drive and use it as network storage and backup your files to it over the network. It also is Wireless N. I prefer NETGEAR routers. I'm not a Linksys fan but that's just me. I've had too many Linksys's go out unexpectedly. I've also tried Belkin and DLink routers with the same result. NETGEAR is my router of choice. Linksys routers also have known compatibility issues with Mac computers. Not something you have to worry about, but it affects me having an iMac and probably going to get a Mac laptop later in the year. I have had no technical issues with mine and it's easy to maintain, even remotely if needed.

[WalshFan88]

Mike-

Just going to let you know I'm going to take another small break from here for a few days starting tomorrow. I'm getting really stressed again and am shutting myself away from technology other than email (which I need to talk to family). I'm getting really sensitive again and I just need to back away.... I went to the pain doctor today and he wasn't able to help me much and there isn't much hope for my back and the doctors aren't going to do anything. And then I'm just tired of being tired and stressed. So I'm gonna avoid Facebook and such. I'll be back on closer to the weekend.

I just am so stressed I'm beginning to lose enjoyment in life. My band is gone, my jamming friends are all busy, and with my health I just have lost my happiness.

I'll PM you my email address so if you want to talk, I'll still check that once a day. I will be on here until I go to bed. Then I'll be back on around Thurs/Fri probably or maybe longer. I'll see how I feel. Might wait until next week.

[MikeA]

I bought my router before I knew anything about wireless. My ethernet router took the big dive and I needed a router FAST. Couldn't connect with more than one machine without it and that would have had to have been my Work connection. So I took off that same day at lunch and raced to Walmart and bought what they had at the low end of a fast wireless...a Belkin. I wanted it for my notebook so I could use it all over the house and with the possibility in mind of going wireless someday if I ever moved my office up out of the basement and into the daylight.

It never occurred to me to get a dual band. And the one I got happened to be on the same frequency as one of my cordless land line numbers. Oh Well. That's how I learn: By making mistakes. <LOL>

WE'll be here when you get back Austin. As our friends across the pond say,"Hope you get it all sorted".

[WalshFan88]

Hi Mike (and others)...

As you can see - I'm back. I needed to take a break to clear my head. I've been very stressed and the Survivor game about did me in.. :laugh:

I am going to my stepgrandpa/grandmas again tomorrow to finish "spicing up" his network of machines. He's got three PCs, two running Win 7 and one on XP. We are thinking of moving the XP machine to 7 and then using the Homegroup feature to network them together. It should work fabulously. Then I'm going to install Kaspersky Internet Security to protect him from viruses. Kaspersky is the best money can buy - its 80 bucks a year but blocks absolutely every viruses, they update their definitions every hour and it's got great features and I love it.

I am coming down with something now though. I've got a headache and a mild sore throat so I'm hoping I can still go tomorrow. I should be able to finish up his network tomorrow! :D Then I can proceed to fix the rest of it remotely via TeamViewer. I think moving all of his machines to 7 is smart.

[WalshFan88]

Also Mike, I know we have talked about the Felder LP but I was browsing tonight and I think I've seen the Felder Gibson LP with the best top on it.

http://i56.tinypic.com/29c5ekh.jpg

DROOLWORTHY!!!! :drool::bow::smitten::fainting::shock::hilarious:

[MikeA]

I could slobber over that LP myself!

Did you get your Musician's Friend in the mail in the past day or so? Right up in the front there is a PRS Custom 24 that I'd love to stroke a bit. Flametop Blue.

There is also a Breedlove acoustic that looked really nice. These guitars are not cheap! The are in the Private Stock from MF.

[MikeA]

Carvin makes a semi-hollow body 550 that I think I'd really love. They didn't have one "in stock" but this one is a 575 that is the same thing except that it has a synth connection to allow you to use it as a controller.

The thing I like about these is that they have coil taps on the humbuckers to give them a completely different tone. Not Telecaster or Strat in sound, but totally different. I really like the sound on the recordings I've heard them demo'd on.

This particular one is base priced at $1,949. But the base price on both the 550 and 645 is $1,639. Beautiful guitars. A shame that you can't go to Guitar Center and feel one up! It would be very hard for me to spend that kind of money without first playing on it a bit! But that is the catch with Carvin.

And with guitars, it really doesn't matter at all what anyone and everyone says about them being perfect....there is still that possibility that they just don't "fit" you.

http://www.carvinguitars.com/images/sh575/sh575-main.jpg

[WalshFan88]

I could slobber over that LP myself!

Did you get your Musician's Friend in the mail in the past day or so? Right up in the front there is a PRS Custom 24 that I'd love to stroke a bit. Flametop Blue.

There is also a Breedlove acoustic that looked really nice. These guitars are not cheap! The are in the Private Stock from MF.

Yup I got it too.

[WalshFan88]

I think I'm in the video-shooting mode. I'll try to get a video done with my new laptop in the next day or two! :)

Anything in particular you'd like to see guitar-wise? Strat, Tele, LP, SG, PRS, Carvin, Explorer, etc. The 335 is off the list because it's getting a new nut put on it right now!

[MikeA]

I think I'm in the video-shooting mode. I'll try to get a video done with my new laptop in the next day or two! :)

Anything in particular you'd like to see guitar-wise? Strat, Tele, LP, SG, PRS, Carvin, Explorer, etc. The 335 is off the list because it's getting a new nut put on it right now!

Sure....whip some Carvin on me! <grin> I'm not sure how well I'll be able to view and listen. I'm on wireless at a hotel in Las Vegas with a 54bps connection....pretty slow.

[WalshFan88]

Sure....whip some Carvin on me! <grin> I'm not sure how well I'll be able to view and listen. I'm on wireless at a hotel in Las Vegas with a 54bps connection....pretty slow.

Will do!

[MikeA]

Haven't been here but 6 hours and am already missing my Tele.:sad:

Verna is wanting to play a Casino way out East. I saw a Guitar Center on the way to the hotel from the airport. I may have to go play Guitar Center while she's playing Cannery East! Only problem there is that I'd for sure lose more than she would! And I don't think I could get my winnings in the overhead rack in the McDonald Douglas airliner!

[Ive always been a dreamer]

Well Mike - it never hurts to just look! :drool:

As a wise musician once said "Just turn your pretty head and walk away"! :rofl:

[WalshFan88]

Well Mike - it never hurts to just look! :drool:

As a wise musician once said "Just turn your pretty head and walk away"! :rofl:

:hilarious:

[MikeA]

Austin, (or anyone for that mater)...

Some PRS guitars come with a "Bridge: PRS-design stoptail". These bridges look to me to be much like those on an acoustic guitar in that they are pretty much non-adjustable. How can you set the intonation with one of these bridges?

This one is an SE model but I've seen these bridges on much more expensive models. They look to be wrap-around bridges. "Clean" but how practical are they?

May have answered my own question

http://www.prsguitars.com/csc/bridges.html

I'm not sure I'd select one of these bridges myself though. The do make one that is very similar in appearance that does have adjustments for each string. And I'm sure it is extra cost <LOL>

[WalshFan88]

Austin, (or anyone for that mater)...

Some PRS guitars come with a "Bridge: PRS-design stoptail". These bridges look to me to be much like those on an acoustic guitar in that they are pretty much non-adjustable. How can you set the intonation with one of these bridges?

This one is an SE model but I've seen these bridges on much more expensive models. They look to be wrap-around bridges. "Clean" but how practical are they?

May have answered my own question

http://www.prsguitars.com/csc/bridges.html

I'm not sure I'd select one of these bridges myself though. The do make one that is very similar in appearance that does have adjustments for each string. And I'm sure it is extra cost <LOL>

Both my PRS SE and my PRS American have the tremolo bridges that I've fixed down to the body (I can't stand tremolo/whammy systems, they are too unpredictable for me). They have intonation screws on the back of the bridge. Action is taken care of by little allen heads on each bridge piece for each string.

[MikeA]

Right, I'm the same way about whammy bars and especially Floyd Rose floating tremlos. Just can't keep the instrument in tune even with locking nuts. And I had trouble NOT getting my palm on the back of the tremlo at times when playing and the Floyd Rose are so sensitive that it would "bend" the strings up in very unpleasant sounding rises. No Thanks.

The fixed stop tail piece / bridge that PRS has is only "roughly" adjustable. A screw on each end. It would be difficult to get perfect intonation with that setup. While the Floyd Rose was on my old Fender Prodigy that I didn't like, my Tele and my Epiphone and my Les Paul all have fully adjustable bridges. The LP and Epi are only roughly adjustable in height, but it is enough. The Tele on the other hand has both intonation and height adjustments for each string. I like that.

On the Prodigy, I had raised the action about as high as it would go and then cut a length of coathanger wire and tied the whammy bar to the back strap button to hold it in place. Had to. No way could I have put enough tension on the tremlo to stand up to #13's that I had it strung for slide playing. Actually for that, it sounded pretty good but it was a pain in the you-know-what to tune and with a slide guitar, you change tunings quite often or else you have several guitars set up, one for each tuning. I played mostly in open "G" and open "D" but tried some others as well.

[WalshFan88]

And I had trouble NOT getting my palm on the back of the tremlo at times when playing and the Floyd Rose are so sensitive that it would "bend" the strings up in very unpleasant sounding rises. No Thanks.


SAME HERE! That happens to me too, I hate it. I will never have a Floyd Rose guitar or anything. :nope: With my PRS and Strats I have no choice so I just block them off.

[WalshFan88]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWzjbAQJvRs

[MikeA]

Guitar is fine. But if I had my choice, I'd rather have the Girl's talent than the guitar! She had some licks!

Seriously, it is obvious that the Tak has a lot of top end and does sound as though the objective that Frey was after was realized with it.

I saw a 12-string Tak on Craigslist for $700. One of these days, I'm going to hook into one of those. They have a sound that just can't be produced with anything other than an acoustic 12-string. So "full" and those secondary strings really give them that "jangle" without sacrificing the low end.

[WalshFan88]

Guitar is fine. But if I had my choice, I'd rather have the Girl's talent than the guitar! She had some licks!

Seriously, it is obvious that the Tak has a lot of top end and does sound as though the objective that Frey was after was realized with it.

I saw a 12-string Tak on Craigslist for $700. One of these days, I'm going to hook into one of those. They have a sound that just can't be produced with anything other than an acoustic 12-string. So "full" and those secondary strings really give them that "jangle" without sacrificing the low end.

I love 12-string acoustics. This Christmas I will be treating myself to a nice Taylor 454ce 12-string. I treated myself to the PRS last year, this year I'm getting the 12-string version of the Taylor I have. A matched pair. I used my Penco 12-string live with the Stone Eagles all the time. I love a good 12-string.

[MikeA]

Had to get a good pic of a Tacoma Chief on record. They truly are fantastic guitars and I think Fender has done them a severe discredit by not continuing their manufacture after buying out the company.

https://eaglesonlinecentral.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=915

[WalshFan88]

Had to get a good pic of a Tacoma Chief on record. They truly are fantastic guitars and I think Fender has done them a severe discredit by not continuing their manufacture after buying out the company.

https://eaglesonlinecentral.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=915

It's a shame they don't make them anymore Mike.